Screenland (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

for February 1936 Stars' Love Scene Tabus Continued from page 19 how simple and sweet. And maybe Fred is right. Somehow I just can't picture him swearing on his word of honor to Mrs. Astaire over their morning coffee that he'll never kiss another woman, movie star or no movie star, as long as he lives ! Such carrying-on would probably tickle the pretty and popular Mrs. Astaire no end. So we'll just have to take Fred's word for it that the reason for his non-kissing love technique is purely business. In the first place Astaire does not consider himself a Great Lover, by any stretch of the imagination. No matter how many fan letters arrive extolling his charms to the sky, he still refuses to believe he is a sex-appeal boy. He is stubbornly sold on the idea that his chief screen attraction lies in his feet, not his eyes. And besides, it embarrasses him to ■watch love scenes on the screen, much less play in them ! Janet Gaynor is another box-office headliner who has feelings, but not ardent ones, about screen kissing. And her ideas are equally non-personal. Janet has never promised somebody she wouldn't kiss anybody. In fact, in more romantic stories she has done a little screen kissing after her fashion, which is very quaint and sweet, indeed. She has no real objection to the cheek or forehead kiss. But Janet draws the line at lip kisses. She just doesn't like them. Swept along by the charming continuity of the love story as we see it on the screen, few of us realize how very little real kissing there is in movie love scenes. Especially is this true since the advent of sound. There are very few professional, or even non-professional, osculators who can bestow the salute without a slight sound that registers disturbingly like a smack, or a click, over the sound recording. Heavy love scenes there have been, and still are. But if you are a careful observer you will be surprised to note the shortage of kissing scenes played before the camera. Kisses are more often suggested than enacted. Rollo may gather Desdemona to his heart in an embrace, but before they kiss, the film cutter has usually had his scissors on the scene. Among the stars who particularly object to kissing scenes besides Janet and Fred are Ann Harding, Gary Cooper — who co-star in "Peter Ibbetson" ; Warren William, Kay Francis, and practically all the singing stars who are enjoying such a tremendous vogue on the screen. It is probably a hold-over from grand opera technique that so many screen singers refuse to indulge in clasps, ardent clinches, or passionate embraces before the camera. It is no easy task to sing romantically while held in a deathlike vise by a panting young man who is squeezing the very breath out of your lungs. Critics have frequently kidded the long distance love-making of grand opera. But there is an excellent reason for it. They need room to sing ! Grace Moore's pictures contain very few actual embraces. The most potent love scene Grace ever played on the screen was the tender finale of "One Night of Love" when Grace, singing "One Fine Day" from "Madame Butterfly," gazed rapturously at Tullio Carminatti, ten feet away from her in the orchestra pit ! Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy made screen love charmingly in "Naughty Marietta" with Jeanette at the top of a staircase, and Eddy at the bottom ! Lawrence Tibbett is just about the only opera star who has not drawn the ban at 87 Tlie (Jth WOMAN •••• cjefa wwte cu£ o£ liie ALWAYS HERSELF That enviable woman who is never at a disadvantage, never breaks engagements, never declines dances (unless she wants to!) and whose spirits never seem to droop! She is apt to be that eighth woman who uses Midol. Eight million women have had to always consider the time of month in making an engagement — avoiding any strenuous activities on certain days. Today, a million escape this regular martyrdom because they have accepted the aid of Midol. A tiny white tablet, is the secret of the eighth woman's poise and comfort at this time. Are you a martyr to regular pain? Must you favor yourself, and save yourself, certain days of every month? Midol might change all this. Might have you your confident self, leading your regular life, gloriously free from periodic pain and the old discomfort. The smallest degree of relief you might get from Midol means a great deal to your comfort. Midol is taken any time, preferably at the first sign of approaching pain. This precaution often avoids the pain altogether. But Midol is effective even when the pain has caught you unaware and has reached its height. It's effective for hours, and it is not a narcotic. Get these tablets in a trim little aluminum case — they are usually right out on the toilet goods counter. Or, a card addressed to Midol, 170 Varick St., N.Y. brings a trial box in plain wrapper. . «