Due in New York July 20
Miss Genevieve Tobin, Hollywood film star and her director husband, Mr. William Keighley, arrived in Shanghai at noon yesterday in the Canadian Pacific Empress of Japan and they will leave the city today when she sails for Hongkong.
The couple, who are on a honeymoon trip, were conveyed to the Park Hotel soon afte> landing ana they had tiffin there before going on a sightseeing trip round Chapei in the afternoon. At 5 p.m. the couple held a reception at the hotel for the press.
In the evening Mr. and Mrs. Keighley visited several Shanghai cabarets, including the Lido and the Metropole Gardens, proceeding from there directly to the Empress of Japan which was due to sail at 6 a.m, this morning.
Hollywood "Ace" Director Mr. Keighley, who is rated as one of Hollywood's "ace" directors, firmly established himself with representatives of the press at the reception tendered him yesterday by the local offices of Warner Bros. in the Park Hotel. Even from a short conversation, it seemed that Mr. Keighley had a broad view on human relations, which fact is generally considered the paramount factor in any director's success.
Mr. Keighley; although born in America, is of English parentage, pointed out that his name in Yorkshire is pronounced "Keithley."
Questioned on the efforts of rival studios and the activities of their stars, he gave a free an unbiassed opinion, complimenting at times and repressing with a smile his natural bent when an interrogater's que: seemed not in keeping with ethical relations. To him Miss Margaret Sullivan stood supreme among the Hollywood roster of actresses, admitting that it was a case of personal prejudice, but granted that Miss Bette Davis, a Warner Bros. star and winner of the Academy Award, stood out among the dramatic players.
"Too Much Propaganda"
Many of the masculine players were handicapped by studios forcing on them roles entirely unsuited to their talents, suggesting Robert Taylor for an example, Edward G. Robinson and Paul Muni were fixtures with the American public, but cited Spencer Tracy, again from a personal point of view with his "Boys' Town," this year's Academy prize-winner, he was quite in agreement—Mr. Tracy's Manuelo (Captains Courageous", also an Award two years ago, could not come into the same class. In that film the star mingled Irish, Portuguese and a variety of shadings.
To him, other than French films, the majofty of the foreign product usually included, at least in part, too much propaganda. British pictures were improving, he said, and much could be expected from them.
Miss Genevieve Tobin, favourite for many years on the screen, has retired from active work, being on her honeymoon, and cheerfully allowed her husband to monopolize the conversation. Miss Tobin is playing in "Yes, My Darling Daughter," coming next week to the Cathay, which Mr. Keighley directed.
Mr. Keighley sincerely hoped that the studio would not forward any scenario while he was on his trip, for he would not consider going blindly into any subject on his return—the couple will leave Italy early in July and will arrive in New York about July 20.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.