Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-11
special Dispatch to The star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, December II
| CN.AN.A.) Lillian Gish, once an extra
brought into the supernumerary ranks
Of motion pictures through the ofdces
of her friend Mary Pickford, today tells
me she changed her type for this flrSt
| talking picture because the type Of
thing she used to do has passed from
contemporary understanding.
This is peculiarly interesting because
It parallels Mary Pickford's experience
Mary had to give up the little girl with
the curlS because the modern chile
doesn't steal jam, but rather walks
openly to the closet and takes 1t.
Lillian GishS flower-like innocence
covering from the assaults Of q brute
has now been transformed into capa-
BILE and knowing young woman fully
able to meet most OF the emergencies
which life can present.
The world has changed" says Gish
land with it the worlds concept of in
nocence.- We are prone now to observe
stark realities with a more understand
ing heart than ever before. The chaSte
flower of yesterday Is the cool and capa-
bic young Minerva Of today. Instead
of synipatfliEing with the old-fashioY1ec
girl, We pity her lack Of worldly under
standing"
Little as we like to admit 1t. the youth
OF the country more than plays its part
in molding the trend Of the country'i
sentiment. One litter from the high
school group in q theater will set the
oldsters laughing. But the derisivG
laughter would never have come from
the middle-aged in the FIRST place. They
would have been projected back into
their own more sentimental beginnings
| and accepted q situation which seems
funny to modern youth. Youth acts as
the monitor in the theater.
The GiSh sees this passing Of her old
self with great regret. To the years OF
playing this repreSSed type of innocent
she attributes her screen technique.
But it does seem more worth while
to create the portrait Of contemporary
woman, whose pattern we all know
than to invent the coyness and clois-
tered ignorance of a person we do not
even recognize" says Miss Gish.
And to show how thoroughly things
are done In these cinema lots, that are
as complete as little cities, on one q
pediatrist Is installed to care for the
dancing feet of its perSonnel-for the
weary feet of directors who stand end
less hours and for the players whose
WOTk kEGDS 1OUJ~WCdIy AlSOs
Still another studio has Swedish
maSseuse installed to administer to its
personnel. This aids in reduction as
well as in general health. The lady
gets $4,000 per year. She Is one Of the
most sought-after beauty experts In the
entire colony.
The industry Is in fux again. Small
companies that yesterday were spoken
Of as of little Importance are reaching
out and taking over the destinies OF
some of the big stars. These artists
sick of the puny stories given them by
large producers, rebel and are not re-
| signed.
The smaller companies are waiting
breathleSsly to grab them. It is thus
! that Evelyn Brent goes over to a COM
pany which until recently has not been
making much of a splash in the village
They will give her good drama. This
girl has one Of the few fine minds in the
colony. She understands that, however
large her personal following, you do not
succeed through the years on sheer per-
sonality, but rather on talent backed by
good vehicles. Her fight for good stories
will probably be shortly rewarded. So
her many fans can take heart Of grace.
And for that group Of old-timers who
remember the days when a drawing
room recitation of "LaSca," by Frank
Desprez, was the devilish thing, this