The Expressions Of Dorothy Gish – (Picture Show, 1920)
The Expressions Of Dorothy Gish – (Picture Show, 1920)
Picture Show October 15th , 1920.
The Expressions Of Dorothy Gish. (Special to the “Picture Show”)
DOROTHY GISH.
The Laughing Star Whose Black Bobbed Wig is Her Mascot.
DOROTHY GISH and her sister Lillian are as unlike as they can be. Dorothy explains this in three words : ” Lillian is good,” she says. Dorothy began her screen career playing serious roles, and strangely enough it took a picture of tragedy—a picture of the Great War—to prove that comedy was her strong point, but it’s true. If you saw the D. W. Griffith play, “Hearts of the World,” you will understand. This was a play with the scenes set in France, showing the havoc war made in the hearts of the people.
Everyone who saw the picture will remember Lillian Gish, distraught with the horrors she had suffered by the invasion of her country by the Germans, wandering on to the battlefield in search of her lover, carrying, as a mother would her child, her wedding frock.
The Little Disturber.
THERE was one brief respite from the terrible tragedy of the film. This was when the ” little disturber ” appeared. The little disturber was a mischief loving girl, and for this part Dorothy Gish was chosen. Because she was so like her sister Lillian, to make herself different, she wore a wig. In the part Dorothy achieved fame, and swore allegiance to her wig ; she has worn it on the screen for every picture since.
To Laugh or Cry.
DOROTHY speaks laughingly now of the days when she played nuns, cast – off daughters, wronged sisters, etc. She tells of the hours she posed before her mirror, casting her eves sorrowfully down, or tragically up ; reading Omar Khayyam — anything to get her naturally bubbling spirits down to the point required for the part. But Dorothy has since learned that it is as hard to be merry all the time as it is to be sad. There are days when even her high spirits cannot rise to the insistent demands of her director to be funny.
” It’s hard to make people laugh,” says Dorothy. ” And there are nights when I cry myself to sleep – disappointed because I can’t think of something funny that has not been done before.
” Another thing that worries me is that some people seem to think because I play the uncultivated girl on the screen, I drink out of a fingerbowl and eat asparagus with a knife, that I am really like that in real life.
” We have to do many things on the screen that would make us shudder if we had to repeat them in private life. Again, many people think that cinema actresses converse in slang. True, slang words are largely used on the screen to explain a scene ; but, after all, that is the producer’s business, and not ours. As a matter of fact, I rather pride myself on being able to speak clearly and correctly.”
Her Closest Friend.
AT one time Dorothy Gish was known to cinema goers merely as Lillian’s sister ; but to-day she has established for herself a very high place among screen artistes by her clever work. No article about Dorothy Gish would be complete without a reference to the wonderful affection she feels towards Constance Talmadge. The two are inseparable, and when Constance decided to accompany Norma to Europe, Dorothy at once coaxed her director into giving her permission to travel with her friend. Sightseeing and shopping (both spelt with a capital S) has occupied every minute of this holiday tour. The Paris shops were a great attraction, and Dorothy’s luggage has considerably increased by her visit there. Florence, Naples, Rome, and our own beloved London are among the pleasant memories Dorothy has to take back with her to Lillian. Added to this Dorothy takes back a box of presents, among which are some wonderful frocks for her sister.
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