Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12

the motion picture in.
dustry, the director is coming ir
for more and more attention. II
is this studio worker who is large
ly responsible for the success OF
failure Of picture, for the actual
production is placed in his hands
He is forced to handle the detail
from the production of the script
itself to the final cutting of the
film, and poor direction has killed
off many a worthwhile story.
All this is brought to mind by
the really wonderful direction OF
Cali Quiet on the Western Front"
by Lewis Milestone. This director
cannot be termed pioneer Of the
films, for he entered the picture
game in 1919. He was given q
thorough training, serving in prac-
tically all production posts until
he became q director in 1925 for
Warner Brothers. His first feature
was Seven Sinners" Then he
was loaned to Famous Players,
producing one Of the Harold Lloyd
pictures. Since that time he has
gone steadily ahead in his work,
"All Quiet" being his browning eff
fort.
With poor, or even ordinary, di-
rection, "All Quiet" would have
been an ordinary picture--one of
the run-of-the-m mill war pictures.
But Director Milestone took it
from this level, and he deserves
more Of the credit than any other
person connected with the produc-
ton. His direction is almost flaw
less, whether you like the picture
or not, and he accomplished an
almost impossible feat in follow
ing the novel from page to page.
The production Of Cali Quiet" will
stand out as one Of the Hollywood
featS of the past year and prob
ably for some years to come.
One of the reasons tDhy
Ddpid Wdrk Griffith stands
out as q director Is the fact
that he Is sincere IN his pro-
duction. He utll not touch a
poor story, or a story tDhtch
ioiH not eipe him ample oppor-
tunity to shosD his skill IN the
directoTtdt field. IN this acdy
he has maintained a high
standard during his many
years IN the studio. He has
never turned out bad picture.
THE successful director must be
= q tack-of -all-trades, with q
real understanding Of the enter
tainment value Of the motion pic
ture. He must know what the
movie can do, and, probably more
important, what 1t cannot do. He
must be so trained as to direct
and produce all sorts of pictures,
and not q single type. He must
be master in the casting for
certain parts, and then he must
be aware Of the qualifications of
his players. It is In these details
that such directors as Griffith,
Milestone ana others have found
themselves and have become lead
ers in their particular field.
Many OF the old-school directors
those who touched the high
spots In the direction Of silent
films--have not done so well since
the advent Of sound. They were
forced 70 change their technique,
and this has been difficult for
them to do. Others, early In the
sound field, made gradual changes
into the new medium, studied ite
possibilities and have become the
leaders.
II was thought &C one time that
the stage directors would md an
aev1AAaa fIyy a &e&aNttSsA SsSNaTH4Skss e1tff
able for their talents, In the sotnd
movies, but this has not turned
out to be fact. The average
stage director, when transplanted
to the studio, was unable, or un-
willing, to change from the stage
methods OF production. He was
left behind, for the new sound
pictures were different from the
old silents and the stage. They
were something entirely new, and
something which required a new
treatment. The silent picture d.
rectors who studied the new sound
devices and their possibilities are
the men who are now producing
the best entertainment.
Ruth ChGtterton's rise on
the ladder OF 7noDfe fame is be-
ing closely matched on the
patrons and exhibitors. While
"The Girl OF the Golden West"
does not PfoUtde her Nth an
especially good nouie story,
her iDork In this picture stands
out. She proUeS herself able
to care for dl1S0t d7tu sort of
pS St star Gd hsr +. heT tdo T1 nlav . Go
lures, her future success Is as
sared. Miss Chdtterton came
to the screen from the stage,
and she once played minor
parts NTH q Washington stock
contpdny--her nrSt stage er-
peTtence.