Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

44 Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. AS long as I can remember f~ \ back, Gloria Swanson lias been my ideal heroine. I bad always liked her as a screen actress, but after I met her, I came to admire her still more. She has such a level head for a famous woman, not a bit turned by flattery, and she gave me such sensible advice and has been a very kind friend. Well-established stars don't always take the time to encourage and help the youngsters coming on, but Miss Swanson is a peach. Because I was born into the atmosphere, naturally the people I know best are professionals. Even at school, both here and abroad, my companions were mostly children of professional people. Several of the younger Paramount players and some of the children of directors pal around a lot. We have great times, but our future is all ahead of us and we mustn't get serious about love and such things yet. We've plenty of time for that. Raymond Keane I see no difference between girls in real life and picture heroines. I consider the screen a much more accurate reflector of life than many do. Jobyna Ralston is always the Mfls *f M m same, either on the screen or in 1 — ' her personal life — the sweetest Raymond Keane and most fascinating girl I have ever known. She expresses feminine charm in capital letters. The musical cadence of that drawling Southern voice enchants me, and she is such a "regular" girl. Never having met my second favorite player, Norma Shearer, I can only admire her on the screen and let my imagination picture myself in scenes with her — sauntering along an English country lane spattered with autumn leaves in the pale gold of sundown, talking quietly about things, and exchanging confidences. Sometimes I see her sitting very erect in a Lancashire spindle-backed chair. She is gowned in delicate, silver-gray chiffony stuff, with a collar of fine old lace, and on the table beside her fragile flowers in a tall are cloisonne vase. Richard Arlen Richard Arlen Pola Negri. No words are strong enough, no type is large enough, to express my admiration for this consummate artist, which began the day that I saw "Passion." She is the most definite artist we have. Such a wide range, such mental flexibility and elasticity of expression ! I have stood on the side lines, watching her do emotional scenes, and felt myself profoundly stirred. I shall be most grateful if ever I am permitted to work with her. Long may her art flourish ! George O'Brien Screen Heroes Pick Some of the young bachelors of the movies were here are their answers, describing their screen George O'Brien Whatever else she is, my ideal girl must not be inquisitive. I cannot tolerate women who hector a man into accounting for every moment, every thought. She who has tact enough not to question learns so much more in the long run. Shaw claims that men have more sentiment than women, and I believe he is right. Certainly, we do "romance" in our imaginations and enshrine in our memories the girls of yesterday. Whenever I go down to the beach, I think of Lois. She had a mass of hair, with the flame of a topaz, framing a sweet, thin face. How I hoped some day to see that pale face glowing with healthy color ! Lois had lung trouble. She used to come in from the sanitarium for a day at a time. We used to just sit and talk for a while. She had such keen intuition. Then I used to do athletic stunts to amuse her. "George, you buoy me up so," she would say, "you're so strong. Just being with you does me more good than all their old tonics." But she gave me, on those happy, tranquil days, in womanly sweetness and encouragement, more than I could ever repay. Lois went on — but the memory of her is the most cherished thing in my heart. My very best lady friend to-day is Baby Peggy. We have great times. My ideal girl is essentially feminine, companionable, with understanding, good sportsmanship, tenderness, and a sense of humor. While clinging vines do not appeal to me — so often they are hard and selfish beneath their delicacy — neither do I approve of the too-self-assertive and domineering girl. On the screen, Norma Shearer best illustrates my dream heroine. Where in real life, you ask, will I find this paragon? I have met her many times, in various guises. Why haven't I married, then ? Well, several times the girl didn't consider me her ideal. And sometimes she proved to be — inquisitive ! Donald Keith My ideal type of girl is a brunette, with dark-brown or black hair and dark eyes. She must like all things in moderation. I can't stand gushy enthusiasm. She must also be willing to let the past bury its own dead. I don't like "post mortems" in a poker game and I don't like a girl who is always "remembering when." I like a girl with full lips and a generous mouth, who is not afraid to smile. I like a slender girl, about five feet two inches tall, who is pretty. I hope, when I find her, that she likes me. Donald Keith