Evening star., 1937-12-10


one man could bite eight dogs and
it wouldn't be news. Out there a
couple of Budapest girls are making
so good that it's positively breath
taking The girls are Iona Massey,
M-G-M, and Franciszka Gaal, Para
mount They are appearing in their
first pictures, neither of which has
yet been released, and yet both al
ready are sensations Things like that
just don't happen in Hollywood. 1t
is the practice there, and much
more justifiable one than the cynical
will admit. to wait until the public's
reaction has been rung up on the
cash register before believing any,
thing about any one, including even
a Katharine Cornell. Of course. there
is publicity build-up but that is a
sleight-of-hand performance designed
to beguile the masses, not to influence
studio executives.
The Misses Massey and Gaal have
knocked this routine radically askew
So brightly has their artistry come
shining through their beauty. shyness
and deliberately spoken English that
1t has made their beauty. shyness and
deliberately spoken English look aw-
fully secondary. Studios. oblivious of
the fact that neither Miss Massey nor
Miss Gaal has been appraised by the
adding machines in the accounting de-
partment, are preparing to go right
ahead with second starring vehicles
before their first feature ventures
have been completed and screened
even for the home folks. There has
not been such speed in California
since the gold rush of '49.
IF PRESENT predictions, based upon
Miss Massey's work in "Rosalie, I"
and Miss Gaals in The Buccaneer, :"
prove correct. 1910 should see them
IN q neck-and-neck race for the dis
tinction of being the next great star
OF the screen. Of their first Holly
wood parts, that of Miss Gaal is the
more substantial. She is Frederic
March's love interest in the De Mile
picture based upon the life of Jean
La Fitte, very significant chore
Tor any Hollywood newcomer.
Miss Massey, who will come to all
CT us as New Year present in
'Rosalie,", has much smaller part
IN her picture, which stars Eleanor
Powell and Nelson Eddy. She sings
one song in that film, just one. but
sne sings it so adroitly that Metro
already has decided she is lust the
girl to co-star with Eddy in "Bala-
laika" no later than the present
picture is finished.
These Budapest contributions to the
American cinema have several things
IN common. one of the most con-
splcuous being that they so far have
mad no part in the private life. SO
10 speak. of Hollywood. Miss Massey
Is shy and Miss Gaal not only is
shy, but also married. Neither nj
them has done a single thing that
would put their names in headlines
and both of them. by that very
gesture. have rated headlines.
Actually. they remain to be seen
put unless Hollywood is being more
adroit than usual, seeing will be be-
hev1ng that they have talent far be-
yono the average screen importation
But so may Olivia De Haviland and
ner sister, Joan Fontaine, a couple of
domestic talents, who, in spite of the
names, happen to be sisters The
former on Warner Bros. pay roll the
iatter on R-K-O's are a couple of
girls also being touted as the next
Dig stars of the screen.
1t should be rather interesting r.
look back on the whole thing when Won
nave nothing else to do during 1940
X *
RARNEE of the Shoreham,s hand
VINO has been arguing with Sonny
Aendis Of the Pail Malls band about
which is the younger-and conse-
quently the youngest orchestra leader
IN toWn-has decided that Sonny is
@o years older . And wants every
one TO drop the whole thing right
tnere -. Without further investiea-
tion -. But no one has yet said how
OLD is Jules Duke, who will open
the Cartons Arabian room next