The Washington times., 1936-09-26
George Brent
May Do a
Carlo

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stars are being driven to solitude
or to the scant company Of their
own kind, it seems. George Brent.
never what you'd call q show-off
star, finds that public appearances
are increasingly difficult.
Pushing crowds at concerts, pre-.
mieres or plays and autograph
merchants make it almost impos-
sible for q picture star to have
normal public recreation, he says.
No more symphonies or first
nights for him. No more pre-.
mieres or Bowl concerts. The pace
of the pursuing fans has got too
warm. He will henceforth seek
the solitude Of obscure desert play
spots or the limited company Of
those who, like himself, have re-
tired from the game Of fox and
hounds called Hollywood fame.
There are some who will make
the charge that the Warner Broth.
ers star got that way from his
close friendship with Garbo. But
he offers good enough reasons for
his own aversion to the madding
crowd.
Public Shows Tire
"When you work steadily day
after day from early to late" he
says, going to a show should be
q relaxation. Instead, you find
yourself besieged by autograph
seekers. Often they are rude. You
come away from the crowd tired
You have to get up early in the
morning to go to work. Where
is the recreation in that?"
George Brent misses the chance
for a normal participation in what
goes on outside just as much as
anyone does. He believes going to
Bowl concerts, ballets, stage shows
and pictures are necessary, con-
sidering the narrowing effect Of
day after day on the sets.
"But the discomfort Of doing
these things publicly isn't worth
it any more" he says.
Answering the question as to
how a continued diet of solitude
may affect his development as a
person and through that his abil.
ity as an actor, he outlined less
strenuous program for the future.
To Rest Three Months
"Since I came to Warmers al.
most five years ago." he said, Il
have had a 40-week-per year con-
tract. Many of the extra weeks.
I have worked, too, because Of Ger.
tain obligations to myself.
Starting next year, however, I
will keep three months for vaca.
tions and to do the things I've been
denying myself. One of these is a
trip to London, and maybe q pic
ture or stage show there.
with a couple more years in
the business" he added, II can
leave this altogether, if want.
The stars newest film to screen
is the CoSmopolitan-Warner Bros.
production, "Give Me Your Heart"
It opens next Friday at Warmers
Earle Theater.
The unusual thing about this &C.
tor is that he has kept his place
in Hollywood for half a decade
without any radical change in his
acting style, nor his screen per.
Sonality, outside the natural i'm.
provement any conscientious play
er achieves through the years.
Most other stars have had to
change their styles or have slipped
out of fame'S focus.
George Brent rarely consultS his
fan mail. He finds most Of the
fans want only a picture. "They
always write I have pictures Of IL
stars, can I have one Of yours"
he said with a wry grin.
Most requests for his autographs
come from distant parts Of the Brit
ish Empire. A letter came from
India with q piece of paper for
him to sign. He never gives his
legal signature. He always signs
on the top of the paper. "You
never know what some woman
may write in over your name" he
observed.
His current production is "Moun.
tain Justice" He was seen today
on the country carnival set having
as much fun as the kid and hill
billieS in that bucolic comedy.
VOTE AMERICAN