Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1921)

The Revelations of a Star's Wife 21 "How are they going to release their pictures?" I asked. You see, you might make the best picture in rhe world, but if you couldn't be sure of selling it to :he men who own the motion-picture theaters all over rhe country you might just as well not make it. '"They're dickering with one of the big organizations. Of course, a good deal will depend on the stars who sign with them. They figure on getting me, on having Sonia Gerard for their big emotional star, Dick Bur dette and Mariorie Craig what do you suppose that fool of a director did? When I turned away from Carol he said, 'Wait a minute. Go back and kiss her again — hold her close and gaze into her eyes and tell her how much you love her — take out the rosebud and press it to your lips and then kneel down and ask for her blessing in farewell— it's moonlight, you know — this effect is going to be great — it's good for a hundred feet, and the audiences'll eat it up.' "I tried to argue with him. 'You're crazy !' I told him. 'No man worth his salt He tip-toed inio -** the bedroom and said "Sally ' dear?" again, but I didn't answer. Then he turned and tip-toed out to the kitchen for light comedies, and a good stock company for allstar pictures. Pretty good range, isn't it? Sonia had already signed with them, and Dick and Marjorie are pretty favorable. So — what do you think?" "Just what would it mean to us?" If I'd been the only one concerned I wouldn't have hesitated so long, but it meant Hughie, too. "It would mean economy for a _ while— till my first picture, and maybe my second, was released. WTe could rent the Los Angeles house for a good figure, now that the swimming pool's done, and you and the boy could go on location with me. Then I figure we'd make a killing, and could buy the ranch most any old time, instead of having to Avait for it. It's a gamble, of course — but it looks like a good one to me. "And the way things have been going lately I feel that I've got to clear out, even if it meant going back to selling bonds. Why, yesterday it was awful. We were doing one of my big scenes ; you know, the one where I dash off through the jungle full of hostile natives, to bring help to the besieged garrison. Carol slips down to the secret gate with me, kisses a rosebud, and gives it to me as a talisman. I'm supposed to be in an awful hurry, every second precious. "Naturally, I played it that way; caught Carol irp and kissed her once, and ran through the gate. And would dawdle around making love when a minute's delay might mean death for a hundred people. Think of the plot !' '' 'The plot be damned !' he answered. 'It's you in a love scene that people want to see.' "That's what I've got to get out of, if I'm going to go on making pictures. I'm not standing out for real character stuff, but if the}7 tie me down to that sort of thing I'll be ashamed to have decent men know my name when I meet 'em. What I'd like to do would be to wire the Magda people, to-day, that I'm quitting them as soon as this picture's finished, and to send another wire to this new concern, that I'll come over to them. It's a gamble, I know — but what do you say, dear?" There were voices just then, outside, and steps on the porch. I heard Carol Burnet exclaim : "Oh, Danny, I hope they're home !" I turned to Hugh quickly. "Scoot out of the back door and telegraph !" I whispered. "I'll burn your dress suit while you're gone." And his look of despair vanished in a broad grin as he caught up his hat and ran. "We've come to you for sanctuary," Carol told me laughingly, as the maid brought them into the living room. "It seemed to me that I couldn't spend another