Great Falls tribune., 1921-02-20

the most expensive picture ever made
and, unhappily, was never a very
great financial success.
A Film Pioneer.
Il dwell at length on the subject Of
Mr.. Griffith because / am very sure
that when the day comes for history
of the beginnings of the art to be writ
tep it viii be his name that will occupy
first place in the list Of film pioneers.
And besides there is the element of
heart felt gratitude involved. If it had
not been for David Wark Griffith
am very sure / should never have had
the courage to goo in films, but very
soon would have wandered back to the
spoken drama-to have become per-
haps just one of many ar-successes
behind the footlights
Even as it was, there were many
occasions when the temptation to flee
from the unattractive studio and the
nerve racking click of the camera
back to the warm lights and responsive
audiences Of the theater-was almost
irresistible. Those were the times
when Mr. Griffith would prove his pos
session of psychic intuition which now
as / look back on it, was little short
of miraculous. He would take me to
one side and talk gently and kindly TO
me, explaining how foolish it would be
for me to dessert the new art in which
he was positive l would win success
If only | had the patience to stick to
it. And when he would sense my con
tempt for the twadriness of the thing
the fllmsy scenery, the cheap costumes,
the general poverty of everybody con-
nected with the movies-he would very
patiently show me how a similar state
of affairs existed in the spoken drama
a few years earlier. It was from him
!. got my first knowledge Of the English
theater in Shakespeare time-and I
shall never forget how forcefully he
pointed out the moraI-asking me
SIMPLY if l thought the magnificcnce
OF Midsummer Nights Dream or the
beauty of Romeo and juliet defended
on lavlshness of scenery or gorgeous
ness Of wardrobe.
-, Feelings FeebIy Expressed.
"For a busy man, beset bv hnndred
pressing cares, to take the time to IN
still courage and common sense in
sip OF a l5-year- girl is in my mind
matter that justifies the feeling
nave tor him today-a feeling which
IS only feebly expressed when saw he
las my unbounded admiration and ey-
arlasting gratitude"
~ this point it may be interesting
o .divulge from Miss Pickford's own
'eGtal long enough to give the reader
/ glimpse of her surroundings. nersona1
md physical, in order that an idea NAV
'e gained Of the way she lives great
r part Of each year.
Nhen l arrived in Los Angeles. di-
'ect from London, last February. 1!
vas none too sure could induce Miss
lck1ord to grant me the amount of
lme necessary for me to obtain from
Ter the whole story Of her career. In
general way-from earlier expert
noes among motion picture stars-I
new that as compared with their ac-
lY,tles .'l! one-armed man juggling three |
billiard balls would present the an
'earance Of complete Incidence! What |
$ more to the point, I knew that in |
ne case OF Miss Pickford there must |
'e scores Of demands upon her time
very day that she could not possibly |
onslder-lt she were to continue max
ng. pictures.
Wherefore l went at the task Of ac-
uaintlng her with my mission in a
oundabout fashion. (On other occa-
ions have walked directly into tho
resence of British cabinet minister
nd have been no less direct in my ap-
roach to important officers Of the
Anerlcan government-but that is diff
erenty When / reached Los An
eles Miss Pickford was just finishing
cutting her newest picture >''Polly-
ma and comforting with the heads
her organization regarding her next
lcture-a screen version Of Hop O.
[e Thumb" since renamed .aThe
Duchess Of Suds" and later shortened
, just "Suds." This much informa
on l obtained from her director the
ight of my arrival.
Mind on Divorce.
What he did not tell me-probably 4