Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

52 Hollywood High Lights What kind of picture is this going to make ? It has a chance to he a great and unusual one. It's a big test of the powers of the screen to visualize a searching form of literary psychology. And it is certainly a film that should be — silent! A Filmland Tragedy. Did Jaime del Rio die of a broken heart? This question has been asked more than once by the more serious-minded in Hollywood since the passing of Dolores del Rio's former husband a month or so ago in Europe. There were indications that it was a very unhappy and fateful ending of his life, and although blood poisoning was assigned as the cause, there was perhaps no question but that his spirit was broken by the experiences that he went through before and after he left the studio world. The demands of motion pictures seem peculiarly sullen and relentless upon certain domestic relationships. It would perhaps have been better for the happiness of both Dolores and Jaime had they never come to the film realm. Fame exacted a curious toll in their instance. For the tragedy of Jaime's death has sat deeply upon Dolores, especially as she was unable to go to his bedside at the time of his passing, because of the distance that separated them. Jaime del Rio was very highly regarded by those who knew him. He was eminently a gentleman. He came of a distinguished family. He was hypersensitive. He fled from Hollywood because he said he could not stand the sting conveyed in the words "Mr. Dolores del Rio." Personally, we doubt whether these words were ever used regarding him, but he felt a certain implied stigma leveled against all husbands of stars, who did not achieve a brilliant career independently. That very "stigma" is perhaps the most persistent cause of debacles in the wedded life of the cinema famous. And oftentimes it seems a pretty shallow and useless cause, when one considers the shortness of most film careers. DeMille Again Selects. Do you know Carol Lombard? "Me, Gangster," "Power," "Show Folks," and "Ned McCobb's Daughter" — these are some of the pictures in which she has played. And now she is doing the lead in Cecil DeMille's "Dynamite." That means that she has been really "discovered." The magic DeMille gesture is made, and presto, chango ! another star flashes forth on the horizon. It's an old story to those who know the success of many of his people. Sometimes we wonder, though, whether DeMille is as good a picker as he used to be. The glories of the glorious Swanson, the brilliant sparkle of the Leatrice Joy — one does not find them so manifest in the case of his more recent finds. For all that, one invariably looks forward to the DeMille choice of a leading woman. There is always the chance that the feature he makes may yield a dazzling new winner. He picked a sure-fire favorite for his leading man. For that is what Conrad Nagel has become in the past twelve months — partly, we must say, because of the talkies. DeMille's "Dynamite" will be both silent and sound. Consequently the reverberations implied in its title may see actual realization. Says Dane is Gay Deceiver. Karl Dane is a much troubled man. Karl has been sued for umpty-ump thousand dollars — to be exact, $75,000 — for breach of promise. The complainant is Thais Valdemar. She charges that Dane and she posed as man and wife on her expectation that he would marry her. Dane was held responsible for a $500 bill for the remodeling of her nose by a plastic surgeon. It's strangely complicated, to say the least. History Versus Handbags. Dave Butler exercised his wit rather freely during his sojourn abroad while making "Chasing Through Europe." In England somebody pointed out to him a statue erected to the memory of an eminent statesman and said, "That monument is in honor of Gladstone." "What !" exclaimed Dave. "Do they put up statues for suit-case makers over here?" More Latins Invade. No studio can afford to be without a Mexican star ! This is shown by the fact that there is one at nearly every large establishment making pictures, and sometimes two. Fox is one of the latest to sign up a couple. They are Delia Magana and Lapita Tovar, both from Mexico City, and both with some experience in diverting the public through their theatrical talents. Miss Magana is finishing the lead in "Nanook of the Desert," a picture Reginald Denny's beaming out made practically all look on life is explained by the on location. Miss bride at his side, the former Tovar has not begun "Bubbles" Steiffel. work as yet. The two girls are said to be even more beautiful than some of those already arrived from the southern republic. They augment the list already comprising Dolores del Rio, Lupe Velez, Raquel Torres, Mona Rico and others. Miss Del Rio possesses the honor of having started the invasion that has grown so consistently. Al Swings Valiant Right. To his singing, joking, and other abilities, Al Jolson has now added that of pugilist. He proved the strength of his arm in an impromptu fist fight staged in the Cocoanut Grove. As this popular place is nearly always well filled with people, Al didn't miss out on an audience for this new endeavor. He was also gentle, manly enough not to reveal the name of his