Sparrows (United Artists) (1926)

Newsy Stories^ A bout People in the Pictpres MARY’S “VILLAIN” MARVELOUS ACTOR DOG ACTOR LIKES TO HEAR CAMERAS ACTRESS FINDS NEW WARDROBE USELESS FRECKLES Will HIM f.nVF.TF.n FILM ROLE When Mary Pickford decided to make “Sparrows” the United Artists Corporation release which comes to . she combed Holly¬ wood for a “villian who would be a different type from the “heavy” usually seen on the screen. The principal role in “Sparrows” out¬ side that of the star, is the keeper of the baby farm who loves pigs and hates children. After the keenest sort of competition, the coveted role was awarded Gustav von Seyffertitz. “Von” as he is called by his fellow players, is tall and angular with much the appearance of the late Woodrow Wilson when not made up. He per¬ forms a miraculous transition as he steps into the character of “Grimes” keeper of the baby farm. One leg stiffens, one shoulder is raised, and the lines of his face became set into a visage of menace and terror. Von .'-Seyffertlitz has 'been on the Pacific Coast only a short time, having worked in pictures in the east previ¬ ously. MARY PICKFORD AIDE NOTEDBROADCASTER William Beaudine, who directed Mary Pickford in “Sparrows”, her United Artists Corporation release which is now at . gets almost as much “fan” mail as do some stars. The reason for this is that Beaudine is a famous radio announcer. “B.B as he is known, has friends from coast to coast as the result of his ‘high jinx” Which he stages weekly from a big broadcasting station in Los Angeles. Beaudine gets many amusing letters from fans, and some that are quite pathetic. One from a banker thanked him for saving the banker’s life. He wrote that he had been given up by doctors, and had about given up hope himself when one of Beaudine’s pro¬ grams started. “I got out of the mood of dying right away,” he wrote. “I think that pro¬ gram saved my life.” Beaudine was a property boy at Bio¬ graph when Miss Pickford went to work in pictures at $5 a day. PICKFORD DIRECTOR GETS A_SILVER CUP William Beaudine, the famous young director who wielded the megaphone so successfully for Mary Pickford in “Little Annie Rooney” and also for her latest production “Sparrows” now at . is wearing “the smile that won’t come off”. The reason for the radiant grin that spreads over the countenance of “Billy” is to be found in a mammoth silver loving cup bearing the names of twenty- five former townsmen of Beaudine’s. The gift came all the way from The Bronx, New York, where Beaudine was born and raised and is in recognition of his rapid ascension in the picture world and his election to the presidency of the Motion Picture Directors As¬ sociation. The cup is inscribed with the legend: “To our esteemed fellow townsman, William Beaudine, in recognition of his success in his chosen field of endeavor.” The twenty-five names that follow are those of the director’s former play¬ mates and schoolday friends. One of the best natural actors in Hollywood is a beautiful Great Dane dog named Omar, owned by Norman Kerry. Omar has an important role in Mary Pickford’s “Sparrows” which comes to .. He was working on the swamp, built especially for the picture, for weeks and enjoyed every minute of it. Omar likes to hear the cameras grind, and is anxious to get out in front of them. He would be lying on the ground behind the cameras, apparently asleep. If Director William Beaudine shouted “camera” Omar would be on nis feet in an instant and straining at .he leash. Omar is friendly with every one but was kept muzzled on the set, except when actually working. His trainer explained this. “He’s supposed to be a ferocious dog in the picture, so we keep him muzzled for atmosphere,” he stated to inquirers. COMEDY ACTRESS BECOMES VILLAIN As “Mrs. Grimes,” a woman without a soul in Mary Pickford’s latest pro¬ duction “Sparrows” now at the....... theatre, Charlotte Mineau is playing her first serious role in some time. This well known character actress once reigned in comedy and was featured by various fun makers of fun films includ¬ ing Keystone, Sennett, Roach and others. At various times in her career Miss Mineau has played with a majority of the screen’s greatest comedians. At one time she was under contract with Charlie Chaplin and for several years she worked with Charlie Murray, Ford Sterling and the inimitable Ben Tur¬ bin. She has also been seen in Harry Langdon’s comedies. Though comedy heretofore would ieem to have been Miss Mineau’s forte, oer characterization of the difficult role she essays in “Sparrows” has undoubt¬ edly proved her versatility and estab¬ lished her as a dramatic actress of rare ,ower. - MOVIE STAR HATES SELFJNJILM ROLE The meanest woman in the world has been found! She is none other than Mrs. Grimes, wife of the baby farm superintendent, who impersonated by Charlotte Mineau, well known character actress is appearing in Mary Pickford’s latest production “Sparrows” now at Miss Mineau makes the notorious female of Mary Pickford’s current screen offering a wicked woman indeed. Miss Mineau asserts that the char¬ acter she portrays is in fact so despic¬ able that she actually hated herself when she had finished her day’s work at the studio. After the filming of some of the more dramatic sequences where Miss Mineau had to act particularly hideously much consolation had to be offered by Miss Pickford and Director William Beaudine before the actress was able to return to normalcy. Prior to taking up dramatic work, Miss Mineau was a featured player in ;creen comedies. For many years she worked under the Keystone and Sen¬ nett banners but lately has enjoyed free lancing. To have acquired a new wardrobe and then not to have been able to wear it until it was out of style waS the predicament in which Charlotte Mineau, appearing this week at the. in support of Mary Pickford in “Spar¬ rows” found herself. Miss Mineau who plays the role of the bedraggled wife of the swamp farm keeper is a very handsome woman and ^very day it took her three hours suf¬ ficiently to devastate her beauty to appear in character. It took nearly as long to restore her normal appearance. As a result she finished so late and began so early during the filming of the picture that she had no time to wear any of the charming creations she - purchased in the first flush of en- husiasm at having an engagement with Miss Pickford. FILM STAR HAS A M0ST00ZY GRAVE Waiting at the dentist has nothing on waiting all day to be buried alive in ;limy, oozy mud up to one’s ears, ac- :ording to Gustav von Seyffertitz who plays the role of villain in Mary Pick- tord’s newest production “Sparrows” oeing shown this week at the . This was but one of the unpleasant ex¬ periences von Seyffertitz had to under¬ go but he dreaded it more than any of :he others. All day long he paced the oank of the swamp watching the work¬ men dig him a miry grave. It had to )e soupy enough so that when he fell n his body would be slowly engulfed, while he struggled vainly to extricate limself. After hours of waiting, everything was in readiness but, alas, von Seyffer- :itz missed the hole prepared for his great length and succeeded only in foundering on the surface like a gigan- ic fish. Try as he might his feet re¬ fused to sink. So, though the day was cold and windy, poor Von 'had to be nosed off and do the scene again before an audience, whose sympathy was strangely cooled when they went to rescue him from his muddy prison for Von was as comfortable as a bug in a rug and in no hurry at all to be pulled out. - MOVIE BABY LIKES PAPOOSEJILM ROLE Indians knew a lot, according to little Mary Louise Miller, the adorable baby who is featured in “Sparrows” Mary Pickford’s latest release now jbeing shown at .. During the making of the picture, she discovered just how comfortable a papoose could really be. For many weeks she was carried around the Pickford lot on Miss Pick¬ ford’s back and she got so used to this novel position and so learned to enjoy the motion, that she was reluctant to return to civilization and a mere motor car. Everyone who saw the picture during production marveled at the composure of little Mary Louise while Miss Pick¬ ford climbed trees and waded through swamps or fought with alligators with her securely strapped in position. Not once did the baby cry nor object to anything that Miss Pickford was about to undertake. A few times, how¬ ever, a scene had to be retaken because the baby loved Mary a little too vehem¬ ently and kissed off spots of her make¬ up. “But You’ve Got To Have More,” Says Spec O’Donnell In Mary Pickford’s Picture. A talent for freckles got Spec O’Don¬ nell, the fourteen year old 'boy who made such a hit as “Abie” in Mary Pick¬ ford’s “Little Annie Rooney” his first job in the “movies.” However, he didn’t succeed because of them alone, but rather because he possessed rare talent and a marked genius for characterization. His por- crayal of the Jewish boy in “Little Anniie” was so remarkable that it earned 'or him the chance to do an excellent juvenile heavy in Mary Pickford’s latest picture, “Sparrows” which will oe seen soon at the . Spec’s ability to change his appear¬ ance by make-up and the ease with which he depicts “heavies” has earned for him the title of the “Child Lon Chaney of the Screen.” Such is the lame bestowed on him by hardened critics who predict for him a future of astonishing brilliance. But, in the face of this. Spec remains unspoiled and has a quaint philosophy about break¬ ing into the movies. “I want to advise boys who want to ae movie stars,” says Spec, “that if you have freckles, and nothing else, stay away from Hollywood. If you have freckles and talent, I’d advise you to take a chance. If you have lots of ability, even i,f you haven’t freckles, you ought to make good.” “But don’t get the idea that freckles done will make you a great movie star md get you big money in Hollywood. 3ecause Hollywood is full of freckle- aced kids from all over the country vho should have stayed home.” From his eminence of experience and iis fourteen years, Spec is some phil- nsopher. MARY PRESIDES AT CHILDJTAR FEAST Miss Pickford Gives Birthday Party To Two Youngsters In Her “Sparrows” Film. There probably isn’t a boy or' girl in the world who wouldn’t give almost anything to see. Mary Pickford pre¬ siding at the head of the table on their birthday. That was the good fortune of Baby Muriel MaCormac and Billy Butts, Child picture stars who appear with Miss Pickford in “Sparrows” her latest United Artists Corporation release com¬ ing to. Muriel and Billy have the same birth¬ day. Muriel was seven and Billy six one day while “Sparrows” was in pro¬ duction. They had to work hard part of the day and go to school the rest, so there was no time for a party during working hours. At lunch time, however, a table was spread on the lawn at the Pickford studio. Two huge cakes were there— and Mis-s Pickford cut them both. Presents were piled high everywhere, and good things to eat were there in plenty. Miss Pickford gave Muriel and Billy gold pencils, with their names engraved on them, and a silver pencil to all the other children in the picture. It was a gala birthday party, one Muriel and Billy will never forget.