DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT AT CINEMA; DARRYL ZANUCK, TOPOL, NOEL COWARD, RICHARD CRENNA AT PREMIERE; EXCERPT FROM "STAR" (SOF).




Initials JP/V-PUB/CCT/SGM



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Background: LONDON STAGED A LAVISH WORLD PREMIERE OF THE 10-MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE "STAR" TONIGHT (THURSDAY) BUT THE FILM'S LEADING LADY, JULIE ANDREWS, COULDN'T ATTEND. THE U.S. FILM COMPANY, 20TH CENTURY FOX, WHICH MADE "STAR" SAID THAT MISS ANDREWS - AT PRESENT MAKING ANOTHER FILM IN BRUSSELS - WANTED TO COME TO LONDON FOR THE PREMIERE. BUT PARAMOUNT, THE COMPANY WHICH IS MAKING MISS ANDREWS' CURRENT FILM, APPARENTLY WOULD NOT RELEASE HER TO ATTEND THE LONDON PREMIERE.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT ATTENDED THE PREMIERE. SO TOO DID NOEL COWARD, TOPOL, AND THE HEAD OF 20TH CENTURY FOX, DARRYL ZANUCK. TWO OF THE FILM'S STARS, RICHARD CRENNA AND BRUCE FORYTH, WE THERE.

"STAR" IS THE STORY OF GERTRUDE LAWRENCE, A GIRL WHO STARTED LIFE IN LONDON SLUM AND ROSE TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS. SHE DIED SUDDENLY IN 1954 AT THE AGE OF 52. THE LIGHTS OF LONDON'S THREATENED AND BROADWAY IN NEW YORK WERE DIMMED FOR THREE MINUTES IN TRIBUTE.