The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-19
Limitations la HolyDood
Durante, Brown Alone Defy
 Copying
B. DAN THOMAS NEA Service Writer


 Hoiywood.-Imitations a Ia Hol- zywood.
 Everywhere you go you find them-imitation leather imi- tation sunshine .. even synthetic blonds.
 Rain, snow, mountains, rivers ali limitations of the real thing. And last but far from least of these film limitations are found in the players themselves. All continuously "ape" each other.
 There was a time when most of the personal initiating was done by practically unknown, or at least unimportant, players. Not always, however. was the player at fault. Very often it was the studio to which he was under contract. De- string to leash in 'on him in a big hurry, studio executives would ex- ploit him to the sky as Ia second Valentino" "a new Tom Mix" or another Clark Gable"
 Recently, however, there has been a change. Of course, the unknowns continue merrily to imi- tate as they go along. You'd be surprised at the number of plati- mum blonds to be found around morieland. But now the biggest stars have taken up this game. All try to appear alike. And none suc- ceeds.
 I'm not exactly sure just how far back this imitation complex dates. If the theater is to be brought in also, 1t probably could go way back to the old Greeks and Romans.
 Sticking strictly to the celluloid world, Mary Pickford seems to have been responsible for starting this little game. When "America's s sweetheart scored her first big hit, the quotations on curls went scampering skyward. Mary Miles Minter, June Caprice and several others bloomed forth almost imme- diately.
 George Walsh travelled quite a distance doing more or less the same thing Douglas Fairbanks was making popular. But Doug was the originator of the stunt tactics. As a result he still is in the public eye whereas George dropped out quite some time ago.
 Of course. there were any num- ber of attempted limitations of Rudolph Valentino after his death. Nary one was successful. how ever.
 Paramount executives almost put Ricardo Cortez right out of the pic- ture. business by attempting to make 8 second Valentino out of him. Another studio brought Valentines brother, or was 1t his fx>A~ &n1 <A st sxH+A the great idols shoes. But he didn't get far.
 And recently there has been con- siderable talk about George Raft as a Valentino successor. For Georges s sake, I hope that talk dies quickly. He never can survive such a role. And he is far too good an actor to be Obliterated for something over which he has no control.
 And now we come down to the real fun-the out and out present day limitations. It. seems that none are immune from these. Even those who should be the patterns for others to copy. do little copy ing themselves.
 Tn "As You Desire Me-" the great Garbo goes platinum blond during the early sequences. And, not to be outdone, the original platinum blond follows in the footsteps of Clara Bow for "Red-Headed Wo- man." Madge Evans, Carole Lom- bard and Jill Esmond all display certain characteristics which by right belong to Norma Shearer. We always have had those sweet things in pictures. But it took Janet Gaynor to really create a noteworthy place for them. Now Marian Nixon, Sidney Fox and Maureen O'Sullivan are following in the same groove. Marie Dressler started something when she ap- peared in "Min and Bill" and again in Emma" Today there are any number who would like to be Marie Dresslers- Alison Skipworth, Edna May Oliver, Louise Closer Hale and May Robson among them.
 
 Wally Beery seems to be leading Ii rarade down his own track too