New-York tribune., 1922-03-12
Some ClOse-Ups
OF Men Missed
By the Camera
The Real Star Of the
Picture Is Never Seen
on the silver Sheet
BY fiarriette UnderhiIl

We had planned to interview a dozen
or so Of the leading lights and then
present a composite photograph, and
this is what happened William De
Mile silently stole away to Hollywood
without notifying us. Erich Won Stro-
helm did the same. John Robertson
couldn't he located; neither could D.
w Griffith. Henry King was in the
hospital. but We did manage to talk to
George Fitzmaurice and Hugo Balln.
Mr.. Fitzmaurice we intercepted on his
way to the Los Angeles express, ard
Mr.. Balm we encountered at a lunch
con and changed our place card so we
could sit next to him. This we did
after we heard him say with convic-
tion: people do not want good pic
tures." and then "It's the title that
sells the production"
Did you really mean those things? -
We asked, expecting him to say "No,
was only foolng.'
Mr.. Balm Stands
His Ground
II certainly did, answered Mr.. Bal
lin. people do not want good pic
lures ard producers do not want good
titles-at least they do not want con-
servative titles. If you try to call a
picture The Daguerrotype' they will
insist on calling it Her Mothers Sim
or The Thing Apart cannot be released
until it is changed to His Love Grew
Cold A good pictures often needs
only bad title to sell it, and, of
course. everybody can write a title
until he tries
What do you think Of censorship"
Mr.. Balin shrugged his shoulders
"Nothing,' he replied. But censors
are really human, you know, and there
for carnot live forever; and when
censor approves q pictures it does not
mean that it is moral. Fortunately
somo censors are very innocent
why did you stop being painter
and become a picture DIRECTOR" we
asked. Because even great paint
ing is seen only by about 10000 people
in a year, and the same number see
good motion picture in one hour
Don't you agree with us that the
director is the most important factor
in a pictures success"
II dc think that the biggest thing
about a picture is not what is said or
done but how it is said or done And
the first rule is never make a picture
because you see it through the eyes of
success. Imitation is the sincerest
fiattery-and the worst bore. The sec
oud is, never let what the public is
going to say worry you while you are
making a picture, Wait until after
they say it,
MIR. Fitzmaurice
Has His Innings
Mr.. Fitzmauricc was corraled in the
Fifth Avenue office one hour before his
train left for the Coast. In spite of
the fact that we had but fifteen min
utes to talk to him. we spent one min
ute OF the time in asking how to pro-
1ounce his name. We have always
called it "Fitzmorris," and some people
call it "Fitzmaur-ese," with the accent
on the last syllable. This, Mr.. Fitz-
maurice himself informs us, is not corr
rect. The name isn't French. It's Irish.
and so is its owner. Probably the roa-
son people call him "Maurice.' with
the accent on the last syllable. is be-
cause he was born in France. educated
in France, speaks with a French accent
end looks exactly like a Frenchman.
After having that settled. we asked
Mr.. Fitzmaurice what he thought pic
lures we're most in need of, and he an
swered instantly. Good titles" which
pleased US beyond telling. Why aren't
titles as important to & picture as da-
/ logue is 20 play? is what we should
ike to know. and we told Mr. Fitz-
maurice so.
We'll, I'm glad you are not one of
those people who think the perfect mic
ture is the one without titles"
Rather not! The only titleless pic
lures we ever saw nearly gave us ner-
vous prostration because the characters
seemed always struggling to speak
Few people, l believe, do recognize
the Importance Of titles. They can alb
solutely make or ruin a picture"
MIR. Fitzmaurice has Just returned
from abroad, where he has been filming
"Thc Nan From Home" and, although
he raved over the climate, the atmos-
phere (Which isn't the same thing at
alb and the settings over there, he
prefers to make pictures here-here
meaning New York. He will get only
As near his hearts desire, however. as
Los Angeles, which is about as near
AS any one ever gets in this world, we
think
Everything, of Course,
Is Comparative
People often complain that motion
picture production moves so slowly
here, but you should see what hap
pens abroad. had decided to stage
some Of the exteriors of The Man From
Home in the gardens of the Caserta,
one Of the royal palaces near Naples.
Having so decided ! found that it was
a difficult proceeding, but could be
managed, and an influential friend Sc
cured document for me which he
said would be an omen sesame and all