Screenland (May–Oct 1927)

88 ENTERTAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS The Romance and Reality of Film Life Is Reflected in the Books Listed Below IF you are interested in photoplay writing, screen acting, directing or production, the books listed below will be of great interest. Each book is handsomely bound in gold decorated cloth cover and will be delivered anywhere in the United States at prices mentioned; Canadian and foreign orders extra for shipment and duty. SCREEN ACTING (By Inez and Helen Klumph) Tells what the opportunities are and the training required. This work was developed through the valuable assistance and advice of Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Colleen Moore, Mae Murray, William S. Hart, and other distinguished screen stars, directors and experts. PRICE — $3.00 MOTION PICTURE DIRECTING (By Peter Milne) Of special interest to those in or intending to enter this field. The author, a well-known critic, was a member of Scenario and Production Department of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This work contains data about William C. DeMille, Rex Ingram, Cecil B. DeMille, and other famous directors. . PRICE — $3.00 MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION (By T. O'Conor Sloane, Ph.D., LL.D.) The enormous growth in number of motion picture theatres has created a large and increasing demand for operators. It is an interesting, good paying field and requires but a short time to qualify as a projector. This book includes the fullest details of practice. PRICE— $5.00 PHOTOPLAY WRITING (By William Lord Wright) The author was formerly Editor for Pathe Exchange, and Universal. The book is a thorough and authoritative presentation of this lucrative field for writers. Every year new writers achieve fame and fortune. Complete information on how to write for Motion Pictures and how and where to submit your ideas. PRICE — $3.00 SCREENLAND (Book Dept.) Desk 5 49 W. 45th St., New York, N. Y. SCREENLAND like the cloud; of course this is merely theoretical for my experience has been dis' appointing. I have found the brunettes cold and selfish and the blondes warm and sweet. The perfect combination, of course, would be a brunette face and a blonde temperament." We are ready to admit right now that when we asked the question of Conrad Veidt, the fascinating German star who arrived in this country, it made a lot of difference to us what he answered. We wanted him to answer, "I adore tall blondes" or its equivalent in French, for Mr. Veidt did not at that time speak any English. He seemed to read our mind for he replied, "Mais oui. J'adore les blondes de haute taille." Fine — the blondes with tall figures was the perfect description! We smiled our satisfaction, forgetting that pride rideth for a cropper. Herr Veidt continued, "Et les brunettes, aussi, mais les petites brunettes!" And the brunettes also, but small brunettes! How broadminded and hateful men can be. Always saying something when you want them to say something else! Mr. Veidt was en route for Hollywood, too, where they have at least one perfect specimen of each type. We are thinking of Greta Garbo — the tall, willowy blonde supreme, and Lya de Putti, the small, chic brunette. When Jack Gilbert was here we hadn't thought of starting this discussion and so didn't bother to ask him which color he preferred. But it wasn't necessary. We know! But we remember, also, that he told us years ago, he thought Leatrice Joy was the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world. Leatrice Joy is dark, petite and piquant. What his preference now is remains a mystery . A hair perhaps divides the false and true. Our self-imposed task would have been easier if we had had such general information on the rest of the stars. But so many of them are on the coast. Billie Haines we know so well that we could easily have wired him collect if we had so desired or called him up on the telephone and reversed the charges. But if Mr. Haines had sent a night letter in answer saying, "I prefer blondes stop", what would that prove? Nothing. By the time the wire reached us, there was every chance in the world that he would have switched to a brunette. The young and fluctuating Haines was, not long ago, an heir apparent in good standing for the hand of Pola Negri. When he was in New York for the premier of "Tell It to the Marines" he declared that he had always preferred blondes. Gentlemen forget! We did send a "blanket" telegram to the head of the Paramount studio saying, Find out what color women your stars prefer". But we didn't wait for the answers to arrive. We just went scouting, for news. George O'Brien thought Greta Nissen was the prettiest blonde on the screen until he saw her in a dark wig in "Blind Alleys". Then he decided that she was the prettiest brunette and liked her better that way." Greta Nissen plays the blonde in "Blonde or Brunette" and it seems that she can fill the bill either way. Richard Dix was frankly bewildered when we asked him. "Oh, must a gentleman prefer just one?" he asked. "Why there are so many beautiful girls of all colors. If there were only two a man could tell but there are the red-heads — and by the way have you noticed how many red headed women you see these days? Then there are the real, heaven-sent blondes and the yellowed ones." (Mr. Dix is extremely observing, we should say.) "To say nothing of the black haired ones and the mediums. Sometimes I think they are the best of the lot. A man doesn't tire of them." "Do you hear that?" we asked, turning to Lois Wilson. "You are a medium, aren't you?" "Yes, and I've always been glad I am! My eyes are brown and my hair is fair. When they desire a brunette, they say, 'Lois has dark eyes — she's a brunette.' And when they want a blonde they say, 'Lois has fair hair.' So you see I qualify one way or another." "In vulgar parlance, you get them coming or ^going." "Which do you prefer, Walter?" we asked of young Mr. Goss as we sat across the table from him, eating oysters Casino. "I think I prefer them raw," he replied seriously. "What!" we said in amazement. "You like raw young ladies?" "Oh, I thought you were talking about oysters. You were, just a moment ago. But I know now. You mean do I prefer blondes or brunettes. Well, I may as well confess that I draw no color line. In the championship bout I take on all comers." "I see," we replied — and we did, too. Chester Conklin's wife is pretty and very dark. She was standing beside him when we asked him the question; so the truth of his answer cannot be vouched for. "Why," he said boldly, with his funny little eyes twinkling, "Of course I love those blon " and then he discovered his wife, and stopped. "Those small brunettes," he finished. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin both think it is a great joke because he pretends to be afraid of her. Even though Ivan Moskine or Michael Strogoff, as everyone calls him, did not speak nor understand English, we employed his interpreter to find out his taste in women. "Ask Mr. Moskine whether he prefers blondes or brunettes," we said. The two men talked in Russian for some time, excitedly, and then the interpreter explained. "Mr. Moskine does not care what color a lady is so long as she does not love him." Photograph by Ruth Harriet Louise C[ Lawrence Grey — you remember him in "The Telephone Girl" — will have a real hrea\ in "After Midnight" starring T^lorma Shearer.