The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-20
In Hollywood
BY PAUL HARRISON

NEA Service Staff Correspondent
HOLLYWOOD. 1t was away
back in January, 1888, during a
performance in London of Vic
toria Regina that Louis Is. Mayer
excitedly discovered Carl Esmond.
'Dlscovered' him, that is, for
Hollywood. For years, the dashing
Austrian actor had been playing
all over the continent in everything
from Shakespeare to Noel Coward.
He had made about 20 pictures,
too, winding up with the romantic
leads in Blossom Time" and
"Evensong." And now, in Gilbert
Mi1ler's stage hit, he was portray
ing Prince Albert in a sympathetic
manner that had won hir, a lot of
praise.
So Metro-Mogul Mayer went =
er Esmond. Get out of this thing
immediately" he pleaded. You
are wasted on a mere stage when
millions should be seeing .,ou. You
should be a star in pictureS-M.,
GIN pictures, I mean in Holly
wood"
HE'D HEARD s,s !
ABOUT HOLLYWOOD
The actor wasn't exactly daz-
zled. He wassdoing all right where
he was. In London, and over the
continent, he could
Don't be silly, Carl!-there's
going to be a war!" declared
Mayer.
Esmond doubted that. Besides,
he unused, Hollywood offered a lot
of competition and Metro was a
big studio. He had heard stories
about players who had gone over
here with fat contracts, only to
be plunged into obscurity and idle
ness anG-
but this is different, Carl"
argued Mayer. Il have t. face
you on the lot! If thing: don't go
right, you can come and tell me.
And if you get homesick, Carl, and
want to do a picture or a play in
London, we al let you come back
for a WHILE"
NO WORK i
AT M-G-M
Esmort was beginning to weak
en-, but he asked if he might have
specific assignment. Mayer said
no, but not to worry because he'd
be fine for The Great Waltz" or
maybe as Fersen in Marie An
toinette." AnywaJ, a lot of big
pictures were coming up.
Finally, Esmond signed. When
he left Victoria Regina" he had
more than 200 performances
and was looking forward to a New
York holiday before continuing to
But a studio represen-
tative met him at the ship with an
airplane ticket. Why, 1hen am l
supposed to get out there?" asked
the disappointed actor.
"Yesterday!" screamed the Met
70 man.. Hurry up!"
AT least, thought Esmond, they
had something for him to do.
But they didn't. Not then, nor
that week, nor that month, nor for
whole half year he drew M
GIN paychecks. He tried to see
Mr.. Mayer and couldn't get into
mis- office. He sent kilograms to
Mr.. Mayer and got :, reply. To
this day, in or out of the studio, he
hasn't even caught a glimpse of
Mr.. Mayer.
HE HOPES TO
THANK MR.. MAYER
It wasn't easy to get jobs. In
Warmers remake of Dawn Pa
trol," Esmond was the German
aviator who, with his British cap
,ors, drank a toast to all the gal
lant dead, or to chivalry in the
shakespeare, or something. Holly
wood observers commented on an
audible stir of interest, especially
among feminine customers, when
the strikingly handsome stranger
appeared on the screen.
Metro rehired and hid him be-
lind whiskers as the U-boat COM
nander in Thunder Aloat." Es-
as ingratiating and pleas
a guy as you could see
a month of movie-going, was on
lis way to being typed as a tough
German officer when he began to
down all such roles.
Now he's under contract to RKO
md playing Professor Baer, op-
oosite Kay Francis, in Little
Perhaps the part isn't as
'o1nantic as he should have, but
is sympathetic and at least will
i've him a chance to be seen. In
identally, the studio calls. h i m
instead Of Carl Esmond,