Picture Show (Oct 1920 - Apr 1921)

lecture Show, March 19t/i, 1921. 17 1 latitat vvtiiiE. After Mrs. PAULINE PETERS. " Her Penalty." THIS liroailwost film met' with a fine reception at tbo trade show recently, and I shall have more to say about it on release. The production has been directed by Mr. Brunn, under the supervision of Mr. Walter West. It is a thrilling plot, the heroine, Paulino Peters, ■unwittingly committing bigamy. Some wonderful exterior scenes, with grounds of a beautiful old country, mansion, have been obtained — and one is carried from tho whirl of London to the loneliness of a sandy desert. Stewart Rome. Clive Hrook, Pauline Peters, and Philip Hewland play principal parts. Basil Rathbone. DO you remember the beauty and dignity of Basil Rathbone's acting in " Peter Ibbetson," Du Maimer's exquisite play 1 His scenes with Constance Collier leave an undying memory behind. I was surprised when he told mo that Peter Ibbetson was his first big part in London. "After the Army," Basil Rathbone said, I went down to Stratford-on-Avon ; that was in August 1919. Constance Collier saw me there," he told me, " when I played Romeo, and she engaged me to play Peter Ibbetson. this I played Alfred de Musset with Patrick Campbell, under Fagan's management. Then I went on to Viola Tree, and played tho sceptical atheist in ' The Unknown. ' Then I played with Marie Lohr in ' Fedora ' at the Globe. Aftev this followed Prince Henry in ' Henry IV.,' for Mr. Fagan at the Court, and also an interesting series of Ibsen matinees at the Court, ' Lady Ingar of Ostratt,' in which I played Nils Ijkke, the part played by Henry Ainley when it was produced by the Stage Society." My First Film. IT" was ' Innocent,* Basil Rathbone answered, " and I have found that filming is of great value to the actor and actress, for the simple reason that it makes you express in your face all that as a rule you express with words. English actors and actresses so often don't give sufficient attention to the eye. Frequently the face doesn't express tho words. Repose is one of the greatest assets on the screen. There seems to be tremendous possibilities in film work. There is no time limit. On tho stage so much must be expressed in a. short space of time. A book can be unfolded chapter by chapter — on the screen, and this is not possible on the stage." The Author of " Innocent." BASIL RATHBONE told me that when lie was at Stratford he often saw Marie Corelli in her gondola on tho Avon; and usually she wore a white linen dress. And Basil Rathbone himself ? He is tall and dark, full of energy, full of ambition, and tremendously handsome — as no doubt crowds of my readers know. An American Star Visits a British Trade Show. THE other afternoon, after an important trade show, I was introduced to Wyndham Standing, who, as many of you remember, made a big hit in that remarkable picture " Earthbound." Of course I wanted to know, what Wyndham Standing thought of :" our pictures," and he said crowds of nico things, amongst others that he was surprised that we knew so mu".h about American films and artistes over hero. Wyndham Standing, in a grey lounge suit, a spft grey felt hat, and a smartly cut, grey overcoat, \yas tremendously at home amongst our stars — -Victor Maclaglen, Frank fetley, Roland Myles, and Evelyn Uoucher — and he was particularly delighted to meot his old friend Martin Thornton onco again. Still Another British Star. SHE is Pauline Peters. Ages ago I told you tho exciting story of how she commenced to act in tho pictures. Luckily, her adventuros ended happily, which is not always tho case with film aspirants. Pauline would not listen when she was warned not to go on the films. Like Julius Caesar, however, sho could easily exclaim of her success, " I came — I saw — 1 conquered ! " Her first real great chance was " Her Penalty,' and I hear that sho is playing a still more important part in the Broad west production, " Full Cry." Pauline Peters is dark, and reminds me just a wee bit of Mrs. Patrick Campbell ; perhaps her great, dark, haunting eyes give me this impression. She lias a slim, graceful flgm-e, and wears a coat and skirt of the simplest make, but tho smartest cut, with real distinction. She is full of unaffected gaiety, and will certainly make a stir upon the horizon of filmland. Madge Stuart. SHE plays " Innocent " in Marie Corell> 'e famous novel, which, by the by, is released this week. So I expect thousands of Picture Show readers will be charmed by her delightful and vivacious personality. By tho by, Madge Stuart had bad luck a few weeks ago. Whilst doing exteriors in a new production, all her pretty clothes were stolen from her flat. Unkind, was it not ? But it was just as well, if such a misfortune had to happen, that the theft was committed at the end of a season instead of at the beginning of one, when all one's frocks and frills have been replenished. Madge Stuart is an indefatigable worker, and she doesn't mind riding a horse in a biting wind for the glory of her work. " Innocent " gives Madge Stuart great opportunities for displaying her emotional temperament. " Innocent " has all the real Mario Corelli sentiment, with a strong love element, which appeals to the "majority of mankind — ■ although they will not always admit it. Fisher White. THE famous actor who causocl such a sensation with his fine acting in " Damaged Goods," plays one of the leads in " The Will," and, like most great artistes, he is the most unassuming of men. Ho recently told me that his first experience of screen work was in a charity film called " Masks and Faces," EVANGELINE HILLIARD which he assured me was an excellent lesson. " It showod mo what not to do," he explained. " T hen I PAULINE PETERS and CLIVE BROOK in Penalty." scene from played tho part of an old Chelsea pensioner for Samuelson's in a film called ' God Bless our Red, White and Blue,' which apparently went all over the world, for within three weeks of each other I received three letters of congratulation, one from India, ono from South Africa, and ono from South Wales. Later I played in a film called ' Nobody's Child,* with Godfrey Tearle and Jose Collins. In tho screen version of ' Damaged Goods,' I played my original part of tho doctor." Fisher White thinks that a now art of writing should be developed for tho films ; that tho author should strive to gain his effects throughout his story without sub-titles. Charlie Chaplin's " Shoulder Arms " had few, if any, subtitles. At First Despised. 1USED to rather despise films at one time," Fisher White went on to tell me. " But there is no danger of the screen killing the stage ; it is a real asset to tho actor. I find film work a great art, and it is so entirely different from stage acting that what holds good for one art is quite the reverse for the other. Not Too Big To Learn. FISHER WHITE says that he is still in the process of development in filmland, so that he is quite interested to see if ho has advanced in this great new art when " The Will " is shown. " I make a point of seeing myself on the screen, as I always do, to know if I have advanced or otherwise." Fisher White found "The Will" very interesting, in view of increasing age, as the plot unfolds itself. Although there is a lack of exciting incidents, it is full of psychological interest, and if this subtle atmosphere is expressed, it will be a triumph for the camera. February 1st was Fisher White's twenty-ninth anniversary on the stage. He started his career at Ipswich in 1892' His favourite parts have been the doctor in " Damaged Goods," David Roberts in " Strife," and he added, with his quiet smile : "'Macbeth. I loved 'Macbeth'!" Evangeline Milliard. I PLAYED in 'The Shepherdess Without a Heart," Evangeline Hilliard told me the other day. ' 1 Thon during the war I did some nursing, and afterwards I thought that I would like to do film work. I was asked to play Emily in the Ideal Film version of Sir James Barrie's ' The Will,' and it is interesting because I play three different periods. In the first part I am supposed to be in 1888, and I am twentyfour ; then follows 1908, when I am fortyfour ; and, best of all. in 1920, when I am fifty-six. It's just a wee bit difficult to get one's features quite right to go through the three stages, but it is tremendously interesting — although I admit it's a very tough job to go through three different ages." Evangeline Hilliard is tho granddaughter and the daughter of clergymen, which is another strange coincidence which goes to show a subtle kind of affinity between church and stage. Edith Nessan.