Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

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59 Unxtfept and Unsung Carroll Nye is interviewed for the first time, although he has appeared in thirty-six pictures. B>? Madeline Glass CARROLL NYE has appeared conspicuously in thirty-six films, yet this is his first interview. He has never had a portrait in a magazine. He has had only the most meager newspaper publicity. Until recently he did not have that very essential asset, a press agent. Being a free-lance actor, going continually from studio to studio, producers do not concern themselves with building up his fame. To do so would be an unheard of demonstration of philanthropy. All the publicity which it is possible by hook or by crook to obtain is given, naturally, to players under contract. Carroll's utter lack of publicity is doubly remarkable, in view of the fact that his mother holds an important position on a Los Angeles newspaper. Here again is a stumbling block. The mother feels that it would be a breach of journalistic ethics to promote her son's interests by mentioning his name in her department ; and the other morning newspaper, being a formidable rival, has little interest in Carroll, because of his mother's affiliation with the enemy ! It is doubtful if another actor in the entire colony can equal Carroll Nye in the matter of being unwept, unhonored, and unsung. Although it is unfortunate that he should have been deprived of deserved credit and glory, it is, at any rate, gratifying to know that it is possible for a talented person to make consistent progress in his fantastic profession, without journalistic influence of any nature whatever. Indeed, such an achievement has all the earmarks of a mir Madeline Glass found that Carroll Nye has more traits of his profession than any actor she has met. acle. Before talking with him I tried to remember what I had seen and heard of his career, but found my mental notes to be vague and limited. Let's see. He made his first hit in "Classified," with Corinne Griffith. Her brother, yes. Kept tearing the radio to pieces in a manner calculated to put one's teeth on edge. Then a series of wayward brothers. Wasn't he electrocuted once or twice, pictorially speaking? Then I remembered having noticed him on the set with Novarro, at the Metro-Goldwyn studio, where they were making "The Flying Ensign," alias "The Flying Fleet." A pity I had not paid more attention to Carroll, instead of keeping my eyes glued to Ramon. Still it was fas Carroll had a typical role in "While the City Sleeps"— that of a sympathetic crook. Photo by Brown cinating to watch the great Novarro, dressed in uniform, eating olives and talking Spanish to a Mexican girl. Since nothing had been written about Carroll Nye, I figured that getting first-hand information about him should be interesting. It was. "I've been working steadily, thank the Lord !" he exclaimed, almost immediately. "Just finished a quickie." We were having lunch in a Chinese cafe. Or rather, I was having lunch. Carroll, having had what he described as an actor's breakfast, took only dessert and coffee. "The smaller companies," he went on, "like to give their pictures a prosperous, impressive appearance by having the people in them wear a wide variety of clothes. Although I played a man of small means in this picture, I had to wear my entire wardrobe. Finally I said, 'You'd better bring this picture to a wearing my We finished that day." On ' had made close ; I'm last suit.' the thing learning ■HI that he two talking pictures, I inquired about his voice. "It records very well," he told me, "although at times it sounds far too old to match my face. I think that difficulty will be overcome when the talking process is perfected. In its present state it does the strangest things to voices. For instance, Pauline Frederick has a beautiful, low, rich voice, yet the microphone records it rather badly. At the same time a girl with an ordinary, uncultivated voice may record excellently. [Continued on page 116]