Picture Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

Ov>er the Teacups 31 doubles. They tnink that players who use them are cheating. And here is Fanny in favor of preserving the illusion of a star's beauty at any cost. It seems to me that the best solution of the problem is to move the camera way back whenever a player opens his mouth a la Grand Canyon in reaching for a note. "Gloria Swanson has a marvelous way of answering people who ask her if she really does her own singing in 'The Trespasser.' Without clearing her throat, or snapping her fingers for an accompanist, she simply breaks into song. Her voice is one of those charming, naturally melodious ones that never has to feel its way round for true pitch. "Gloria was in one of her lovely, joyous moods when she stopped off here on her way to Europe, and when Gloria is happy there isn't a more gracious human being to be found anywhere. When she is worried, she becomes aloof and goes into portentous silences. But on this trip she went through the most grueling experiences as gayly as a lark." While Fanny was speaking, I was wondering if larks really are gay. If a casting director for sound effects were asked to find a gay lark, could he? I heard of one who had a lot of trouble searching for a bell that would live up to the description "As clear as " Dear, dear, what troubles these sound effects have caused ! One man was headed for a madhouse after trying to find a Yiddish-speaking parrot and some baritone crickets. I snapped out of my reverie to find Fanny still ranting about Gloria. "How she ever stands the strain I can't see. This is supposed to be a vacation for her, but ten photographers met her at the train, and there were as many more waiting at the hotel to take pictures of her in lounging pajamas. In two hours she talked to twenty-three interviewers, and when she stole off to see Dorothy Stone, in 'Show Girl,' some more newspaper men spotted her and rushed up to ask questions. She expects to make personal appearances at the premiere of her picture in London, Brussels, Paris, and Berlin. What a vacation !" I do hope that some one has notified both Gloria and Cecil DeMille that a bathroom is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of .Art. As pioneers in the movement to exploit bathrooms as works of art. they should be told that their campaigning has broken down the reserve of the most conservative of institutions. I wouldn't even mention museums to Fanny, though. She wouldn't understand any one going to a place where movies are not shown. I doubt if she ever even de Anna May Wong's triumphs in Europe are social as well as professional. Evelyn Pierce is another who gave up Hollywood to play in "Show Girl." veloped an ambition to go to Sing Sing until she heard that they had installed talkies there. "Wouldn't you love to go to Europe now ?" she asked in a burst of enthusiasm. "There are so many American stars in England and France it must be terribly exciting." And to think that some misguided souls go over just to see a few old cathedrals and remnants of aristocracy ! They would never rate as real movie fans comp a red with Fanny. "John Gilbert and Tna Claire are in London. Reginald Denny is in England to make pictures. Adolphe Menjou and Kathryn Carver will in France to make ] pictures, while that old inpatriatc. Rex Ingram, is coming back home I :hool and learn about talkies. But the real senContinued on page 94