Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 28 January 1936, page 10


CHARLES FARRELL.

AMERICAN FILM ACTOR ARRIVES IN SYDNEY.

DESIRES TO PLAY IN LEGITIMATE

THEATRE.

Charles Farrell, the American film actor, who arrived in the Monterey yesterday to take the leading part in "The Flying Doctor," which is to be made at the Pagewood Stu-dios, is tall, humorous, unaffected, and athletic.

It seemed inevitable that his conversation should turn, as it did, to sport. He plays polo, he said, and has brought some equipment with him in case he is given a chance of playing while he is in Australia. He is a keen tennis player, and he Is looking forward to surfing on Australian beaches.

But Mr. Farrell is not only a cheerful sportsman but an actor who takes a keen and humble interest in his job. One of his chief ambitions is to get experience in the fiesh-and-blood theatre. After leaving Boston University he entered moving picture work in 1923 without theatrical experience, began as an extra, advanced to better and better parts ("getting a good break now and then," as he says), until he had made a name. He has now played, he thinks, in 40 or 50 films, though he had never troubled to count them up until he was asked yesterday morning; but he has had no tlicatr'cal experience, and he has planned to join a touring "summer stock" company when he returns to America. Quite a number of film players, he said, got theatrical experience by joining such com-panies and playing before rural audiences.

Mr. Farrell's wife was formerly Virginia Valli, the film actress. She has stayed behind at his home in Palm Springs, California, looking alter a country club there, in which Mr. Farrell and Ralph Bellamy, another wellknown film player, are Interested.

The wharf was crowded with people, many of whom had waited for hours to watch the Monterey come in with Mr. Farrell on board. As the ship tied up hundreds of handkerchiefs were waved and dozens of women held pocket mirrors in the air and reflected the sun Into Mr. Farrell's face as he leant over the rail. As he went ashore admirers crowded round him, and the help of a squad of policemen was necessary to prevent him from being en-gulfed by the crowd.

The actual production of "The Flying Doc-tor" will begin to-morrow. The story has been written by Mr. John Orton, a distinguished English scenario writer, and the director will be Mr. Miles Mander. The character which Charles Farrell will play is that of a roman-tic, roving rouseabout, who is working, when the story begins, on an Australian station. The scene changes to a mining camp, to the Blue Mountains, and elsewhere. There is to be a wrestling episode. It is expected that Mr. Farrell will be in Australia for about six weeks.

Mr. Mander, Mr. Orton, and Mary Maguire,

who will play the leading feminine role In the | picture, went out to the Monterey to meet Mr. Farrell. After he landed he was entertained at an informal lunch at the Australia Hotel by the leaders of National Productions, the company which is making "The Flying Doc-tor." Mr. Percy Hunter presided at the lunch, and speeches of welcome were made by executive officers of the company and by representatives of the Press.