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NEW ACTRESS in "THE
BUCCANEER."
Franciska GaaI's Story.
FRANCISKA GAAL, the vivacious Hun
ganrian actress, is a slightly-built
woman, whose dramatic appeal won from
Cecil B. de Mille, director of "The Buc
caneer," the high tribute that "she is a
blend of Helen Hayes, Elizabeth Bergner
and Mary Pickford." She was his own
importation for this picture.
Miss Gaal, whose real name is Fanny
Zilverstitch, was born on February 1,
1913, in Budapest, being the 13th child
of the family. With the help of an older
sister, she entered the Stage Academy of
Hungary, but being so young the directors
could see no possibilities in her. After
many setbacks she had her opportunity
when the leading woman in "The Stupid
Man" became ill and after much contro
versy the director gave the part to her.
From that beginning her career on the
Hungarian stage moved to success.
Several plays were written especially
for her, including "The Good Fairy" and
"Violet" by Ference Molnar. Among her
prominent successes were the Hungarian
versions of "Good News," "Kiki" and
"The Wise Child." In 1933 Joseph Pas
ternack, then producing for Universal in
Europe, brought her before the cameras in
German pictures, in which she was suc
cessful
Her Hollywood chance came when
Cecil B. de Mille brought her to America
to play the lead in "The Buccaneer" op
posite Fredric March, and she then ap
peared with Bing Crosby in "Paris Honey
moon." Miss Gaal's hair is auburn in
colour, her eyes light brown and her capa
city for work is said to be enormous. In
private life she is the wife of Dr. Francis
Dajkovitch.
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