Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1925)

62 WHAT THE STARS HAVE TO LEARN. (Continued frompage 27). Torrcncc, coached by a professional juggler, skilfully performed all the usual stunts with which a circus clown amuses his audience. Since her role in a former film, Racing Hearts, Agnes Ayres has felt competent to enter herself for any automobile race, however great the distance or however tremendous the speed test. In that motion picture Agnes had to take the wheel of a racing car and win a great transcontinental race. Although she has been a proficient motor driver for some years she had to take a long course of training in handling a racing car. Her role also compelled her to be expert in the matter of running repairs and, after the film was made, there was nothing about the insides of a car or about the method of coaxing speed out of a racer that Agnes did not know as well as any automobilist of many years' experience. Tn an earlier film, Agnes Ayres spent many days at the switchboard of a local telephone exchange learning to manipulate the intricate mechanism so that she might be enabled to portray "her role as a telephone girl; while on another occasion, she passed a day or two as an apprentice in a laundry in her quest for realism on the screen. A short while ago, many motion picture fans of New York were amazed to recognise their favourite screen hero, Milton Sills, in police uniform, directing traffic at one of New York's busiest crossings. As a matter of fact, Sills was rehearsing for his role as a traffic " cop " in The Making of O'Malley. Many film stars have been dancers on the stage before their entry into films. There are some, however, who have never learned to " trip the light fantastic," or whose Terpsichorean experience has been limited to one type of steps; and these stars have to study dancing when they are called upon to play a role in which dancing occurs. Among these noteworthy examples ^re Betty Compson who mastered the extremely difficult art of operatic dancing — more familiarly known, perhaps, as toe dancing — for her role in The Green Temptation, under the tutelage of Theodore Koslofr, famous Paramount character actor and former member of the Russian Ballet; and Pola Negri, who mastered the intricacies of the famous dances of Spain for her work in the title role of The Spanish Dancer. Alice Calhoun rarely commences work on a new film without finding herself compelled to study some new art or craft. In a recent picture some scenes show her engaged in land surveying. The PichjreVver In order to play this part of the film convincingly, Alice studied with a professional surveyor until she could handle the theodolite and other surveying weapons with a marked degree of knowledge and practical skill. In order to have a better understanding of parts of her role in Manhandled, Gloria Swanson spent a day in a local store as a salesgirl. Disguised in an old black dress, and wearing a fair wig and spectacles Gloria started her day's work behind the counter with the knowledge only of two officials. " """Pilings went along swimmingly, for two or three hours," relates Gloria, " then I overheard a girl say : 'Blonde, huh! That ain't her own hair!' I was afraid they were about to penetrate my disguise, so I hastened to explain that I had been ill and had had to cut off all my hair and wear a wig. They became quite sympathetic then. " After lunch a girl told me I looked like Gloria Swanson, and I reminded her that Gloria has dark hair and is much taller than I. She didn't seem satisfied, however. I then asked the s'hopwalker to transfer me to some other department ; so I was sent down to the bargain basement. That finished the masquerade. Everybody knew that a girl couldn't be transferred at will the very first day at a new job and crowds began to gather. I resigned and went home ! However, it was .a most interesting experience." Virginia Valli also obtained firsthand experience of the daily life of a shop girl in preparation for her role in The Price of Pleasure. In that film she was cast in the part of a bargain basement girl who meets her " Prince Charming " in a most romantic manner in the prosaic setting of the store's basement. Dod La Rocque's role in Cecil B. De ' *• Mille's new film, The Golden Bed calls for him to be the owner of a number of confectionery stores. With a view to playing his role the more realistically, Rod spent several weeks in a real candy factory and learned the whole process of sweet-making. Douglas Fairbanks learned to handle a twenty-foot cattle whip for his new picture, Don Q. Son of Zorro, with such dexterity that he can flick cigarettes out of the mouth of the villain with it and perform sundry other stunts; while for his next film, The Black Pirate, " Doug.," the versatile, is making a study of the art of knife throwing. One of the toughest jobs ever encountered by Rudolph Valentino was learning a " few points " about prize fighting bulls straight from the Spanish rings when he was preparing for the bull fight scenes in Blood and Sand. And Billie Rhodes declares she could now sit astride a streak of lightning after her experiences in learning to ride a bucking broncho in Leave It To Jerry ! NOVEMBER 1925 Your chance to win Ten Pounds. I 'he lucky winner of our October A Beautiful Hair Competition is : — Miss Cissie Warley, of 61, Stoney Lane, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, to whom we offer hearty congratulations and £5, and to whom Messrs. Prichard and Constance have also sent £5 as she was a user of their famous shampoo powder. Do not miss this, your last chance, to win £5. Our fascinating competition closes this month, and those prevaricators who have postponed competing until the last moment should make up their minds to delay no longer. If your hair resembles that of Claire Windsor send in your photograph to-day but first read carefully the following rules : — 1 — There is no Entrance Fee. 2 — Photographs (preferably unmounted) must be sent securely packed and postage prepaid, addressed as follows: — "Beautiful Hair" Competition No. 5, " The Picturegoer," 57-59, Long Acre, London, W.C.2. 3 — Letters and descriptions may be enclosed, but it is requested that these be as brief as possible. 4 — The closing date for this Competition is November 20th. 1025. The Editor undertakes that all entries shall receive careful consideration, but no liability for the safety or receipt of any photograph or coupon can be accepted. 5 — Photographs cannot be returned unless fully stamped and addressed envelopes are sent. 6 — The decision of the Editor shall be accepted as final and-'legalry binding, and acr«ptance of this rule is an express condition of entry. PRIZES DOUBLED. Messrs. Prichard & Constance announce that in the event of the Prize Winner being a user of Amami Shampoo Powder they will double the monthly prize — thus making it £10. All Consolation Prize Winners who use Amami Shampoo will receive an additional gift of Amami Toilet Preparations. IMPORTANT.— If you wish to qualify for these Extra Prizes, you must enclose with your photograph an empty Amami Shampoo Powder Sachet to show that you are a bona-fide user.