We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
22
SCREENLAND
Powell, right, duels with Richard Barthelmess in "The Bright Shawl."
Remember Bill Powell in "Romola," with Lillian Gish?
Just one hilarious highlight after another, this account of Bill's movie life .
By
James M. Fidler
His first character hit, in "Beau Geste."
Another character role, from "Senorita."
With Marion Davies in "When Knighthood was in Flower."
Th
ns
id
Co reer Story of William Powell
THE tiny screen-babe that was to be the brilliant career of William Powell was born late in 1922. The picture that ushered Powell into the film world was "Sherlock Holmes," which starred John Barrymore.
At the time, Powell was fairly successful on the New York stage. He had already attracted the attention of D. W. Griffith, who made tests of the actor. However, of the venture, this test, a dour young actor stood back of the camera," says Powell. "I thought that was a breach of etiquette, for one actor to sit in on another's test, (since then, I have learned that the practice is common in the studios), so I formed an immediate dislike for him. That young man was Richard Barthelmess. Because of my evident distaste for him, he also disliked me."
When Powell saw the test of himself, he threw up his hands and walked out of the projection room. "I look
nothing came "During
Greatest hit of Bill's career was made with Myrna Loy in "The Thin Man."
like a baked Idaho potato," he told director Griffith, "or like one of those turnips that bear the caption : "It grew in the shape of a man!"
Nevertheless, when he was called for a role in "Sherlock Holmes" he responded promptly. He was ill at ease for the first few hours, because his first scenes were with John Barrymore, who was then the one big thing of Broadway, merely "loaning" his services to the screen. But Barrymore's first line of dialogue — ( these were silent picture days, of course ; dialogue reached the screen by way of titles ; still, actors were supposed to speak the proper lines) — was to have been, "My good young man, how would you like to work for me ?" Powell was to have given an appropriate answer.
But Barrymore was in playful mood, so he spoke his line : "Young man, how would you like to go jump in the lake?" Powell responded without hesitation, "Next Saturday, I will ; I never bathe during the week." Barrymore let out a guffaw, and after that the two men were on cordial terms, which made work easier for Powell.
For his first picture, Powell was paid f"'° hundred dollars a week. He worked five one If weeks; total salary, $1100.00. Pie receives n e that sum
for each working day of his present career.
"When Knighthood Was in Flo stai i *ng Marion Davies, was his next picture. He y is .r this film
when the already-contracted villa | liece, Jose
Ruben, got a splinter of steel in hey called