Duke and Duchess of Sutherland on the Films

su da theain Cronologia 1920, Film
Duchess Plays Part on The Film
The Duchess of Sutherland, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford

The lure of the movies has captured even the Duke of Sutherland, who motored out to Hollywood and paid a surprise visit to Douglas Fairbanks’ studio recently.

After watching Douglas Fairbanks filming one of his scenes for his new Big Four picture, the duke asked if it would be possible for him to meet Mary Pickford. Miss Pickford was on location, but was reached by special messenger and returned at once.

The duke mentioned the fact that he had devised a scenario, and would like to see it produced, and the drama was promptly staged by Douglas Fairbanks.

It was some cast! Mary Pickford agreed to take the part of a maid, and Fairbanks played the villain. So, for the first time in history, the film’s most famous woman star and most popular male star appeared together in a picture. General J. W. Stewart, Admiral R. J. N. Watson, and Mr. Dudley Ward, M. P., members of the duke’s Party, were assigned parts, and the action commenced.

The Plot.

The action revolved around the duchess’s pearls – real ones – which were pilfered by Doug, the heavy villain, during service of tea. But Mary Pickford, the maid, discovers the plot, and is kidnapped by Admiral Watson. The General Stewart, as a Scotland Yard man, of course, miraculously appears, and the villain explains that he only annexed the pearls so as to cause an uproar in the duke’s home, and thus prevent his appearance in Parliament, where he was all set to make a speech.

The duke and duchess put in the whole afternon at the thrilling sport, and the notable film was brought back to England to entertain their friends.

After he had finished filming his scenario the duke and duchess motored to Douglas Fairbanks’ beautiful new Beverly Hills home on the hills above Hollywood, for dinner. Those present, in addition to the ducal party, where Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Mildred Harris, who in private life is Mrs. Chaplin.
(from The Picture Show, January 24th, 1920)

I don’t know what happened to the film, but it was the beginning of a long friendship:  Letters from Hollywood: Duchess Millicent’s Letters from Mary Pickford (The Sutherland Collection)

Owen Nares: Why I Like and Dislike Film Acting

su da theain Cronologia 1919, Personaggi

I do both like and dislike acting before a film camera. I like it because of the relief it affords me from the monotony of stage work.

This is particularly so if I am acting in a play which is enjoying a long run.

The monotony of playing the same part night after night for two and three years is obvious to anyone. It also confines one to the town (or very near it) where the show is playing.

Lack of variety in one’s work does not tend to restfulness. You get into a groove and, like Micawber, would welcome something to turn up to jog the monotony.

The Earth for a Stage

I always find film work strangely restful, which is a great comfort. And only a busy actor can appreciate the real significance of a restful occupation. In the production of a film there are numberless “waits.” Curiously enough, this waiting about generally gets on the nerves of most artists. But I always manage to rest more during periods of taking a film than on a day I have no film engagement.

Plenty of Variety

The scenes for film productions are for the most part conducted amid beautiful pastoral surrounfings, which I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate.

Further, cinema acting is interesting work as opposed to stage work. Freedom of movement alone is of tremendous assistance to an actor. The average space of a stage in most of the theatres in the Kingdom is twenty square yards.

In a film, space is almost illimitable, providing it is in the focus of the camera.

The advantages thus gained are inestimable, and enables actors and actresses freedom of movement they desire, but cannot obtain, on the legitimate stage.

Screen acting calls for quite a different form of expression too. The eyes play an important part, whilst without facial expression an actor who is successful on the stage would assuredly fail before the camera.

Evening-Dress in the Morning

My reasons for disliking film acting are several.

The horror of driving about the countryside or suburbs with a yellow face, wearing evening-dress at ten o’clock in the morning, I confess I do not relish.

A yellow make-up is, of course, essential for film acting. When it is confined to the precincts of a studio, comment would be superfluous, but outside it…

Several “Reel” Wedding Days

I was once suspected of being a German spy by a dear old lady when operating in St. James’s Park in a propaganda film.

But far worse than this! I have been married several times on the film. Once the inevitable crowd that assembles to watch a film  “take” thought it was a real wedding.

£250.000 for Five Years’ Work

I have received some tempting offers to visit the States and do film work. And I realise the wonderful money to be earned there. My best offer was made to me by D. W. Griffith, who offered me work there which was to realise £250.000 in five years.

I preferred to stay in England and act.

Owen Nares (The Picture Show, May 3, 1919)

Instructional Films that Entertain

su da theain Cronologia 1919, Produzione

London. December 1919. A notable gathering recently witnessed the initial screening of the first series of educational films produced by British Instructional Films, Ltd. The audience included Members of Parliament, Members of the London County Council, Local Government and Educational Authorities, well-known professors of Science, Natural History, Astronomy, and, in fact, every note in the educational world. The programme of films screened comprised six very entertaining educationals, one of which was “The Evolution of a Caddis Fly.”

This interesting subject depicts the life history of this handsome fly, which lives a good portion of its existence under the water – the photography was remarkably sharp, and the treatment of the subject gave striking testimony of being the work of a master mind.

More about British Instructional Films, Ltd: The Bioscope