Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

10 Tht Vktiirc Show, 'August Ibth, 1919. MARY PICKFORD first plajcd for the Biograph Co. in two-part pictures, and it was in these films that she first captured the hearts of picturegoers. Her first long picture was called "Caprice." Their First Success. IF a film player in these days is a star, you can rest assured that he or she deserves the honour. No actor or actress on the screen can be popular unless it is by merit. The picture-going public demands ability, aud shown that ability it is usually quick to appreciate it. It is for this reason, probably, more than any other, that the maiority of the actors and actresses, who have reached the ranks of stardom, have attained that height by their work in some one picture — a picture where the player's work stood out sufficiently to attract the public's attention. Mary Pickford. THERE are three reasons that stand out above all others for Mary Pickford being the big public favourite. They are D. W. OrifSth, " A Good Little Devil, ' and the first long Pickford picture, " Caprice." Mr. Griffith took Mary Pickford from the ranks of the extra players, and made a leading lady of her. 8ho went to the Biograph Studio one day, and worked in a picture under the direction of D. VV. Griffith as a super. Tliis was the beginning of Mary s picture career. Now she is the highest salaried star in filmdom. Charlie Chaplin. NEXT wc come to Charlie Chaplin, that much-imitated great little comedian, whose feet arc his fortune. There are manv versions as to the picture which really PICTURES THAT MADE STARS. When Opportunity Knocked at the Door, They Said " We're In." made Chaplin the undisputed champion of laugh creators, for with each release for the past five years ho has gained new followers. The first picture that brought Charlie into tho golden limelight was a two-reel Keystone farce, entitled " Caught in a Cabaret." Henry B. Walthall. NEXT on the list comes Henry B. Walthall, tlio greatest emotional acfor on the f-crccn to-day. His worth has attracted the eyes of the foremost critics in the countiy, and they have proclaimed him the dean of all photoplayers. He, too, started his film career with Griffith, at the Biograph. Walthall made his name in that great Griffith spectacle, " The Birth of a Nation," where ho played tho leading role. He followed this success up with his wonderful performance in " Tho Avenging Conscience," produced by Griffith, from Edgar Allan Poe's storj'. Walthall exhibited emotional qualities in this film that have never been equalled. W. S. Hart. WS. HART has certahily had a glorious • moving picture career. Almost from the start the public rccogniscd him as a star, and one of their idols. The first picture th^t he ever appeared in was " The Bargain," and this film all but made the big name for him that he now enjoys. Then right on top of this. Hart was with Robert Edeson in " On the Night Stage." This picture put Hart on the upper plane, and to-day he is recognised as the greatest portrayer of Western characters on the screen. Francis X. Bushman. MUCH disjiuto will certainly arise as to the picture that made Francis X. Bushman. Ho was elected by popular vote to play the lead in Essanay's " One Wonderful Night," and many people are of the opinion that this is the picture that made Francis Xavier Bushman famous ; but such is not the case, as it was a two-reel picture that was responsible for his rise to fame and popularity, and it was called '" Dear Old Girl." He did some wonderful emotional acting in this film, and won praise from all directions. The picture that first made Theda Bara prominent was "The Two Orphans." One of tho later editions to the " made " class is Charles Ray. Although ho was always popular on tho screen, tho public did not recognise him as a truly remarkabl*! person until they had witnessed the Triangh; production, " The Coward." William Farnum. WILLIAM FARNUM, now a member of the Fox Company, was " mado " a;; a film star when he took the leading role in " The Spoilers," a Selig picture that will stand for some time to come as one of the greatest photo-plays that has ever been flashed upon a screen. In this film picturegoers selected Farnum right away as one of their prime favourites. " The Spoilers " mado such a tremendous hit that the Selig Company lengthened it to twelve reels and re-issued it. Bessie Barriscale. BESSIE BARRISCALE, one of the greatest emotional actresses on tho screen to-day, has the reputation of being one of the best cryors. She can produce a stream of tears in an instant, antl Is a master of facial expression. There is one picture-play that especially stands out in the making of Bessie Barriscale, and that is " The Cup of Life." which was termed " the perfect picture." Only once after this did Miss Barriscale equal her wonderful work in " The Cup of Life," and that was in " The Mating," an entirely different type of play. Robert Warwick. ANOTHER very popular star is Robert Warwick. It was in " Tho Dollar Mark," an old Eclair production that Warwick mado his real name. After the exhibition of that film he was at once proclaimed a star. Yet, how many of the companies who made these stars are there to-day realising on the profits earned by them ? Very few, I can assure you. In fact, only two of those I have mentioned are still working with their old firms — they are Earle Williams and Theda Bara, who are with the Vitagraph and Fox corporations. So you will see that it is very seldom that the company which '' makes " a player ever derives any beneJ:t from it. V. F. T. CHARLIE CHAPLIN, with MABEL NORMAND (left) and MARIE DRESSLER, in one of his early successes. But he has travelled a long way since those days. "The Two Orphans" was the first picture that {made THEDA BARA prominent.