Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

B The Girl Who Dared g;at.6 »,'ottage — camo into tho rooii), with an air oi niliy dignity. ■' Marigold, thia is Aunt Susajj. She kcc^ia house for me, and sees tliat I behave myself. ' So he had provided a </liaperon ! Marigold's noso went up, but ulie had to bo nice to the elderly porson as .-jho termed Auiifc Susan. Tho latter greeted her cordially, but with a certain air of formality, and amnjiuiced that lunch was ready. The meal was laid in a delightful' room at tho back, overlooking a stretch of sunny garden, and when iliey had taken their places Aunt Susan askctl a brief blcswing. Afterwards she spoke of the sermon that morning, and Marigold gathered that had Hoy not been expecting her, ho would havo accompanied hi« aunt to church. Was he a " goody-goody " ? She could not understand tho dcf< reij'.e iio paid to his aunt, unless tho old lady had money which he expected to inherit. In tlie world that Marigold had Iniilt up for herself thero was no room for old age, as such. Truo enough, thero were plenty of old men knocking about, but they were rich and dandified. They wero very xiseful when it canio to chartering river launches, or in organii^ing Jazz dances and other pleasures which demanded a long cheque-book. Otherwise slie had no xise in lier life for them. As for maiden aunts well over sixty — well, there was na accounting for tastes, sinco Roy really seemed to like his elderly relation. During tho meal they also diseusved what they should do that afternoon. Marigold's Costume forbade climbing the steeiJ hill in searclj of lilies-of-the-valley, and anyway, she was by no means keen on it. What she really wanted to do was to join her friends at Maidenhead. Hoping to shock Aunt Susan into early retirement, she lit a cigarette, but the old laily refused to bo shocked, or at least, to show it. She was amiability personified. They went back into the living-room. Marigold, listless and annoyed, Roy rather mystified by her manner. It struck him forcefully that ho and this charming talented gir-l must get to know each other ever so much bettor beforo they wero married. Ho wondered if ho could teach her to lovo simple things, and why his conception of what was beautiful, and hers, fihould bo so radically different. Scarcely had tliey re-entered the living-room. And tho old lady was leaving them with some wholly unnecessary excuse in Marigold's opinion, when there sounded a shaip rat-a-tattat at the door. Roy opened it, and in canjo Dacre Lawton, lookina; frightfully anxious. " Oh, thank goodness you're here ! " he exclaimed, on catching sight of Marigold. " I'm awfully soriy to bother you on a Sunday, but Peter Dennett has just motored over. Yon know he's under contract to the S. and O. people who are lending him to us, and ho can only give us this afternoon. Fortunately there aren't many of his scenes. He getskilled by Ben Adcm in your big scene in the lion's cage, you know.' Marigold listened, her face growing whiter and whiter. She understood , what Dacre tawton meant. This man Dennett was a famous trainer very much in demand for animal films, and no one else had been found sulliciently competent — indeed, willing to play the part required. In tho scene Lawton referred to, ho htid to allow himself to be thoroxighly well mauled by Ben Adem, and laid out for dead before Marigold— or Janice, as arranged — di'ove tho lion into a comer of the cage. Despairingly, Marigold raised her eyes to Dacro Lawton. " I can't do it to-day, Mr. Lawton ; you know I can't," she said. ,-" Why not ? " ho asked mockingly. " It's fthsohitely necessary, or otherwiso I certainly shouldn't ask you." ' ' " But none of my things are here ! " she cried. .Lawton laughed disagreeably. " That's a detail which I've taken tlie liberty ol remedying. I telephoned to . your ' maid,' and she's on her way down noyv with everything you require. Come, my dear, pull yourself together." "Oh, it's all right., of course.!" Marigold: eaid with a ^ai^p of relici". " I'd' better go over at once." "♦I'm tToming, too," Stfgdcn said. " I feel unejiBy aboufr that scene — after what liappencd last night. Are yoii sure it's safe, Lawton 'i " The producer lighted one of his big cigars before replying. Then he said quietly : " If it wasn't safe, I wouldn't ask any wom.m to do it— particularly a woman that I believe I'm going to grow uncommonly fond of," " Hero ! " laughed Roy. " Marigold and I haven't announced it yet, but — — " " Oh, I wasn't really thinking of Marigold," Lawton replied enigmatically. Janice Begins Her Work. " 'T'HIS double business is going to take inn I years off my life ! " exclaimed Marigold. " Hero I'll bo shut up in this stuffy hole all the attenioon, while 1 might havo been enjoying rrtyself on the river." Janice smiled as she plasteied her face with tho yellow-white make-up which transformed lier to all eyes but tho camera's from a remarkably pretty girl to the semblance of a nlown. Marigold wished that in some way she couH get a glimpse of what would be going on, but.it was impos>iible. Most of tho animal scenes wero to be taken in the main circus tent, and tho.se in the bathing pool v/ould not be filmed this afternoon. ■ Janice was assuming nioro confidence than she really felt. Her heait was ijuaking us she crossed the springy lawns to the big tent. Only Lawton knew who she was, but he would help her out, and she determined to fasten herself to him and ignore everybody else in so far as possible. She wondered what they would all think if they knew that a rank amateur was amongst thisra — a girl who hatl never been filmed before. Of course, she knew how to take the scenes— ever so slow ; Marigold had tolfl her, because the camera's eye couldn't follow every stage of a quick move or gesture. .She had practised and practised, imagining the click, click of tho camera to be following hor. And now she was afraid. It wasn't the animals that made her nervous, although, to be .sure, she would havo prefen'ed to begin her career under less trying conditions ; it was the crowd of perfonners with whom she was supposed to be on friendly terms : Roy Sugden, who iinagined himself engaged to be married to her, and, above all others, the camera man. Lawton was waitmg for her at tho opening into the big tent. " Ah, hero's Miss Clare," ho announced. "Now wo can begin. This is Dermett, Miss Clare — yout ' husband,' whose life you try in NO photograph can justly reflect the beauty of Alice Joyce, which rests so largely m « her exquisite natuial colouring. She is one of the screen's loveliest women, and possesses two of the most beautiful, sad eyes imaginable. Alice Joyce has the alino.sphere lA the sweet, old-fashioned girl about her, and looks at you with a frankness and honesty that are unmistakable. She is a thinker, and is positive, without being aggressive, in her ideas. " I have never been able to understand," she onco remarked, " why a girl will change her mode of dress or hair-dress, which is becoming, to one that positively mars her, simply because tho style changes. I believe in simplicity in dress whatever fashion may decree." It is Oiily natural that tho sweetly simple thoughts of this unspoiled girl should be mirrored m her beautiful face. From Telephone Operator to Cinema Star. ALICE JOYCE was bom in Kansas City, and her first position was as a telephone operator. The position did not satisfy her, however, and when motion jDict ures beckoned she joined the Kalem Company, and played in a story of the rail-road. From the first she was a great success, and picture-goers wero very regretful when ehe announced her retirement. ■ . . But her faithful admirers would not let her reruain in obscurity, and in the end their persistent entrcatie'! that she should I'elui'n were rewarded. Tfu ritture Show, Aufjuel 'iml, 1919. vain to sa\e, although he lias been a brute to you." Janice nodded gravely. " Yes, I know tho story. How do you do, Mr. Dennett V " » . ' Sho offered tho burly trainer her liand politely, and Meretham, who was standing near, nudged Nora Coutts, and whispered behind; his hand : " Look at ' Miss Haughtiness ' cou-; descending ! " ' ' It was all too trae that Marigold gave scant: courtesy to those whom she considered to bo her inf'iriors, but .J.mice — even had she been awaro of it — could scarcely havo emulated her sister in that re.^pect. She was too innately courteous. I'aying no attention to Roy Sugden, who ■^tood near, regarding her with a faintly puzzled expression, she devoted herself to Dermett, the newcomer, with whom conversation would be plane sailing. Lawton stood beside her also, while the scene was being set. | The lion's' cage was jnheeled in, the two old; lions sleeping comfortably in their corner ; Ben Adem looking rather sulky and bored after his hour of dissipation the evening before. From this pro]>er cage the two old lions were prodded out into the set, which was . also arrangeil like a cage, except that one side was open. Ben A>i'-m came last, in charge of his keeper. Bill Bloggs. ■ ' . " Wo won't even try to rehearse this," Lawton Said. " Camera from tho start. Even if it hns to be done over again, it'll be worth trying." He gave directions hurriedly, but clearly. Lawton, from the actor's point of view, was aiv ideal x.)roducer. He never scolded, and never muddled people up so that they lost their heads. But to-day^ he, also, was nervous, and (juestioned Arniett, the circus manager, as to the danger involved. Annett gave an evasive reply, and it was evident that everybody' not .netively engaged in the first scene, or on duty to keej) ii sharp eyo on tho animals, had managed to secure positions of sij-fety. Lawton, however, remained by the camera, and Sugden stood on the opposite side of tho set. ■ , The young author dug his hands into his^ pockets and wondered at the sav'age mood which had ]jrompted him to write in these dan-i gerous scenes, wherein a woman — at that timo unknown to him — must risk her life. Yes, they could say what they pleased, those ]3eople who seemed on su*li familiar terms with wild animals — this scene was bnitally dangerous. By a trick of Fate, he had written it for tha woman he loved. (Another splendid imtalment next week.) Her Most Famous Part. AFTER a year s ab.sence from the screen, she joined the Vitagi-aph studios, and she has appeared in a number of vei-y fine produt-tions for them, including Find the Woman," TheTriumph of the Weak," and " The Lion and the Mouse." One of her biggest successes was the part of JIary Turner, the shop giri, in " Within the Law." In spite ■>f the great demands on her time at the studio, .she has found opportunities to write many ^successful scenarios, and to take an active part in social affairs. She is also prominent) in every charitable activity. Alice Joyce recently started a new scheme for the benefit of a charity connected with tho acting profetision, and incidentally she has solved one of the greatest problems with which film stars have to contend— -namely, tho sending of photographs. She huls arranged to send lier photograph to any of her admirers, providing they are agreeable to show substantial proof of their attection for her, by enclosing one shilling with their request for a photograph. Tho total receipts she obtains in this way will go t<.> the Actors' Fund. Alice is in private life the wife of that handsome young screen actor, Tom Moore, tho brother of Maiy Pickford's husband — thus four very popular screen artistes are related. All began acting in the days when five-i>art pictui-CM were undreamt of, and, although they are yomig, they are eeriainly t he ~" oldest" of all picturepleyers. Jf^TT^ ir^Vrf^lT ™^ BEAUTIFUL STAR OF AkjlK^MLe dyJlK^MLt THE VITAGRAPH COMPANY.