San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23

During the time we worked to-
gether," said Brenon. 81 will not deny
that there were periods when my pa
thence was sorely tried. But it was
not while Pola Negri was actually on
the set.
When / was asked to direct her
in The Spanish Dancer / began TO
gather every bit of information avail
able about her. Some of it alarmed
me, but when We came into daily con-
tact it became obvious tnat she was n
remarkable woman pretty generally
misunderstood.
Before she came to America she
was told some very curious things
about our customs. Those who did so
were Americans, but gave her the
worst possible advice. Like all sensi-
tive people. Pola was nervous TO the
point of timidity when she arrived.
In an effort to Conceal this she as
sumed certain hauteur, alternating
with periods of humility.
Il am convinced that this early man.
ner was merely pose. and that she
persisted in playing a false role to the
point where her own charming person
atty was given scarcely any opportun-
ity TO win friends.
'Pola is not easy to direct. No
great artist is.
'She belongs to the type that allows
situations to take complete control of
the emotions. Riding on the crest of
an emotional tide she is magnificent.
and if the camera is started at the
moment of her complete surrender to
the tide she gives what no other screen
actress has ever done before.
Miss Negri is a hard worker. once
she makes up her mind to begin. When.
ever suggested q piece of business to
her. l could depend upon its being
worked out and elaborated in thorough
ly artistic fashion. She has strong
will, and when something strikes her
as unnatural she will pause and say.
But l do not feel that
Il quickly learned that she is at her
best when she works in the full sway
Of emotions. Everything she does then
seems instructive. But il she begins
to reason and plan her actions, her
work is not so satisfying.
"On the sets / found her very pa
| tent unless she was asked to wait.
That always annoys her. On the other
hand. no work is too arduous. no study
too trying, when she is working out de-
tails of scene.
"She usually stands with her hands
over her eyes for while. When ready
she removes her hands and says Now.
IF the camera is started too soon she
cries angrily. NO, no. not yet
Il cannot say Pola Negri is the
greatest artist l have ever known. She
has unlimited genius. is the mistress of
emotionalism, but she still has some
things TO learn. Her ability and
boundless ambition. however. should
carry her to the peak of her profes-
sion.
"She is a curious admixture Of old
world sophistication and of impulsive-
ness as candid as n child's. Watching
scenes from the Spanish Dancer in
the projection room she at times APP
! plauded upon seeing herself on the
screen. i did not take this as vanity.
but an amazing ability of Negri the
spectator to detach herself completely
from Negri the actress. She applauds
others with the same quick apprccia-
ton when their work is good.
"Keenly critical of her own work.
tenacious of her ideas. earnest, gener-
Gus, guided by sharp intuition and en-
dowed with rare powers of perception
and the artistic graces, Pola Negri
will eventually. ! believe. stand as the
supreme symbol of her art"