Evening star., 1932-08-21

7 OLLYWOOD. Calf, August 20.
IL Strange as 1t may seem, set
visiting is the most absorbing
i i pastime to those who are
fortunate enough to get with
IN the confines of a studio.
Visitors to Hollywood rarely become
bored with the fantastic, the colorful
and the dramatic aspects of visit to
q sound stage with the complex modus
operandi N.Ech prevails. smart-setters
who find the chic play-places of the
earth all similar and all similarly bor-
ing, are content to sit for endless hours
gaping at the spectacle Of motion
picture being made. And 1t is gener-
ally their weary guide who finally gives
out, taps them on the shoulder with a
gentle admonition that dinner is wait
ing, or the arches have given out, or
the players are about to go home.
When such events as the Olympic
Games come to the Hollywood COM
string that can be pulled is brought
into action to enable would-be visitors
to see pitchers being made" So there
is but one resource-to provide. during
such contingencies snow set where
people may come and go and the least
possible disturbance will result.
During the recent athletic contests
far and away the most interesting rtage
set in Hollywood was "RaSputin," where
three Barrymores of established fame
Wed with one another to make motion
picture history But this was not a
set where visitors might be found
quite the contrary it took a good deal
of professional pull to get onto the
Barrymore stage.
Visitors to the "Rasputin" set saw the
most elaborate spectacular show Holly
wood has planned for itself for many
a day. Here Is the court of the Ro-
manoffs, reproduced as faithfully as
technical skill and big-mo ney interests
can produce It, Here is a world
famous actress bringing the best that
is in her to this. her first motion pic
ture attempt. Here are costumes made
from priceless brocades by artists in
stage design, crown jewels reproduced
faithfully to the last pink pearl.
Charles Bragin. the director. and Rich
ard Boleslavski, the co-oirector of many
scenes, call the great army of extra tai
ent into action. This is not the usual
extra talent of the pictures. Here are
members OF the Cars court in former
days. Here are noble Russians, who
never discuss their lineage, their lives,
their vicissitudes with the best Amer
cans. Among themselves caste is still
observed, even though the owner OF 1t
wears rags. And, to the casual observer,
each one is plain Mr.. or Miss. and very
quiet and businesslike about it all. But
listen moment in that line of super
numeraries to the whispered asides.
Amazing. I thought I was back in
the court when I saw him." They are
glancing at Ralph Morgan. who is more
like the Gar than any impersonation
that has ever been done. His eyes, the
same rather round, world-weary. quiz
zical orbs Of the last of the Romanoffs,
are without makeup Of any kind. His
hair is combed as the Gar wore it, but
most Of all his head with its forward
inclination-that listening look Of the
late Czar-is the most amazing part of
the impersonation.
Ethel Barrymore in a tiara copied
precisely from the crown jewels and
wearing q white brocade robe which is
duplicate of one worn by the Czarina
at a ceremonial, walks the length of