Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

AUGUST 1924 Pictsjre s and Picture $uer w Screenplayers don't often get a thrill, for all the studio hands and electricians look on during movie love scenes w hen Our Brave Hero takes The Elinor Glyn kiss. Our Beautiful Heroine in his arms and kisses her just before the sub-title, " And so true love emerged triumphant " — when the final close-up is flashed, do you quiver and thrill with emotion, or do you say to yourself, " Huh this screen love is all bunk "? Do you sigh with envy when the screen Romeo kisses Juliet and wish you were Juliet? Or do you say to yourself sceptically : " Oh, well, it isn't real, anyhow?" We couldn't blame you, no matter whether you believed it real or whether you were a doubting Thomas. Because, to tell the truth — which the copy bcok says we should always do — some of this screen love may be real — but most of it isn't. A kiss, for instance — according "^^ to Ethel Shannon — is what you make it ! If you want to make it real, you can — and if you don't want to, that's up to you, too. Miss Shannon expressed herself on this subject after reading the statement of a fellow player that she was glad to play in a picture with her husband because screen love-making always was so real. " Screen kisses never have been more than just screen kisses to me " Miss Shannon declared. " A kiss is just like a handshake !" Sounds startling, doesn't it? For even the sternest of mammas could scarcely object to a handshake— but can you imagine what she would have to say about a kiss? Even the most modern mother might not As a matter of fact, although Ethel didn' actress might have to be careful that her lips do v* actor's; her lip n would gel all awry ! Think how cautious he and she both must be in order to emerge from •he embrace with both their make-ups intact, and not smeared up with lip-stick ! And even if you do love the actor you're playing opposite, Miss Shannon points out, real kissing isn't always in order. " Think what this situation would be like," said Miss Shannon — " suppose you were really in love with the leading man and so felt enthusiastic about kissing. How romantic do you think those kisses could be with a director looking on giving instructions as to the correct pose, a cameraman calling for slower action, an electrician changing the lights, and half a dozen tourists standing by asking if you really mean it?" Jtv understand. t say so — an not touch the ;^7 /^\uite a different matter, isn't it, »?~ ^v from the way it looks on the screen when He and She appear to be alone in the hammock on the porch and it all seems so perfectly thrilling — the way he kisses her, and all ! " If I ever have a real husband working with me," Miss Shannon remarked, " I may feel differently about it; but right now, I think that a make-believe kiss is just a make-believe kiss and a joy to the spectators only — because they can't see the mechanics of the scene. " They can't see all the props of the scene, those huge arc lights that almost blind the actors. They can't hear the director shouting:, ' No, put more pep into that embrace. You're supposed to be in love with her, see—.' " And so, fans, that's something to think over. When you see Nita Naldi or Barbara La Marr or Gloria or Pola being gathered up in a mad movie embrace, control your envy. Just remember that it isn't half so thrilling as it looksJust tell yourself how you would feel if John were to propose to you under the street lamp with several cameramen and interested bystanders telling him how to do it !