Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

CO Hollywood Higk Ligkts and capricious Irene, whose song and personality have thrilled theatergoers. Miss Bordoni is to star for First National, and that concern has ambitious plans for her to sing her films not only in English, but in French and German as well. Conrad and Lya Go Conrad Veidt and Lya de Putti have bidden Hollywood farewell, and Victor Varconi will soon follow. They will pursue the witchlight of movie success in Europe. They may some time return to America, but there is little certainty about this at the present time. Veidt wrote us a note of parting in perfectly constructed English. When he came to this country originally he could hardly say a word in the language. Lya sent us a charming telegram. Veidt expects to work in England and Germany, and Miss De Putti already has an engagement at a London studio. ^mmmmmm They are very gifted and de Iflfl^^SSB lightful people. It is a pity that they have gone. Movieland Word-building The word "talkies" is considered lowbrow. For that reason somebody is always trying to evolve a new name to take its place. The latest suggested in all seriousness by a film director is "cinelogue." Like many things that : are logical enough, it probably won't be popular. Greta Is Stiller Heir All the fantastic reports to the effect that Greta Garbo would stay in Sweden once she arrived there, have been nicely exploded. She is already back at the studio and about to begin a new picture. Greta's return to her native land was triumphant, according to all reports emanating from there. She was interviewed and feted wherever she went, and there were even the usual rumors of fervent attentions she received from one or two princely admirers. Among other events that happened in her life, she received an inheritance of $75,000 from Mauritz Stiller, her discoverer. His will left her one half of his estate valued at $150,000. His tragic experience in Hollywood never caused any change of sentiment toward the girl whom he admired and sponsored professionally. When things went badly with him, and he returned to his native land, he urged Greta to continue with her brilliant success here, averring that he understood the peculiar turn that fate had taken. Castles to Other Hands Two great mansions are to pass out of the hands of their celebrated owners. One of these is the Fred Thomson-Frances Marion estate, which is on the market for sale, and the other the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Moreno. Both are beautifully built on high hilltops. The Moreno home is to be turned into an institution for the care and education of children. It was the wish Estelle Taylor went to great pains — literally— to achieve slanting eyes for her Oriental role in Lon Chaney's "Where East is East." of Mrs. Moreno's father that some such establishment be provided in his memory, and so Tony and she have decided to turn it over for that purpose. They are taking a trip abroad, and on their return will probably move to Beverly Hills. Frances Marion has found her residence too full of memories, and also, because of its vast size, too much of a burden for herself alone. She is to sell both the house and furnishings, as well as Thomson's famous horses, with the exception of Silver King. Frances has wisely chosen to begin life anew, and goes out quietly to the theater and social affairs, in which she has never heretofore taken great interest. A Citric Compliment The honor of having an orange named after her was recently conferred on a prominent star at a citrus show in one of the southern California towns in the orange j>JtJ1 belt. "Good it wasn't a lemon," Johnny Hines, the drawingroom wit remarked, when he heard about it. Mix Is Lionized Tom Mix's destiny is subject to strange changes. That he may go to Europe, tour in vaudeville, or return to Fox, are the various reports in circulation regarding him, and the last time we talked with him he had not made up his mind about anything, though favoring the vaudeville adventure. Tom is very calm and selfcontained, in contrast to a few months ago. He seems resigned to the many alterations that have taken place in his life lately, though there is apparently no definite settlement of his marital affairs as yet. At all events, he is enjoying a bright social flurry. He was entertained at a luncheon given in his honor at the Montmartre, at which only fair ladies were in attendance. When the men spotted him being thus entertained, they all sent their luncheon checks to him for payment. Slick Silent Signaling New tricks every day for the talkies. Here's one that pertains to direction. As you perhaps know the old custom of megaphoning instructions to the actor is out. Indeed, a director daren't even whisper to a player any suggestion regarding the improvement of his performance. And as the matter of correcting such a player's faults and mannerisms has been often a part of the director's duty, the situation in sound films sometimes becomes very complicated. Here is the story of one experience. An actor, who had long been appearing in silent films, one day procured work in a dialogue picture. In general, he was most acceptable, but he had several peculiarities that marred his portrayal. One of these was shaking his head when he talked ; another was swaying his shoulders when he didn't shake his head, and the third — oh, well, no matter. The director, finding the habits all rather ineradicable, and requiring constant reminding of their existence from him, hit upon the expedient of attaching threads to the