The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-06-04
Ronald CoIman Is
Richer Because
He Quit Stage
BY ED SULLIVAN
Id Colman, in Person

L such a scurvy set of villains as are to be
found on Stage 10, at Paramount. At least
it was Stage 10, but at the moment it is the
Fir Cone Inn as it appeared in the reign of
Louis XI in 1850. When | arrived, the
bearded Francois Villon had just murdered
the grand constable of Paris and there was
hell to pay. If, during the days of prohibi-
ton, you ever were in speakeasy that was
raded, you'll visualize the scene that was
being enacted in the Fir Cone Inn. Instead
of indignant revenuers, the cave-like tavern
was crowded with breastplated soldiers, their
arrows trained on the covering habitues.
In the foreground, stretched on the floor,
was the murdered man. Basil Rathbone, in
dirty brown robe, his face concealed by
black cowl, was bending over the slain man
and reading a secret document which he had
found on the body. A few feet away, Di-
rector Frank Lloyd was directing the action.
"Give me more steam on that fire" ordered
the assistant cameraman. A man rushed up
with chunk of dry ice and dropped it into
the pot, and Immediately steam vapor started
spiraling upward The cameras ground.
"Good print it, said Lloyd.
ID PLEASED temporarily from the set,
~ Colman came over to where we were
standing. His stand-in, in a twin costume
and beard, took his place on the set while
we talked. ct arrived in New York from
England in 1920" Colman recalled "Td
rather not remember it. I had exactly $57,
or at least the equivalent in English pounds
and shillings The city appeared so huge,
my bankroll so inadequate. I'd been on the
English stage in variety sketch and some
other things, but conditions were bad in Lon
don and 1 thought I could get roles on the
American stage" I asked him how he had
Jared IT left my name in every theatrical
managers office in New York, but it was no
90. Finally, when I did land few small
parts, the shows always folded up in the sub
urbs. 1t seemed that I'd never get to Broad
way In fact, it was almost two years before
made an appearance on a Broadway stage"
He excused himself to 60 back before the
cameras and play scene. "Okay; print it,
said Director Lloyd.
''My first important break in America was
in East Is West,'" said Colman, in answer
to the question. Gay BANTER was going
on the road tour with the enormously sue
cessful play and I got job with her.
still hadn't reached Broadway, but it was
wonderful to be in successful show after
all the discouraging experiences. 1t was
meeting MISS IudL uldue III pOSSlDle
for me to meet other stars and it was
through Ruth Chatterton that secured the
third lead in La Tendresse' when Henry
Miller produced it in 1922 That was my
FIRST Broadway show"
T ASKED him how he'd made his entrance
l. into movies "I was SO delighted to be
with Henry Miller that renowned all idea
of ,oo1yio - ha said "Fina1lv the
movies made an offer that couldn't resist
So I packed up and went to Italy with an
American cast and an American director
and made The White Sister with Lillian
Gish. That was my first motion picture
Curious that you should ask me about these
things, because all the loose ends of memory
have been tied together this week. Fay
BANTER who gave me my first role, opened
Just the other night in White Banners
Henry King, who directed me in my first
moving picture in 1928, was hailed this week
for his direction of 'Alexander's Ragtime
Band.'"
Basil Rathbone Joined us. In his 1850
costume, Basil produced 1888 cigarette and
lighted it with a stick from a package OF
Brown Derby matches "Seabiscuit is an
unlucky horse" said Rathbone every time
he gets chance to win a 100000 race,
something happens He was called back to
the scene to pose for the "still' man. ''Pick
up that cigarette butt" directed Lloyd, and
a grip removed the cigarette which Rath-
bone had crunched out. Audiences would
smoker if they saw it in a Fifteenth Century
scene.
"My favorite picture?' Colman rubbed
his hand thoughtfully through the whiskers
cultivated during the past two weeks. "A
Tale of Two Cities I always liked it from
the time read it in school," Again he was
called to the SET and I watched the scene.
Henry Wilcoxson, as the captain of the
watch, is arresting Villon. "a fine days
work this, Monsieur Villon," says Wilcoxson,
pointing to the slain grand constable, John
MILAN. He calls two of the soldiers. "Take
him out and hang him." Wilcoxson directs.
Huguette, the street gamin throws her arm