Camera (May 1922-April 1923)

CAMERA ! "The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" Page Five = !ii'"lm!nll"n!""n!!:nn:n!::"!n!:inl"!:!i:illm""li;!:!ll'l'''''"'''"''' "' """"""" ' >"i»ii"iiui>ii mnminiii i I liiiin.iiniiiiii ii.ii n iiliiiiiiiriiiiiii ni i i .imiiiiiuiiiiiiiiii ii iliiiiiiii i i i uiinniniiiii Bab37Kood, Toppling Starhood and Young ManKood II By RAY H. LEEK liuiillliilliiiii I I miinniiii iiiiii iii>iiiiniiiniiinii!mllMl"MllmlllmllnmmmllNml!mllll!lul"l""mM""llul|lulNM!||l!!|l^^ Anybody questioning the statement that this is the land of opportunity has but to interview a certain infant of three days which arrived on this earth to find Old Man Opportunity not merely knocking at his door, but loafing about the crib awaiting his appearance. It happened this way: Director Gasnier required a new-born baby for a few shots in his new production of "Mothers-in-Law." And he insisted that it be just that — newborn. But finding the right sort of infant, arranging details with its parents and overcoming other obstacles takes time, and that was just what the director wanted to avoid. So he decided to compete with the stork himself. Through a Los Angeles physician who serves as an agent for that far-famed bird, he learned of a family that expected a visit of the stork during the week he had planned to "shoot" the scenes. As a consequence the life diary of the infant reads something like this: Monday morning — 9:02 o'clock — Arrived on earth. 9:30 o'clock — Was approved by parents and neighbors. Headed receiving line for remainder of day. Tuesday, all day— Have been drinking a liquid called milk. If Volstead ever learns how good it is he'll certainly have the lid clamped down on it. Wednesday, all day — Go away, folks I'm a movie star. I met a director named Gasnier, worked in a picture called "Mothers-in-Law" and showed 'em what a screaming success I am. Say, who is this bird, Valentino? I'll teach him some tricks if they'll just give me time! Once more filmdom is visibly impressed by evidences of the downfall of the star system. Katherine MacDonald's apparent retirement from the screen at the conclusion of her contract with B. P. Schulberg last week, coming as the climax of a series of similar moves within the last few months, seems to have shown many tottering luminaries the handwriting on the wall. What is becoming of our stars of a year ago — yes, even a few months ago? A glimpse of the list reveals the fact that a score or more of stars of a few months ago either have retired from the screen, or are playing in all-star productions. Without going beyond the most recent history one notes the retirement from stellar honors of Anita Stewart, May Allison, Alice Lake, Mary Miles Minter, Mildred Harris, Bert Lytell, Tom Moore, Lew Cody, Conway Tearle and Eugene O'Brien. Many of these former stars, notably Bert Lytell, Alice Lake and Conway Tearle, are doing their best work in all-star productions. At the Schulberg studios Miss MacDonald's bungalow dressing room will not be taken over by another star. While President Schulberg is seeking three girl players of star caliber — and this does not exclude girls of no screen experience if they show sufficient promise — he expects to use them only as featured players, or as leading women opposite his three male players, Kenneth Harlan, Gaston Glass and Orville Caldwell. "Really great stories are the chief requisite of the screen today," said Mr. Schulberg. "If such story material is forthcoming screen masterpieces may be expected, but not otherwise." Paramount is evidently attempting to patch up its organization of players, depleted through the loss of Wally Reid, Valentino and other notables. Antonio Moreno and Richard Dix have just been announced as the most recent signers of contracts to appear as featured players. Others, it is said, will be added to the list as rapidly as Continued on Page 20 1