Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1927)

A scene from "Helen of Troy." Tights never made a Greek frieze aming of Hc\ en When Greek meets efficiency man, the "face that launched a thousand ships" starts another Trojan War By Ruth Biery A YOUNG man stood on a corner in an old Hungarian city listening to a band of wandering gypsy musicians. His ear caught the choral voices, but his eye sighted only one figure — a dusky-eyed maiden of twenty. The youth was himself a musician ; a descendant of an old noble family. He had the choice of many women, yet nowhere had he met one as attractive as this itinerant, raven-haired young woman. He married the full-blooded gypsy. A fair-haired, blue-eyed infant graced the home of the young couple. "As fair as Helen of Troy," murmured the young father, as he slipped his bulky finger into the moist palm waving above the tiny bundle. When the youngster had grown big enough to kick and scream when it wanted its own way, he added: "And as temperamental as Helen." The years passed. The baby became a young woman. Young men swarmed around her like bees haunting the paths of theii Queen-leader. "As beautiful as Helen; as temperamental, as enticing!" was now the father's description. Now this proud parent did not live to see the fulfillment of his comparison to Helen. But the gypsy mother, anxiously reading the press notices of her daughter, Maria Corda — the new Helen of Troy in the pictorial interpretation of the Grecian lady's private life now being produced by First National — must smile, and perhaps weep a little, in her far-away Hungarian homestead, as she remembers the words of the warstricken father: "As beautiful, as temperamental, as enticing." I went onto the lot where they are making that picture to view for myself this woman who has such a rare opportunity to display her histrionic talents in her first American-made picture, the picture which she makes under the name of "Corda," which name her directorhusband spells " Korda." They were chariot racing. Teams of four horses raced madly up and down the main street of a Grecian city. We raced along with them on the camera wagon. But despite the excitement of the unwieldy horses; despite the two accidents to the chariot drivers, no one had eyes for other than Helen. 'Twas as though they expected even more excitement from Helen. Helen, lying indolently in a litter accompanied by Paris; Helen, smiling and coaxing in the subtle ways of fair women the handsome Ricardo Cortez, the lover in the production. SHE looked so sweetly alluring, so delicately molded, that it was hard to believe those vague whisperings which have become so current in Hollywood conversation— "She tears her clothes in a frenzy — "She won't wear any clothes in the picture — "She torments her husband even while he is direct"She refused to work for eight months because they would not give her the part she desired — "She tells them all, 'If you won't do as I say, I will go back to Europe — ' "She will not ride in an open car — "She abuses her servants — " How the tongues of all those connected with the picture were wagging! "More temperamental than Greta Garbo; more insistent than Pola Negri — " A lull in the afternoon's production! I sought out the fair damsel and her husband. It is necessary to talk with the two at one time, for what one does not know in English is supplied by the other. "Just how do you feel about Helen?" — A safe enough question. { continued on page 132 ] 37