New-York tribune., 1919-12-14
white satin. In the background hovered
a mantilla-ed mamma and some swash-
bucklinp Spaniards

white satin. In the background lowered
a mantilla-ed mamma and some swash-
buckling Spaniards.
"Then"-he lowered his voice-"I am
supposed to die. l am marrying so
that | may be shot, instead of hanged.
1t will all be over in two hours"
That was as far as Don Cesar went.
The famous Farnum smile broke loose,
and William the actor continued:
"How l revel in those old stories of
chivalry and romance! l read the book
that we are now picturizing dozens and
dozens Of times wnen | was boy. And
no modern scenario, however satisfac-
tory, equals the classics. What is good
in one age is good in another. The up
to-date scenario is an ephemeral affair.
l love the jousting, the duelng the ro-
mantle color, the costumes, of the Mid
die Ages. And, do you know, think
the public wants this sort of picture
more and more"
"Is it any wonder that there is gun
play in many of my pictures 2" he
asked. 81 knew how to shoot when
was five years old and Pm afraid
have still the heart of boy. In some
Of my pictures l have literally played
to the boyhood of the country Of
course, l have liked making my classi
cal pictures best of all, especially the
Tale of Two Cities and Les Mise
rables.'"
The handsome, splendidly moulded
Farnum then proceeded to decry the
necessity for good looks in the NOV
ing picture actor. He believes that
for women they are highly important.
but that in the case of men they don't
contribute materially to success. 1t
is the all-essential gray matter that
counts on the screen, as everywhere
else in life, he believes.
Concentration" he exclaimed "It
sounds bromide, but it's true. So
many people imagine that all one has
to do to be successful movie actor
is to look like a Greek god and strut
around. l find that the screen calls
for as much dramatic ability and Ger
tainly for more endurance than the
legitimate stage, and have had ample
experience of both. A man may make
a hit in one picture without having
had any dramatic experience, but to be
a sustained success solid foundation
Is necessary. There is something
dreadful for one who likes the open
spaces as l do, hunting, fishing and
shooting, to be cooped up inside max
ing pictures; but with music and other
devices we try to create the atmos-
phere Of the stage, and certainly there
is an endless variety Of theme and
treatment"
Mr.. Farnum prefers the heavier type
of picture. He sees the perturbation
of Shakespeare plays not far distant
and hopes to be among the pioneers
to take the roles on the screen that
for years have been his on the stage
Think of the possibilities of Ham
let'!" he said. "Personally, the villains
role has frequently been my favorite
have never enjoyed anything more
than being Shylock, and I think l may
say have done everything from The
Gilded Fool to AT the Sign Of the
Cross 1t is hard to say how Shake
speare would go in pictures. If We
dressed up the plays and called them
by other than their own names they
would be tremendous success, but
in their true colors the public might
get the idea that 'highbrow' pictures
were being forced upon them. 1t seems
to me that people want a different
kind of picture now. The stunt fol
its own sake is passe. The cause be-
hind the picture-the moral, if 70,
like-is looked for"
Mr. Farnum's personal experiences
have been sufficiently exciting to fur
nish good plot for scenario. Tt
quote himself. he has alternately
starved and rolled in luxury, beer
stranded and feted. And he has stead
lily burned the midnight oil, for sue
cess did not come to him without labo,
and study. When he started to act ht
got $40 week and was supposed te
furnish his costumes out of that. Fol
years he was leading man in a stock
company in New Orleans, and later ir
Buffalo. "The Spoilers" was his first
picture. He had not the remotest ides
Of going into pictures until Rex Beach
told him that he would allow the story
to be ricturized only on condition that
Farnum played in it. Everything went
But that is another story and well
known one!
If you want to get Mr.. Farnum real
ly kindled, talk fish to him. 1t is his
major hobby. In large, sunny room
In his home at Sag Harbor, L. l., he
has rare specimens of fish. Every one
represents separate struggle. Sue
cess on the screen is nothing to Mr..
Farnum compared with the joy he
derives from tussle with sword
fish and final mastery. He hates to
talk about his work. for he is modest
and almost shy, but he boasts Of the
298-pound swordfsh he caught and tho
1,500-pound hammerhead shark that he
struggled for all ono day and finally