Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

29 quering Beery! — and a homely one at that — can be just as popThis erstwhile screen villain, after an uproarious starred by Paramount and treated by them as valued possessions. Schallert through the aftermath of the war. "Behind the Door" was one of the most important of the pictures he did during this period of villainy. It was Douglas Fairbanks who rediscovered Beery. The picture was "Robin Hood," in which .Wally won wide acclaim by his impersonation of Richard the Lion-hearted. He came very near playing the sinister role of King John in that production, because of his villainish reputation. He even rather wanted to play it, because he regarded Richard as too much of an experiment, but the urging of Doug triumphed, and Richard he played. This part completely altered his future and paved the way for the golden present. "The Sea Hawk," you may remember, followed almost immediately, and from then on, his course was steadily upward, with his contract with Famous Players-Lasky eventually following. The skillful and lucky management of his destiny by Paramount has undoubtedly boosted him briskly along the way, even though he himself has sometimes felt a little dubious about the roles assigned to him. Not dubious enough, however, to keep him from renewing his contract recentlv, which he did only after a discreet debate over all the advantages and disadvantages of a contract. , Beery is shrewd. In fact, there is none shrewder in filmland. There are no fine flourishes and wild theories in his talk. It is down-to-earth and practical. And he has always been that way fundamentally, though on the surface he has stood out as one of Hollywood's most spectacular individuals. I can remember my first impression of him — the wild bull of the movie pampas. He was a boisterous, gay, somewhat roaring fellow, irrepressible and unrestrained. He was thunderously young in spirit. He might have been in his late thirties. This was about six years ago — during the making of "The Rosary." I have a clearcut recollection of him laughing and kidding on the set, chucking a girl under the chin, as he gazed at her banteringly, much to the joy of everybody. The Beery of to-day is much more sober. His advancing estate has undoubtedly served to settle him. Besides, his second marriage has been a singularly fortuitous one, and has given him a more serious outlook on things. Before, he had no special responsibilities, no definite aim except to have a good time while he was working. And he did! Don't you forget it! "Robin Hood" was the turning point. He met his present wife during its filming. . Beery has told me how he happened to propose to her. She was then Rita Gilman, and was engaged in a small part in the Fairbanks opus. Beery, with a frank eye for feminine charms and a1 tractions, observed her on the set, and immediately became interested. But he had unusual difficulty — for him — in making any impression on her. Finally, one day, he was passing her dressing room. She was inside, and a group of other girls were with her. Beery, with his usual gusto and abandon, decided Wallie first met Rita Gilman on the "Robin Hood" set, bluntly informed her he would marry her some day— and did! to make the most of the moment. He stuck his head in at the door, shook his index finger at her, and fastening her with a wise half smile, said with Herculean emphasis, "Some day I'm going to marry you !" then walked right on, while laughter pealed in his magnificent wake as, in all the royal robes of Richard, he swept away. His daring must have turned the trick. It didn't meet . with response immediately, for he got a cold look at the next encounter, but by and by he was noticed again, talked to a little, gradually accepted, and finally wedded. "She's the best pal in the world," says Wally. "Just my style, and regular. She goes hunting with me and fishing. Last year we took a long packing trip together — and that's no joke for a woman, either !" It is generally agreed by all who know them that Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Beery are one of the most ideally mated couples in the movies, and that Mrs. Beery understands how to cope with whatever adventure her husband may choose to embark upon. She is statuesque, distinguished, and very prepossessing, appearing to advantage whenever she appears in public. And yet she enters thoroughly into the spirit of "roughing it" whenever she goes hunting and fishing with her husband. Wally has bought a whole island in the middle of a mountain lake, where he can satisfy his fever for sport and life in the outdoors, and he and his wife spend most of the time between his pictures at this distant location. Wally also hangs out the latchstring for the "boys from the studio." With a great sweeping gesture, he invites the fraternity to go up to his island whenever they want to, whether he himself is there or not. "You'll find everything you need except food," he