Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness News 1933

ELIZABETH ALLAN CALLED TO HOLLYWOOD.
SENSATIONAL OFFER FROM PARAMOUNT COMPANY.
TO STAR WITH MAURICE CHEVALIER !
BUT BRITISH CONTRACT STANDS IN THE WAY.

The latest news concerning the future of Miss Elizabeth Allan, the Skegness-born film star, accentuates the meteoric nature of her rise to fame,
As reported in “The Skegness News”, Miss Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. A. W. Allan, was recently booked for Hollywood at a salary of £12,000 a year, for which post she was due to sail on February 4th next.
The Paramount Corporation, however, successfully negotiated with Metro-GoldwynMayer to enable her to appear opposite Maurice Chevalier in the French film star’s next picture. Arrangements were hurriedly made for Miss Allan to sail last Saturday, and she had all her luggage packed and berth booked when a cable came, 24 hours before the liner was due to leave Liverpool, stating that Mr. Julius Hagen, of the Twickenham Studios, could not see his way clear to release his young star from her engagement to play lead in “The Lost Chord.” Miss Allan, being under contract with Mr. Hagen, will therefore complete “The Lost Chord” before sailing for Hollywood on the original date, February 4th, in company with her husband
OFFERED A BONUS

The American firm offered Mr. Hagen a bonus to release her, and Miss Allan’s manager and husband, Mr. W. J. O’Bryen, offered a further sum of money.
Mr. Hagen holds the view, quite justifiably, that he has promised the film trade that Miss Allan will be the heroine of “The Lost Chord,” and he is bound to keep that promise. The production of the picture, with Miss Allan, began on Monday last.

“STANDS ALMOST ALONE.”
“I have made every effort to replace Miss Allan,” Mr. Hagen said, “but without success. She stands almost alone to-day as a British film star, and she will undoubtedly do very well in America.”
Mr. Hagen gave Miss Allan her first big chance, and he has already released her for the last five months of her contract so that she may go to Hollywood.
A photograph of Miss Allan adorns the front cover of this week’s issue of “Film Pictorial” and the following comments on her departure for Hollywood are made by two readers:-

HEADED FOR HOLLYWOOD.
Sir, How many more of our “Grade A” performers are we going to allow Hollywood to steal? I, for one, am sorry to see Elizabeth Allan snapped up by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. She is one of my particular favourites, and the thought of what Hollywood may do to her, is not at all pleasant.
She typifies all that is fresh, unspoiled and English. Heaven forbid that the box-office monarchs on the Pacific Coast, should do to her what they have done in the past to artistes like Polar Negri, Elissa Landi, and Tallulah Bankhead, and tried to do (without much success let it be noted) to the quite unspoilable Garbo.
Are we to have an “ultra-modern,” “super synthetic” “over-groomed,” and entirely unnatural version of our own Elizabeth thrust upon us in the not-too-distant future?
Will they gild this “English rose” into a cheap reflection of Marlene Dietrich at her exotic worst?
Meanwhile, I suppose we shall continue to feature foreign stars in English films, leaving our best talent no alternative but to go on accepting American contracts.
Verily, the behaviour of England’s film manipulators passeth all understanding!

G. P. Wheeler.
25, Court House Gardens,
Church End, Finchley.
OUR MOST TALENTED STARS
Sir, I read with surprise and not a little disappointment that Elizabeth Allan is to
leave us for Hollywood.
It is only a short time since Heather Angel accepted Hollywood’s offer, and Benita Hume waved goodbye to our shores, and set out for the land of immense salaries and poor pictures. It seems a shame that three of our most talented stars should leave England to go to Hollywood, which is supposed to have so many brilliant actors and actresses already.
I sincerely hope that Owen Nares will not “go over” in this way.
MARJORIE BINKS.

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