Film Star
As long she could remember Pauline had always wanted to be a film star.
Straight from school she went to a London study where she hoped to get a
job immediately. But the agent there told her; “There is nothing we can do
for you at the moment. We are booked up for the whole season.” That did not
discourage Pauline . She continued trying one studio after another. Finally
she did get into films – not as a star though – she became one of the
unimportant characters in the background behind the stars.
Every evening she would go round to agency to see if she was needed in
film the next day. Quite often she was , but as always in the background-
in a crowd. Still she was looking forward to becoming a star. Many
ambitious young people want to do this. Like many other careers the middle
steps are always crowded but there is room at the top. Pauline did not mind
waiting for her chance.
However , nobody asked her to be a star, the telephone never ring to
offer her a big part; no producer ever came to her, cigar in one hand and
film contract in the other.
One evening the man at the agency rang and said : “ There’s a film
for you tomorrow, Pauline. Hampton Studios. You are due there by eight
o’clock. You’re a telephonist. Wear your own clothes.”
Pauline got to Hampton Studios by a quarter to eight, and gave her name
at the gate.
Two hours later , one of the assistant directors told her to go and get
made up and she was in. The second assistant director showed her where to
sit – there were two other girls with her, and the tree had to sit at a
switchboard.
“ O.k.,” said a very loud voice . “ You ready to go ?”
“ Yes , Mr. Kline,” said the first assistant.
“ Right,” said the voice . “ Let’s begin shooting the scene.”
The red light went on , the bells rang and ran the scene had to come
through a door , cross the set and stop just in front of where Pauline and
others girls were sitting, hesitate for a moment and then walk towards the
camera.
Mr. Kline didn’t like it. “ That’s bad ,” he said turning to his
assistant for help. “Put some dialogue in there. Somebody must sat
something.”
The two men talked for a moment and then Mr. Kline shouted out : “Hey ,
you at the end of the row there!”
Pauline jumped – “ Me?” she said.
“Yes , you . I want a line from you here. I want you to look at Harry
when he comes in and say , ‘ Mr. Marlower, there’s a call just come in for
you .’ Can you say that?”
Pauline said she could, and they ran the scene through again. This time
Mr. Kline was very pleased, and the star smiled at her. Now Mr. Kline was
satisfied with the scene.
“ That’s great ,” he said , coming over to Pauline. “What’s your name?”
“Pauline Grant.”
“You do fit the part perfectly , Pauline,” Mr. Kline said .”Thanks.”
Pauline went home that evening , feeling very happy, even triumphant.
There was no reason to be so thrilled, she told herself, but she couldn’t
help it. A line at last , two in fact , and the director , the great Kline
, had thanked her. For week after she fought , wait, until the opening
night.
She went to the opening night , not invited , but she managed to go two
tickets, one for herself and one for her boy friend.
Before the film started she saw the director of the film. “Mr. Kline,”
she shouted , but he didn’t hear her.
It was a good film – or at least the press said so the next morning.
The star was given wide publicity. The review said that; as always , he
portrayed his role with great talent. The critic expected a successful run
for the film.
But there was no mention in the papers on Pauline, Her scene , in fact,
together with lots of other unimportant scenes, had been cut and the name
of Pauline Grant meant nothing to anyone, not even to Samuel Kline, who had
very short memory
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
