Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

Slant Eyes and Bumps! — So that when you see Viola Dana in " The Willow Tree " you needn't say: "Well, what do you know about that?" HOW long dees it take to become, a Japanese? If you contemplate trying to be a real Oriental you might refer to Viola Dana who, after experimenting two weeks with make-up assisted by two Japanese maids, knows that it takes just two hours to transform herself mto a real Mme. Butterfly. She is portraying the Japanese herome m "The Willow Tree" and the transformation process is a daily part of her business. _ When all the strings have been tied— for the Japanese never use any pins, either on the costume or in the hair— and the obi which is the broad strip of brocade used for a sash to the kimono, and the tabis (which might be called "foot mittens" in point of resembling a hand mitten though the big toe is the thumb of the foot) and the coiffure are all properly adjusted, Viola looks like a still small voice from the Far East in her garb of Nippon— very dainty, very romantic — a late word from the beau monde of the Orient. While such women as Farrar, Pickford and Nazimova have essayed such a role even the Russian artiste admits that Viola's makeup is an achievement superior to her own. In some of her photographs Miss Dana looks like a small edition of the famous Russian. There is a certain strange foreign look about her eyes and face, doubtless due to strong French strain. And between the high type of France and that of Russia there is often a marked resemblance. The fun begins before the heavy black wig is adjusted. Preparatorily, the eyes are tied back — a trick accomplished by drawing the hair tightly around the head— to get the Japanesy slant to them. This stunt lifts all the muscles of the face so that it is hard to get any variety of expression — a desirable result. Aside from the advantages of the makeup for the role the result of the hairpulling contortions evoked inquiry from friends at dinner one evening who had not heard about her newest part. Having noticed two very big bumps on either side of her head they wanted to know if she had gone in for prize fighting. And they were really anxious about her until she volunteered the information that the bumps are on her head every evening from having the skin on her forehead pulled out of place for six hours a day. The greatest difficulty is the wig. It takes the maid over an hour to make the coiffure. She combs the heavy and long oiled black strands again and again with the novel looking wooden combs used by natives, and ties each switch firmly with waxed paper string — also a native custom. The worst of it is that the wig cannot be made up before putting it on INIiss Dana's head. The proper effect must be proportioned to her particular style. Consequently she has to arise at an unconscionable hour in order to arrive at the studio early enough to give the maid plenty of time to do the actual hair-dressing upon her head. After the wig is on and dressed, Viola paints around the edges of it with black cosmetic in order to blend it in with the skin so that it is quite undiscernible that she wears a wig. She also puts cosmetic inside the lower lid of her eyes to accentuate their narrowness. She had her choice between doing this and cutting off her eyelashes. The Japanese have practically no eyelashes at all. But the fear that the curling lashes she now has might not grow in again and the fact that she didn't propose to be always a Japanese heroine kept her from making this sacrifice to Art. And tlien, you" re a perfectly appointed Japanese maiden, furtively awaiting the 5:30 o'clock studio whistle in order to get back into Western garb. First thing is to draw the hair tight back from the forehead, in order to give the eyes the proper slant. (This makes a stoic out of the babiest of stares). Then, when the eyes are slanted sufficiently, a Nippon maid combs the oiled tresses of the heavy black wig with a native Japanese wooden comb. You must either remove the lashes or paint cosmetics on the inside of theunderlids. Viola Dana chose the latter process, doing the painting herself.