Since I participated last year in Scott O'Brien's thread in which his Biography on her was discussed, I had wanted to translate to English an Interview in Spanish by Joaquín de la Horia, which was included in the September 1933 issue of "Cinelandia", a vintage magazine that was published monthly in Hollywood, by the Spanish- American Publishing Co.
The interview is rather naïve and full of awe for the actress, but I think it's an interesting piece of history. Forgive my flaws because I'm no transalator, but I did my best:
Cinelandia September 1933 Published in Hollywood in Spanish
Ann Harding
By Joaquín de la Horia
I had been waiting for Ann Harding for some minutes, in her dressing room at RKO Studios, which because of its size had all the aspect of a small house. Standing with my back towards the entrance I was admiring some engravings hanging on the wall, when behind me a joyous and affectionate voice greeted me in Spanish:
- “Good Day! Enchanted to see you!”
I turned rapidly. Ann Harding was before me. She came from the Set, wearing a flesh colored make-up, almost brick-colored, which enhanced the blue of her eyes. I had two surprises: listening to the famous star speaking in our language and to realize that Ann Harding is much more beautiful in person than which is generally perceived of her.
One thing is undeniable about the famous actress: her talent. She possesses an ability to relate socially which is not common among the people from the cinema scene; always circumspect, especially in the presence of journalists; she has the demeanor of a woman who’s fond of sports, of a modern Amazon who, however, has not lost her femininity; and an extraordinary cerebral quickness to answer, to be ahead of the questions that one’s going to make her, to be aware of what one is thinking.
“There is no doubt that I was well made up this morning” she added smiling maliciously, as an answer to the admiring expression with which I must have looked at her. But since she spoke again in Spanish, this time I could not have any doubt that she was speaking herself, I had to demonstrate her my surprise.
“-I learnt Spanish when I was a small girl –she continued- in Cuba, where my father, Brigadier General George G. Gatley, had to go in mission sent by the US Army. I lived there for two years.”
“-And in two years you learnt it?”
“- I was very intelligent …then”, she added laughing. And then she explained:
“- Since I was born in San Antonio, Texas, the Spanish language wasn’t unknown to me. I heard it around me since I was born, in my neighborhood, among the Mexican servants, among my school classmates. The language had something for me like music in my ears. Then I left for Cuba. I was six years old and my father, who did not have time to take care of me, naturally left my in a Nuns’ Convent. An unforgettable place! I left the Convent when I was eight years old, turned into a Cuban girl. I went back to the US and I’ve never been able, nor have I wanted either, to forget that language which I admire so much.
I’m in the presence of a different Ann Harding. I’ve had the opportunity of meeting many screen stars in Hollywood who speak in Spanish, well or badly, with an accent which always sounds laughable. But in all of them I have recognized the foreigner who continues thinking in his/her native tongue and who speaks the other language out of a mental effort. But Ann Harding “feels” our language to speak it. She pronounces it quickly, with a very slight accent which must be consequence of the years that have passed without practicing it. She composes her phrases perfectly and more than a North American speaking in Spanish, she seems to me a Cuban who has lived many years in the US.
“-Mi vocabulary is very limited –she says to me like if excusing herself- and that’s why I’m afraid to speak in Spanish. I wouldn’t want to forget it so I practice it alone, with myself, or reading newspapers and magazines from your countries.”
I feel proud of having made this “discovery”. Nobody in Hollywood had ever mentioned that Ann Harding spoke Spanish. And naturally a suggestion comes to my head:
“Why don’t you make a film in Spanish?”
Her eyes twinkle. It seems that I have nailed it. She gets passionate like a Latin-American. She speaks now with more warmth and I get convinced that I made an accurate observation.
“-I wish it with all my soul! But we the actresses aren’t the ones who can make such decisions. How interesting it would be to do it.”
And I imagine –because it’s easy to imagine it looking at and listening to her- the magnificent performances that this star could give in our own language. Her emotion, which surpasses the average of the North American actresses, gets more intense in our language and becomes warmer. Her voice, famous on the North American stage and cinema, gives more strength to the Spanish phrase. We mustn’t forget that even in Hollywood, artistically and technically, it has been acknowledged that Spanish is the language which comes off better on screen by the microphone.
“- Would the Hispanic audiences like me to speak in Spanish?”
I assure her in advance that they would, naturally, supposing something that for me is undoubtedly. In all our countries Ann Harding’s films, spoken in English, have been resounding successes. They would be even more successful if she spoke in Spanish, with the truth and sincerity with which Ann speaks it.
She gets enthusiast
“- Something has to be done to achieve it! -She tells me – Why don’t you suggest it?- I’d be delighted… Say that the audiences from your countries know that I speak in Spanish and that they want me to film a movie in Spanish.”
We talk about her latest production “When Ladies Meet” filmed at the Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios, in which the star, even at the risk of sacrificing her artistic worth, accepted to portray a character that isn’t strictly the star of the picture. And however, just when Ann Harding appears on screen, the film belongs to her. Surrounded by good actors and with the competition of Alice Brady, who creates a charming character of a worldly woman, as clumsy as she is generous, Ann Harding’s personality shines above all the others. One moment alone of the film is worth the whole movie: when she discusses the wife’s rights over those of the lover, for the love of a man, unbeknownst to her that she is the wife and the woman she has in front of her is the lover. It’s one of those instants of brilliant work, which are enough to give Ann Harding a definitive position. And how better if she could repeat scenes as such in Spanish!
“-Now I understand –I tell her- your frequent travels to Cuba.”
“-Certainly. It’s a blessed land. I’d go each time I could, but unfortunately I’m not able to do it constantly. But it is the best gift I can give myself. I pass there hours of remembrances.”
We look at each other and we think the same thing: her last trip, the talked adventure of the small fishing boat which sank and the fisherman’s death.
“-It was a horrible thing –she says speaking as if to herself- that I will never forget. It’s strange, but here in Hollywood when filming movies, more than once I’ve been immersed in dramatic or dangerous moments, simulated, of course, but of extraordinary naturalness; however, I had never been able to feel even a moment of angst as the many such moments I had during that afternoon. I don’t know if everyone will believe it, but it wasn’t our danger which made suffer the most, but the tragedy of that poor man who sacrificed himself for the sake of us.”
The star and his companion, Alexander Kirkland, before returning gave a sum of money to the fisherman’s widow. I comment the fact. She shrugs, smiling forcedly, as if apologizing for having tried to repair such a disgrace by material means. We change the subject because I know that she feels sad remembering that event.
“-And to think that it happened to me in Cuba – she adds- the land I love the most!”
She puts such dramatic force in the phrase that I dare to say: “-You seem to me a new actress, in Spanish.”
She remains thinking, smiling.
“-There’s an idea! –She says enthusiastic- The new Ann Harding who speaks in Spanish…!”- and she laughs about her childish and sincere enthusiasm.
While biding me farewell she reminds me that I’ve promised to tell about what I’ve just learnt, to create an opinion, to arise interest among our people in order to make possible some day, sooner or later, to listen to Ann Harding in a film speaking our language. That day the North American and Hispanic Cinema will have discovered a new figure.
