Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31
The Moving Picture
By Robert E. Sherwood

THE mammoth $4,000 scenario con-
test. promoted by Liberty maya
zine in conjunction with Famous Play
ers. has not turned out quite so we'll
as its sponsors had hoped.
When 1t was announced that the
first prize had been won by Miss
Fannie Hurst. with a story called
"ManneQuin." a series of loud and
raucous squawk was raised by thou
sands of mute. inglorious Millions who
had submitted scenarios of their own.
They felt that the award of this sub
stantial sum of money TO a writer of
Miss Hurst's reputation indicated that
the contest had not been strictly on
the level.
This dark and q hope) utterly un'
warra nted suspicion has increa sed ma
terially since "Mannequin" has appear
ed. both as a serial and as a motion
picture. Viewed from almost every
conceivable angle. 1t is a terribly bad
genealogical. improbable and only
alphabetically dramatic-and all the
amateur writer's who engaged in the
contest feel that unfair discrimination
was shown. They believe-and there
is no little justification for the belief
that their stories could not possibly
have been worse than Mannequin.'
The title role in "Mannequin" is
played by Dolores Costello, who re-
ceived favorable mention in this col
umn last week as result of her work
in THE Sea Beast
Miss Costello gives great promise.
and there is small doubt that she will
develop shortly into a star. She is
exceedingly beautiful: more than that.
she is graceful. she possesses genuine
poise. and she can exercise restraint
which is invaluable on the screen.
1t is interesting to observe the APP
pearance of new stars in Hollywood.
and the disappearance of old ones.
They come and go with anna zing rapid
tty.
On the stage a star who establishes
himself firmly may maintain his po-
sition until he Is carried out of the
theater feet first. Behold, as ex-
amples. Edwin Booth. Joseph Jeffer-
son. Richard Mansfield. Sarah Bern
hardt, Eleanora Duse, Rejane and
Lucien Guitry.
The three Barrymores. Jane Cowl.
Laurette Taylor, Mrs. Fiske. Cyril
Maude and many others have all been
at the top of the heap for many years,
and will remain there as long as they
choose.
It is not so in the movies OF the
stars who flourisbed 10 years ago, how
many are visible in the electric signs
today? There is Mary Pickford,
Charlie Chaplin. Douglas Fairbanks,
Lillian Gish-and who else?
Such former favorites as Anita
Stewart. Charles Ray, Viola Dana,
William Farnum. Shirley Mason. Mae
Marsh. Mary Miles Minter, Henry B
Walthall and Maurice Costello have
faded into the background. Some
have retired, some make inconspicu-
GUS and intermittent appearances and
others are content to play in small
parts.
During the past year new names
and new faces have appeared on the
screen. John Gilbert, Raymond Griffith.
Norma Shearer. Ben Lyon, Lois
Moran, Dolores Costello. Harry Lang
don and Betty Bronson are the most
prominent. 1t is for them to make
the most Of their brief moment of
glory.
The film fan Is a flckle individual,
and one to whom youth, glamour and
romantic attraction are Of paramount
Importance. When a star, however
popular, loScS tHOSo QudlltleS MS Qay
is done.
James Cruze, who directed '.Manne-
Quin" greatly, I understa nd, against
his Willy, has lately returned to Holly
wood from foreign parts and Is about
to embark on q production entitled
"Old Ironsides."
This. of course. will be the story Of
the frigate Constitution. which was
immortalized by Oliver Wendell
Holmes In the poem that every tremu-
lous schoolboy has been called upon
to recite. Aye. tear her tattered en-
sign down. long has 1t waved on high,
and many an eye has danced to see
that emblem In the sky"-and so
forth.
Collaborating with Mr.. Cruze Is
Laurence Stallings, who wrote the
story of THE Big Parade
X v X X
The plan to co-star Thomas Mel
CHAN and Norma Talmadge in His
Woman" has been abandoned. and Mr..
Meighan Will go ahead with his new
I Famous Players contract, which calls
for four pictures. At least two of
them, he tells me, will be written by
Booth Harrington and George AIDE.
Miss Talmadge is to be involved.
next Fall, in a colossal production of
THE Garden of Allah,' which Is to
be sponsored Jointly by Joseph NJ,
Shenck and Samuel Goldwyn. Henry
King will direct the picture and the
leading man will be no less than
Ronald Colman.
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