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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1922)
THE SVXDAY OHEGOXIAN. PORTLAND. OCTOBER i, 1922 PHYLLIS HAVER CAPTURES STELLAR HONORS QUICKLY Seeds of Ambition Sown While Playing in Orchestra in Motion Pic ture Theater Manifests Same Brand -of "Pep" on Screen. 0 h 'i U 1 I "ti' 9? v. ..J.V .' , I " 5 s , ' f . - Pfcyllla FTarer another of the Mark Senvett heaatlea, who Is qulch.lT making her war to atardom In the aereen land of make-believe. PHYLLIS HAVER is one of many Mack Sennett girls to achieve stellar distinction on th screen, if he has been a member of the Sen nett organization almost continu ously since graduating- from a Ixs Anreles high school. Kansas is the natal state from whence Phyllis and her parents re moved when Phyllis was too young to remember the Journey. She counts herself a California girl, remarking hat as soon as they were able to do eo her father and mother brought her to the Pacific coast, and thus she Is really a better "native daugh ter" than those that are born here. Bince she deliberately chose Cali fornia, n;hile the "natives" had tt thrust upon them, so to speak. At any rate. Miss Haver's first screen experience was gained in a motion picture playhouse. It was a residential photoplay house near the Haver home in a Los Angeles sub urb. It occurred to her that a good way of turning her musical gifts to advantage would be to play the piano that constituted the theater's 'orchestra." One evening when the youth wbd had the job, and who was a school mate of the fair Phyllis, wanted to run out and buy cigarettes he got Phyllis to "sub" for him. Her play ing attracted the attention of the house manager, who liked that quality In it which remains one of the principal and charming char acteristics of Miss Haver its "pep." He offered her the Job. Phyllis ac cepted and held it, she says, until the proprietor got tired of the 15 tunes that constituted her limited repertoire. But the seeds of an ambition were sown, and Phyllis determined that she would be a screen actress. She was selected by Lasky for a subor dinate role when she was visiting the Lasky studios with a friend. Within a few weeks a mutual friend Introduced her to Mack Sennett, who consented to giving her a "test."' This was so. successful .that ahp was Invited t appear first as "ex tra" girl, then as a regular member of the company, then as a contract performer, and now she has reached featured honors, as is shown in her appearance in the leading feminine role of Mack Sennett's five-reel comedy, "Married Life." not finding just the dog they wanted for use in "You Never Know." The canine hero is not wanted for his beauty, or wisdom, or expensive looking pedigree. The fact is he was to be the most hope less looking kyoodle that ever fol lowed a boy. And that was the trouble. Hollywood dogs for the most part are a pretty pert looking bunch. But Just in the nick of time in sidled the very chap Vincent McDermott was looking for, and strange to say, the little mutt edged over to Coy Watson, the "Mugsy" of the cast, as If he be longed there. Now all is set for the introduction of this precious pair, for they are important details. William Anthony McGulre, author-) of "Six-Cylinder Love," "It's a Boy and other big successes of the legi timate stage, has contracted with Jess Robbing, producer of the Vita- graph six-reel comedies "Too Much Business" and "The Ladder Jinx." for the next comedy of the series. Those that have seen the first two of Vitagraph's Innovation in th six-reel comedy line will anticipate the next with keen pleasure. An other well known author of Broad way legitimate successes who will contribute to the Robbins comedy features "is Arthur Goodrich, author of "So This Is London." 'Screen's Most Perfect" Man Gets Contract. Handsome Giant Will Be Seem In Support of Kataerine Mac Don ald. ' ( Tarkington's "The Flirt' Nears Completion. Thirteen Weeks of Painstaking Effort Productive of Big Re. nlta. OPPOSITE In type and personal manner, opposite In mode of act ing, Eileen Percy and Helen Jerome Eddy are excellently contrasted in the feminine leading roles of the Universal-Jewel classic from Booth Tarkington's famous novel, "The Flirt." Hobart Henley Is drawing the pro duction to a close after 13 weeks ;of painstaking effort. livery effort has been made to produce the supe- . rior feature In efficient time, yet more than twice the usual period of . production has been spent on It and -nothing has been spared in that time that would make the transcription JjDf the original (story perfect. "The Flirt" has long been re- ararded as one of the best of Mr. -Tarkington's masterful novels of -American life. Exhibitors, it is be lieved, will be able to capitalize the fame of the author by playing up lihe "best seller" phase of the book on which the Universal-Jewel la 3ased. Tie-ups with local book deal--era and newspapers featuring Mr. Tarkingtone works immediately "uggest themselves to enterprising -exniDitors as possible co-operative Tstunts. Universal is now negotiat ing with Milt Hagen, one of New 'York's most noted song writers and -.the author of the popular musical hit, "Human Hearts," for tle pur . chase of his forthcoming number, -"'The Flirt," which will serve as a "further hook-up for theater man pagers presenting the Unlversal "Jewel. e William Duncan, the daredevil "Vitagraph western star, suffered -painful though not serious injuries rwhile filming his new picture. "When Danger Smiles." The action demands that Duncan be dragged for some distance at the end of a rope by a horse. In a wild dash. "It is difficult to make that fool horse understand the fine points In a stunt like that,'; said Duncan, -from behind the bandages and the arnica. "He puts the punch in t." Duncan never doubles. If there's ."any punishment to be taken he ' takes it with good natured fortitude. for the making of the main fire scene and the close-up shots which followed. According to authentic reports, this forest fire sequence in Itself cost more than many entire five and six-reel features. It Is one of the most stupendous things ever staged for motion pictures, and 20 cameras, clicking at one time, re corded It with startling effect for the screen. "Hearts Aflame" is said to be one of the biggest and most spectacular productions in eight to date for fall release. Members of the Earle Williams company were about in despair at OP.VILLE CALDWELL, the hand some young giant, who will be seen in the' leading male role in Katherine MacDonald's new pic ture, "The Lonely Road," has signed a contract under which he will appear in a similar capacity in the next production in which she will be starred, "The Scarlet Lily." The actor-athlete was named for this new . part because of his bril liant work in "The Lonely Road." Reviewers who saw early runs of the picture declare his character ization as the young husband mark htm as one of the most promising of the younger male players on the screen. Caldwell first attained a nation wide reputation when, after his appearance in the New York stage production of "Mecca," Elinor Glyn saw him and pronounced him 'the most nearly p'hysically perfect man on the stage." The classification persisted and numerous artists, who saw the 8 foot 5 inches of athletic youth, quite agreed with Madame Glyn. But Caldwell, who aspired to se rious stage work, rebelled against his rapidly-growing reputation as a "male beauty." He journied to Los Angeles, where, after interviewing numerous casting directors, he was given ii. contract to appear before the camera. His greatest oppor tunity for ambitious work came In the Preferred picture in which Miss MacDonald was starred. Victor Seastrom's work as a director of two recent Swedish Biograph pictures has attracted much attention from the producing companies here, and it is rumored that one company is contempla Ing an invitation to the pioneer Swedish producer to come to America to make some pictures. Whether or r.ot Mr. Seastrom will accept the invitation remains to be seen. Aside from being a fine director, Mr. Seastrom is a clever actor, as his work in the leading role In "The Stroke of Midnight" will testify. His biggest work, however, is "Mortal Clay," a feature starring Jenny Hasselquist, which is shortly to be shown to American audiences. Alan Hale, who has an important role in support of Douglas Fair banks In' "Robin Hood,' and who Is now enacting the role of a bad villain in Shirley Mason's latest Fox special, will soon return to his first love in cinema endeavor the play ing of "leads" in which line he dis tinguished himself notably In sup port of Mme. Alia Nazimova. Mr. Hale ajinounces he is considering two "leading man" offers at this time and that he is reasonably certain to accept one of them. BETTY COMPSON SAYS FILM ACTING IS GREATEST JOB Star Declares She Succeeds Because She Is So Tremendously En thusiastic About Her Work, and That Explains Her Progress. GOLDWYN'S 'THE SIN FLOOD" LATEST MAJESTIC FEATURE Picture Reputed to Enjoy Distinction of Being Entirely Novel in Theme and Treatment Pointing Strong Moral. Work on "Hearts Aflame' Finally Completed. Sprotnoular Production Scheduled ' for Relraae This Fall. AFTER three months of actual production work, Reginald Bar ;ker has completed the making of "Hearts Aflame" as his first all-star recial for Louis B. Mayer. In order to ,Ft the proper atmospheric back ground for the big timber .country . scenes, a large part of the picture was filmed in Canada, where the -director and his staff and some of "the principals were trapped in a forest fire In the'ir efforts to secure ,ome realistic shots in the con flagration. Upon the company's return from ' the north, a pine forest covering six acres of ground was trans planted in the San Fernando valley for the especial purpose of being sacrificed in a terrific tlaze, while Anna Q. Niisson and Craig Ward. two of the stars, drove a loco-t--motlve through the flames. Seven ; weeks were spent In the prepara tion for this episode alone, while five days and nights were required r w V ' - "J i Richard Dtx and Helene Chadwlrk In scene from "The Sin Flood,' which haa large number of principal role. 66rtyHK SIN' FLOOD," the new I Goldw-yn photoplay coming to the Majestic theater soon, is a revelation of human character. In this powerful story by the Swed ish dramat'st. Henning Berger. taken from his play "Syndafloden," a group of people are gathered to gether and brought face to face with what they believe to be certain death, in ihis dilemma, their char acters are seen to .undergo a spir itual transmutation; the dross of their earthly conflicts falls away and the underlying good that Is in all human beings emerges un ashamed. To carry this message to the world, Goldwyn haa selected one of the strongest casts ever assembled. There are 11 main rolea and each demands the acting ability usually associated only with stars. In fact, U is truly an all-star cast, both In name and In acting power. Each player performs as. though-his .or her part were the main role in the photoplay. And yet, each portrays the relationship of one character with another in such a way that one forgets that one is looking at a pic ture in the feeling that life itself is being caught up into a single situa tion and exhibited before our gaze. Helene Chadwlck, whose recent performance in "Dangerous Curve Ahead.'" has been widely praised, has the leading woman's role In "The Sin Flood." . Richard Dix. whose acting in the Goldwyn pictures impressed the ex ecutives of the company to the ex tent of giving him a long-term con tract, began his career in amateur theatricals and with the local stock company of his home town, Minne apolis, Minn. Later he gravitated to New York, where he appeared with Faversham and in several Belasco productions. When Mr. Dix gave his remarkable performance in his first Goldwyn picture he was Immediately given leading parts In "Poverty of Riches" and "The Sin Flood." : A yy-..,wgttnBnjiii usurer nt"t SNMninnawniw 'w.mjw.mh.hh wu ' $ l"l f -. - -. j ; J AjifcJsTf J f fl V,. I j Ml- is?v t .rri -it iff-' - 1 "V H "il . . j , : j ' 1 1 ''' " ' -. ?' ; I . ', I'-T-iir'nr-n in- It- -i - '-niri-Tni- nnrni irmrMiwinm 'cmimar niiitr"iii r initiiii il im iniHI hw ar rn iMnntf : L iiitmrfhWfiiiiiir'"rtri-iii'iti-itJ- -fnmiirrr rnt Tlrt--1fn-- -r-Mfmir' - irr ftfir-,-:ATir'r Betty Compaon Paramount star, who take particular deliarat la Iter pr ent role la fortbcomlas proanctlon. To Have and To Hold. "I T'S the greatest job In the world," says Betty Compson of the profession of acting before the camera. "There never was work like it," she insists. "And never such a re sponsibility, that of trying to amuse and entertain tired and weary peo ple of the world. It Is a responsi bility I love and I hope it will be many years before I will cease to hear the patter of applause, or otherwise, as I sit In the dark of a theater and gather In the audible comments of those who have paid hard-earned money In te hope that for a few moments I, and those associated with me, may cause them to forget (heir troubles, to rest and relax. "I should be a very ungrateful person if I failed to express my ap preciation to those who by their patronage of pictures have made It possible for me to become a Para mount star. If I succeed in my job it is quite possible that succeas may mean a gain of working effi ciency brought about when the re laxation of motion pictures untan gles jangled nerves and warped dis positions. It Is a tremendous honor that the public pays when by dimes and quarters through the box-office window they raise us to stellar status." Miss Compson recently completed the romantic story of "To Have and to Hold," a new George Fitzmaurice Paramount production, in which Bert Lytell and Theodore Kosloff also have Important roles. June Mathis Will Write "Ben Hur" Scenario. Work Entrusted to One of Beat Known Continuity Writer In Kllma. AL. ERLANGER announces that June Mathis, whose record as a writer for the screen Is unexcelled, has been engaged to write the con tinuity, collaborate on the produc tion and edit "Ben Hur," which Is to be produced by Goldwyn Pictures corporation. The engagement of Miss Mathis is the first Important step toward the picturization of Lew Wallace's famous novel and stage play, which Is going to be made into the greatest spectacle the ecresn has ever known. Th players will be sent to Palestine and to Italy in order to secure the exact locations described In "Ben Hur." Miss Mathis will begin work im mediately on the continuity and will accompany the players on. their foreign expedition. No writer of motion pictures haa achieved a greater reputation than Miss Mathis, whose latest outstand ing successes are "The Four Horse men." "The Conquering Power" and "Blood and Sand." Recognizing the possibilities of the screen, she abandoned a stage career to become practically tna first free lance writer In the coun try and immediately showed such a marked aptitude for continuity writing that her service have been In constant demand. She has played an Important part in the develop ment of the feature photoplay from Its early primitive form into the elaborate composition of today. "Ben Hur." which is to be handled on a mammoth scale In every re spect, will be the biggest work she haa ever essayed. Mary Miles Minter Wins Director's Praise. Charles Milne Heaps Plaudit. Upon Plucky Little Star. ((AXE of the gamegt little ac y tresses I ever directed." That is what Charles Maigne, director, said of Mary Miles Minter, Paramount star, on the return of the company from a six weeks' so journ in Wyomlng. where the ex teriors of "The Cowboy and the Lady." in which Miss Minter is co featured with Tom Moore, were filmed. Mr. Maigne's eulogy of Miss Mln ter's bravery was Inspired by her performance of the bl; thrill stunt of the picture. In which she slipped from a fallen tree which lay across a chasm and fell some 25 or 20 feet into a pool and the rapids of a stream below. A double had been arranged for this perilous drop. The scene was made and Miss Minter, watching from the side lines, .exclaimed: "That doesn't look so bad. If he can do it, I can, too!" Director Maigne agreed to let ber do it. "Now I can take pride In the fact that the work In the picture is my very own," she declared, after being rescued from the rapids. Miss Minter's performance of her role also Involved some very diffi cult horsemanship and other dan gers attendant upon making scenes In the rough mountainous country chosen as the locale fir tho exterior scenes. . Thomas Melghan. Paramount star, made a flying visit to New Tork last week. After a trip across the continent from California he went back as far aa Brook, Ind., to visit George Ade at his farm. Later Mr. Meisinan was Joined there by his director Alfred E. Green for the purpose of consulting with the fa mous humorist regarding his latest screen story, "Back Home and Broke." Mr. Melghan is to be starred In this picture when pro duction work begins on It soon at the Long Island City studio. The Paramount star and the writer are old friends. Mr. Melgh an had a leading role In "The Col lege Widow," Mr. Ade's first big stage success. Their friendship -was renewed recently when Mr. Melghan was starred in Mr. Ade's story, "Our Leading Citizen." written es pecially for this purpose, as was also "Back Home and Broke." FILM RIGHT TO "DRIFTING" PURCHASED BY UNIVERSAL PrisciHa Dean, Who Recently Completed "Under Two Flags," Will Be Stellar Player in Forthcoming; Big Production. D RIFT I NO," William A- Brady's stage success of last season, has been bought by t'nlversal and will be screened as a Universal-Jewel, it is' an nounced at the Universal home of fice. It la very probable that It will be used as a starring vehicle for Prlscllla Dean, in whom is seen the Ideal type for the story's hero ine. Cassis Cook, tne fiery wildcat of the China seaa Leon d'Usseau. Universale eastern scenario editor. Is cow on his way to Universal City with the manu script of "Drifting." v.lch Is being rushed to the coast so that Imme diate work can be started on the scenario. In addition to "Drifting" d Usseau Is taking with him a box ful of books, plays and short stories by widely known authora. They have been chosen as the material for Universal' forthcoming output, and are the direct result of Carl Laemmle's Instructions to buy good, better and best stories for Universal pictures. "Drifting" was written by John Colton, formerly a member of the Universal scenario staff, assisted by Daisy H. Andrews, now dead. At the time the play was produced by Brady, Colton was "doctoring" pic ture plots at Universal City. He received leave of absence to com east and attend the opening of hi play. Alice Brady created th first stage role of Cassle. She was fol lowed in the role by Helen Mencken. Tho leading male role was played by Robert Warwick. "Drifting" concerns the life and adventures of two derelicts In the China seas, one an American small town girl driven from home because of her waywardness, and the other n American ex-captaln. cashiered from the service because of alleged cheating at cards. The story deal with the effort of these two to fight their way back to respectabil ity and of how they help to frus trate a bolshevik uprising In China. The history of "Drifting" Is somewhat like that of "The Storm." current winner, pnth Universal' had their beginnings In vaudeville. Before "Drifting" was mad Into a stag play Alice Brady starred In It a a vaudevlll sketch known as "Caasl Cook, of th Yellow Sea." Whenever Jean Heraholt wants something fixed on hi motor car he doe It hlmlf not to econo mize, but becaua he la convinced no on els take as much pride In on' car aa oneself. "Anyway. It's a good thing to learn how to be a first-class automobU mechanic sine In this life of numerous un certainties a fellow never knows when he must change hi line to get a job." th popular actor ob serve. Dorothy Manners Is not going ta wed for th reason that she Is de sirous of changing her nam le gally sine It haa been appropriated by another screen actress, as ha been reported. "That I aa absurd remedy becau although I hav a legal right to my present nam. I could easily Chang It witbsut marching up to any altar," she ex plain. "Anyway, I hav no mis givings over retaining my own name and continuing my career In pictures under It." Robert Florey, head of th for eign department of th Pick ford Fairbanks publicity bureau, wtll go abroad In about a month to manas th exploitation of "Douglas Fair banks In Robin Hood." In Franoa. Spain, Italy and other European countries. Clarence Erlceon ha been selected to act as business manager. Forrest Robinson was among a select group which witnessed a pre view of Mary Plckford s new Tess of the Storm Country." In th pro jection room of th PIckford-Falr-banks studio last Sunday and he make th unqualified atataraent that this Is the best characterisa tion the famous Mary haa ver mad In motion picture, barring no pre vious triumph. Mr. Robinson plays the part of Daddy Skinner In this notable revival. Wneeav SECOND AND LAST BIG WEEK-NOW PLAYING Positively Last Showing Friday Night I ""1 U 'Sri .--C-l no ill ' ' ' ' I 0 KEATES CONTEST jf 3 r " "' 1 V? ''TI AND CONCERT v j ff1 U lrr J i I TA II 1 verfure-.Ros'sinl lLL$k I FX 4T Th, Franke RPl 1 l? vU. .'I AJrt ' V aVm'.Vng I -Hill It LJ WW I- ' Vi f - PS ...Ivy St. Heller I ML !fl 4. Keates' Kontest 1 ft J ' fifA H 5. "Stars and Stripes li iW ' -4 A fl Forever"... Sousa II UTiV I'M il "a i m f7 of l,,,!,,,! mMKaa mi iimi Miiihii"a' iiaMn, urn iiiiiiiiiipiii.i mu i ifliaiMni itm 11 il i Mti 1 'Mftn mi, 1 1 mtm inn ! ' nr n mi -i n f" " 1. a laririrnsai "' irni "r i i ' "" ' " i il i" i Il1irr ' ' 11111111 '" 1 ' " , 1 ' "' J r - : isf f" b ' J nn CHARLES TO) i: T23 W X.I t u!. r: . r: it.ii.j a-x- . sai in ins i it i uig uiihcu miuu d i : rv l "" "A TAlI.riRrl A. XL M. at, 3L IL Annf mT JL m f-J f MADE MAN" p La ' Never in his brilliant career has this clever star r r:: I" LJ tZJl STECHELE'S t J,3 HI SRr&F?RlE MATS, (week days) . ,25c fH LJ ORCHESTRA VES -nri Sund.v.. . SOe 1 Mills at the Organ 0 appeared in a bigger or better production. IT'S HIS BIG SUPREME TRIUMPH COMING "LOVE IS AN soos AWFUL THING" One of the most hilarious farce com edies of years, with OWEN MOORE, the star of "Reported Missing." ?' -e