The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

November 7, 1925 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 39 Ronald Cohiian in a Scene from the First National Release, "The Dark Angel" Neilan Tells Why "The Sky Rocket" Should Be One of Year's Biggest Plays iHAT Peggy Hopkins Joyce is a real film star is the biggest surprise of my career as a director," comments Marshall Neilan in an interview this week following the completion of his work with Miss Joyce on "The Sky Rocket," Associated Exhibitors' big specuil production. The interview with Mr. Neilan was prompted by whisperings in the trade, especially during the past few weeks, concerning Miss Joyce and the Associated production. Only a few persons have so far pre-viewed the first print of a picture which Oscar Price, president of ' Associated Exhibitors, emphatically declares will be the "biggest special production of the year." The reports spread with the usual rapidity attendant upon rumors of something sensational and something big. In order to get down to material facts Mr. Neilan was sought out and his opinion obtained. Here MARSHALL NEILAN is the "inside" story from the man who put Miss Joyce through every one of her paces in "The Sky Rocket"; "When I commenced work 'on 'The Sky Rocket' several months ago it was with no idea that I was to have the surprise of my life and that Peggy Hopkins Joyce was to afiford me that surprise. "I found Miss Joyce to be a good actress — ^but, to be perfectly honest, she did not impress me as anything more than 'good' until we had gotten well underway. "Perhaps it was due to the fact that I was so intensified in following the script based upon the Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Adele Rogers St. Johns that my first impression of Miss Joyce did not change until later. But when it commenced to change, it literally soared until I realized I had on my lot a 'true find' — a screen diamond of the purest water. "All along I knew that Miss Joyce in the starring role of such a picture as 'The Sky Rocket' would create the biggest demand at any box office ; that women would want to see Miss Joyce because of herself and her reputation for lavish gowns — that men would want to see Miss Joyce solely because of Miss Joyce. "But as our work on the 'Sky Rocket' advanced and I became so familiar with the scenario that I could see the lines with my eyes closed, I began to watch very closely every movement mafic by Miss Joyce before tlie camera. "If was then that 1 realized Associated Exhibitors had a 'find.' Not only her beauty and her luxurious wardrobe but her style I She has that definite something which lures, holds and magnifies. "I found Peggy Hopkins Joyce to be one of the most intelligent and cultured women with whom I have ever encountered. This intelligence, kindly understanding, wit, charm and versatility together with physical beauty make up that 'lure' of Peggy Hopkins Joyce. With every advantage in the world and every thing conceivable to induce egotism, Miss Joyce is most beautiful and superbly magnetic because she has made it a practice always to be herself. "Speaking about her charm reminds me. Have you seen the current edition of Photoplay?" Mr. Neilan looked through his files. Turning over the cover of Photoplay, he pointed to three pages of solid type and cuts of the Associated star — a story entitled : "What is the Lure of Peggy Joyce?" Reygy Hopkins Joyce makes her d chut as a uiolion fyicturc star in the Associated Exhibitor's special feature production, "The Sky Rocket," directed by Marshall Neilan, with Owen Moore, Earle IVilliatns, Gladys Hulette and a strong supporting cast.