Close Up (Oct 1920 - Sep 1923)

7 ma-3 Trailing Motion Picture Stars IRVING CUMMINGS STARTS Mary Philbin will face the camera in her first starring feature for Univedsal next Monday when the opening scenes of “My Mamie Rose ’ will be filmed. The little Irish girl, who has scored such a distinct triumph in “MerryGo-Round,” will enact the role of the wistful, quaint “Little Queen of the Bowery” as described by Owen Kildare in his famous novel. The story has its setting in the famous Bowery section of New York City, the Bowery of 1895, stretching beneath the rumbling elevated trains from Chatham Square to Cooper Union, with all of the equally squalid streets adjoining. Virtually every detail of preparation for the filming of the famous Owen Kildare story has been completed and production will start Monday, it has been announced by Bernard McConville, supervisor of all Universal Jewel and super-Jewel productions. The screen version of the Kildare story has been carefully prepared by Lenore Coffey and Harvey Gates and many weeks have been spent constructing the mammoth sets to be utilized in its filming. No effort of time or money was spared in gathering data for the exact reproduction of the Bowery quarter as it was before it was cleaned up by Theodore Roosevelt, when he was police commissioner of New York City. Scenes along the East river have been constructed as they were pictured and described by Kildare, at Los Angeles harbor. With all of its historic background, with the weird and colorful sets that have been created for the atmosphere of the production — there is still a something that is greater than these, according to Irving Cummings, who is to direct the play. The story’s the thing, he says. Such famous characters as Steve Brodie, Chuck Connors, Tim Sullivan and Barney Flynn will be seen in the play and Fred Datig, casting director, and Cummings are now carefully choosing the players. Those who have already been cast to support the youthful star are Pat O'Malley, Edwin J. Brady, Lincoln Plummer and Max Davidson. SHE IS RESTING NOW £ “I don’t want tailor-made roles,” says Constance Talmadge. The star of “The Dangerous Maid” made it plain last week that hereafter no books, stage plays or stories will be altered to fit her. “I believe that a good story should not be changed to fit a star,” Constance declares. “I would rather see it interpreted by a well-balanced cast of leading players. After all, the story is the thing and I think the public resents revolutionary alterations in books or stories which they have enjoyed reading. “I think the star should adapt his or herself to the story rather than have the story cut up to fit the star. Of course sometimes very necessary changes must be made when stage plays or books are adapted to the screen. And these changes generally* make the stage or book better screen material. But insofar as the roles are concerned, I think that most stars of any prominence would prefer to essay new interpretations than to make, their roles invariably conform to their personalities.” Constance Talmadge has just finished work in “The Dangerous Maid,” a Joseph M. Schenck production which was directed by Victor Heerman for future First National release. In the cast of “The Dangerous Maid,” besides Constance Talmadge, are Conway Tearle, her leading man; Morgan Wallace, Tully Marshall, Marjorie Daw, Charles Gerrard, Lou Morrison, Otto Matiesen, Wilson Hummel, Kenneth Gibson, Ann May, Kate Price, Thomas Ricketts, Philip Dunham, Jack Dillon and Ray Hallor. To Glen MacWilliams goes the credit for the superb photography. H. A. Barrows is the authority for the following: “A young married couple were full of ideas regarding, the coming generation, so he gave birth to a great idea when his wife gave birth to a child, so now they bear with the other more amicably.” * * * Roland West, author-director of “The Unknown Purple,” a Carlos Production, is the author of fiftythree vaudeville acts, five still remaining in this country and “When Women Rule” in England. He wrote his first when 18 years old. Monte Blue and Irene Rich, accompanied by Alec Francis and a group of other screen players, returned recently from a five-day trip to Big Bear, Cal., where a number of exterior scenes were filmed for the Warner Brothers picture, “Lucretia Lombard,” which i s being produced by Harry Rapf. Jack Conway is directing the film. * ik ifc Allen Holubar wants to know if the stores will sell silk hose this coming year, because fashion says women are not to wear any.