Cinema Art (November 1926)

CINEMA ART A Star PFho Qant Read His Jan RMiail By ROBERT G. BLACKBURN Directing two-year-olcl “Big Boy’ is largely a matter of coaxing, teasing, begging and threatening recognize him now, but he was the baby in “Three Weeks,” a feature production of two years ago. He was used in similar parts in other feature length pictures, and then found his way into the comedy studio while barely able to stand. H IS attractiveness was noticed while he was still a youngster crawling about in short comedies. As soon as he was able to toddle he became a bright and shining star among the kids playing in juvenile comedies. Jack White, director-in-chief, first noted his exceptional ability and featured “Big Boy.” So it was not long before his heavy shoes and funny headpiece actually became famous. His real name is Malcolm Sebastian, but he has been called “Big Boy” ever since he gained prominence in the movies. In fact, few know him by any other title. His name “Big Boy” has been featured for over a year now in two- reel juvenile comedies. With the start of the new season “Big Boy” is taking prominently featured roles and is as much a comedy star as the best of the old-timers. In “My Kid” he is practically the “whole picture.” The painstaking efforts of Charles Lamont, who has directed the youngster now for more than a year, are in a large degree responsible for much of the child’s successful acting.^ The director of such a youngster (“Big Boy” was less than eighteen months old when he was first featured in comedies) must be somewhat of a diplomat. He can’t give orders as he would to a grown-up actor. He must explain first just what he wants the two-year-old to do, and then make him carry out his instruc- tions. He virtually has to play a game with his youthful actors in directing his pictures. It often is comparatively easy to get a youngster to do the right thing, but to get one to do exactly the right thing at the correct moment for a motion picture scene is quite different. and is able to under- stand better what is wanted of him when his motion pictures are being “shot.” His best work has been of the apparent- ly undirected kind that you might ex- pect to observe in children when they are unconscious of being watched — the sort of thing that you would hardly expect to get with a camera. It is easy to make His diapers derby, and over-sized, shoes are about youngsters cry only properties for a scene, but to make a kid’s lips pucker up without ac- tually crying, takes painstaking direction and real acting. “Big Boy” receives more mail than any other two-year-old in the world. There are fan let- ters, requests for photographs, circulars on mining stock, automobiles, real estate, toilet and make-up accessories, and they all come just addressed: “Big Boy,” Hollywood, Calif. His mother has saved all photographs, press clippings and fan letters he has received. And when “Big Boy” has mastered his letters he will be able to read all the nice things now being said about him. “Big Boy” in public life, but just plain Malcolm Sebastian to his Mother and friends Bonnie Barrett decides that Bee, the baby elephant, is really younger than any of them, and so deserves, the bottle. “Big Boy” and Ginger superintend the job T HE remarkable success of “Big Boy” in comedies is due in a large respect also to the uncanny way in which the youngster follows Director La- mont’s instructions. The kid is naturally amusing and attrac- tive, but his willingness to do as his director says goes a long way in making him so success- ful in his pictures. Many kids are funny, and at times behave very charmingly, or do very cute things, but to make them be charming and cute at the proper 1 time and also carry out the ac- tion of a film story is quite a difficult matter. Now, “Big Boy” can talk, “Big Boy” takes time out between shots to talk things over with his director L ADIES and gentlemen, this is “Big Boy,” the smallest, happiest star on the lot. Possibly you have seen him in “My Kid,” which came out not so long ago. Pos- sibly you have laughed at him—or, if you are a very sentimental soul, shed a tear over him. Anyway, he is only two years old, a full- fledged star, and the possessor of the best known diapers in the country. “Big Boy” is little more than three feet tall and probably doesn’t weigh much over fifty pounds. He’s the big leader of the gang of kid players on the movie lot at the Educational Studios in Hollywood. Some of them are five or six times older than he is, but this little chap is King Clown, lording it over them all. With his large derby hat, big shoes, ever- present diaper, et al., he parades up and down in front of the movie camera like a veteran of many seasons. As a matter of fact “Big Boy” has been in the movies nearly all his life, for this young- ster made his initial appearance in motion pic- tures when he was not even able to sit up by himself—a three-weeks-old infant. Perhaps you don’t remember him, and naturally can t Page Thirty