SCREEN STAR'S WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 10 (Supplement)

SCREEN STAR'S WORK.

MISS JOAN CRAWFORD'? VIEWS. r Miss Joan Crawford, who has been leading lady for Lon Chancy, Ramon Navarro und Jolin Gilbert, said, in an interview with an American writer recently, that she thought a woman could get as good an idea of a man by acting ■with him before a camera as alio could by marryng him. " What did you think of the stars you'vo worked with so far?" she wad asked.

" Lou Chancy is a great person and does not know it," .Miss Crawford replied. "He is maiticulate, but he is all sympathy and understanding, although ho is absolutely determined and nothing will change him once hj« has made up his mind to anything.

V I shall never forget one incident with him when we were filming ' Tho Unknown.' 1 was having troublo crying, which is one of the hardest jobs wo ha\o at any tiruo. I felt more like laughing, and Lon saw it. He came over and put his hand on my shoulder and said, ' Everything's just all right.' Tho words didn I mean anything, but tho sympathy -in his voice and the understanding in his actipn was enough. I started to cry, and cried iili through the scene. 1 love working with Lon. And speaking of crying, wo have-stood around and cried at him when ho is doing a sad scene. AVc could not ' Lnlp it.

•' 1 do not know Ramon Novarro at jill. I was scared to death of liiin. 1 thought he was so highbrow and dignified. I know that ho did not go out very much, ami that he loved good music and tho theatre, and 1 thought that wln-n .1 felt a black bottom coming on 1 would havj to luave the set and have it outbid"

V But," Miss Crawford laughed returnisccntly, " !iu taught nic tlio five-step, uu<l \vo were like a couplo *->f kills oil the set. Ho lias a ureal sense of humour, unci is always ready to teach you somo crazy .Mexican card game, or a new dance, or a new song. And then lio would get terribly serious and discuss poetry. He loves free vers*. And lie is wonderful in a scene—all gallantry and courtesy, and williug that Ins leading woman has her share of tlio camera. " John Gilbert (with whom _ Miss Crawford row is playing in ' J* our Y\ alls ) 'is so complex, so amazing that I don't know where to begin. I could writo a book on Jack and not get anywhere, lio is "tetnperam jijtal aud artistic. f It 's his ainbitioa to play roles that live, anj aro natural. He is one thing one moment and another the next. T have learned -much about acting from him. I .learned that the force of personality register, and I learned that doing the natural thitg, not striving to act, and playing true to the rolo is the only way tO":'be truly convincing. " There is no happy medium ,in Jack's character. tie is either up in the clouds or down in the dumps. Ho is consistent only in li»s' intensity. Tlio slightest occasion rails for everything that is in liini. He tells you tliat it is a nice day as if lie were revealing all the cosmic secrets. A great,- artist, Jack, but certainly not a peaceful one."