The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-02-25
Charlotte
Corday
How an Attempted Picture
Play Was Spoiled
By F. A. Mitchell


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 u river runs through
Ii, connecting several lakes.
Movieville itself is very singular
city. containing singular population
There is every variety of dwelling in
it from an Indian tepee to a Chinese
palace, every variety Of fertilization
from Roman oppidum (walled inclo-
sure) to modern bastion. If there Is
anything required that Movieville does
not contain 1t 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
like materials.
One of the famous speaking plays Of
its day was Charlotte Corday" 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 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 Esterbrooke, who took the part
of Marat, though 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
deterioration was that SO real was her
impersOnation Of her character that he
became afraid Of her.
There was another matter that influ-
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 real tragedy.
Such were the conditions when 1t was
decided to produce a moving picture
play OF Charlotte Corday." Miss
Stanley was ON the same train with
Esterbrooke. Another member Of the
company. Estelle Springer. who was
supposed to be In love with him. was
also Of the party. Esterbrooke took II
seat beside Miss Springer and remain.
ed there all the way to MOvieville,
During the ride Miss Stanley remain.
cling cap pulled down over her eyes
When the journey was completed she
left the car with the others smilingly,
and II jealousy had been excited In her
none Of the party noticed 1t.
Charlotte Corday" was to be five
reel play. Often many pictures were
taken Of a single scene before the de
sired effect was produced on the films
This was wearing on the performers.
especially on Miss Stanley, whose emo
tional part required so much intensity.
and every time picture was made
that 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 rivalry appeared to
have sprung up between the two as
pirants for Mr.. Esterbrookes favor
1t was observed In Miss Springer, but
not in Miss Stanley-that is, the lat.
ter's feeling for him was only suppos-
ed to exist by him. and he spoke of 1t
to no one. On one or two occasions
she asked him to ride with her. that
she might talk over such changes In
their behavior before the camera from
what they had been used to on the
stage as might be advisable. On their
return from these rides EsterbrOoke
looked serious. but kept his own coun.
sci as to the cause. Actors are apt to
have hearts thrown at them promis-
cuously from young women In their
audiences, and Esterbrooke was no ex.
ception. He had found it advisable to
pay no attention to such advances and
never mentioned them to others.
Historical plays do not adhere very
closely to history. II they did 1t would
be impossible to treat the theme
dramatically. In the dramatlzation OF
the story Of Charlotte Corday, Marat
meets Charlotte at cafe on the
Champs Elysees and admires her. He
has no speech with her, she sitting at
another table alone, while he is dining
with. party which includes Miss
Springer, who took the part OF a Nine.
Du Four. Marat's efforts to cast his
admiring glances at the girl who is
later on to assassinate him. without
attracting the notice Of those at his