The Washington times., 1925-03-25
MARION DAVIES
ESSAYS FIRST
COMIC ROLE

Marion Davies. Cosmopolitan star,
is to be seen shortly in a new kind
Of role-one in which comedy pre-
dominates, in "Zander the Great"
the former stage-starTing vehicle
for Alice Brady.
Heretofore. Miss Davies has
been identified with romantic parts
in elaborate historical photoplays.
Occasionally in these parts she
had an opportunity to show flashes
of comic skill, and these flashes
were received so enthusiastically
by not only her directorial staff,
but by the public, that she de-
cided to appear in a picture in
which her comedy talent would
be predominant.
There are only two CHIEF raa-
sons why people go to motion
pictures or to the theater--to be
thrilled or to be amused. In the
cinema they are more thrilled than
amused. and / believe the great
motion picture public is just as
DESTROYS of laughing as they are
of having their emotions stirred,
AYERS Miss Davies.
little did 1 appreciate the Diff
ficulty, however, of trying to find
screen material that ] considered
amusing. There were but few
funny books, plays or stories that
would screen, and many OF the
best ones. realized. had already
been projected on the screen.
about this time / saw Alice
Brady in Salisbury Fields COM
edy. sZander the Great and
while the stage play was more
dramatic than comic, saw great
possibilities in the characterize.
ton of Mamie for the screen.
"I obtained the screen rights
to the play. commissioned Frances
Marion. scenario writer, to adapt
IL and began on my portrayal or
the orphan girl, who finds her
self in the far West surrounded
bys high mountains, desert sand
storms. two comedy cowboys and
a gang of bootleggers.
FThen my troubles began, Tor
learned that gag as it is
called in the best comedy circles,
may look very funny off screen,
but turn out a rather flat bit or
business on.
There is only one effective way
to play comedy, and that is to
feel funny and to act the same
way. A screen situation that
attempts to make the audience
laugh, usually fails, but one
that is spontaneous and covers a
universal feeling or similar
weakness, usually succeeds.
ct have been told that only a
sad person at heart can be
funny on the stage or screen.
but when I told this to Richard
earle, one of the greatest vaude-
Vile comedians and now consid-
erably past his first youth, he
laughed and said: You can hear
anything about comedy-and all
of it is true. Personally l have
had my share of ups and downs,
but / have never been so sad l
couldn't see the joke-usually on
me-and yet l have often been
able to make folks laugh just by
feeling funny and laughing at
myself
"Then 1 asked Holbrook Blinn.
who plays the role of Juan in
lander the Great about 1t, ana
he said: There are various kinds
of comedy, but there is only one
way to play a comedy role and
that is to be amused over some
thing-if it is only oneself.
PERSONALLY have always
wanted to play a light comedy
role; some Of my characterize
tions had touches Of comedy in
them, as for instance Little Old
New York. Janice Meredith and
others-but I wanted to try a
broader, more obvious line OF
fun-ma king. AS Mamie, accord
ing to Frances Marion's script,
1 have my chance, for she surely
is a funny little girl-and she
grows up still being funny. But
she has not been exactly easy,
because back of all her comedy
has been the thread of semi
tragic usefulness and loneliness
and a whimsical little soul trying
to find expression for itself.
Mamie is the best and moss
fascinating characterization
have ever done, and enjoy
comedy work so much that l
shall Immediately plunge into
another comic role"