Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photoplay.
By c. E. Nelson.
caused many of the producing
companies to take on ambitious
schedules for the coming season.
By C. E. Nelson.

n
characters in Hollywood today
is Marie Dressler, whose screen hit
has made her one Of the most
popular actresses in America.
From Mollie Merrick, The Stars
correspondent or the West Coast,
we have a few words regarding
Marie and her ways. Says Mollie:
Marie Is 90 years old, and she
has more real vim, vigor and
vitality than any 20-year-old. She
weighs in the neighborhood of $50,
and her body Is as graceful as a
ballet dancers. She has been on
the stage since she was IL years
old, and she has more genuine
enthusiasm and eagernesS in her
work than a beginner in the game.
She has endured all the hardshipS
Of old-time trouping and Of a
rough-and tumble condolences
existence, and her skin Is as soft
as q baby'S and almost as wrinkle
less. She has suffered every sorrow
and grief known to human beings,
and she stir finds life immensely
worth living. She has known two
overwhelming peaks Of success, on
the stage aI4i on the screen, and
she is as u'sSpoiled as any young
seeker after fame. She has the
wisdom which comes from three
score yeas OF living, and she
speaks the language ana thinks
the thoughts of youth. She spares
neither her energy nor her time,
and she never tires and grows
weary. She is ageless, mentally,
physically and spiritually.
Marie DreSSler refuses to allow
herself to think that she is grow
ing old. She simply ignores the
matter. There Is no attempt ct
false youth. Marie Is utterly free
from the pathetic and tragic
efforts which so many women
make to keep a youngneSS which
has left them. She can endure
almost unbelievable physical ex-
ertion in her studio work. In the
picture Reducing she spent an
entire day on her knees under a
table while trick dog ran up her
back. In the picture it was scarcely
more than a flash and a laugh,
but it had to be timed exactly
right, and the scene was taken
over and over. Many day she
leaves the studio at 6 in the eve
ming after hard days work; then
she days half the night and is
the life of the party. Her vitality
is amazing. She rises early and
always is first on the set at the
studio. She loves good food, but
she Is not a large eater She
takes no regular exercise, although
she does depend a great deal upon
systematic massage for physical
and mental tonic.
"It is impossible, however, to
put Marie Dressler on paper, to
describe her in words. You can
catch one Of her many phases,
but there are so many of them.
She is as versatile mentally of
the stage as she is artiStically on
the screen. She is utterly fem
mime without being of the cling
ing type, She is very decided in
her opinions, but without a trace
of intolerance. She gives freely
of herself, and yet she conserveS
her strength. She is dynamic and
yet represSed. Just Marie Dressler
"a kid of co."
A late dispatch giUeS the in
formation that DGuid Wdrk
Griffith has obtained Eastern
backing for a film Denture and
that he Is preparing to produce
an original story by John En1er-
son and Anita LooS. The pic
ture, 1t is said, DiII be made
In a NeD York studio, and the
director expects to uncoDer
some neD talent. Among the
players being studied for the
principal role Is John DreW
Colt, son OF Ethel Barrymore.
Short Flashes.
"THE MILLION DOLLAR SWIM
DIE" starring Richard Dix,
has been completed. In the cast
are Shirley Grey, Purnell Pratt,
Alan Roscoe, Edmund Breese,
Nella Walker, Ruth Weston, Ro-
berta Gale and Fred Sheridan.
Irene Purcell, signed by Metro
Goldwyn-Mayer for a part in
Gust a Gigolo," has been given a
long term contract by the COM
pany. She has just completed a
part in Robert Montgomery's
starring vehicle, "The Man in
Possession"
Mary Doran, who appeared in
1.-THE Criminal Code" has an i'm
portant role in Fifty FathomS
Deep" Loretta Sayers has the
feminine lead.
1.-The Ruling Voice" is the new
and permanent title of the picture |
which was once known as 1.-THE
Upper Underworld" Among those
in the cast are Walter Huston,
Loretta Young, Doris Kenyon,
David Manners, Dudley DiggeS,
John Halliday and Gilbert Emery.
There is evidently no truth in
the report that Ruth Chatterton
was leaving the Paramount COM
pany to enlist under the Warner
Brothers banner.
Ruth Roland-she of the movie
serials-is headlining a vaudeville
bill in New York this week.
John Gilbert's next Metro
Goldwyn-Mayer picture will be
"Candlelight," with Harry Beau
mont directing. The story is an
adaptation Of the New York stage
success in which Gertrude Law
renee and Leslie Howard played
the leading roles
Universal has finally signed Tom
Mix to a contract. The cowboy
star will appear in a series of
Westerns, and circus days will be
forgotten. OF course, the horse
Tony. will be featured.