Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-18
BY ANNE CAMERON
Hollywood, Calf, May -.

~
v day, hung fascinated about c. B.
De Miles big theatre set for his pro-
duction of Leonard Merrick's short
story, THE Laurels and the Lady,
pictorially not yet named.
The floor of the stage is real ice-a
nine days wonder to US Hollywooders
and though the temperature was 90 in
the shade, skaters shipped from New
York cut marvellous figures in ultra
Bakst costumes in ultra urban setting.
incidentally I'd heard that Mr.. De
Mile roared when in action, but he
doesn't. He talks in a monotonous,
clear voice, and bites off his words,
which fall like drops of red hot ice on
the unfortunates when he is angry.
His stars are Mildred Harris. Dor
othy Dalton and Conrad Nagel. Harris
looks like dish of vanilla and straw
berry ice cream: Dalton a hot tamaie,
and Nagel-just a nice kid little out
of his element.
I asked Mildred how she managed
to put on flesh while working for c. B.
"Oh," she intoned in a high, per-
fectly changeless voice, I'm taking
classic dancing and petroleum oil
Candid. Very. Well, she's beautiful
anyway, and not stuck up-could you
ask for more?
There was a full size theatre orches-
tra-and a darn good one at that-and
Dalton stood in a box, shimmying sort
Of lazy like and smoking a cigarette.
ERANK O'CONNOR, who use to be
i William D. Taylor's assistant, is
directing his first picture, Everything
for Sale" starring May MacAvoy, OF
the big blue eyes. She seems to be n
favorite with every one on the set
which is more than you can say for
many a star.
Next to living with a person. the
best way to find out their true char
acter Is to be on the set with EN-,
MacAvoy is too new to have a car yet,
and it's nice to see her walking down
the Boulevard to work.
Kathlyn Williams is in the picture,
too, and a lovely thing she is, with her
poise and certainty born Of long expert
ence. Eddie Sutherland is the hero-a
nice lad. He's the son OF one of the
theatrical Ring sisters, You know, and
the nephew of Tommy Meighan.
r HEAR from one who knows that
i there is trouble In the ofing Motion
picture money is tight just now.
Robertson Cole have quit temporar
fly and Universal has had its quarter =
annual house cleaning. Metro has re-
duced itself to only four working units
and Allan Dwan has again been forced
down.
Many and many an independent pro-
ducer has had to pull in his horns anG
be glad to join one OF the bigger
stronger units. Maurice Tourneur, fol
instance, is going under the Ince BAN
ner, where he will probably make pic
lures just as good, if not better, will
the greater resources at his command.
incidentally, they say lnce is abb
sorbing Associated Producers-Mauric,
Tourneur, Allan Dwan. j. Parker Read
Marshall Neilan, Mack Sennett, j. l.
rockingham, besides Ince himself.
However, let's wait and see before
making any rash representations.
The Lasky expenditures in sets stars
and directors are just as lavish, if moi
more 50, but il Is said they are re.
trenching on the salaries--never large
Somparatively--of the lesser lights.
George Melford is making "The Grea,
Impersonati0n' from tho novel by Il
Phillips ODpenheim-a corking see.
mario by Monte aKtterjohn. Jamc,
Kirkwood is the star, than whom ther,
I'm not ashamed to telDyou that a,