Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1923 - Feb 1924)

Hollywood High Lights The passing parade of happenings in the western cinema metropolis. Bv Edwin and Elza Schallert HAVE the movies gone mad over new faces? It looks that way. For hardly a producer but has picked one or more applicants and shot them for a row of tests. Six months ago no picture-maker would gaze at aught but a star with a pedigree. But in the midst of summer, contracts were seemingly as freely given as cigarette coupons. At least, for anybody who possessed some obvious distinction of fame or beauty or talent, and who was not an absolute newcomer, the opportunities were manifest. The girls and men who obtained parts, where they had a background of experience, or special qualifications, :\ might be numbered by the score. * Of course, the majority of picture-makers are already growing more cautious. They see in the recent intoxication over film fledglings only another fitful fad. They think the studios are already overstocked with new green timber and that most of it will have to become | more seasoned before the | make-up varnish will hold. It is a certainty, though, that the sudden vogue for discoveries will have its compensations. It will bring to the screen no doubt some really worth-while personalities, and possibly a new idol or two about whom fan letters may be appropriately garlanded. Many of the possibilities, especially those picked before the flurry for new finds, were chosen with a great deal of discrimination Summing up our observations garding recent debuts, therefore, we look for interesting things from: Aileen Pringle. who is to play the famous lady of the tiger skin in Elinor Glyn's "Three Weeks," and also a-part in Victor Seastrom's "Master of Man." Julanne Johnston, who has one of the plums of the year in being the leadinglady for Douglas Fairbanks in "The Thief of Bagdad." Evelyn Brent, who recently resigned from the above production, to go with Metro for "Held to Answer." She is not ambitious to become a conventional leading woman, but is anxious to play characters, even though she is hardly f our-and-twenty. Sigrid Holmquist, a colorful Freya from Scandinavia, who suffers from the misappellation of "Swedish Mary Pickford." She'll have her opportunity in "The Light that Failed" from Kipling's famous story. Volatile Edith Allen, Rex Ingram's find, who'll brighten ' ' Scar amouche . ' ' Lucille Ricksen. A grown-up Ricksen from the "Edgar" corned}' days. You can catch a chic flash of her in "Human Wreckage," Mrs. Wallace Reid's production, but her big role to date is in "The Rendezvous" of Marshall Neilan. Photo by Freulich This is a serial director 's nightmare as posed by Duke Worne, who directed "The Eagle's Talons" lor Universal. Renee Adoree. whose performance in "The Master of ¥/oman" is a revelation of unsuspected acting abilit}'. Huntley Gordon, a dignified and matured leading man, who fits admirably the roleshe plays, itjs said, in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," starring Gloria Swanson, and "The Wanters." " Ralph Faulkner, a rather clever juvenile, who is cast in "Loving Lies," an Associated Authors picture. George K. Arthur, an English lad, known sometimes by the nickname of Kipps, whom Charlie Chaplin induced to come from abroad to take advantage ",'* of Hollywood's prosperity. Mary Astor, Buster Collier, Mary Philbin and others mightbe included in this list, had they not started their arrival in advance of the others. Collier's stride is said to be more dramatic, and convincing even than heretofore since he came to the Coast to play in "The Age of Desire," in which Miss Philbin is also cast. And then there are the j others — the absolute newcomers : Tune Marlowe, the ingenue in "When a Man's a Man." A sweet, attractive debutante who ma}i be worth remarking. It's her first picture. Gloria Gray, cast in Finis Fox's "Bag and Baggage." Maybe ou'll never see the picture, but ;'s there, and promising. John Roche, the leading man, is also a disovery. He's no relation to Charles de Roche, however. He played a small part on the stage in "Deburau." For the rest we must perforce only submit names like Netta Westcott, English ; Norma Shearer, fragile and refined; Ruby Miller, British stage actress ; Joan Lowell, fetching ingenue ; Helen Carter, sister of Estelle Taylor, and' But why go on? The list is long. It is enough that an abundance of newcomers are here. Another New Face. Edwin : Whv don't vou go in the movies, Elza? Elza : Why should I ? Edwin : Oh. no particular reason. I just thought your face looked sort of new since your visit to that last beauty specialist. (Note: Elza is not tottering yet, and resents Edwin's facetiousness very much in this paragraph.) How They Came Out. The stars are just recovering from a big coming-out party. So are the organizers of the Motion Picture Historical Exposition. It was a strain on both of them, because they were kept so busy putting the show over.