Evening star., 1942-08-02
Sometimes Ballyhoo, Sometimes Real
Hollywoods Talent Searches Not Always for
Publicity Discover Some New Faces
HOLLYWOOD.

or play is purchased by a major
studio the bird dogs are cut loose
and with great amount Of Nation
wide din hunt for the ideal per-
former to interpret the leading role
gets under way.
The talent hunt" has become one
OF Hollywood's most potent ballyhoo
weapons. It was originated and de-
veloped by Cecil B. De Mile back in
1927. It reached its peak a couple of
years ago when David o. Selznick
kept the fan world gasping in hys-
terical suspense over the choice of a
Scarlet O.iara for Gone With the
Wind"
De Mile started 1t when he broad
cast an apparently desperate appeal
to the world at large to uncover for
him an actor who could properly
portray the Christ in his THE King
Of Kings" De Mile beat the ballyhoo
drums for months and then came up
with the announcement that H. B.
Warner would play the role. When
De Mile named Warner, he solemn
ly demanded that the actor sign an
agreement guaranteeing to avoid
smoking and drinking and to lead a
private life which could not In any
way reflect on the part and the pic
ture.
The questions are often asked:
Are Hollywood talent searches real
ly on the level? Does the casting Of
an important role involve all the
time, trouble and expenditure indi-
Gated In the public prints? Or is the
contract signed. sealed and delivered
before the publicity starts, and is all
the ballyhoo just blind for gullible
fans?"
Readers Do Buy Tickets.
The answers range all the way
from yes to no.
Certain talent searches actually
are on the level because producers
honestly wish to find out what cast
ing opinions have been formed by
readers of popular book. All those
readers are potential ticket-buyers,
hence their opinions carry plenty OF
weight. Too many other searches"
1t must be admitted, are framed
purely as publicity provoking
schemes to whip up interest In ad-
vance of shooting.
Hollywood's latest important tall
ent search was brought to q finale
only . couple Of weeks ago when,
after dangling its curiosity bait
before the public q full year, Para
mount named Vera Zorina for the |
heroine role Of Maria in "For Whom
the Bell Tolls"
Casting OF this story turned up |
= double -barreled search. Only a
few weeks before zorina was Sc
lected, another important role-that
of Pilar-which also created plenty
of controversy, was handed to the
Greek actress, Katina Paxinou.
Both searches" were widely pub
lcized and undoubtedly will demon
strate their financial value to the
undertaking when the movie is
finally finished and released. That
will be = full year In the future.
But fans have = way Of remembering
and being impressed by such stunts.
From 1857 to 1888.
The turmoil over who'll play Pillar
and who'll play Maria takes secnndj
place only to the jittery search tor
Scarlet O'Hara, which brought no |
less than 20 hopefuls down to the
finish line for technicolor tests.
They were Susan Hayward, Paulette
Goddard, Ellen Drew, Margaret Tai
licbet, Anita Louise, Frances Dee,
Nancy Coleman, Shirley Logan,
Mary Ray, Lana Turner, Doris Jor-
dan. 10 Ann Sayefs, Joan Bennett,
Evelyn Ksyes, Jean Arthur. Marcella
Martin. Margaret Hayes. Adele
Longmire,, En- Bowles Locker end
Vivien Leigh.
Incidentally, several o. those girls
have done well since. Miss Hayward,
first to be, tested, faced the samIra
December a.. 1887. The final decision |
was not made until January e., 1899.
when Selznick made up his mind to |
use Miss Leigh.
The same Mr.. Selznick has been |
responsible for many another great
talent hunt. Before young Freddie
Bartholomew found his wsy from |
London to Hollywood. some eight |
years ago, more than 500 boys were
interviewed in this country and
England, and IA were tested for
David Copperfield." Scarcely any
one can question the validity Of the
eventual Bartholomew choice.
For. The Adventures Of Tom Saw
yer" 72S were interviewed and 81
tested, before Tommy Kelly won the
title role. In this instance, young
Mr.. Kelly did not set the world