Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

92 SCREEN LAND "Who's it supposed to be?" asks Constance Bennett innocently of young Doug Fairbanks on viewing his caricature of her. The drawing is supposed to portray her inner spirit or something. vals these days, and, of course, the movie charmers are heing roped in. Marguerite Churchill, heing a good horsewoman, was roped in for the Santa Barbara parade, leading it with fond distinction. A whole year ago a young lady named Yvonne Pelletier was put under contract by Fox, but nothing happened about it. Now she is wildly excited, for they have given her a part in "Riders of the Purple Sage," her very first picture, and at last she will be allowed to earn her money. The men are striking against make-up. George Arliss will be guiltless of make-up in most of his pictures, since the effect was so satisfactory in "The Millionaire." Lionel Barrymore has declared he will only play roles in pictures when he can do so without make-up. Eddie Lowe and Victor McLaglen are both trying to convince directors make-up isn't necessary. Will Rogers never uses make-up. But the girls still favor the grease paint. When Howard Hughes took nearly two years to make "Hell's Angels" it was Hollywood's pet joke — in a city where "epics" are turned out in six weeks. But Hughes, who spent $4,000,000 on that venture, will ultimately make at least $7,000,000 out of it. Of course, that's a trifle less than 100%. But even Hollywood doesn't consider a picture a flop if it makes more than 50%. In spite of the fact that there was supposed to be a summer slump, numerous stars were fetched home from vacations in a hurry for new roles. Bob Montgomery was about to enjoy his first holiday in two years in New York when they fetched him back. And the short time he was in New York he spent in bed with the flu. Wallv Beery was recalled from a flying trip east in his plane. Polly Moran was fetched up from the beach to start a new picture. Mary Duncan was cabled for all the wav to Paris, to return for a role in "The Age of Love." Garbo didn't get a holiday at all. Neither did Joan Crawford. Tom Patten, formerly with Will Hays as film duenna, speaks some harsh criticisms of the movies. He says they make around 800 pictures a year and less than 2% of them are worth while. Pictures, he thinks, are made too hurriedly, too many relatives are given jobs in the studios, a too low mental age is catered to. and the flaunting of wealth only induces envy and a desire for reprisals. As remedies, Patten suggests several of the present picture magnates should be pensioned off. Fewer and better pictures should be made. Unprofitable theatres should be closed down. Fantastic salaries should be cut. And a lot of hooey should be taken out of pictures, both oh the lots and on the screen. When Mary Pickford, Doug Senior, John Monk Saunders and Harry Carr lunched together recently. Doug told about his tiger hunting in India, and the maharajahs he had met. He said the elephants loved hunting. When a leopard attacked Doug's elephant, he shook Doug off and tried to trample the leopard to death. Doug was also fascinated with China and has come home well primed in Chinese politics. Mary said she guessed she was a midVictorian young lady, doesn't smoke or go to prize fights, and dislikes dirty plays and off-color stories. So from now on, she says, she will only make pictures which she herself likes. When the studio recently was reckless enough to announce that they were looking for exotic stories for Pola Little Miss Mary, famous young daughter of Helen Hayes and Charles McArthur, is chaperoned by Dad as she watches the birdie.