Is Flirting A Necessary Stimulant?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6946, 27 June 1929, Page 4

Is Flirting A Necessary Stimulant?

two leading

LEADING . director dropped a verbal bomb in Hollywood recently. He declared that he liked to see a flirtation develop between his

two leading players. He hoped they would fall in love, in fact, for it helped to make a better picture. Instantly all those engaged in the business of making love scenes for the screen contributed arguments for and against his theory, from Alice White's pathetic little moan that none of her leading men had ever interested her, “They just weren’t the type!” to Jobyna Ralston’s spirited retort that of course a mild flirtation was necessary to make love scenes realistic! “I expect my husband to engage in a mild flirtation and he would take the same attitude about my pictures!” e!i6 cried. “Yes, it’s perfectly right and natural!’’ agreed Lois Wilson. “It doesn’t hurt any one and it greatly Improves the scenes. If I were married and my husband were an actor, I’d understand if he indulged in a flirtation and romance. Maybe there is a spice of danger, but if there is true love there will be fundamental trust that brings understanding.” A 1 Jolson listened with a grin. “It is entirely unnecessary for the leading man and leading woman to carry on a flirtation while they are working,” he decided at length. “I say it is absolutely unnecessary, but at the same time it’s almost unavoidable. “As to whether it makes pictures any better or not, I can’t say. But I will say that any two normal people, young, active andd attractive, who are thrust together for several weeks at a time in such propinquity as a motion picture or stage production demands are almost certain to get in some flirting. Of course, some will get In more flirting than others. As for me, I am married and don’t flirt —much!

'But I believe I’ve seen other stars

Hollywood Screen Lovers Ponder the Question ... The Perils of Propinquity Stressed • . ,

doing this sort of thing, and the thought came to me that if I did go in for it I would consider it not only harmless but enjoyable.” Monte Blue, who is also married, thinks this flirtation business is all nonsense.

“Acting is a serious business," says he. “If flirting were good for it, then flirting with the stenographer should improve the ice business or the coal business. The best artists would flirt with their models, while clerks would be hired on a flirtation instead of an efficiency basis. “Flirtation is stimulating to some people, like alcohol. They take a big dose of it and think their work is better. But generally they are the only ones who do.”

“It isn’t necessary,” avers Dolores Costello, “and it takes an actor out of character. I think flirting is bad taste at any time, but especially so on a motion-picture set.” It is Mary Nolan’s notion that no real actor need indulge in flirtation to help him put over his love scenes. If he can act at all, he can do any scene without artificial aid. “An actor to me is not identified with the role he is playing,” explains the lovely Mary. “When I am doing a love scene, I am the girl in the story, and I look on the hero as actually the man in the tale and feel for him whatever emotion is evoked by the author. Once outside the set, I do not connect the actor with his role; therefore, any feeling of liking, hatred or indignation toward him as a man does not affect my playing with him in the scene.”

“The finest love scenes in the history of the theatre have been played brilliantly by people who didn’t even speak to each other off the stage!” cried John Roche. “It seems to me that an actor doesn’t know his business if he has to drag false emotion into a scene. There is a certain technique used in love scenes, and any actor using his technique properly and

having any imagination at all can do the fieriest passion-filled scenes even if his leading lady is too fat or eats garlic!”

Lily Damita, the French importation, insists a little love affair is very beneficial. It adds to the interest, and if people are interested they do better work. Besides, Lily likes to flirt at any time. What would life be if one sat with one’s eyes on the ground always? “Depends on the leading lady,” grins Ronald Colman. “Or the size of the husband," amends Walter Byron, who has so far played only with happily married stars.

Nils Asther says that he doesn’t see how two people working under the difficult studio conditions could find time to flirt. It might make the part more realistic for one love scene, but it would ruin the rest of the picture.

A great sympathetic bond between players is necessary to really good work, according to Norma Shearer. “A sort of 100 per cent, co-operative working agreement will help both do their best,” she observes. “Once in a while, perhaps, such intimacy will bring about a flirtation, but it would have to end when the picture was finished."

Lon Chaney thinks the ideal relation between players is purely impersonal. “Players should keep their minds on their jobs and not on each other. The greatest dancing teams are brothers and sisters —why? Because then no element of romance can enter their work and cramp their style.” “You don’t have to go to gaol to act the role of a prisoner,” argues Clara Bow; “then what’s this all about? I think it would be a handicap to feel like flirting with your leading man!”

“A poor actor must have a mild flirtation to help him along,” gibes Reginald Denny. “Flirtation is only a form of acting, anyway. There is no difference betwen scenes on the screen and scenes off —with a poor actor!”

Jacqueline Logan says that it is often considered an advantage to carry on one’s role outside the studio in order to understand the character, but carrying on the love scenes outside the studio seems to her like going a bit to far!

“Dangerous policy!” is Claiie Windsor’s contribution.

Lupe Velez tossed her dark head and her dark eyes snapped.

“What you mean—flirt? When I flirt wit’ a man—he stays flirted wit’. But when I get through my picture, then I not flirt. Just when it is in script, I flirt —see? “To flirt too much is like boy wit’ the sheeps who cry wolf all time. By and by when wolfs really come, nobody believes him. It is better not to holler ‘Wolf’ wit’ love.” So now you know!