Picture Show (Oct 1920 - Apr 1921)

Picture Sltoic, Dtccmbir Zbllt, 1920. THE EXPRESSIONS OF LEAL DOUGLAS. (Special to the 'Picture Shou . "J LEAL DOUGLAS. THE VAMPIRE OF THE BRITISH SCREEN. T *H E R E aro few Bril i s h film players who are bettor suited to vain pire roles than Leal Douglas, and although Suspicion. tHis beautiful a e t rc~s has not dc\ otod Iicr ontirc attention to vampire roles, those in which she has appeared have been recognised as highly successful. Although horn in Manchester, Mies Douglas spent the greater part of her childhood in Australia, and. on leaving school, she mado her debut on the Australian stage under the management of J. C. Williamson. In her early stage days. Miss Douglas wps closely associated with Annette Kollormann (the world-famous swimmer who has also starred in films), for they wore both playing in the same show. The World is Small. MISS DOCGLAS toils mo it was when MiSS Kcllermaiin was only "an amateur, and the two girls used to spend hours perfecting their strokes and diving. It was later when Miss Douglas was in Africa, that one day strolling into a picture theatre, she saw her old friend starred in the film. " The world is a small place," sny = Miss "Douglas, " and the film world -till smaller. I sometimes wonder if I shall ever have the pleasure of playing in a film v ith my old friend. "__ One of Miss Douglas's earliest .■•ppenrance on the Australian stage was as Barbara Hare in " East Lynne." Other plays in which she appeared were "The Brass Bottle,"' "A Lovely "Liar." '"The Dawn of a Tomorrow,'" and i*' A B a c h o I o r ' s 1 1 o n ey • moon." devoles the greater portion of her time to film work, but has not altogether forsaken tho c g i t i m a t e stage : for she is at present Fear, a p pear ing as the talkative woman in Never Can Tell." You Frocks for the Film. MISS DOUGLAS says that dressing for the screen is as important as acting, and make-up frocks that suit me off the screen are hardly any use for my work. Colours that look simply superb often photograph hadlv. Evcryraiag films black, white, or grey, and often the most hideous colours photograph the best under the senrchins <rlnrc ol the studio litrhls. "In dressing a part there is not only colour, cut, and style to remember, but also the kind of (lollies your film character would wear if she were a live person. Wearing Ihe clothes she would wear helps you to feel as she would feel. A Big Consideration. A FILM actress needs more clothes than some people imagine. No frock is ever worn in mnr • than one film, and that often monn-i that an nctress has to provide almost fifty each of dresses, hats, boudoir gowns, innumerable shoes, and other nick-nacks, in a year. " Even girls who do ' crowd work must be prepared to have at least three or four evening, afternoon, and dinner gowns, besides walking costumes, 'hats, and other smart clothes and shoes, which they may need at a moment's notice. " Much LEAL DOUGLAS Sorrow. Her First Appearance. ON completing a long tour through Xlhv Zealand and Australia, Miss Douglas formed a company of her own and toured with it through Australia and South Africa. A little later, this talented player arrived in England, and ma le her appearance in " The Three Musketeers," in which she played Milady. About this tiirte Miss Florence Turner was producing her first British films. Miss Douglas, being interested in films, obtained an introduction to Miss Turner' s manager, and was given a part in " The Hose of Surrey." Following this. Miss Douglas then played in " Thelma," " My Lady's Dress," " The Beetle," V Deception," '' Under Suspicion," " Bleak House," ' Darby and Joan," and " Nothing F.lse Matters." In Comedy Films. ^A^I'Ali Trust. ,_, a special study of vampire and charactor parts, Miss Douglas has also appeared in comedy films. She . is a keen sportswoman and an expert swimmer. Apart from this sport, she takes a keen interest in rowing, riding, and golf. Miss Douslas If you want to write her, address your letter : MISS LEAL DOUGLAS, c o Oarrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. d c pends on h o w clot lies are worn. If they are not quite new. but cut well <md worn and carried well, thev will screen successfully." It was Miss Douglas who brought the fashion of painted gloves into this country. She recently flew to Paris in search of Sim frocks, and brought buck with her a pair of long evening gloves, painted with a neat little design halfway between the elbow and wrist. This fashion was designed by an enterprising French manufacturer who specialises in novelties. Another pair had a silhouette ot a black eat, in velvet, ncatl} stitched on to the cioth. Likes the Motherland Best. POSSESSED of a charming personality, Miss Douglas stands 5 ft. 7 in. Her hair and eyes are darkbrown, which are set off by a healthy out. door complexion. Like many others who have spent many years in the colonies. Miss Douglas is not anxious to return to the land of the Southern Cross. She is determined to settle down in the Motherland, although it is quite likely that she may mako several short trips abroad for holidays. Coquetry. Contempt.