Select Pictures Magazine (1918)

SELECT PICTURES MAGAZINE Page 5 Stage Seeks Constance Talmadge Repeated Offers From Managers Who Disagree Over Star of “Good Night, Paul!” INCE Constance Talmadge’s sixth Select Picture, “Good Night, Paul!”, which will be seen here on at the Theatre, has been showing on the screens of the country, Miss Talmadge has received a number of commu- nications which have left her both pleased and puzzled. For the communications in question have been from several pro- ducing managers of the stage—“the old fash- ioned talking drama,” as the picture people call it—and each one of the four offers re- ceived has sought to induce Miss Talmadge to abandon the screen for the stage. The allurement of a fat contract has been held up in each instance. The queer side of these offers, and the thing which has puz- zled Miss Talmadge, is that the learned doc- tors of the stage seem to disagree as to just what type of artist Miss Talmadge’s act- ing represents. One writes: “I have fol- lowed your work in ‘Up the Road with Sallie’ and ‘Good Night, Paul ! ’ with the greatest interest. I have seen each of these productions several times, and judging from your work in these two screen productions, you are a farceuse of high order.” An invitation to “come East and talk terms” followed. Miss Talmadge had just about settled into pleasant Contemplation of herself as an immortal exponent of the art of farce when the second offer arrived. This was delivered in person, and among other things the manager told the piquant Select star that he considered her one of the most success- ful exponents of the old-line “high comedy” that the screen had yet produced, and he instanced the comedy work in “Scandal” and “The Shuttle,” as well as Miss Talmadge’s acting in the other two plays mentioned by the Eastern manager. Constance Talmadge was now more than ever convinced that she was a comedy actress, pure and simple, when along came the other two producers, who sought the Select star as an exponent of straight drama, and in each case Miss Talmadge’s work in “The Shuttle” — which abounds with serious moments — was instanced as evidence of her dramatic ability. Curiously enough, it is a fact that the Select officials had exactly the same arguments regarding Constance Talmadge’s position on the screen when “Scandal,” her first Select Picture, was produced, and it was in recognition of Miss Talmadge’s ability to do brilliantly both comedy and drama that led to her being announced as appear- ing in ‘ ‘ co m e d y drama,” a term well enough known (Mi the legitimate stage, hut so far unknown in the nomenclature of screen productions. And so Constance Talmadge is consider- ably puzzled. She has not yet been able to decide whether she is a farceuse, a comedi- enne, or an emotional actress. The fact that all of her Select Pictures thus far produced, from “Scandal” to “Good Night, Paul!” have enlisted the star in practically all of these capa- cities, is calculated to keep that lady puzzled for some time to come. In passing, it may be said that Miss Talmadge, no matter what the longings of her girlish soul, will be able to sign none of the contracts so tempt- ingly dangled before her youthful eyes by the four stage producers in question. For Miss Talmadge is bound for a number of years to the Select Pictures Corporation, which produces her pictures, and to Lewis J. Selznick, who presents her in them. Constance Talmadge. Select star, charming exponent of comedy-drama on the screen.