Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
"Speech Cripples. .
Continued From Seventh Page.)

starring vehicle, Betty is violin player. Bus
what really happens is that the blond star runs
her bow gracefully over strings that are
dumb, while the real player stands out of the
picture under the microphone. In this same
production, q 50-piece orchestra Is likewise
doubled" by an orchestra behind the scenes
One Of the principals, dancing girl, sings
Spanish song as she dances Only her lips are
moving, however, while her singing double
watches the rhythm Of her step and records
the song.
Corinne Grifith looked glorious playing her
harp In 1.-THE Divine Lady," and singing the
songs that lured Lord Nelson. With their
tongues in their cheeks, the Hollywood critics
praised the lovely lady for talent hitherto
hidden. There's an unwritten law here that
no one asks. who's talking or who's singing
for whom?"
The most unfortunate piece Of publicity ever
sent out-Or wasn't 1t story that leaked out?
was that Richard Barthelnless did not sing
Weary River" the theme song or his last pic
ture by that name. Fans, IN doubt over the
fate Of their favorites. want to believe that the
tunefui words really come from . stars mouth
not put there by some one they don't know
or do not want to know.
Clara Bow whose fan mail mounts to some
$1,000 letters q day, In all probability nets
Paramount studio a profit annually that runs
into the millions. It would be nothing short Of
folly to deny college boys the privilege of hear
ing and seeing the flaming happer" just be-
cause she can't sing like Marion Talley nor talk
like Irene Rich When Clara spoke In her first
picture, "The Wild Party" the critics nearly
had At. why, the girl eaa really talk!'
they cried. Certainly, and they say she can
sing In Spanish and learn hsR lines like
good trouper In fact, that she tan put % all
over her rival Alice White, on whom they tell
this story:
Twelve times scene was retaken, twelve
hard times because Alice couldn't remember
one dne At last she turned to the director:
"rm awfully sorry" she said, az don't think
this scene is right. just don't seem to get the
feel of It'll"
Frequently, the prop boys have to act as
doubles" for the stars. Take the case of Jack
Mulhall. another of the actors without the
ability to jump through the directorial hoop
which demands memorizing words. While
shooting q certain picture in which he had
to recite 1.-The Charge OF the Light Brigade"
Mulhau reverted to the slate. After overtax
ing the directors patience and running a few
thousands worth of Vitaphone records, an as
sistant prop boy, who has the making of
director in him. hit ON the idea Of writing the
words OF the poem ON q 10-fo1t blackboard
and posting it out of the cameras range.
Voice doubles viii not be required for quite
few stars of the once sients, stars who cul-
tivated talents of their own or who came from
the musical comedy stage. Jimmie Hall, Nancy
Carol, Lima BaSquette, Sharon Lynn, who is
quite coming composer; Bessie Love, Carmel
Myers, who has rich, cultivated contralto;
Joan Crawford, little Sue Carol, who has a
cute voice; Marion Davies and Buddy Rogers.
Adolph Menjou is an accomplished pianist.
In Fashions In Love- he not only plays the
part of world-famous pianist idolized by
femininity, but he plays the piano too.
Conrad Nagel, he of the silver tongue, In
the talkies, also has fine tenor. Conrads
father, DIR. Nagel, well known composer,
brought his sons up in a musical atmosphere.