Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-12
NE of the peculiar things
! about the photoplay art aud

80 stars. The stage star, afte
he or she has made a hit with thu
theatergoing public, may go on lik'
the babbling brook, forever and ever
The stage star is always a stag
star, but such is not the case with
the photoplay star. The latter's ap
pearance in one or two bad picture!
whether the story is bad or tht
stars work is not outstanding-ant
the highly paid screen worker Is
sliding down the cinema chute &c
oblivion. This fact may not be real
lied bv the star or the producer, but
the public is aware OF II, and some
time later, perhaps, the producer
makes a discovery.
The star OF the stage may appear
in a number OF plays that are not
I'D to his best work. This, however
does not dim his effort in the eyes
OF the public His audiences await
his return with more suitable vehl-
Gle. They are aware of his talent ;
they realize that the play is the
thing. With the screen star, run
of mediocre pictures and the day of
the bill-topper is done, no matter
/ how good an actor he or she may
be. The photoplay audience turns
thumbs down when the play is bad,
! and this bears directly upon the
work of the star and his future.
1t is natural that age plays a more
important part in the lives of the
screen star than on the stage. The
bright lights of the studios will not
allow even middle age to creep upon
the featured plays. The art and in
dustry demands youth, and this is
one reason why the screen stars
DAYS are numbered. The art of
makeup will not hide the passage of
years. On the stage, the soft glow
of the footlights do not make age
such an important consideration.
But the most important factor of
, all is the story. When Pola Negri
came to this country she was hailed
as one of the very bright stars of
the photoplay world. Her work in
the European countries had stamped
her with the mark of stardom. Big
things were expected from the time
of her first appearance in the Ameri-
can studios. However, the film
stories selected for her were OBJ
viously the work of hack writer's;
nearly all of them were unsuited to
her particular talents. The first pic
lures were rushed through; details
and plot were forgotten in the eff
fort to give the American public first
views of the European star Pola's
work fell fiat. A large amount of
publicity failed to put over" the
actress with the public when her pic
lures continued to follow the lines of
her initial work. Pola failed as a
box Office attraction after several
attempts. She has never. in this
country, gained her rightful place,
for she is a splendid actress-an
actress who understands the art of
the photoplay and who is thoroughly
equipped to fill roles of high class.
The inefficient directing and selec-
tion of her stories contribute to
large extent in her failure. Since
her recent marriage, it is reported
that she will leave the studios for
all time. Her experience, while out
standing, might be paralleled with
other incidents in the Hollywood
picture plants during the past year
or two. The story can make or
break the featured player. Several
fiat" pictures, and the star is not
star.
John MCCORMICK, for some rea-
j son or other, has resigned as the
West Coast production chief of First
National Pictures. The announce
ment had been made only few days
before that Mccormick had been al
lowed budget of $14,0O0,0OO to make
this years First National pictures.
The resignation came as a surprise
to the photoplay world, and it has
not been explained.
Colleen Moore, the round-eyed
star, is the wife of John Mccormick,
and her pictures have been made
through First National. She an
nounced. after her husbands resigna-
ton. that she intended to follow him
immediately-that she would leave
First National and play her roles in
some other studio. However, the
producers do not seem to agree with
this statement. for they announce
that Colleen's next picture will be
when Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and
this production work will be started
Immediately.
There is hitch in the proceedings
somewhere. And it may be that Col
1een, eyes and all, may be forced to
work under some other production
chief.
A HOLLYWOOD writer says it
"A does not take long for the world
to forget, and he cites this fact by
statement that Rudolph Nalen-
tino's grave was neglected on Me-
mortal day While he was alive, it
is probable that the motion picture
star was better known over the
world than most presidents and po-
tentates. He was an attraction to
the public eye-young, wealthy
handsome and talented. Not long
after his death there was talk of
great memorial to be erected, me-
mortal appropriate to one who had
accomplished much for great in
dustry and who had opened the door
of romance to thousands of photo
play fans. Then, after a time, even
this talk was hushed. Where is the
memorial idea today? On the first
Memorial day after the death of
OF Valentino. One of these was laid
Hollywood writer-two pathetic lit
tie flowers were placed on the grave
of Valentino. One fthese was laid
in tribute by German cook, and
the other-yes. it was placed there
by woman. Valentino is just about
forgotten.
X
WARNER BROTHERS are COM
w pleting a new picture, The
First Auto" which concerns the