The Washington times., 1915-05-31
THE BEST
Photoplay Department in
WASHINGTON
Fritsi Sch eff Says
Photopldy Offers
"A ctreSSes Big
Opportunity

There Ia considerably more enthu-
siasm for the motion picture among
the better class of actors and ac-
been. The dull theatrical season and
the employment given to stage Ia
vorites by the photoplay companies
has had something to do with this.
But the most important thing Is the
fact that the legitimate actor and
actress realizes that in a photoplay
there will be real opportunity. and
that acting ability will show as 1t
doesn't always get q chance to show
on the legitimate stage.
This must not be understood a.
advocating the focking Of legitimate
actors and actresses to the camera.
There are some of the most distin-
guished and intelligent of the stage
atsrs who would not be worth their
aalt in motion pictures. Some OF
these have tried the experiment. and
have been much disappointed with
the results. One of the best known
and most artistic women stars in
the world made an ignominious fall
ure with photoplay of her most
noted success on the stage. mo-
ton picture actress 10 now playing
this stars big stage Hyoductions for
the camera and doing It considerably
better, for motion picture purposes,
than the star could do.
But the fact remains that there are
q number of legitimate actors and
actresses who can make a success Of
the film play and who find that 1t
pays from an educational stand
point. A few weeks ago Maud Gil
har 90 p1A
Players. told a Poll audience that
motion pictures had taught her more
than she ever thought could he
learned from them. She said her
experience in the pictures gave her
an entirely new idea Of the values
of expression and action--ideas that
were invaluable to her in her work
on the stage.
w. J. Ferguson, when he was here
few months ago, said he thought
the effect Of the motion picture on
the stage would be to make better
actors, for the reason that 1t would
revive the pantomimic art and make
1t necessary for the actor to learn
something of pantomime to make
success on the stage. He attributes
much of his success to the fact that
he studied this branch Of the art
years ago. And Mr.. Ferguson has
proved his contention by appearing
III 1Hollon plCtuTeS III SuppoEt VI Hotcu
stars and making himself the real
star Of the plays he helped interpret,
Just because of his ability to act al
most to perfection without speaking.
The testimony Of these two repre-
sentatives of the stage should be
convincing of the value of the photo
play to the technique Of acting. Now
comes FRITZ Scheff, who Is an OPP
cratic star rather than an actress OF
the speaking stage, with an enthusi-
astic endorsement of the pictures.
You know 1t astonished me-" said
FRITZ Scheff when she had occasion
to view her first photo play, pretty
Mrs. Smith," made by the Bosworth
Company, ito see how much better
than the original play the picture has
turned out.
when I first started to make this
picture. no one could have made me
believe that the loss of the coloring
of the voice and the little touches
that one can give to personal ap-
pearance could be compensated for
by the beautiful outdoor effects and
other attractions to which the photo
play lends itself.
opportunities that the screen offers
for scenic effects which are entirely
unknown with mere stage settings.
This fact has been brought out by
almost every producer In the coun-
try. I would like to say that ] have
become thorough convert to the
photoplay.
TT is really delightful to see one
self photographed in this way. When
you have a portrait taken by a
photographer. you only see yourself
In one pose. and even at that 1t
might be stilted and quite unlike
yourself as your friends know you