If Mildred, the film colony's only trained goldfish, were human, she probably would get at least featured billing for the lengthy footage she has won in her current picture.
Mildred became the prize goldfish in Hollywood when her trainer, Tony Campanero, wisely decided always to feed her from one side of the bowl and Mildred was smart enough to watch for him from that side.
Her anticipation of dinner makes her an ideal subject for the camera, for she never departs from her vantage point when the picture is shooting.
In "There Goes My Heart," Mildred is the trophy awarded the winners in an ice skating contest. Frederic March and Virginia Bruce are the lucky pair and they furnish Mildred with plenty of excitement as they try to escape from other skaters challenging their victory and take Mildred home in a crowded subway.
But even in Miss Bruce's apartment, Mildred's perils are not over. A pet cat, Bobbie, shows unusual interest in Mildred, and when no one is looking, dips his paw into the water in quest of a fish dinner.
There is melodrama when Bobbie finally gets his fish dinner, but Mildred is too valuable for that fate. A rubber stand-in is substituted for the dramatic moment when Bobbie gets his fish.
Trainer Campanaro is one of the most widely known handlers of animals in Hollywood. For nearly 20 years, Campanaro has presided over the Hal Roach ranch, located a few miles from the studio, centering his activities in putting dogs, cats, goats, chickens, rabbits and other species of animals and fowls through the paces that eventually lead to movie appearances.
"Some animals are impossible to train," laments Campanaro, "but with others, it just takes time. Dogs, horses and monkeys learn very quickly. Cats are difficult."
But the cat Bobbie was trained by Campanaro after much effort. The snow-white feline, whose real name is Tony, even has a stand-in named "Just Cat" who looks exactly like Tony. The cat has only to be shown what to do a few times and gets the idea.
Campanaro's greatest pride, however, is Mildred, for no other animal trainer in Hollywood has anything like her in stock.