Evening star., 1933-08-29
Samuel Goldwyn Brings
Anna Sten From Rus
sia for lola S Mana"
WIDELY DISCUSSED
PICTURES FOR FALL
Broadway to Hollywood" Is
Supposed to Be One Of
the Surprise Hits"
BY E. de s. MELCHER.

A NINA STEM arrived quietly. almost
~ unheralded. on the West Coast.
Il Samuel Goldwyn had sent Lynn
4 \ Farnol, trusty press man.. to
Europe to make certain that
Miss Sten was as good as rumor had II
that she was. Fa.nol found her SO.
Back from Europe he came smiling,
with Miss Stem at his heels. She was
smuggled into Hollywood. A few photo
graphs were taken of her. Then, no
more was heard.
No more. that is, until two weeks ago
when Mr. Goldwyn announced that he
would introduce Miss Sten to the press.
He would give AZ luncheon for her.
To this luncheon came thu nick OF
Hollywoods newspaper intelligentsia.
and smattering of foreigners. The
press s,euths were curious-"Was 1t true
that Mr.. Goldwyn had taught Miss Sten
to speak perfect English?" Was it true
that she spoke only three words Of
English?" "Was it true that she was
beautiful" That she was ug:y?"
'esrhat she would put Garbo in the
shade?"
At the appointed hour the press ar
rived and Miss Sten made her entrance.
The press gasped The lady was
dressed in one OF the elaborate dresses
that she will wear in Mana" Smiling
brightly, she greeted every one in the
calm. smooth English which she had
mastered over her native Russian.
Smiling. the press said: "ss'a is greas
sdccess!"
so was the luncheon Miss srer. ~as
utterly charming. Mr.. Goldwyn was
delighted. Mr.. Farnol was delighted,
The press was delighted. Here is a
new personality"
More has been done for Miss Sten
than for any recent foreign screen I'm.
portation. She has been pampered ana
wheedled onto the screen with more
care than any cne short of a Pola
Neeri. The cast of her first film has
been selected with the utmost zeal.
After innumerable tests it was dis
covered that Phillips Holmes. newly
energetic film juvenile, would best play
the role opposite her.
So. a week ago Monday Mana" was
nut before the camera. Next door 10
Eddie Cantor's Roman Scandals" :"
where Ruth Etting had been tearing
orr her heart with mo More Love"
the Zola story began its screen career.
So did Anna Sten-as far as this coun-
try is concerned. Now then it remains
to be seen whether or not Sam Cold
WINS boast is true. Said ne: MISS
stem will be the biggest sensation OF
the year-or any year" Maybe $3.50
far. at any rate, she mas everything
on her side.
DICTURES which are being widely
L discussed these days include the
new M-G-M story. Penthouse" which
even levelling Howard (ex-Cinema d.
gest EDITOR Hall says Is swell" ana
"Broadway to Hollywood" which Wash
inston will get this Friday. A Holly
wood preview of the former brought
forth much praise. A Hollywood preview
of the latter brought forth cheers.
Previews out there are not done IN
the fashion always of the Graumont
Chinese Theater. Before q picture IS
released it is "previewed" at a neigh
borhood" theater. The public Is in
formed that "a major Aim screening"
will take place that night at such and
such a theater. The name of the pic
ture is not advertised in advance. The
public eoes-the stars and the film
company go-and only the latter have
any idea what they are going to see.
When the name Of the film Is an
nounced on the screen the people ap-
plaud-or they don't. More often they
applaud.
Broadway to Hollywood" was "sur-
prise hit''-even to the M-G-M company
1t was a surprise hit. Executives didn't
have to pay any attention to the ques-
tipnnaires which they ask the first audi
ence to fill out at such preview. They
knew that what they had was OK:
So without more fuss and certainly
no fury, the film was SHIPPED East by
plane-was previewed again in the East