Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

51 Lil Reforms When a wrong woman goes good in Hollywood — that's news ! Hereafter Miss Tashman will play more sympathetic roles By Sydney Valentine IF a man biting a dog is news, what about a wrong woman going good — in Hollywood? Well, it's happened ! "I've reformed," admits Lilyan Tashman. Imagine! "No more vamping. No more home-wrecking. I'm going to be good. "But — not too good ! I hope I always play heroines with a sense of humor. I couldn't bear to he a dull, stodgy woman, whose only talent is virtue." So Lilyan beams at the thought of reforming. But shed a tear, little fan, for the past. Weep for the alluring naughty girl, the dizzy vamp, the menace. Weep for the good-hearted, wise-cracking chorus girl with Jimmie Gleason in "Putting on the Ritz." Weep for the smart sophisticate in "Craig's Wife,"' for the gorgeous chorine of "The Trial of Man? Dugan," for the "I'm going to be good on the screen from now on — but not too good.'" says the lovely Lilyan. Cecil Beaton photographs Lilyan Tashman, whom he selected as one of his "Six Most Beautiful Women in Hollywood." And one of the most intelligent. beautifully dressed worldling of "The Marriage Playground." Weep. But don't break down. Good. But not too good ! Not that Lilyan regrets a career of vamping and punishment, of ogling the weak and willing hero and luring him to fun and frolic. It's made her what she is today. One of the outstanding actresses of the screen. Known wherever movies are known. But now that official stardom has been conferred upon her by Paramount, she's leaving the celluloid primrose path behind — and no fair looking back over shoulders, either! But on second thought, let's look over shoulders. Whose? Personally I nominate Lilyan's. Encased at the moment, and very smartly encased, too — in a navyblue tailored frock with little buttoned jacket. (Navy is the color for spring, cables Paris.) Busily engaged on an excellent luncheon at The Embassy Club. It's a celebration day for Lilyan with her brand new stardom, just out of its tissue wrappings and sparkling — well, very nearly like a cool million ; and how the stars rush up to congratulate her. A pair of personal congratulations too, Lilyan. For here is a stardom built upon a career of villainy. That's unique. True, others have played sirens, women with slightly soiled pasts — but Lilyan has made a habit of playing the villainess. Not the kind that strangles infants in their cribs, that go in for mayhem and arson. But the kind that sneaks into the home and steals the husband with a flick of the eyelash and a wisecrack — the baddie, the meanie ! And how we rush home to practice the technique in our mirror behind our door ! She started as a vamp. And that's just where she chose to start. Many times in the past she has had offers to star — and refused. She made of herself, instead, one of the best known bad women of the screen. A star of vamps. A reputation as a smart woman. Smart to know that it is a decided character like a vamp who registers on the screen; that any audience has a sneaking liking for the other woman, the siren. Hasn't Greta Garbo always played sirens — practically? Smart to know that playing such parts is really acting — not just a straight lead that walks through a picture. Smart to play the first vamp with blonde hair and give the dark-haired temptresses a run for their diamond bracelets. Smart to built a personality that is known to the movie world for sophistication. Smart to know that while the interest, the emhu{Continued on page 102)