Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

92 Continued from page 18 into the form of a huge horn-ofplenty. Thelma is one of the individualists. Apparently another of their order is the beautiful Greta Nissen who, at a theater opening, wore a Dutch cap of metal lace. Only Jetta Goudal is a successful individualist. She, the exception proving the rule, has the face and manner of an exotic. Wisely she designs every detail of her wardrobe to frame this. Usually she looks startling, but accurately effective. Now and then her toilet hovers on that far side of bizarre which is outlandish. Billie Dove is so depressingly beautiful that nothing else really matters. But at the fourth or fifth rapt glance, one notices that she is always gowned as if for the camera. There is something a trifle too tableau about her clothes — gorgeous, but away from the Kleigs, not in picture. The tight-bodiced, bouffant, tulleskirted evening dress — four out of every five have it ! — is apparently here not only to stay, but to predominate. Some of them are delicious confections. Sally Rand, among others, never appears in anything else, whether it is dinner, dance or theater. But this really lovely model has brought about a deplor Do the Stars Dress Badl?? able innovation. Unadaptable as it is to the ordinary evening coat, and shawls being mysteriously out of favor, the newest thing is to wear with it a short, satin jacket resembling nothing so much as a bed jacket. At times this is even trimmed with something of suspiciously marabou appearance. At this point, unable to restrain myself any longer, I give thanks for the presence along our Boulevard of Corinne Griffith. Corinne looks at all times, like those impeccable ladies in the fashion plates Her clothes are a trifle in advance of the last word, but never startling. The details are always faultless, but never fussy. In a town where clothes are insistently arresting, Corinne, dressing like Paris and New York, arrests more attention than any of them. Sisters in smartness to Corinne are Lilyan Tashman, Gloria Swanson, Alice Joyce, Aileen Pringle, and perhaps Norma Shearer, Florence Vidor, Gwen Lee, and Hedda Hopper. A very few others complete the list of those who would look at home on Fifth Avenue or the Rue de la Paix. As for the widely criticized screen wardrobes. One glaring error on the part of directors, should they be shooting a fashionable French in terior, is their insistence that their Frenchwoman be portrayed as having long hair, intricately arranged, and long gowns with trains. One glance at a Parisian magazine should serve to rid the directors of this delusion. At one time, all heroines on a journey wore long, floating veils attached to their hats. All rich matrons over forty still wear tiaras and dog collars. Society heroines look like chorus girls, and dowagers look like queens. The cause at the bottom of this was that movies began as tales told to children. Wardrobes were designed to fit Tillie the Toiler's notion of fashions among the Four Hundred. The condition has continued, most of the time, unduly. The real-life aristocratic dame and damsel, if confronted with the wardrobes displayed by their cinema contemporaries, would put them away for the next fancy-dress ball. Occasionally emphasis in a gown lends emphasis to the dramatic import of a scene, but only occasionally. But when, as is customary around these parts, that emphasis is retained, outside the studio, one is pathetically grateful for Corinne Griffith, et — few though they are— al, for emphasizing nothing at all. Continued from page 47 At one time Miss Parlo, it was announced, was to play opposite Maurice Chevalier, in "Innocents of Paris," but static, interference or something developed, or else the producers decided that two foreign stars, unknown to the majority of American filmgoers, would be a little too much all at once. At any rate, having nothing in particular for Miss Parlo to do, and doubtless fearing that she might become lonesome, they sent her to her home in Berlin again. It is suggested that she may return later, but we doubt it. We saw Dita in "Home-coming," the imported film, and she was both skillful as an actress, and interesting as a personality, even though suffering from a heavy German make-up. Disturbing to Love Scenes. Seven thousand dollars for a scar on the lip ! This amount of money was awarded Thelma Parr for the injury mentioned. The exact amount was $7,112.50, which she got after asking for $30,837. Miss Parr's lip was cut by flying glass in an automobile accident, and she contended that as a result of being disfigured, she lost a motion-pic Hollywood Higk Ligkts ture contract that would have yielded her a $200-a-week salary. Diamonds are Proof. A large square-cut diamond probably settles it — the rumor of an engagement between Gary Cooper and Lupe Velez. Miss Lupe is wearing it on the third finger, left hand, so that makes it nearly doubly certain. Quiet Gary and tempestuous Lupe ! Now, who says like is attracted to like? There are other romances. Bebe Daniels formally announced her intention to wed Ben Lyon. They have known each other for some years, but were mutually attracted only when they met at a party during the Christmas holidays. Both have been frequently reported affianced before, but aver that this is the first time they have really been in love. We glimpsed them together at a party given by Billie Dove, and at this same affair Ruth Roland's wedding date was announced. It was given as February 14th, St. Valentine's day, and Ruth made the announcement as a surprise even for her fiance, Ben Bard. He didn't know any more about the actual time than anybody else — at least, he pretended so — until he read it on the announcement card, which was a gay little valentine presenting Cupid as a messenger. All the gentlemen guests kissed the prospective bride — and Mr. Bard recognized his social obligation to all the ladies present. So a joyous time was had by everybody. June Bridge Prospects. Several weddings are set for June. May McAvoy will marry Maurice Cleary at that time, and Anita Stewart will become the wife of George Peabody Converse. It is also possible that Dorothy Burgess, who has made her debut in the very successful outdoor talkie, "In Old Arizona," will become the wife of Lieutenant Adolph Osward, a young naval officer. Too, there are Charlie Farrell and Virginia Valli, though they won't give a definite word on even their intention to wed, as yet. Every one is pretty sure that the intention exists, however. "Out of Mouths of Babes " Estelle Taylor is playing a role in Continued on page 105