Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

Over trie Teacups 29 good, but I've seen her do better. The other people in the sketch with her were just a bit of rare old ham, and I suppose that affected her performance. Aileen Pringle did a gripping horror skit, playing a very cold, cruel, and selfish girl of the crinoline period. She was just as poised and sure of her effects as though she had left the stage yesterday, instead of six or seven years ago. "Carmel Myers was on the same bill, but she was in a travesty which gave no idea of what she might be like in a straight dramatic offering. Anyway, I didn't see much of her. Raymond Hatton was in the skit with her, and you know I can't see any one else when he is on the stage. It's like seeing Louise Fazenda in a picture. I never even know that any one else is in it, except for a feeling of annoyance when she is off the screen." While Fanny had been holding forth about this, that, and the other thing, a lot of people had wandered in, quite disproving her statement that every one was home with the flu. Jane Winton was there, and she never looked more radiant in her life. "Jane's working all over town," Fanny announced curtly, as though it was sheer ungraciousness of Jane to work all the time and thus disrupt their bridge games. "She's in 'The Haunted Lady,' for Universal, and 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey,' at the Metro-Goldwyn studio, and all the returns for this week aren't in yet. She may be starting another film to-morrow. She takes a singing lesson every day, and impossible as it may seem, she finds time to dash down to the hospital and see people who are ill." "It seems to me that practically everybody is in 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey,' or should I say 'on' it. No wonder it breaks down in the story. Lily Damita plays The Perichole, doesn't she?" Fanny's eyes glowed with enthusiasm. "Yes, and what's more, she has a new contract with Sam Goldwyn, in spite of all the hue and cry about shipping the foreigners home. But, according to the terms of the contract, she has to speak perfect English in six months. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if any one demanded that Sam Goldwyn speak perfect English in six months ! "But speaking of contracts, Sue Carol doesn't seem to be allowing hers to worry her." Little Miss Carol had come in with a group of friends, and was looking as gay and carefree as could be. "You know, she claims that Douglas MacLean and his lawyers didn't notify her at the proper time that they wanted to take up their option on her services. They claim that they did. They plan to sue her, I believe, and in the meanwhile Fox stands ready with a contract for Sue. She is to coSally Eilers is in "Trial Marriage," and her work is expected to attract the attention of the big producers. Photo by Spuvr Louise Fazenda will provide the laughs in the next Alice White picture. star in a picture with Nick Stuart. Rather than have a long-drawn-out legal battle, I suppose they will effect a settlement out of court. But she offered MacLean twenty-five thousand dollars for a release from her contract months ago, and he refused it. So I can't imagine how much he would want for it, now that she has grown more popular and more valuable. "I wish somebody would develop the proper enthusiasm for Sally Eilers." Fanny grew almost wistful, a pose that is not her forte. "It isn't friendship on my part, as I have never met the girl but once* But I think she is awfully ingratiating and clever. She reminds me of a baby Alice Brady. She is working in 'Trial Marriage' for Columbia, now, but one of the big companies is sure to take her up before long. "It looks to me as though any girl with less than a year's experience on the stage won't have a chance in pictures this year. Companies are intent on signing players with lots of stage experience. What a sweet lot of ingenues we are going to see for a while — until audiences rebel ! Players who look all right on the stage will find that the camera adds ten years, at least." Continued 6.n: page !1 1 8