Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1922)

f "MOTION PICTURE Ml MAGAZINE L wanted to show a picture of a modern young woman determined to do as she pleases, and I wanted to get her away from her parents and transfer the action to the city." "Well I'll tell you, young fellow, that's a darn poor way to get your girl to the city — just have her go upstairs and pack her bag ! Say, these are moving pictures — moving ! Action ! You've got to have pictures moving !" He sat back quite pleased with the clear way he had presented his point. "I just wanted to get her away from home," said the young man weakly. "It really wasn't very important. Read a little further, perhaps you'll like it better." "No, I dont have to. But I'll tell you what I'll do," Mr. E. D. Ess growled very softly, "I'll help you. You're an intelligent young man, and I'll just tell you very quickly how to get that girl to the city." Our young friend looked delighted. "Really you are too kind," he said, ^that's just what I wanted, just a little information." "Well you'll get it. My time is worth $125,000 a minute." He couldn't help saying that, altho it almost had a disastrous effect. His listener turned very pale and nearly fainted, but with a great effort he controlled his feelings, and braced himself for the ordeal of receiving a million dollars worth of information. "Now we'll have the girl go properly to church, because if she's the heroine she's got to be good, good all the way thru. Why, if she defied her father like that in the very first reel, how could you ever get the audience to believe in her again ? They'd suspect her of being the vamp, and that would queer her from the start. "She goes to church, and her sweetheart is going to call for her afterwards and walk home with her. Now, this is what happens. An automobile drives up, a young -Oh, we wont need all that, man gets out and walks to Sir Gilbert. You can have ward her ; he is the villain, the rest." And very carefully but she is not Mr. E. D. Ess tore off the supposed t O front page, which read The . L * . ,, Rebellion of Rachel Young,' KllOW it. by Sir Gilbert Worthing" Our yOUllg friend interrupted: "You mean it's so dark that she doesn't recognize him ?" "No," shouted Mr. E. D. Ess. "Maybe she recognizes him, that doesn't matter, but he has his back to the audience, and they dont recognize him. That's the point." He glared a little. He didn't like being interrupted when he was in the throes of creation, so he bit his cigar very hard and went on. "She gets in the car with him, unsuspecting, and she drives away. They go along for a little way. Suddenly he slows down in a dark spot and tries to kiss her. She recognizes him, is very frightened, and tries to fight him. He starts the car ahead full speed, she still struggling. Suddenly they start over the bridge that leads to the city. She knows she is. miles from home. There has been a car strike and the men have torn up the tracks, and that evening they are going to dynamite the bridge. The car just starts across when the explosion takes place. They are both thrown in the water, she still struggling with him. She is almost exhausted when a boat comes in sight. It is the beautiful new yacht of Mr. Percy Asterbilt, returning from Europe. She cries for help, a rope is thrown, and in a fainting condition she is landed to safety. "When she comes to, she is in the captain's cabin. She looks around in a dazed condition, then she lifts the window and sees that the boat is approaching the city. Just then the door bursts open and the owner enters." He stopped, a little breathless, he had been talking so rapidly. "Good stuff — hey? Action, lots of action! Fine chance for good night shots, and some peachy close-ups. Swell clothes too." Very slowly and wearily our young friend nodded his head. "Yes, I see," he said, "Moving pictures— 7a great art. I have much to learn." He rose sadly and held out his hand for his manuscript. "You've been very kind," he said. "I'll never forget this." Mr. E. D. Ess closed the manuscript, and for the first time he glanced at the title page. What he (Continued on page 100)