Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1922)

WHEN HOLLYWOOD "Cut out those queer signs and talk," said Fanny }\ urd to the dignified president of (he bank PARIS has become a suburb of Hollywood. When the stellar nabobs seek a vacation away from the kleigs and the limelight, they race to Paris. Some of them are better known abroad than they are at home. Their influence upon Europe is tremendous. You find traces of them in remote corners of Sicily and Tunis. They've played havoc with history, so that now the place where Mary Pick ford appeared in Rome is more important than the place where the angel appeared in a vision to Pope Gregory. Putting Pep In Paris I was in a Paris bank the other day when a sweet thing exploded through the door. There was a slight stir such as usually follows an earthquake or bombing. And the lady at the mail desk exclaimed, "I know, Fanny Ward is here — I heard her coming down the street." The formula of French courtesy is rather elaborate, as you know, and a day's greeting takes — well, just about a day. It runs something like this: Bon jour, madame. Bon jour. And how are you? Tres bien, merci. And you? Tres bien, aussi, merci. Ah, you are looking very beautiful today. . . . Etc., etc. Fanny cuts this down to three seconds by delivering the entire dialogue herself in English, thus: "Howdy-how-are you very well-thank-you-goodbye." Fanny's French, for all her years in Paris, is best understood by an American. She had an argument with the president of the bank concerning some heavy financial question. The gentleman was parleying with his best Parisian shrugs and gestures. "For the love of Mike," yelled Fanny, "cut out making these queer signs at me and — TALK!" Oh yes, Fanny is still a one hundred per cent American flapper. But in a few years more— when you and I are sixty — she'll perhaps look old enough to vote. An Innocent Abroad While Gloria Swanson was in Paris she was interviewed by the Parisian press. The reporter discovered — as does everyone who interviews Gloria — that she is not at all the sophisticated de-milled siren, but a very naive little person. They asked her what she liked about Paris, and what constituted the city's chief attraction for American cinema artists. By Herbert Howe Anent our film stars, their doings and their influence overseas "Well, I think," said Gloria plaintively, "that I like best the way Paris minds its own business and let's everyone live his own life. You know that isn't possible — everywhere." The wise Parisian press chuckled over this the next day. Connie Upsets The Harems I have talked about the movies with Italians, Parisians, Englishmen, and Turks, and have been struck by the universal interest in our American plays and players. Photoplay Magazine sells from some of the Parisian newsstands at prices as high as six francs — sixty cents in American coin. The European valuation of stars is particularly interesting. For instance, in Lausanne, Switzerland, I saw "The Idle Class" advertised in huge letters. In very small type below the name of the picture appeared the name of Charlie Chaplin in parenthesis. Yet Charlie is probably the most popular American cinema star who travels the celluloid screens of Europe. "You see," explained a Frenchman, "we regard our amusements much differently than you do. We go to the opera to hear Tosca or La Boheme. You go to hear Farrar or Jeritza. You are idol worshippers." Yet among the youths of Europe you'll find just as rabid idolvotaries as among the fans of America. The patron star of Paris seems to be Pearl White, who edges Mary Pickford for the throne in France. But in Italy I think Mary is the one supreme deity. Even Charlie Chaplin appears to come second. In Rome I was told that Tom Mix was a leader. This seemed a bit surprising at first, since my informant knew nothing of such famous ones as Ray and Reid. But come to think of it, Tom is just the sort of guy who would have pleased the Caesars mightily when the gladiatorial combat was the family entertainment. A Turk whom I met in Paris declares that his favorite is Constance Talmadge. He says Connie has played havoc with the harems! V raiment. The "The thing I tike best about Paris," said Gloria Swanson, " is the way you mind your own business"