In her first starring screen role, Frances Farmer, former student in the division of drama, will appear opposite Bing Crosby in his next picture, "Rhythm on the Range."

Frances’ "entrée into the world of the theatre came about when, as drama reviewer on the Daily, she "panned" severely the performance of Tom Herbert, now publicity director for the division of drama. Her panning showed more than the usual amount of knowledge of "good theatre" Daily critics exhibit; the division of drama saw potentialities in the young critic and gave her the lead in a one act play, "Helena’s Husbands."

Proves Ability

The girl could act so they gave her the lead in an all-school play "Everyman’s Hero," and in one of the first Penthouse Theatre productions, "Dangerous Corner."

Her appearance in the lead of "Alien Corn" brought her coast-wide recognition. Playing a role that demanded more than the usual amount of versatility – speaking German, playing classical music on the piano as well as acting – she proved that "college acting" is real acting.

Trip to Russia

Publicity received following her success in "Alien Corn" brought her a scholarship to study the Russian theatre. Her trip to Russia, because of parental objection, aroused nation-wide comment by the Hearst newspapers. This comment, upon her return to the States, landed her a job with the Paramount Studios in New York.

Receiving her first film contract last September, Miss Farmer has made rapid success along the road to stardom. During the past year she has appeared in successively larger roles, the most important of which was in the recently released picture, "Too Many Parents."