Hollywood - The Second Step

Amusing short about young actress Jane Barnes trying to make it big. The story covers her starting as a nobody, working as a stand-in for Maureen O'Sullivan on Tarzan, modeling for the publicity department, and doing a screen test. Some nice behind-the-scenes stuff. Cameos by O'Sullivan and Chico Marx. Whether any of this was true for Miss Barnes, I don't know. She did have a brief career but I see no mention in her credits of working on any of the Tarzan movies. I'm sure even if the details weren't accurate, the gist of it was.

Pay attention to the scene where Jane's doing the screen test with the guy. It's about a woman trying to talk her man out of quitting or something. Well, later in the short Jane attends the premiere of the movie that scene is from. The narrator describes the scene as such: "In a few seconds Suzanne will walk onto the silver screen to inspire her worthless lover to manhood." I don't know why but I laughed my tail off at that part.

The real life actress Jane Barnes is used as a prototype subject for the struggle of women in particular to be noticed by the powers that run the studio(s). In fact Ms. Barnes had a minor career before leaving the industry and lived a long life and hopefully a happy one.

We see Barnes in a variety of occupations be it extra or stand-in for Maureen O'Sullivan in a Tarzan film always looking for that big break. No doubt it's a heartbreaking process for those thousands of attractive young hopefuls who back in the day flocked to Tinseltown hoping to be the one who has the fabulous career.

It might have been interesting to see if MGM made a similar short subject of the male of the species.

Maureen O'Sullivan and Chico Marx are seen in this film. It's a struggle to be noticed.

Jane Barnes steps up from an extra to a contract with MGM.... her "roles" are are stand-ins, publicity shots, and finally a close-up.... with her face covered by a surgical mask.

Carey Wilson narrates this short subject about the hard luck for an ambitious would-be player in the Hollywood game Every good break turns out to be a false lead. With only one check left on her her contract, scheduled to end in nine days, she's back to central casting and extra work.

There are some well-known players in this movie, and Francis Bushman Jr. As a sympathetic casting director. It's a pretty good short about how hard it is to make it in Tinsel Town.

This picture tells the story about some girl who really wants to make it big time in the world of Hollywood. The only problem is that she's not famous yet, and she has to do a lot of work that doesn't get her anywhere in this cruel mix of glamour and glitter...

Well, I won't give away the ending, but it's truly worth sitting the picture out, even though it would bore if it would last longer. It's a short, and that was the right decision from the director. I researched a bit about the actress who played the would be actress in this movie, and I'm very happy to say that she has played in a few important pictures. Whether or not she liked it, I don't know, but I'd be pretty happy if I could play in a production from Hollywood! In fact: Hollywood, here I come!