Evening Star Newspaper, November 29, 1934, Page 9

Charles Laughton Asks More Humor in Drama Famous English Actor Favors Variation Toward Realism by Using Lightness in Tragedy, » Pathos in Ccmcdy. (Charles Laughton substitutes for Mollie Merrick, to tell you his personal ideas on comedy and dréma.) BY CHARLES LAUGHTON. OLLYWOOD, Calif., November 29 (N.AN.A)—This is my vote for more humor in dramatic characterizations and more pathos in comedy. These personal view points are not to be mistaken for & criticism of the profession. In that case I should like to belay myself, too. I merely wish to set down here some homemade notes on a theory and my favorite topic—the actor’s technique. Some performers work from and toward the emotions. Others, of which I may be said to be one, work from and toward the in- tellect. This latter group keeps a tight cerebral check on the electric current of emotion, which is, in spite of this, what colors their work. Perfection, the dream of all actors, | keen desire for a love life, and what's and one almost impossible of realiza- | tion, is that even blend of intellect | and emotion. Personally, I feel that | my work is too intellectual, but I am | afrald to trust the emotions. Demand on Emotion. T have a moderate degree of confl- dence in the workings of my mind, not &0 much in the steady dependability of the emotions. If I could trust myself to hold fast | rein on the emotions, there should be | more humor in the pathos of my char- | acters, and vice versa. But I fear| constantly that to inject more wit here and there would also demand more | emotion in order to strike that bal- | ance of values. And for one to let his | emotions go free invites the danger | of becoming maudlin. It has been my good fortune so far, | both on the stage and screen, to por-; tray characters who have wit and tragedy in their philosophy It was thoroughly enjoyable to play the role of Nero in “Sign of the Cross.” The notorious Emperor was really a most amusing fellow, you know, His love of jewels and resplendent garb | and all his pretty foibles and egotism | were very silly and comical. If vou | actually saw Nero in real life, you'd | want to laugh. Power Was Terrible. ‘The only thing that made him & sinister figure in history was the power | he possessed. Any one who can have a man thrown to the lions because the fellow displeased him is bound to | be a sinister person. | However, I played Nero humorously because I always believe in treating drama & trifie lightly and comedy | quite seriously. The contrast adds to the effect. I do trust that I shall| succeed again in the turn-about sit- uation of Ruggles in “Ruggles of Red Gap.” In “Henry the Eighth” I made the sinister monarch a buffoon at times. | And why not? The man had humor that was as rich as his tragedy. That | one line, “The things I've done for | England,” uttered just before the man | entered the new Queen’s chamber. It | made people laugh because there was | humor within its pathos of Henry's | sacrifice. By the same technique, there should be considerable pathos in the Ruggles of Red Gap—a man schooled to his | inferfority as an English valet, a slave | to tradition and convention, who later | is allowed the privilege of being the social equal of his American master, Humorous Frustration, If his humorous frustration doesn't become quite sad at times, I shall have failed in my proposed characterization. | Regardless of how far this blending | of mind and emotions goes in my | treatment of Ruggles, there can be no danger of the picture losing its iden- tity as a comedy. | It fascinates me to toy with such | a character, who is ostensibly a type and yet curiously like the rest of us under the surface—a butler who gets &lapped on the back by his hail-fellow master and wants to slap right back | on invitation, but can't get himself | to do it. Besides, he is a butler with | Troupers Glimpses of Stage Folk in Washington. i EORGE JESSEL, who holds all G existing records for on-stage telephone conversations. can remember playing in Wash- | ington when Chase’s Theater | fronted on the Avenue near the Wil- lard and telephones—on or off stage— were operated with wild crankings and ghouts. Mr. Jessel was about 8 years old when he first peered over mel footlights at the citizens of the Na- tion's Capital, who made no especial | impression on him at the time. He| was too busy schooling himself in the | vagaries of child acting. Besides, | Fdaie Cantor and Walter Winchell were in the Gus Edwards Minstrel Show which brought Mr. Jessel to town, and with those engaging fel- lows around the shop there was no| provocation to investigate the outside world. | Thousands have heard Mr. Jessel's now famous “Hello, Mamma.” intoned | into the graphite mouthpiece. If you chance to be one of those who has not, he is still at it pleasantly down at Loew's Fox this week. In less genial | mood, he also engages himself these | days in ribbing the radio people. After | some experience with broadcasting, he has become a confirmed enemy of the | ether wave business, until—as he con- | fesses candidly, somebody comes along | with another contract. Jessel contends ! radio stations and commerclal pro- | grams have deleterious effects on the minds of a population which already 1s none too wise or mature. | “They fired me, for example,” he | laughs, “because I said ‘Ladies and gentlemen.' " “How was that?" “They wanted me to say ‘Hi, folks, or ‘Guys and dols' or something | equally simple-minded.” | He also recounts an interview with 2 man who was out to find some stage name for a big commercial program. He heard of Jessel's long theatrical service in sundry capacities, This im- pressed him. “But,” he said finally, make a funny noise?” Probably you were puzzled by the appearance of the “uncle” who plays straight man for Jessel at the Fox. He is the actor’s Man Friday, hav- ing been around with him for more than a decade. He will not work one else. When Jessel is, v say, “at leisure,” the devoted also takes a vacation. They have one very strong bond—both are inveterate horse players. Jessel, who | once had a fai. sort of steeplecha. horse named for him, says he is con- sidering starting a small stable of his own next year. His wife, who was Norma Talmadge, is encouraging him | in the idea. { Since there are some who have marked Mr. Jessel down in the black | book for his past performances as a | sentimental balladier, it is only fair to inform you that this week he is| not guilty of tearjerking. | “Sentiment?” he says, “They gmt 5 “can you | to laugh.” R B more, gets it. There is opportunity here for as much comedy of frustration as there is for the pathos of a humorous infe- riority. I hope I shall always retain this perspective. The best way to do this is not to let Hollywood get too much into the blood. It has been my ambition to do the plays of Moliere and Chekov and Shakespeare. When my finances reach the point where I can afford it, I shall stage these plays in London and pos- sibly New York, if they'll have them. Most of my time, however, I should like to spend in Hollywood, since this is the largest center of my profession. And I like to act. Indeed, that is all I can do, outside of keeping books. | All the more reason why I want to do an occasional stage play. A change of any sort aids one's workmanship. And one must keep developing the mind. I slipped into the profession as if by the natural law’ of gravity. Nothing on earth could have prevented me from becoming an actor, even if I had had no appetite for it myself. Once in it, I must try my best—or starve. (Copyright. 1914. by the North American American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) NAMED TO MARYLAND BANK REFORM GROUP Special Dispatch to The Star. SANDY SPRING, Md, November 29.—Frederick L. Thomas, president of the First National Bank and of the Savings Institution, has been named by Gov.-elect Nice with 12 other bank officials to redraft the banking laws of Maryland Albert D. Graham of the First Na- tional Bank of Baltimore is chairman of the committee. 2 A meeting will be held early in De- cember. AMERICAN SAFETY RAZOR EARNS $1.19 A SHARE By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, November 29.—Amer- ican Safety Razor Corp. reports for the third quarter, ended September 30, net earnings of $238.769, equal to $1.19 a share on the capital stock. This compares with $168,223, or 84 cents a share in the same quarter last year, $707,027 LOSS SHOWN BY TYPE FOUNDERS CO. By the Associated Press, NEW YORK, November 29.—Amer- ican Type Founders Co. reports for the fiscal vear ended August 31 loss of $707,027 after charges and deprecia- tion, compared with loss of $2,844,331, including special adjustments, in the preceding fiscal year. . DIVIDENDS RESUMED. NEW YORK, November 20 (A).— Tllinois Bell Telephone Co. resumed dividends on the common stock with a declaration today of $1.50, payable December 31 to stock of record De- cember 21. No dividends were paid in the two preceding quarters. The former rate was $2 quarterly. Most of the common stock is held by the Amer- ican Telephone & Telegraph Co. The Little Tea House Arlington Ridge, Va. Just South of Arlington Cemgtery Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner Walnut 9331. NORMANDY FARM> POTOMAC, MD. KING TURKEY is reasting o a_turn at NORMANDY FARM THANKSGIVING DINNER from 12 to ® Phone Rockville 352 River Road to Potomac, Md., turn right one mile. Ve KENNEDY-WARREN DINING ROOM 3133 Conn. Ave. SPECIAL THANKSGIVING 12 Noon Until 8:30 P.M. $1 -0 per Plate FREE PARKING IN GARAGE WEARLEY’S SEA FOOD RESTAURANT 418 12th St. N.w. FRIDAY’S SPECIAL . .-... .sc SERVED FROM 11:30 AM. UNTIL MIDNIGHT CRAB IMPERIAL CRISFIELD STYLE Including Clam Broth, Fried Scallops, French Fried Potatoes. Mixed Sal: Home-Made Ple Coffee. Tea or Beer The finest drinks of all kinds at popular prices. THE EVENING -8TAR,® WASHINGTON, Here Tomorrow DUKE ELLINGTON, Popular leader, brings his band back to town tomorrow. He will appear at the Howard for & week's engagement. . INSIDE OF MONUMENT MADE WEATHER-PROOF Cement Mixture Forced Through Rifts in Walls to Insure Water Will Be Kept Out. Weather-proofing of the Washing- ton Monument has been accomplished on the inside as well as the outside. Finishing touches on this job were applied Tuesday when workmen com- pleted the task of forcing a cement mixture into and through the rifts in the Monument walls. Compressed air apparatus was used in the proce: the liquid cement being driven el tirely through the walls where such rifts occurred. The operation will prevent water from seeping into the Monument, it is hoped. Cleaning of the outside has pro- gressed to a point where the scaf- folding is due to be taken down in about three weeks, a representative of the contractor said yesterday. FREIGHT LOADINGS. NEW YORK. November roads reporting freight week ended November following New York Central Burlington . (7. —Rail- dings for the included the Pennsylvania Wal Make your money work for you 8% suines Home Loan & Savings Ass’n. 1505 K St. N.W. Under Superrision U. S. Treasury Dept. First Mortgage Loans on Property in D. C.. Nearby Md. and V: Advertising Copy - Layout - Consultation NAt1 3065 EYNON Printing Co. | \ | REAL ESTATE | | LOANS t MADE ON HOMES ‘ | OCCUPIED BY OWN- , ERS IN OR NEAR | | THE DISTRICT OE | | COLUMBIA. Applications given immediate attention THE WASHINGTON | LOAN 8 TRUST CO. | F Street at 9th 17th Street at G The Trade Mark Guaranteeing Satisfaction Smudged carbon copies harass the best eyes—ask your filing clerk. For clear carbons, for permanency of records, use Multi-Kopy Carbon Paper. Tested and approved by millions of business offices throughout the world. STOCKETT- FISEC © UCING STATIONERS E ST -N-W KIDNAPING THRILL FOR 3YOUNG GIRLS Unharmed Victims Return to Mobile After Trip With Two Armed Men. By the Associated Press. MOBILE, Ala., November 29.—Three young girls, members ‘of prominent | Mobile families, last night were safe | at home, laughing over their experi- ence of being abducted in the resi- dential district and forced to drive two masked men 65 miles before being released unharmed. The girls admitted on their return here this morning, after being aban- doned and their car disabled near Jackson, that they “were scared to Whiting and Miss Loraine Walsh, 16, to drive as they told them. The car was directed north on the highway leading toward Birmingham, but as it approached the State-owned toll bridge over the Tombiggee River, near Jackson, the men ordered the girl to halt the car and get out. ‘The girls said the men then got out, took the ignition key and disappeared into the woods bordering the road. ——— HUSBAND GETS ESTATE Mrs. Blackmar Leaves $68,000; Son Gets $500. Bequeathing the bulk of a $68,742 estate to her husbsnd, John F. Black- mar, the will of Mrs. Kate J. Black- mar, who died here November 21, was flled for probate yesterday in the District Supreme Court. ‘The petition for probate, filed through Attorney Enoch M. Chase, valued the personal property at $40,- 783 and the real estate at $27.959. ‘The will gave $500 to a son, H. Clay Graff; $100 to a sister, Miss Fannie L. Jeffrey, and the balance to the husband. death.” but that the men apparently only “wanted to get out of town.” Seventeen-year-old Virginia Whit- ing, niece of D. P. Bestor, president of the First National Bank, described the experience. “We were sitting in front with the two men in t back and we didn’t utter a word,” she said. “If the men talked, it was in whispers and we could not hear what they were saying. “They did not attempt to hurt us and made no threats of any kind. They only brandished guns when they leaped on the running board when we slowed down for a street intersection. 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