The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

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32 Photo-Play Journal peared range from the frothiest farce to the most dramatic and most emotional productions dealing with the problems of society and high finance. He has been leading man to Alice Brady, Geraldine Farrar, Billie Burke, Corinne Griffith and Alice Joyce, with whom he worked in four consecutive productions, establishing a unique film record. His latest work before the camera was with Miss Burke in "Away Goes Prudence," shortly to be released by Famous Players. In this production Marmont had to draw heavily upon his versatile experience. One week he donned fur and leather to make a flight in an aeroplane and the next week his costume was the doublet and hose of the Sixteenth Century for a mediaeval interlude interpolated into a script. When he went with Vitagraph to appear opposite Alice Joyce in one photoplay, he proved so popular and so capable that he was induced to extend his contract and remain for five productions. Vitagraph made the most of Marmont's presence at the studio; Corinne Griffith's director found in him the ideal type for the role opposite the star, but he was working with Miss Joyce. So the director conceived the brilliant idea of having Marmont divide his week between the two ladies. Being extremely good-natured and always willing to help the other fellow in a tight fix, Marmont acceded. Monday found him playing with Miss Joyce ; Tuesday he had to readjust his dramatic viewpoint to agree with Miss Griffith's vehicle, and so throughout the week. One can the more appreciate this when it is realized that he was also appearing on the stage at the same time at the Harris Theatre in New York as the leading character in "The Invisible Foe," a part that demanded the utmost an actor could give. Consider the juvenile actor of the many delineators of this important character, we have chosen Leon Gendron, who has but lately made his debut in the silent drama. It will not be long before he is as well known as many a photoplay actor his senior in point of service, to judge from the comments of those in the know who have seen his first screen efforts. It was at a dinner party given by his friends, Frederic and Fanny Hatton, the well-known playwrights, that Gendron was introduced to Robert G. Vignola, the famous director. Vignola felt that he had met a screen discovery as his discerning eye saw the "film face" and screen personality in Gendron. Naturally, the director broached a Harry Carey, delineator pre-eminent of the wild west hero type John Barrymore, who defies pigeon-holing — and refuses to specialize photoplay career and, partly in fun, Gendron accepted. The test successful, he was engaged to play the leading juvenile in Vignola's production, "The World and His Wife," an adaptation of the famous stage play, with a truly all-star cast, including Alma Rubens. Montagu Love and Charles Gerrard. Leon Gendron brings to the screen youth, good looks, smartness and real manliness, in addition to a very necessary dramatic instinct, first discovered when he was a prominent member of the dramatic society in his college days at the University of Chicago. We come now to the actor who brings to life on the screen the man of the world, the established and successful man of business. Charles Lane has played this type of role on the stage for many years and more recently on the screen, where he has been very prominent in the support of John Barrymore, Billie Burke and Dorothy Dalton. Perhaps Mr. Lane's best remembered stage appearances were as the wealthy lawyer in "The Law of the Land," in which Julia Dean had the featured part, and as the Wall Street partner of William Gillette in Clare Rummer's highly successful comedy, "A Successful Calamity." He suggests to the last detail the characters he plays. In other words, there is no doubt in the mind of the audience that he "belongs." It is whispered that he is now in the photoplays to stay and he has had to call upon all his dramatic technique by virtue of the diversity of each part he has acted before the camera. In "Wanted : a Husband," with Billie Burke, Lane played a rich society man whose uncontrollable sense of humor causes the highly amusing climax. He is seen as Dr. Lanyon, Dr. Jekyll's confrere and close friend, in support of John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," in which his biggest moment comes when he sees the honorable, respected, lovable Jekyll take the powerful potion that transforms him before the eye of his friend into the hideous, revolting, degenerate Hyde and goes stark mad. Charles Lane will next be seen on the screen as Goddard Townsend in "This Woman — This Man," in which Dorothy Dalton is starred. Townsend is a cold-blooded, hard-hearted product of Wall Street whose one redeeming feature is his pride and affection for his son, the man who marries the girl played by Miss Dalton. Photoplay patrons who witnessed the stage production of "The Law of the Land" will see in Lane's portrayal of Goddard Townsend reminiscent moments of his masterlv delineation of the lawyer in that stage success.