The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

368 C&e Cl)eatre Perhaps the writer is unfamiliar with the stage careers of some of the stars of the newer field, yet from 1890 to 1907 his own line of endeavor brought him in contact with practically every recognized thespian in this country. Nevertheless, when visiting the studios and important gatherings of screen folk, a familiar face was rarely on view. William Garwood and Harry Benham, long with the Thanhouser Company (the former now playing "leads" with the American brand of films), came to the firstnamed company at a period when a three-figure salary was unknown in the studios. To-day both are featured to an extent which leads one to believe that prolonged service in one organization, so much in evidence in filmdom, is rewarded to a greater degree than on the speaking stage. James Cruze has been a Thanhouser star for nearly three years. If he ever played for any other film company, I cannot recall it, nor do I recall Mr. Cruze's stage career; yet the instant he began to face the camera important roles were meted out to him. Not always was this intelligent actor well cast, however. Artistic and picturesque in his Dickens portrayals as he was when it came to "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Mr. Cruze was wholly miscast. This performance merely reflected lack of physique and illusion. Some one has said that any fair actor could score in this dual role. Cruze is more than a fair actor, but he failed to present the contrasts so typical of the two characters. So did that great actor, Daniel Bandman, who made people forget where they were as "Shylock," but Bandman's "Jekyll" was forced in its apparent contrast to the ferocious and cruel "Hyde." With Cruze the opposite effect resulted — ^his "Jekyll" was too goody-goody