Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

43 Jetta Steps Doxtfn But Not Out La Goudal proves anew that she is a law unto herself by relinquishing stardom for lesser roles, with smiling indifference to what Hollywood thinks. By William H. McKegg AMID the glitter of the ballroom many were the dazzling ladies who caught the attention of onlookers. But, as if magnetized, all eyes roved across the gorgeous set until they rested on one lady. She stood out from the beautiful background like a bird of paradise among a flock of sparrows. That is Jetta Goudal for you. Jetta will invariably surprise you. She has just surprised all Hollywood. It was on this topic that I had come to the studio to get an explanation. "I understand," Jetta remarked, "that many stars feel they lose caste when they play any role less than a stellar one. For myself, I do not feel that way. A good part is a good part, whether it be a star part or otherwise. Think of the stars who have disappeared from view rather than step from the pedestal of stardom." La Goudal had just crossed the set and was reclining in her chair. All eyes were on her. This caste complex has been one of Hollywood's blackest blights. Here, at last, was a star brave enough to smash it to smithereens and toss the pieces in the air. "Why should I drop out of pictures through consecrating myself to stardom?" Jetta further inquired, in a throbbing crescendo, her eyes widening. "Mais, non! "It may sound strange," she went on, faintly arching her delicate brows, "but I do not entertain the least idea that I have come down, or lost caste, through playing a supporting role. I like my work too much, and I am very sensible." Was this Jetta Goudal, the supposed terror of directors, the dread of producers, speaking? Did ever a • reputedly temperamental star talk as sanely as she ? Nevertheless it was Jetta who spoke. Jetta, the mystery of Hollywood. Jetta, the so-called firebrand. Jetta, who until recently had not appeared on the screen in ten months, because of a disagreement with Cecil DeMille. Tetta, a star in her own right, is now playing a mere role in D. W. Griffith's "The Love Song." Deprived of stardom for a while, Jetta shed no tears, but finally accepted a part in "The Cardboard Lover." In that comedy, she who was born to reign supreme, acted quite happily as the butt of Marion Davies' pranks. La Goudal, of whom everything pertaining to fireworks and explosions has been reported, did that which one would expect only from the sanest and most reasonable player. "I . feel," she essayed to explain, alluding to her startling behavior in breaking Hollywood's caste complex— "well, I do not know how to say it. You hear sometimes of a millionaire forsaking his luxurious surroundings, to live for a while in a mountain camp. It makes him very happy. I feel just like that these days. But why should that affect my standing? Why should I be supposed to lose caste by playing in a picture of which I am not the star? Jetta Goudal finds a role to her liking in "The Love Song," and that is more important than stardom to the true artist. "The millionaire can always return to his real position. So, too, can the star." Jetta was very enthusiastic over her role in the new film, with William Boyd and Lupe Velez. It is a costume picture — and who knows better how to wear costumes than Goudal ? She portrays a striking role — that of the mistress of Napoleon III. •While working with Marion Davies, it is said that all the studio thought the world of Jetta. Mr. Griffith thinks her very clever, sweet, and patient. One wonders what they think of this at the erstwhile DeMille studio. A young man approached, to show Jetta some jewelry designs for one of her costumes. At a single glance, La Goudal suggested an improvement. She made the setting more striking by explaining how it could be bettered. The paste diamonds were offered for her comments. Jetta scrutinized them through a little glass and chose the best stones. She does all these things with the calm, indifferent manner of a connoisseur. Griffith, who always supervises the costumes Avorn by his players, permitted Jetta to design her own. He has only allowed Lillian Gish to do this in the past. While the dressmaker rushed up as soon as the young man had left, I wondered if many vanished luminaries would to-day be in the public eye had they followed the path Goudal is treading. Many of them preferred to wait for another chance to star, rather than accept a good part and, to their thinking, thereby lose caste. With a slender hand, holding a painted ivory fan on a jeweled chain, her head bent slightly forward, Jetta turned to me and went on with the frank appraisal of her revolutionary action. "It is bad, you know, for a star to remain out of public view too long. After my break with DeMille, I Continued on page 117