Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

100 The Boy Grows Older Continued from page 25 to New York he had to stop at the cheapest hotel he could find, one in a side street. Four years before he had stopped in state at the Ritz. This time he awoke in the mornings looking out to a brick wall and the too-near clatter of garbage cans. From beginning to end, a distressing tale. In studio parlance, "a rotten break." More than enough to sour the stanchest of hearts. More than enough to excuse a truculent outlook on what was left of the world. I met him between scenes of "The Auction Block," his second picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A tall young man with a boyish smile — not exactly shy, but deferential, nice. He drew up chairs and we speculated on the weather and such, after the manner of polite people. I was curious to know if he had become bitter, so when the conversation turned into more salient channels I watched his attitude carefully. And no matter what was mentioned, from the latest gossip to his own hard luck, he was most of all tolerant, kind in his judgments, no trace of rancor in his opinions. I spoke of this to him, that, he apparently harbored no hard feelings. He looked shocked. "I should say not," he assured me vehemently. ''Why, everybody has been marvelous to me. Of course, if people, as well as circumstances, had gone entirely against me, I suppose I should feel different. But the people here at home — so decent ! And my creditors — they were splendid. "While, as for the fans — I know it sounds like apple sauce to declaim about how much their faith means. But it happens to be true. Fd be a rotter if I didn't appreciate their kindness. The letters they have written — and especially at Christmas. Some of them had bits of poetry — about 'Be of good cheer.' Gee !" He laughed and turned away, but I had seen that his eyes were moist. After all, he seems so young. He isn't really a boy any longer, of course. Not in years. But be has the quality of youth. It is not alone in his boyish face and manner — in his rather high-pitched, slow voice. It is something more definite — a simplicity that is rarely found after the adolescent years. He has not the sophisticate's fear of the simple emotions— emotions that are dubbed sentimental to-day. It is out of this clarity of vision that the best of his pictures have grown. Homely stories, simply told— like "The Old Swimmin' Hole" and "The Girl I Foved." He is the perfect portrayer of James Wmitcomb Riley whom he reveres. "Riley hasn't been dead long enough to be properly appreciated." It is apparently a favorite topic. He pulled his chair closer and emphasized his argument by bending suddenly forward in his earnest, confidential manner. "Why," he beseeched, "are people so afraid to admit they have hearts? They laugh at things that are the fundamental emotions of life. Laugh and call them sentimental. According to people like that, of course, Riley is a sentimentalist. But only the other day I saw proof that he did not sugar coat human feelings. "Last Sunday we dropped in to see Norma Talmadge. She met us in the drawing-room with tears in her eyes. We hadn't known until then that her father had died the day before. She couldn't talk much, but she said : 'You know, I can't seem to realize that he is really dead. I keep thinking he will come back, that he's only away.' "Norma didn't know it, but that is practically a line from one of Riley's poems. Remember? T cannot say, and I will not say, that he is dead — he is just away.' You see, when those things are brought home to us, they are not 'sentimental.' They are real — real!" "The Girl I Loved" brought us to the unfortunate "Courtship of Miles Standish." I think it still requires an effort for him to talk of this picture that met so much adverse criti cism. For years he had planned it and worked toward it. "I suppose I went about it wrong," he says. "I didn't try to make it essentially entertainment. I thought they would rather have the story done in authentic atmosphere. And I zvas authentic — so it hurt ! But they didn't like it. And, oh, how the critics can hurt in a case like that. They seem to overlook the effort and labor and love that goes into the making of a picture like that. One reviewer dismissed it by saying I had only done it to see myself in costume. Oh, well " He" smiled a little ruefully. "We're ready for you, Charlie," Hobart Henley called. Mr. Ray excused himself and took his place before the ^camera. He was playing a youth-about-town, a contrast to his first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, "Bright Lights." It is fairly certain that M.-G.-M. will retain his services from now on. This picture, "The Auction Block," should definitely reestablish him. Eleanor Boardman — the lovely lady who is, I take it, auctioned off — sank into her chair after weeping into the camera for half an hour. We watched Charlie as he and Mr. Henley planned the mechanics of the scene. "He is a charming actor," Eleanor said. "Watch this scene now. It might be so trivial — but he makes it mean volumes. And without being obvious — that's the trick !" When he came back and I prepared to leave, I asked him about his plans for the future. "Well, I hope I'll be staying here. I love this lot — it's easy to work your very best here. "All that other," he added haltingly, "has been a good lesson to me. I deserved it, or it wouldn't have happened." You've been a big help to him so far, boys and girls. And he is deeply grateful for your aid. So now — keep it up ! Not only because he is an excellent actor, but also because he's such a darn good sport. Hollywood's Continued from page 34 — none made quite so deep an impression as has the current one, Harrison Post, son of a rich Los Angeles clubman. Little Betty Bronson and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., are believed to have had quite a case on each other, which worried parents nipped in the bud, but they are still permitted to go riding together on Sunday afternoons in Doug's snappy roadster. Latest Adventures ii About Pola Negri, you just can't tell. Pola has simply got the habit of falling in love. She thrives on it, calling love "one of the crosses a woman has to bear." Bill Tilden, tennis champ, Billy Haines, Michael Arlen, Valentino — all have figured in Pola's life this past year. To be sure. Rod La Rocque pops up every now and then, and only recently Pola stated that she admired Matrimony him more than any other. So this year may see her buoyant heart firmly anchored. I wish Hollywood would sift out her worth from her tinsel, find herself, make up her mind what she wants to marry for keeps, wed it, and forever after hold her peace. As though she would ! Anyway, she has more marriages to her credit during this past year than ever before. Will they last?