Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, June 22, 1921, Page 8

| | T | . , VOLUME XIX. NO. 55 _ . BEMIDJI, MINN,, WE‘DNESDAY‘ EVENIN(;, JUNE 22, 1921 SPECIAL “MIDSUNMER MA D HOW I BROKE INT0 THE MOVIES' o BY LOIS WILSON ~ . Schoolmarm fn Alabama and They.Voted Her the Girl in the State. turally, the Next Step Was the Movies. “Lois Wilson W. Pret z tfie contest one lonesome evening in my boarding house, and op the spur of the moment I sent in my picture. The gods were certainly with me, because I won the cntest, nineteen bachelors voting me the prettiest girl in Alabama! I started for the coast soon after, saw the exposition and journeyed on to Los Angeles. But there, for some reason, the promised “test”™ fell through. All I was permitted was a first-hand glimpse at Movieland. * But | wag. just getting into the swing of it i 5 ) JTois : i ode;?mm,Madnesa < AvPaamount Picte GUESS I'm the tirst schoolmarm who ever broke into the movies. : I must confess that when I en- .. tered the Alabama State Normal School, - aftef my graduation from high school, I wasn’t altogether con! vinced that I wanted to make school teaching my life work. I had yague ambitions-of becoming an actrest, but since Destiny seemed a fearfully long I'" while; about taking it's course I re- solved to occupy the interim in learn- ingithe art of pedagogy. ° I graduated frm Normal School and was assigned to téach in an institu- tion'in a country district of Alabama. Some ‘of the boys in the class were older than I was, and I had a hard time managing them at first, = More- over, I had to walk Awo miles night and_morning from the house in town where I boarded to the school. However, I enjoyed' my work and when: one of the 'big Birmingham newspapers started a motion-picture. beauty contest, promising that the would:be sent ont to'the Pana- n and would: also movies at-Los An- I read.the paper announcing P eMidsummeriMadnese’” AWRIATIOU THOUSAND dollar check from t her husband’s best friend— seventh wedding anniversary? The gifts were significant.” To Mrs. Meredith, the cold check indicated LADIES! WOULD YOU PREFER A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS TO $1,000 FROM YOUR HUSBAND? ‘Which meant!the most to Margaret Meredith on the evening of her that was enough. Frm that moment I knew I would be content nowhere but in pictures. 5 I happened io hear in Los Angeles that Lois Weber, who is an old friend of my family, was making pictures in Chicago. I 'took the next east- bound train, and, looking up Weber at her = Studio, begged -her for a chance. At first she didn’t take me seriously and advised me to go back to Alabama and my school teaching. But I insisted so hard that she de- cided I meant it, and gave me a small part in the picture she was then pro- ducing, “The Blind Girl of Portici,” starring Anna Pavlgwa. Not long after Miss Weber went back to Los Angeles and took me with her.. My first real part was a lead .op- posite Warren Kerrigan. I spent o years ‘playing leads for various companies. Then.I was offered. a chance by Paramount-to play. in a Bryant Washburn. comedy, and I seized it. I have been with them ever since. & My latest releases, are “Midsum- mer Madness” and “What Every Wman Knows,” both William DeMille productions, and at present 1 am appearing in another directed by Mr: DeMille, “The Lost Romance,” and original story by Edward Knoblock, the . playwright. i G Since my success in the movies, my mother and sisters have come on to Los Angeles, and we all live costily together in a big house there. My sis- ter Janice is also- in pictures, and played thelead in a recent Paramount release called “The White Circle” 1 sti)l have traces of my_Southern accent, and I'm teased a lot about it in the studjo, but I don’t mind. I like Alabama, and-not Jong age I paid a visit there and had a wonderful time. In Birmingham they ‘gave me the freedom of the city 'n’everythin’. TR he husband ; a bouquet of flowers from “Alive sl Throbbing,” i AR S F < 0 B 1 Yee, LoisiWilson s Jack Holt i I . attractive man wh¥® is. wearied of his wife. of the full moon at midnight. 'And what happens? tures of the current season. mencing Friday, June 24th. the screen. WIN A PRIZE'N THE ELKO-DALLY they had written the story, they would have provided an enti: isyour opinjon of the present ending? For the best letters on the general subj by William DeMjlle. There {8 no set rule as to write it, use pen and ink and use only one side of the paper. of its engagement, driven home with the present ending? eration thdn the verbiage. What do YOU THINK? Hfim_ilton ‘Describes Great Production Author of Novei Telegraphs Wm. DeMille His Opinion of “Midsummer Madness” READ! Ver§ carefully P;ze 3 of This Special Section. HE following telegram ad- dressed by Cosmo Ham- ilton, author of “His Friend and His Wife,” from which the scenario of the Wil- liam DeMille Production, “Mid; summer Madness,” a Para- mount ‘Ricture, was written, to Mr. . DeMille, at Hollywood, Cal., needs no explanation. If your name appears on it you are entitled to receive TWO FREE TICKETS To See “MIDSUMMER MADNESS” ' New York, Oct. 25; 1920. Mr. William DeMi en “Midsummer Mad- he most utterly satis- fying, tiful and human thing, all ‘ : + Midsummer<Madness &, A ParamountiPicture MOONLIGHT CAUSED THIS SCANDAL QUARTET OF FAVORITE PLAY CHIEF ROLES The story, adapted from Cosmo Hamilton’s society novel, “His Friend and His Wife,” centers around two young married couples who are close friends. imagines himself in love with his friend’s wife, and she, neglected by her husband and starving for romance, yields to a. temporary infatuation. The results are highly interesting and lead to a climax tha§ for sheer dramatic in ‘tensity has seldom been equalled’ on by the Elko Theatre under the Auspices ‘of the Daily Pioneer. These prizes are: cash; 3rd—$2 worth of tickets to the Elko, good for any attragtion. Surely these prizes are worth a little effort. Qf course, you/ought to see the picture before.atiempting tw compete;-but that is not an’essential to entering-the contekt. IF'you know the story of the picture and feel that you can write a letter concerning the ending without seeing, it, that is your. privilege, but it is only fmr_ to state that the film vgrsion differs in several respects from the Cosmo Hamilton novel, “His Friend and His Wife,” from which it was adapted by Olga Printzlau and picturized a last moment thought of her husband’s,’a hasty scribbling of his name, a new evidence that in his absorption in his business he had practically for- gotteil to love her. Ho her starved heart, the fragrant flowers represented alive &{ throbbing, that has ever been created for tlie screen. I'am LOOK! romance, a man who could still apprec And so Margaret Meredith pref Her preference is the starting point of the intensely absorbing drama of domestic life that is worked out in-“Midsummer Madness,” William De- Milie’s latest and greatest Paramount picture, It will be shown at the Elko Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Were You Ever Thus? Civilization is a veneer at the best. <There are moments of madness when honor, friendship and love are swept aside, and quite civilized people be- come creatures of blind impulse and “passion. It was such a moment that caught a woman - starving for ro- nce and a man infatuated with - her. beauty. ~ In the warm moonlight of ‘a: midsummer midnight, they for- got: that they were married—to an- other man and another women—and in,each others’ arms— All of which goes to show why Wil- Tiam. DeMille .called his latest and greatest: picture “Midsummer ' Mad- ness,” and why screen fans who see it’are gettingl the thrill of a life- O iate what flowers mean to a woman. erred the flowers. BEAUTY LEAVES FOLLIES Following in"the steps: of Mae Mur- ray, Marion Davies,, Martha Mans- field arid a host of other Ziegfeld Folliesh beauties.- who have deserted the stage for ‘motion pictures, Betty Francisco; the pretty blond:ingenue of Broadway’s most popular revue, is now.a screeh recruit.. ,Miss Fran- cisco will be seen in an important role in-William: DeMille’s -new Para- mount production; “Midsummer Mad- ness.’ . FOR MARRIED FOLKS— ! There’s.a reason for married-folks whose romance has begun to fade a bit, in William DeMille’s new Para- mount . picture;. “Midsummer Mad- proud and happy and cannot thank you enough, ({Signed) COSMO HAMILTON. R 0 ' Who is the star in’Midsummeér Madness?”— »"RY A. There is no star. It is a William DeMille pro- duction for Paramount. . However, the cast is prac- tically all-star, including such players as Lila Lee, Lois Wilson, Jack Holt and Conrad Nagel. < Q. Was “Midsummer Madness” ever a novel. I'd like to read it.—H. y A. Yes. It was adapted from Cosmo Hamilton’s brilliant society novel, “His Friend, and His Wife,” which you can procure in any bookstore or library. Q. When is Lila Lee going to appear in another picture.~—Mae. . A. Miss Lee has one of the chief roles in William DeMille’s new production for Paramount, “Midsummer Madness.” 2 b uations. woman ?—Fan. days. Q. What do you consider the most startling pi : .Mpvie'l:.,“ans’ Question Box G'g/ . “Midsummer Madness” Tense Efmotional Drama of Duméstic Life 'AKE a pretty, romantic young woman whose husband is too busy to love her and an Place them together under the spell “Midsummer Madness” will tell you in a manner that will please and startle, This is the new Wi\]iam De Mille production which has taken its place beside the really fine pic- It will be shown at the Elko Theatre for three days com- One of the husbands MADNESS” Many people believe that the ending of the story in “Midsummer Madness,” the Paramount Picture being shown at the Elko Theatre Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 24th, 26th and 26th, is “just right.” Others think that if irgly different endilng, perhaps a trifle more tragic. What 7 . A ject of the ending of “Midsummer Madness,” three prizes will be awarded 1st—$3 in cash; 2nd—$2 in = = the number of words your letter contains. It can be written or typewritten, but if you/ All letters must be addressed to the “Midsummer Madness Editor,” Bemidji Daily Pioneer, and must be in his office no later than 6 P. M., Wednesday, June 29th. This gives everybody plenty of time to prepare their letters even if they see the picture on Sunday, the last day In writing your Btt.er, tell exactly what you think of the.present ending of the picture, and how you would have ended it had you written the story, and why. Do you think the. present ending is true -to real life? yourself been one of the principals in a drama of this kind in real life, would it have ended thus? Is the moral Had you The prize winning letters will be published in the Daily Pioneer and the prize awards will be made aquuickl; as the decision _of 1_:he judges can be,geached: They will be: J. D. Winter, H. Z. Mitchell and Miss Ida Virginia Brown. Put' your thinking cap on and win a prize! The thought contained in the letter will be given far mord consid- Olga Printzlau, Scenarist LGA PRINTZLAU, who wrote the scenario of “Midsummer '‘Madness,” began her career as an’artist. She engaged in scenario work in 1912, and since that time has written many successes for such famous screen figures as Hobart Bosworth, Lois Weber, Otiy Turner, Mary Pickford, Wallace Reid, J. Warren Kerri- gan, Charles Ray, Frank Kee- non, Bessie Barriscale, Enid Bennett, Vyilliam Desmond and many others. Miss Printzlau’s artistry was shown in Wallace Reid’s “Be- lieve Me, Zantippe,” Cecil' B. DeMille’s “Why, Change Your Wife?” “Jack Straw,” starring Robert Warwick, and other pictures. She ranks as one of the most prolific writers of the motion picture field. She is al- so author of two one-act stage sketches, “Dream Doors” and Conception.” ~ ture ever made about marriage?—H. L. K. A. Well, Cecil B. DeMille’s “Why Change Wife?” was a hummer, and William DeMille’s summer Madness” abounds in intensely dramatic sit- our “Mid- Q. What has become of Lois Wilson, who used to be Bryant Washburn’s and Wallace Reid’s leading A’ Pretty Miss Wilson i$ doing big things these She has one of the leading feminine roles in William .DeMille’s “Midsummer Madness.” Q. Has Conrad Nagel appeared in any pictures since “The Fighting Chance?”’—H. A. Mr. Nagel has one éf the leading roles in Wil- liam DeMille’s “‘Midsummer Madness,” and also plays the hero in “What Every Woman Knows,” from Sir J. M. Barrie’s famous play. 4 A GENUINE SENSATION BY ARTHUR JAMES This Remarkable Tribute to “Midsummer |Madness”” Appeared Editorial in a Recent Issue of ““The Moving Picture Worl tions may be called excellent. “Midsummer Madness,” the third important production created by William De- Mille, steps into greatness and classifies itself by absolute merit as a superb entertainment. ‘It has that fine virtue of being a complete dramatic structure to begin with. To this have been added real_ acting, beautiful photography, a sense of taste and composition. Itis unquestionably the greatest dramatic produc- tion the screen has ever seen. Nothing in “Midsummer Mad- ness” imposes on one’s sense of credulity, and there is no jarring note of.anachronism in the good social atmosphere through GREAT moving . pictures are few, although many prodic- which action proceeds. Mr. DeMille is a dramatist first, and the result is very evis dent on the screen. An effort to tell the story would form no proper part of this comment, as we leave the beauties of the production for enjoyment by the.many who seeit. _ A word to those who are distressed about the falling off in §ne productions for the screen—a critical examination of this exceptionally great work will effect a cure, i} IN WM. DE MILLE'S “MIDSUMMER MADNESS” ™ HERE is no star in “Midsum- mer M:‘dness?’ the feature pic- ture:at'the. Elko Theatre this week, but the leading roles are played by four film favorites who are con- sidered of star calibre. Jack Holt will be remembered for || such pictures as “The Woman Thou Gavest Me,” “Held by the Enemy,” and/ Ethel Clayton’s “Crooked Streets” and “Sins of Rosanne.” He is a fine, upstanding figure of a mgn and an excellent actor. Lois Wilson, leading woman for Bryant Washburn ip several comedies, and for Wallace Keid in “What Your Hurry?” has the role of the erring wife in “Midsum- mer Madness.” She is a bewitching EST__HmE ARE THE RULES! beauty from sunny Alabama. Lila Lee, the dark-eyed favorite who scored so emphatically in ‘“Male and Female” and “The Prince Chap,” is dlso in the cast, as is Conrad Nagel, who deserted the Broadway stage to play the hero in the picturization of Chambers’ “The Fighting Chance” and- has now-cast in his fortunes with the Lasky screen forces. “Midsummer Madness,” produced by William DeMille from Cosmo Ham= ilton’s novel, is declared to be one of| the outstanding pictures of the cur- ) | i Lild Lee i William DEMIlE'S) . Prodiction *Midsummer Madness® A Patamount Pictute. rent seasbn. It is a Paramount. ——— What Critics Say: Screen Untangled Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind. +“Midsummer Madness” is the real human stuff of which great pictures are made. William DeMille has pro- duced an ideal combination of rich background, and deeply appealing story. Also he has handled a delicate theme delicately. Telegraph, New York If there were more pictures-like “Midsummer Madness” there would be less dissatisfaction among motion picture enthusiasts, . . . The new William DeMille Production should be taken as an example of what can be done. You hear alto- gether too much of what the pictures are not. an example of what should be. . . . A remarkable part of the picture is that all the characters are human be- ings, and you are deeply interested in them as such. . . o Itis well nigh technically flawless. . The people are all just friends of yours. Other directors should see ‘“Midsum- mer Madness” and study it. . . . DeMille has brought to his new pitture that understanding and sym- pathy that we have missed so sorely. He has drawn real characters and has not adopted the prevailing trite meth- ods of developing them. good pictures American, Baltimore Having been fortunate enough to see an advance running of “Midsum- mer Madness,” I can say without fear of contradiction thgt Mr. DeMille has achieved a veritable triumph of goed taste in the handling. The picture is a sensation without being sensational; it deals with fundamentals but with- out offense. It is one of the strong- est pictures, the most suspenseful I ave ever seen. The acting was su- perb and if the picture is not a tri- umph, I shall miss my guess. . Decidedly, in my opinion, William DeMille has achieved a great deal; has done as much as anyone living to bring art and letters into the realm of the films. 5 » Examiner, Los Angeles “A film drama, with a stage tech- nic.”” Many directors, more critics and hundreds of eager playgoers have long sought this expression in the cinema. limited extent in a few previous.in- stances, but in no single picture, per- haps, has it reached so distinct an elevation as in the new William De- Mille production, “Midsummer -Mad- | “Midsummer Madness” is| Claire McDowell on Job in “Midsummer Madness” Claire McDowell, the well known character actress, is rapidly gaining a name for herself as the “Mrs. Fix-it of the Screen.” She will be remem- bered as playing the-role of Elliott Dexter’s housekeeper in Cecil B. De- Mille’s “Something to Think About,” and as furnishing the suggestion and encouragement to Gloria Swanson that efinally brings that beauty’s tem- pestuous love affair to a happy end- ing. Miks McDowell plays a similar part of dea ex machina in William De- Mille’s new Paramount production, “Midsummer Madness,” coming to the Elko Theatre during the latter part of the week. Cast as the mother of a man who, through his romantic desires and indiscretion involves. the. wife of his best friend in a scandal, she straightens out the tangle and averts ruin from two homes. “Peaches” Jackson Back l» Do you remember the charming lit- tle girl who played with Thoi Meighan in “The Prince Chap”? She is Charlotte Jackson, known to all the players out at the Lasky studio as “Peaches,” and she will be seeg again at the Elko Theatre in “Mid- summer Madness.” S, Lois Welcomed Home Lois Wilson had a “welcome home” parly the other day._She took ad< « vantage of a short vacation to jour- ey back to Birmingham, Alabama,, and for the first time since she began her screen career visiting old friends and relatives there, , Making per= sonal appearances in-geveral of the theatres, Miss Wilson was given & royal welcome everywhere. It was quite different from the old days in Birmingham, when lovely Lois was just a school-mar’m, hold- ing down a job in the public school by disguising the fact that she wag younger than her oldest pupil ness,” (Paramount) which opened a§ Grauman’s Rialto yesterday, iy Evening Mail, New York Cosmo Hamilton and William De- Mille are a potent pair when it comes to depicting soul stress minus the mor< bidness. There is nothing new od original in Mr. Hamilton’s story, buff thd exemplary acting makes it a per< formance out of the ordinary. Thd It has been achieved to a /theme is a study of domestic probl¢mi Lof tragic tendencies or morbidness, yet a study which is intensely inter; esting for the reason that it is humany The four leading characters ‘play flawlessly. o 5 \ p PESE i