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FEBRUARY 1925
Pichure s and Pi chare puer
57
eKsecu Percy
A
It seems to be every director's favourite
sport these days. Percy Marmont's
screenic sufferings are exceeded only by
those of Lillian Gish.
nother," said Percy wearily, as I was shown in. " Another what?" I asked. " Another persecution," he replied.
I looked at him. I looked frigidly at his bored, serious face, at the little frown gathered between his brow6, at the whole droop of his body as he rose to meet me, as limp and spiritless as a man could be. I drew myself up with contrasting dignity, determined to hold my own. I was annoyed.
" Of course," I said, " if you are busy, I won't, stay. But considering I have come all the way across America to talk to you about your film career, and considering — "
I broke off. Suddenly I was aware that a change had come over the man. Very slyly, very gradually, through the serious mask of his face had crept a humorous light. Under drawn brows his eyes were challenging, quizzical, and a little triumphant. The straight line of his mouth was uncertain. I had a horrid suspicion that I had made a fool of myself — a suspicion which amounted the next moment to a certainty. Percy threw back his head and laughed like a schoolboy, so broadly, so infectiously, that it would have been impossible not to join in the joke.
"lWIy dear old chap," he said, slapping '"me on the shoulder. "You do take things seriously, don't you? I believe I really hurt your feelings with that greeting!"
" A bit, perhaps," I confessed.
" Forget it," he said. " I was just fooling. They call me a character actor, you know, and I was trying on the martyr touch. Believe me, I've been looking forward to this visit of
Below : Marmont as a London coster in the stage version of " London Pride " the British war play. Bottom right : Percy joined the Fire Brigade for " The Midnight Alarm."
Percy, the pond and the pelican, which he says reminds him of his native England.
yours ever since you cabled me you were coming. It's more than a redletter day when I can see a friend from the old country."
" Well," I confessed,, " I felt a bit like that myself when I heard I was to interview you. I've many good friends in the movies over here, but somehow an Englishman like you — "
" Is different."
" Yes."
" Even when he hands you the icy mitt as soon as you cross the threshold of his home?"
" Even under those most unpleasant circumstances," I told him gallantly, " I