The sun., 1913-12-28

ers is a0apte0 only to the spoken drama
MIR. Frohman has come into contact
with more Of the distinguished actors
who play for the camera than any Of
tn. Vthcr impresarios of the movies. He
toid a SIS reporter yesterday what he
thought OF the actors for the moving
pictures. He said:
"Th. actor encounters two kinds of
stage techn!que-that which is required
In the regular drama and "A varied form
OF stage mechanism reSorted to for NOV
ing picture plays But the two forms
differ slightly. The stage permits him
certain freedom OF movement, because
the acted play conpels him 10 express
himself through the elaborated medium
of spoken words All this Is condensed
on the screen. The use Of words is
minimized in favor of rapid movement
and action.
1T Is well known that such events or
antecedent happenings that are talked
about In play are >isualized on the
screens. \ picture can have no eX-
planation OF purposes or motives. The
cause OF action IL pictured and thus
made lucid and comprehensive by q
chronological series Of pictured events.
$50 the technique OF the moving pic
ture actor is at times modified and at
other times a little exaggerated as he is
carried on by the action OF the play.
A good actor. however. is good actor
anywhere. His skill and dramatic abil-
ity can be vividly disclosed in n picture
quite as readily as on the stage. His
s.n lat
more convincing his work.
"A few hints as to the methods OF
procedure are given him at first. Then
he Ia soon as much at home within the
limited ten foot opening OF picture
stage as he is on the more enlarged
thirty odd feet opening that discloses
the stage Of the theatre.
"Some picture actors betray more
ply steal movement than Others This
IL largely matter OF temperament.
Gesture and action can be overdone on
the screen as well as on the stage.
Some artists use the entire arm with
which TO indicate the passing thought;
some can create the effect desired with
the turn OF the hand or movement Of
the finger. It's a matter OF proportion.
Bernhardt and Mrs Flske were not
prodigai Of gesticulations. Each was
moderate. self-cOntained, yet effective.
"The character and nature of part
has much to do with the technique Of
physical expression; no II becomes
largely matter Of cerebration. Mrs
F'iske In Tess expresses the agony Of
feeling and emotion with the minimum
OF physical effort. The actor, who. for
instance, playing OtheIi0. would be stu
dious not of his authoritative poise. as
the commanding general. but OF the
need to break into the crushing violence
OF his emotions when oppressed by the
report of DesdemOna's dislOyalty SO he
must adapt his technique to the we'll
balanced expression Of his state OF feel
ing.
"In a sense the actor acquires, too, a
larger experience in the value of panto-
mime in his picture play activities. He
sees himself on the screen and In after
ward able to profit by what II reveals
TO him"
week the following performances Of the
motion pictures: Narration and organ
recital illustrating the Life and Works
Of Richard Wagner" at the New Am
sterdam Theatre to-day at 3 and $50;
Monday. Tuesday and Friday at 3.
John Barrymore, one of the favorites
Of the American stage, is to he pre-
sented on Jan. 10 by the Famous Play
ers Film Company, Of which Daniel
Frohman Is managing director. In the
celebrated comedy romance. AN Amer