Jackie Cooper Slated To Act Lead In 'Limpy'

(excerpt)

By Elizabeth Yeaman

source: Hollywood Daily Citizen (Sep. 3, 1931)

Master Jackie Cooper is responsible for ending a ten year hunt for a market for a story. At least he is indirectly responsible, for M-G-M has bought the right to "Limpy" as a future starring vehicle for little Cooper. The story was written by William Johnston and for ten years Harry Sherman has been trying to sell it. Which should prove that persistence wins out in the long run. Sherman used to be an independent producer and at various times he planned to produce "Limpy" himself. But now that M-G-M has bought the story he has been engaged as a supervisor on that lot. And Sylvia Thalberg and Frank Butler will collaborate on the screen adaptation. Right now Jackie Cooper is working with Wallace Beery in "The Champ." Plans also have been made to co-star him with Marie Dressler in a picture. This youngster has developed a box office following that rivals most of the adult stars in pictures, and it's all the result of his work in "Skippy." Before that, he had been acting in Hal Roach comedies for some time, but nobody had really discovered his amazing ability. And Paramount, the studio which really started the revival of child pictures with "Tom Sawyer," now will have to find someone to take Cooper's place, because since he was signed up by M-G-M the studio cannot spare him to make pictures for other studios. It is interesting to note that he is one of the few child stars who is not beautiful. Usually it is an angelic countenance that makes audiences rave over a child actor. But Jackie is a "heavy" among children. He is, in fact, one of the few child character actors. And lest you think he might be a bit sissy because he is an actor, he has a hard boiled manner that would do justic to a gangster!


The Lucky Corner Homepage