MARIE DRESSLER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 921, 14 March 1930, Page 14

MARIE DRESSLER

TO PLAY WITH LILIAN GISH Marie Dressier,' whose first dramatic stage experience, after 30 years of comedy, was in the difficult: role of Beatrice in the production of “The Swan, portrays the same character m the all-dialogue motion picture verslon of the Molnar play being made 5.,,. e United Artists’ studios with Lillian Gish starred under the direction of Paul L. Stein. The famous actress’s versatility in handling the swift by-play of words and the dramatic lines with equal effectiveness is the natural result, she believes, of her vast theatrical experience as a comedienne. “While in literature and the spoken word comedy is the juxtaposition of incongruous elements,” says Miss Dressier, “on the stage’it is the over? et “ l , , .; ia ? ls put on rcc ognisable action To he a good comedienne one must know the natural state of words and actions. The degree with which they are caricatured either makes one a S'ood or a bad comedienne ” Since the basis of all-comedy is exaggeration, Miss Dressier holds that L is extremely easy for her to underplay to the dramatic level. Mona Maris, prominently cast in the h°n Jose Mojica picture, “One Mad Kiss, ’ will execute three famous Spanish dances in the production. They are the Flamenco, a castanet dance; the Garrotin, a gipsy dance which she performs on top of a cafe table, and the Goyesca of Madrid a beautiful classic dance. Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell will co-star in “High Society Blues.” The widespread success of “Sunny Side Up,” is chiefly responsible for the launching of the famous screen lovers in the new melody drama.