The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-02
Charlotte
Corday
How an Attempted Picture
Play Was Spoiled

Movieville Is situated In a region
where the sun shines oftener than any
where else In America and where the
surrounding scenery Is more varied
and beautiful. This city, devoted to
the work OF producing picture plays.
looks out upon mountains on the one
hand and undulating tracts on the 9TH
er. The latter is partly wooded, part
ly cultivated. and a river runs through
It. connecting several lakes.
Movleville itself is a very singular
city, containing a singular population.
There is every variety Of dwelling in
1t from an Indian tepee to a Chinese
palace. every variety of fertilization
from q Roman oppidum (walled inclo-
sure) to a modern bastion. II there Is
anything required that Movieville does
not contain It Is improvised. A scenario.
one scene OF which was laid in the
United States senate chamber. having
been chosen for production the senate
chamber was constructed not Of stone,
but Of stucco. canvas and other such
Ike materials.
One OF the famous speaking plays of
its day was Charlotte Cortay." The
scene was laid in Paris at the time Of
the French revolution and involved the
assassination OF the leader Of the
reign OF terror. Marat. The woman
who played the part OF Charlotte was
considered wonder. During her per.
formances she seemed to be the person
whose part she was enacting. The
play had a very long run, and every
month during the time It was on the
boards the leading lady, whose stage
name was Marguerite Stanley, put
more intensity into her part until her
audiences were often thrown into a
cold SILVER.
Charlotte Corday" was especially
adapted for a picture play, and Movie
Vile was considered as the best, real
ly the only. place to make the photo
graphs.
John EsterbrO0ke, who took the part
Of Marat, though a finished actor, did
not produce the impression effected by
Miss Stanley. While she became more
and more tragic. he seemed to lose
force. The real reason Of his apparent
was that SO real was her
Of her character that he
became afraid of her.
There was another matter that infiu-
enced Mr.. Esterbrooke. He thought
he saw signs that the girl was in love
with him. While on the stage she play.
ed Charlotte to his Marat. At other
times she purred to him like a kitten.
He was fearful of this emotional COM
binatiOn. He was not in love with her
and could not divest himself Of the
feeling that II he did not respond to
her preference time might come
when. while she was under the power
full emotion induced by her part, she
would make of 1t a real tragedy.
Such were the conditions when It was
decided to produce moving picture
play Of Charlotte Corday." Miss
Stanley was on the same train with
Another member of the
company. Estelle Springer, who was
supposed to be in love with him. was
also Of the party. Esterbrooke took
seat beside Miss Springer and remain.
ed there all the way to Movieville.
During the ride Miss Stanley remain.
ed In her seat reading a novel, a trav-
cling cap pulled down over her eyes.
When the journey was completed she
eft the car with the others smilingly,
and II jealousy had been excited in her
hone Of the party noticed It.
Charlotte Corday" was to be a ave
reel play. Often many pictures were
taken Of a single scene before the de-
'ired effect was produced on the aims
This was wearing on the performers,
especially on Miss Stanley. whose emo.
ional part required 20 much intensity. |
Ind every time q picture was made |
nat intensity must be excited. This |
naturally called for periods Of rest.
they were usually passed In automo-
bile rides over the beautiful country,
By this time a rivalry appeared to |
AVE sprung up between the two az
'trants for Mr.. EsterbroOke's favor.
{ was observed in Miss Springer. but
lot In Miss Stanley-that Is. the lat.
ers feeling for him was only suppos-
ID to exist by him, and he spoke of It
o no one. On one or two occasions
he asked him to ride with her. that
he might talk over such changes in
heir behavior before the camera from
What they had been used to on the
tage as might be advisable. On their
eturn from these rides Esterbrooke
ooked serious, but kept his own coun-
el as to the cause. Actors are apt to
ave hearts thrown at them promis-
from young women In their
audiences, and Esterbrooke was no ex-
option. He had found 1t advisable to
'ay no attention to such advances and
lever mentioned them TO others.
Historical plays do not adhere very
loosely to history. If they did it would
70 impossible to treat the theme
In the dramatixation Of
he story Of Charlotte Corday, Marat
meets Charlotte at a cafe ON the
,hamps Elysees and admires her. He
as no speech with her, she sitting at
mother table alone. while he Is dining
nth a party which includes Miss
pringer, who took the part Of Nine.
)u Four. Marat's efforts to cast his
dmiring glances at the girl who is
ater on to assassinate him, without
tracing the notice of those at bis