Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

FICTUKES AND THE P1CTUREGOER Week ending Oct. 2, 19:5 A SWEET HALF -HOUR "PICTURES" INTERVIEWS BLANCHE SWEET, THE LASKY STAR " \/0U don't mind me setting on with the I make-up, do your'1 asked my victim with a charming smile when, preliminaries over. 1 had taken a chair by her dressinglalne for a quiet chat. I assured her that I did not. and inwardly blessed Fate and a good chauffeur for getting me to the studios in time to become a spectator of. so important an event. It was an opportunity I wouldn't have missed for the world. I believe I hinted at something of the kind to Blanche Sweet, for I distinctly remember that there was a little pink blush on her cheeks when she made me familiar with a box of delicious chocolates and begged me to feel at home. " I can scarcely help feeling that," I said, " when you give me so kind a reception. In fact, you make me so much at home that I am almost forgetting I have come to you on business.'"' • She opened her eyes in mock distress. " Oh. dear ! how very formidable that Bounds ! " I laughed. " res," I assured her ; " I come as deputy for the British public, and I know you will " " Just how many pages am I to fill ? " she interrupted, gazing at the note-book in my hand. There was a wicked little light in her eyes that was quite irresistible ; and we laughed together. " I am sure there must be lots to tell me about yourself! " I pleaded. " No. there really isn't much that's interesting," she corrected, modestly; '• but at any rate I'll fire away or you will be getting impatient." She gave her chair a businesslike little jerk, and looked seriously into the * " My first theatrical appearance I remember very vividly." she began. "I had gone to New York with my mother, and was seeking a position on the stage. "We had a letter to Thomas Wise, who was then about to star in A Gentleman from Mississippi. Mother did my hair np and let me put on my first long dress, and sent me to see him. After a talk this was at the theatre— he sent me to see William A.Brady, the producer, who was standing in the wings. Mr. Brady looked at me, and then calied to Mr. Wise that he could not use me. Mr. Wise asked the reason, and Brady said.' How can I use a leading woman who is not old enough to have all her teeth yet?' ■ It was true. I was'just getting my Becond crop of teeth, and had a lag vacaril space in the centre of the upper r< >w '. "Shortly after that 1 went \o the biograRh and got a job as eactra girl in the pictures. Nearlj every one was an extra knell, and no one received more m. than a pound a day. Mary Pickford was there, Florence Lawrence, and a number of others. The first picture I appeared in was A Corner in Wheat, and then I was far, ANrm: SWEET 1 a oharactcristi far in the background. At that time a leading woman one day and an extra the 1 The first picture I played lead in was Tl<> I. Bond. I think it was Miss Pickford's turn t>. hold up the back wall that day." •Ton came into prominence as Lit tit Blanche?'' I queried. "Yes," the fair-haired star admitted: 'but for some time I was not properly on' the stage. I varied my career with intermittent periods of study. I would get tired of the pictures or the stage— I was principal dancer with Gertrude Hoffman for quite a while— and then fly to California for a few months at school. "When I became tired of study I would go back to work." i: Quite an ideal arrangement." I broke in. with enthusiasm. " You have really had a most interesting life."' "I don't know.'' She shrugged her shoulders. " I have never had to take any daredevil chances as lots of us do. And I never played heavies either"' — after a brief mental review — " I suppose because 1 am a blonde. No blonde can look like a villainess. I have always been the heroine or the fair-haired c-h-e-i-1-d. whichever it chanced to be." " And your favourite role ? " I put it. "Ah. my favourite roh that was Judith qj Bethulia. But I loved my part in Some, Sweet Home, and in The An ..."• inci ( 'onseience too. In fact I love all my roles, and live through them so earnestly that often I imagine myself \" be some one else when the day is done. Aft.-i acting in Stolen Good* 1 remained foi some little time under the impression that I was a Red-Cross nurse '. " " Should you like to be one ? "" I asked. '• I should. But I have just fixed up a contract with the Jesse I. Lasky Feature Play Company, and am working hard in the new series of LaskyBelaseo productions now being staged for the Bcreen. They areall well-known dramas," she explained, "and I make my first appearance iif Tin H 5 et Kitty Betlairs,taid.TJu Warn iuia." "And is it true." I ventured. " about the record-breaking salary : " She admitted that it was. •■ Really it is delightful, and 1 am perfectly' happy at the Lasky studio. Every one. from Mr. Lasky down, is trying to turn out the l>-st in moving pictures, and one feels inspired. 1 had a little fear when 1 first went there, because 1 had been accustomed to the same director for so long, and many directors are noisy and excitable frighten one out of one's wits. The first time 1 saw feci! B. De Mille .thel.asky director 1 thought he was that way. but he is as Mniet and considerate as one could wish. He gets the best work out of his oast, too. Everything is done just the pose, wax he wants it, but without any fuss