The Washington times., 1915-10-14
THE BEST
Photoploy Department in
WASHINGTON
Actress A DIN its the
Photoplay Has
Taught Her
Lesson

something from motion pictures that
she will convert into material for
her work on the stage. She has
stored up bit of experience which
she can utilize in future stage pro-
ductions. The incident. while It re-
lates solely to Miss Barrymore. is
OF interest to all photopiay patrons
because It tells something OF the
difference between working for the
pictures and the single audience or
a theater.
Miss barrymore is regarded az
one OF the greatest dra wing cards
IN the theater. she is popular
favorite. and has a large clientele.
coming from family OF actors ana
actresses that goes back generation
after generation. and never leaves
the theater, she might be expected
preston Of dramatic Thought
through action as well as through
words. Tho truth Is that the PIC
lures have taught Miss Barrymore
something about just this feature
OF her work that she did not know
before.
There were two scenes in a motion
picture in which Miss barrymore
was called upon to exert her best
eHorts Tor dramatic effect. Ono OF
these scenes was where she was
supposed to receive message or
lnteliigence that gave her pleasure
and the other was where she was
supposed to show the receipt OF In
formation that her mother was
dead.
Miss Barrymore used spoken lines
In both scenes because the lines help
ed her. as they help any actress or
actor In big scenes In photoplays.
Her director told her she depended
entirely on the lines for the effect
or the scenes. Miss Barrymore was
indignant and declared she did not
The films that were made of the two
scenes were developed and Just those
two scenes were shown on a screen
at the studio for Miss Barrymore
benefit. There wasn't the slightest
difference In her facial expression or
demeanor! In fact either scene could
have been substituted for the other
the one where she received the
message giving her pleasure being
absolutely the same. SO far as the
actress facial expression was con-
cerned. with the one where she was
told OF her mothers death.
The actress went through the sec
ond scene q second time and this
time 1t wasn't necessary for a SUBJ
title to inform the audience that
she was receiving bad news. She
declares II was the first time she
had ever been brought to a realiza-
tion OF Just what the pictures can do
for an actress. and she Is their firm
friend from now on.
Washington patrons of the photo
play who have seen THE Woman
Halter In which Henry walthall and
a large company of Essanay players
mr. AI - la
story that Just comes from Chicago
regarding the making Of that pic
ture which conclusively proves that
however strong the dramatic spirit
might be II cannot overcome the
weakness OF the flesh. The story Of
the play was written by Hobart
Chatfield Chatfieid Taylor,
, wealthy Chicago author-two things
which do not always equal each 9TH
er. and which give Mr.. Chatfield-
Taylor distinction even outside Of his
home town. As he Is almost as we'll
known In Washington as he Is in
Chicago. he doesn't really need this
distinction.
However. Mr.. Chatneid-Tayior
owns yacht and II will be remem-
bered that some Of the scenes Of
"The Woman Halter" are supposed
to take place on a yacht at sea.
The yacht was offered to the Es-
sanay people as the scene Of their
play and the company embarked on
the broad but somewhat uncertain
bosom Of Lake Michigan. The lake
has habit OF becoming tempestuous
on the slightest provocation and old
sailors will testify that when II Is
tempestuous II can give the At
lantic cards and spades. on break
ing up things generally.
At any rate It succeeded in break
ing UP THE Woman Halter" In fne
style and on short notice. Half way
through the production Of the yacht
seconds the hitherto placid lake be-
gan to billow and heave. The yacht
rolled. pitched and tossed and the
players. For one whole day
the entire Essanay company wrap
ped itself In steamer rugs and
prayed for the end Of the world!
A more seasick crowd was never
embarked on a floating palace.
When things Gained down all around
the making Of the picture proceeded.
G. M.