Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1920)

November 20, 1920 3945 F OR NEWSPAPER USE— FOR THEATER PROGRAMS Live Notes from the Studios CONDUCTED BY LILLIAN R . GALE ABOUT DIRECTORS JEROME STORM, after many years of experience, is enjoying a new wrinkle in the " directorial game." It should be enough that he directed one star (Charles Ray) in fourteen consecutive pictures, during which the director met with varied experiences. But this is not a matter of temperament upon the part of either the star or the director. On the contrary, quite the reverse. One reads, often, stories about temperamental stars who hold up a director's work by arriving two hours later than the time set for " shooting " ? But did you ever hear of a star who arrived ahead of time? Mr. Storm is undergoing such an experience. Sometimes he has to forego breakfast in order to uphold the tradition that the director always arrives before the star. Even then, he admits, he doesn't always make it. According to latest bulletin, obtained from the director, himself, the contest is about a tie, with Miss Gish possibly in the lead. But Mr. Storm has hopes, since he has finished rehearsals and will commence shooting in the Biograph studio, where he will have an alibi if he is a few moments late, as it seems Miss Gish's hotel is several blocks nearer the studio than Mr. Storm's. According to information received from Denison Clift, by his friends in Hollywood, who passed the good word along, Mr. Clift, former scenario editor and director for William Fox (West Coast studio) has accepted a proposition made him by Ideal Films, of London, to produce a screen adaptation of the Guy DeMaupassant famous story, " The Diamond Necklace." Several months ago Mr. Clift was granted a leave of absence from the studio. He immediately left for a tour of Europe, believing that he could best spend the time traveling there as he accumulated material for picture stories, and at the same time learn of film conditions on the Continent first hand which would be of particular value to him. Mr. Clift traveled to many parts of Europe and it was while on his return to America that he stopped in London and was offered a very gratifying contract, which he accepted. While en route to Europe Mr. Clift accepted the offer of the English company to write a screen version of the story. He started on this while en route from London to Paris by aeroplane, so his correspondent states, and the men interested in making the firm were so pleased with the script Mr. Clift produced that they made him the offer to assume charge of the production upon his return. It is Mr. Cliffs intention to return to the Fox organization as soon as " The Diamond Necklace " production is completed. " Lavender and Old Lace," in the opinion of the director, Lloyd Ingraham, is the best picture of his career. The author's characters and story are faithfully reproduced, and in the words of Mr. Ingraham, " if hard work and enthusiasm on the part of us all counts for anything, this picture should be a record breaker. Mr. Ingraham has a list of previous successes to his credit Joseph DeGrasse, and friend wife, Ida May Park, both directors of motion pictures, are spending their first vacation in many moons, in New York. Mr. DeGrasse is Charles Ray's present director. " Many a good picture on the screen is spoiled," said Arthur Berthelet, director of the new Bessie Love features " by the speed w-ith which it is run in the theatre. The man in the production booth holds in his hands the destiny of many a film. " It is only trite to say that ' Macbeth ' played on the stage at a galloping speed would not be a tragedy but a farce. Equally true is it that the tempo with which a serious feature picture is run determines whether its situations and people are seriously taken or made ridiculous. " I make the comparison reluctantly but have you ever been in a church where the minister read the Scriptures or litany with a speed that took all the reverence out of them and turned solemn precepts into mere lip service? How can truths thus galloped over sink into the spirit and do their work ? " The tendency of the times is to so cram theatre programs with music tableaus and varied films that the feature must be raced to keep to the schedule. The result is disastrous for actors and director. " If the situations or characters of a play seem to jump around from one spot to another as is too often the case they can't be taken any more seriously than they seem to take themselves. Many a situation that would have a fine dramatic effect played slowly is ruined by a fast tempo both for the reason given and the additional one that the audience can't grasp the deep significances if it is carried along swiftly from one scene to another. Henry King the director has handled hundreds of actors with notable success but he had his hardest experience in managing a giant sword fish off the California coast recently. It weighed 118 pounds took one hour and a half to land and wore the flesh of two of King's fingers nearly to the bone. Governor Thomas Riggs Jr. of Alaska has written to Edward Sloman director of the Jack London story " Burning Daylight," calling attention to a little slip in the production. After praising it highly as a whole, the Governor says, " but the wearing of shoes in the Alaskan cold is impossible. Being an old dog-musher myself I think I can speak authoritatively." Mr. Sloman thanked the executive for the tip. — * ABOUT PLAYERS BETTY BLYTHE was selected as star for " The Truant Husband," after consultation with a number of distributors and showmen, according to a statement from Rockett Brothers, who had a number of stars and leading women under consideration for their initial all-star production. The peculiar fitness of Miss Blythe for the rather difficult role assigned her, is illustrated by comments which have appeared in print : " Miss Blythe in portraying the old and forgotten sweetheart does not resort to 'vampirical' tactics to make the impression the author intended to make. She is just human — and that's saying a lot for a screen star." Another critic says : " Betty Blythe deserves worlds of credit for her portrayal, especially since she seems unafraid to ' smear' her beauty with the effects of a hot railroad trip." Miss Blythe's most recent appearance was the heroine of a First National release " Nomads of the North " in which she was most delightful. She is now engaged in enacting a most important role in a William Fox spectacle, which will probably be called " Queen of Sheba."