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24
For Better, or
Hollywood is a place of panicky uncertainty since the first brought not only disturbances to careers,
By Edxtfin
Warner Baxter's personality changed with his playing of accented roles.
Norma Shearer made the leap from silence
into speech without losing her old-time
individuality.
SJ I OULD there ever be a real movie follies in the future, no better name could be suggested for it than "The Frenzied Errors of 1029-30."
The only trouble is that it wouldn't be an entertainment with comedy and music, but a sobby sort of drama verging on tragedy. Therefore it might have to be retitled "The Wages of Syn-chronizing Before You Are Ready." And the words of the theme song, if any. would run something like this: "Be yourself, if you can. but be anything to be popular."
While movieland has undergone violent changes during the pasl year, none of these lias compared with the alteration that has taken place right before fandom's eyes in the personalities of the stars themselves.
Filmgoers have seen the exotic loveliness of Greta Garbo, all magic, vanish overnight to the tune of a husky, heavy Swedish accent heard in a river-front on.
They have beheld the orchidais charm of Corinne Griffith fold its petals under a nasal languor.
They have listened disappointedly and with amusement, even, to the treb'e staccato of John Gilbert waxing fervidly romantic.
They have questioned curiously Janet Gaynor, with tremulous highpitched voice, dashing impetuously into a mammy-song atmosphere, and witnessed Vihna Banky's flowerlike beauty perish because of a to,, -marked Hungarian inflection.
^> (-. thi' talkies have been playing havoc with the public's accepted
ot stars. Right from their beginning of lisps and sizzling s's.
The results, while not always disastrous, are at least disconcerting.
Lewis Ayres, recently only a cabaret
musician, has become an actor to be
reckoned with.
They make one wonder at the game of hide-and-seek that Mr. Microphone — -"dat old davil" microphone, to be exact — engages in with the personalities of the fair and handsome filmers. How did they all get into such a mess, if mess it be, and where is it going to lead ?
Of course, it is possible to begin right off by making an exception of Garbo. She altered her aura completely, and apparently got away with it. Disillusionment attended hearing her speak, especially for those who idolized her ever-elusive fascination. But though "Anna Christie" brought her down to earth, so to say, it simultaneously strengthened the conviction that she is a fine actress.
Unlike her previous efforts though the sordid role was, it would have been ridiculous for her to have attempted any other portrayal but a Swedish one at the outset, because she could not have qualified with any naturalness of speech. She would have disappointed her adoring fans, and failed also to please the critics.
If all transitions to the talkies had been as skillfully managed as Garbo's, there would be little to cry about. Hers is one of the best breaks that has come about, and it was doubly lucky, because she overcame any disturbance
In song and speech Gloria Swanson maintains her old allure.