Evening star., 1924-02-09
CHAPTER vi.
THE MlSCHlEVOUSNESS OF NAE
MURRAY.


THE MlSCHlEVOuS SNESS OF NAE
MURRAY.
y this same eventfui year the
Lasky Company engaged another
actress whose name is now IA
miliar to the motion picture
population of the world. The Zieg-
/ field "FoIlies" of 1915 contained for
the first time II screen episode in
| troducod for the presentation OF an
auto race From the moment when |
saw Mae Murray romp across this
! incidental screen l saw her possihili-
ties. When | got in touch with her,
however, I discovered that several
other producers had been inspired by
! the same belief
That our organization was the
lucky competitor was due TO very
advantageous connection which the
Lasky Company had formed some
time previously. The chief concern
of both Mr. Zukor and our organiza-
ton was to get big stories, hie plays,
and to this end Mr.. Zukor and i en-
gagged in a memorable skirmish over
David Belasco. II is apparent, of
course, at first glance why the pro
due ions of this the most eminent
producer of the spoken drama, should
have assumed such Importance in our
eyes. Both of US felt that IT we could
only have the screen rights to the
Belasco plays we should be placed
in an invulnerable position.
| nour rival efforts Mr.. Zukor had
the first advantage, for he had earlier
formed connection W,th sbia ai5isnei nanaei
he was enabled to get into direct
touch with Mr.. Belasco. [. on the
contrary, made all overtures through
the great producers business man
the result hung in the balance for
many days.
At last. just when l was beginning
to despair, Mr.. BelaSco announced
that he would see me. How, well L
remember that day when with beat
ing heart I sat in the producers S pri-
vate office awaiting the decision so
vital to my organization! IL SEEM
ed an eternity that | listened for the
opening of door, and when at last
heard it Mr.. Belasco's entrance was
as dramatic as that of a hero in one
of his own plays. The majestic head.
with it's mop of white hair sunk a
trifie forward, the one hand carried
inside of his coat. l can see now this
picture of him, as slowly, without
word, he descended the stair to greet
ME.
After | had gathered together my
- L r.
De Mile and Lasky and our organi-
zation, and he seemed Impressed from
the first by my enthusiasm. | think he
liked the fact that we were all such
Young men. Indeed, he said so. And
it was this, / am sure. which in
fluenced his decision. He made it that
very day, and when / went out of
his door my head was swimming
promised the Lasky Company the
screen rights to all his plays. For
these rights, ] may mention, We
promised him $4,000 advance against
so per cent of the profits.
l saw my. esteemed but defeated
rival at lunch on this very same day,
and when l told him the news his
face grew white. 1t was, indeed.
terrific blow. But reversed decision
would have meant even more to me.
Golden West" and Rose of the
Rancho merely helped to offset our
leading competitors, tremendous ad-
vantage in the possession of such
stars as Mary Pickford and Marguerite
Clark.
The promise Of the Belasco plays
influenced favorably many q screen
actor of the time. and II was. In fact,
should play sweet Kitty Bellairs
which weighed agains more dazzling
offers from other st'.uI1s.
Before Mae depar; "a ,r California
Shc came 10 me- WIN sTObDl. tlpuu-
ing that fair young brow. II cant
do it," said she.
Cant do what - inquired appre-
hensively.
why, this contract you've made
with me: it says that ! get 500 a
week and that the company buys my
clothes. Now ] can't trust anybody
else to pick out what | wear. Clothes
are part of my personality and I'd
much rather have more salary and
IA 10 M
wardrobe"
yielded the point and allowed her
an extra 500 a week to cover this
expenditure. Incidently, 1 may re,
mark that Mae could not have saved
many nickels from her allowance
There is a tradition that one evening
at the Hollywood Hotel the charming
little actress changed her evening
legend. but I can say that Mae
never changes from bad to worse.
She is regarded as one of the most
beautifully dressed women of the
screen.
The clothes-cloud was dispelled
from Macs horizon. Unfortunately.
however, more severe storms awaited
her in California. First of all, she
was rent by the commands Of a di-
rector whose conception of her tall
ents had nothing in common with
BE more dignified Remember that
you are a lady, not a hoyden"; this
was the spirit if not the substance of
guidance.
At some such suggestion Mae
would protest angrily. "But I'm a
dancer-that's the reason 1 was en-
gagged. And now you want to- turn
me into something different. I tell
you I'll be an utter failure If you
go on like this
Macs anger was, OF course, per.
fectly justifiable. Her subsequent
successes have verified this fact.
Without the infectious mad-cap
gayety wkhich she herself appraised
SO correctly from the first we should
never have had George Fitzmaurices
great success, "On With the Dance"
or Peacock Alley"
Miss Murray found another obstacle
to overcome during those first days.
Fresh from different medium, she
knew nothing of the workings Of
the camera This knowledge, so i'm
portant in assuming the pose most