Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-09

gentle note in her voice now. But
it has Just happened that way. He's
alone here in town. and / suppose
it amuses him to have someone to
20 about with him. He's an awfully
nice boy. ] want you to meet him."
Tony exhibited no enthusiasm ut
the suggestion; he was plainly jeal-
Gus, and stalked away without an
other word. When he came to the
showing. he cam alone, and hid him
self in an obscure corner Of the bal
cony. He knew in advance that the
picture would be n failure, and had
no mind TO expose himself to the
hypocritical congratulations Of his
brother directors.
Jane and Hardy sat about midway
Of the house, with Sam Spellman,
the studio manager, On one side Of
them, escorting a milk-fed blonde,
and Benny Evans, the personality
builder" on the other. Jane sank
into her seat, thrilled. She always
felt that way at a first showing,
often as she had been through the
experience before. The sight Of
herself. like some d~isembodied spirit.
moving through the silent drams.
held a singular fascination for her;
she was realizing the frantic wish Of
Bobby Burns. '"to see ourselves rs
others see u.s."
Mr.. Hardy must have shared her
sensations, for when the lights were
lowered and the action Of the picture
began, he gave an exclamation Of
delight as he caught sight Of Jane,
= x-ar.. Ius-tr~ onI Ia1f-hte,1 Tfrw.r.
in the train of her married sister IS
portrayed by Irene Shirley. But for
the latter he had no praise, and sat
watching her work in stony silence.
His was the cold, practical judgment
Of the outside public. whose verdict
on the picture would ultimately
make or break il. No personal con-
siderations influenced him. He had
never met Irene, never seen her; she
meant nothing to him, beyond the
character she was playing on the
screen. and his point Of view was i'm
possible TO Jane, or TO any Of those
associated with the production.
Even the picture people in the au-
dience were certain to be biased:
professional rivalries, business af-
f~iliations, personal friendships, al
pulled one way or another. But
Ben Hardy was as such an outsider
as John Jones from Brattleboro, or
Tom Smith from East St. Louis-,f
the picture pleased him. it would
please them, and vice versa. It was
for this reason that Jane had been
anxious to have him at her side.
"How do you like it," she present.
~ asked.
"She's terrible" he replied. in low
whisper. "I don't just know how to
express tim not posing as any
critic-but she reminds me, some
how, Of the amateur shows we used
10 put on, when I was in college.
She's good looking. she's not awk-
ward, she moves about like a human
being, but there's something lack
ing-something you keep feeling for
and never get. Like biting into a
ream puff and finding nothing in
side. Look there She's supposed TO
be terribly frightened, isn't she.
meeting that crook who's trying 10
blackmail her husband? Well-she's
no more frightened than l am-same
pleasant smile she had on in the
scene she just played with you.
you know, Jane, / sometimes
think the screen shows more of a
persons character than we give Il
credit for. Take this Shirley wom-
an. She isn't sincere. Probably
isn't. off the stage, and gives that
impression, on. You don't BELIEVE
her, IL you get what I mean. You
feel that she's just acting. So far
the picture leaves me cold. I don't
suffer, when she's suffering, or
laugh, when she's laughing, because
she doesn't make me feel that her
suffering, her laughter, are real. I
don't give a darn whether she wins
back her husband or not. Because /
know SHE wouldn't.
I'm no critic. but ! know what
hits me, here"-he touched his
breast-"and I'd 60 u after this
picture and yawn, and say not so
good and blame il on the story, most
likely, when all the time it was the
star who was ut fault. This Shirley
woman may have all kinds Of tech
nique. may be beautifully directed.
surrounded by 4 million dollars
worth Of scenery and furniture, but
IL ell doesn't meal anything, II she