Motion Picture Classic (Jul-Dec 1930)

ihey're in the Barkies Now It's Time To Wish You Could Lead A Dog's Life nee. ^B^!^^^^k / I "^HERE has been much ado ^^^■^^^^ I the or ^^^H^^^^^B I about new players. Actors ^^^^^^^■^^H hitherto unknown on the \ fl^^^^^^^^H screen have startled us by arising W^^^Hp^Hp to abrupt prominence in talking ijr ^^^^^^^ pictures. W^m^^^^A)^^ Metro-Goldwyn^^^^^^^■■^^^^ Mayer has signed a whole new JIGGS stock company of some forty or more promising players — all at It is a novel arrangement all around. The young ctors live all together on an elaborate country place ut in the San Fernando Valley. They are carefully watched. Their diets are •rescribed for them individually, by experts, hey are kept in excellent physical trim and ley have rehearsals of one sort or another very day of their lives, whether they are ctually at work on a picture or not No gay night-life in Hollywood or them. No parties or cocktails rich food at the Cocoanut jrove. They go to bed at undown and take regular rxercise and study their oles. They live for their Art Sounds like a dog's life, oesn't it.' But they do not ap )ear to mind. After all, you know, f one is an Artist — and if one's rations ire of the best and if one's directors know I those sensitive little spots back of one's ?ars where one likes to be scratched — well, one can put up with some restrictions. A bone and a ball and a soft bed. Reward enough for a good little dog, any day They Know Their Movies OT all of these players are new By HELEN LOUISE WALKER JIGGS'S SON most inappropriately, as oped unmistakable jowls. So he is relegated to "character roles" and must leave the romantic parts to his promising son ! I hesitate a little bit to reveal that the lovely, languishing, blonde lady — the Greta Garbo of the "barkies" — who will play Greta's role in the forthcoming canine version of "Anna Christie" — is known, Oscar. Sometimes, Oscar dons male attire and portrays a young man. It all depends upon the requirements of the story. And all the artists are very nice, indeed, about doing whatever they are asked to do. Jiggs, \n particular, is an old hand at the business. And I am sure you never saw so versatile an actor in your life. He plays old men or young flappers with equal verve and enthusiasm — his portrayal depending largely upon what sort of costume they give him. And, of course, what sort of voice. Four Legged Humans FOR the present series of pictures is an innovation. Jiggs and Buster and Oscar never were permitted to talk before. Their articulation was restricted to well-timed "woofs" and nicely modulated "grrrrs!" Now, if you please, they have human beings to talk for them — as well as to sew and cook and valet. They have voices and costumes and characterizations to consider. They have become people. And do they like it.' Well — yes and They love their Work, of course. WHIPPET N comers to the screen. Jiggs iuA no Buster and several of the others have But, naturally, it is a little hard to share had valuable screen credit for years, the spotlight after one has been the real They even enjoy voluminous fan star of all one's pictures. They are nearly mail. .And must needs send out a as apprehensive about finding their voices great many photographs to admirers on the screen as some of our silent pic1 over the world. ture human actors were. 5ujMf— that tall, lean, aquiline Their two directors. Jules White and leading man— comes from a Zion Myers, tell me that they have long line of stage people, had a deal of ionayiff^artistic temperaHis father was once a male ment to cope with in their work star. And famous, too. But with the four-footed geniuses. The old now, Bustrr senior, is th^ m-h. troupers in the company tting a little gray and OrcLlcr of the "ever had to work with other grizzled and has devel B«rki« (Continued on page Sj) BUSTER 63