Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1926 - Feb 1927)

17 acterization! in Hollywood's assemblage of talent, probable future of stellar favorites. Schallert powers for that all-important thing — characterization. It is distinctly, and essentially a progressive era, even though it may also be one that is bringing many disconcerting changes — especially as regards the filmgoers' allegiance to old-time favorites. Even conservative producers admit there has been a very appreciable increase in the number of players who can make money for them. The more progressive estimate that increase at twenty-five to fifty per cent. That number at least have proven a definite drawing power at the box office though, of course, because of the newness of the arrivals, a considerable range naturally has to be allowed in the estimate. "Most of the newer favorites have established themselves very thoroughly," Irving Thalberg, the guiding spirit of production at MetroGoldwyn-Mayer told me recently. "A. few of them are still favorites only in the larger cosmopolitan centers, where newspaper Photo by Ruth Harriet Louise There is undoubted stellar material in Joan Crawford. and other publicity is much more widely circulated than in the smaller communities. It will take another year or so for many of the newer favorites to be established in the smaller communities, but from all that we can determine we believe wholeheartedly in their future. "The so-called craze for new faces is not a craze at all Renee Adoree. Charles Farrell will greatly benefit by his performance in "Old Ironsides." Reginald Denny is a fixed luminary. Dolores del Rio. in my opinion, but is merely due to the necessity for establishing more finely drawn characterizations than ever before. The industry has found it necessary to search beyond the alreadyaccepted field of players for faces that can more keenly interpret the fine points of the characters to be portrayed. This has naturally resulted in strong benefit to the industry as a whole, and the fact that better pictures have been made, due to more careful characterization, has given renewed stimulus to the public." Mr. Thalberg's opinion is one that every alert fan will find himself echoing. There is no doubt that the screen has gained immensely by the arrival of such players as Miss Costello, Miss Banky and Miss Garbo — not to speak of Norma Shearer, Jack Gilbert, Ramon Novarro, Ronald Colman and others already well established — and the stage actors whose -names I have mentioned, as well as others. The majority of picturegoers relish their presence. Only a very few, in fact, have stupidly persisted in adhering to old-time idols, regardless of any one else who may come upon the cinema horizon. Where their letters have appeared in the columns of "What the Fans Think" in Picture-Play, for example, they have generally excited a barrage of reproaches for their hidebound attitude. Barrymore will bring much through a protracted stay in pictures, and "The Sea Beast" has already shown him to be vastly popular. H. B. Warner's work should mean a great deal to all thinking people because he demonstrates the most excellent taste in acting. People have already praised Joseph Schildkraut and his work in "The Road to Yesterday," and they have lavished intense admiration on William Boyd. It is certain that Victor Varconi will 'be a great hit everywhere. What finer, too', than Lionel Barrymore in his deft and brilliant characterizations in such pictures as "The Barrier?" Just because characterization is now the thing that is in the cinema spotlight is absolutely no reason why many of the long-established stars shall not continue to thrive, whose great popular success has been due to the appeal of their personalities. Most of these Continued on page 116