Pauline Frederick : on and off the stage (1940)

140 Pauline Frederick Picture Corporation; and " Josselyn's Wife," for the Tiffany Production Company. At the same time Pauline continued her stage work. She was now approached by Louis O. Macloon with the idea of reviving " Madame X " on the stage. So far as she was personally concerned there was nothing that she would rather do, but would the audiences of 1926 enjoy a play that had first been produced on the stage seventeen years ago? It was melodrama with all the force which they had enjoyed in previous generations, but as the years had gone on audiences had become more exacting. This, however, was not Mr. Macloon's argument. Pauline as the " Madame X " of 1920 had not been forgotten — in fact the memory had very recently been revived by another version of the silent film made during Pauline's absence in Australia and starring Ruth Chatterton. It was decided to try it out and see what kind of reception it would have. A cast was assembled in Los Angeles and the date of the opening set for December. The critics said just what had been expected: " What! That old dramy! ,: But the audiences apparently thought differently. They shed buckets of tears and at the close of the play on the first night in Los Angeles, Pauline was literally deluged with flowers. The matinees during the run of the play were packed to overflowing, all audiences coming well armed with goodsized handkerchiefs for the anticipated " weep-fest." It was one of those occasions when people left the theatre with glistening eyes and shining noses and murmured in faltering tones, " We've had such a good time," and then blew their noses violently! The critics said, " Everybody raved for days over Pauline Frederick's deeply affecting emotion and over the magnetic impression she made garbed in a clinging black gown in the trial scene. She was veritably a symbol