Life and Lillian Gish (1932)

La Boheme" 211 Charpentier, the possibility of making a film from his opera, "Louise," but the element of free love in it was an objection, and Charpentier declined to have it modified. The character of Mimi, in "La Boheme," had long been in the back of Lillian's mind — Mimi of the opera, rather than of Murger's original. Madame de Gresac agreed that the part was peculiarly suited to Lillian, and was eager to join in preparing the script. In New York, now, they went over it all again, and presently were in California, at the Beverley Hills Hotel, hard at work on it. They had plenty of time. Production was to begin in June, but the director and some of the players wanted were not yet free. Lillian, with time on her hands, an unusual circumstance, spent some of it at Pickfair, with Douglas and Mary. Once they went camping. They went down the shore to a place called Laguna, a sheltered spot on the beach, about three hours by motor from Los Angeles. It was very secluded — cliffs behind them; nobody in sight anywhere. They had to leave the cars and climb down a big cliff. Mrs. Pickford and little Mary (Mary's niece) were along, and about ten others. It could be hardly be called roughing it, though it was real camping. They had fourteen little tents, a real village — string-town on the sea. They had servants to look after them, and a dining tent, a sitting-room, a kitchen, and individual sleeping tents. The weather was perfect. They were there from Thursday until Monday, and were in the open every minute. They wore only bathing suits and bathrobes, and were in the sea a good half the time. The tide came up to the doors of the tents. "One always has a good time where Douglas is," Lillian