Salt Lake Telegram | 1927-01-16 | Page 19 | Von Stroheim Author Actor

V Voi On Stroheim Author Actor Composite photograph of the three e Erichs von van Stroheim Keen Realistic Director Is Also Temperamental Artist By JACK JUNGMEYER NEA Service Writer HOLLYWOOD Jan There 15 are three ErIch von all compactly embodied in the zed bronzed shaven headed cynical minded I screen realist whom a poll pOIl of the foremost critics has just placed at attha atthe the tha head of the best film directors le three Erichs never quite merge Stroheim the writer of drama Stroheim the actor and Stroheim the director Often they are posItively at war var with one an- an other When Stroheim the writer secludes se- se eludes himself to prepare a script the other two of him are apt to shrug an unc shoulder shoulder der or even evert to stick out a derisive tongue Its It's no easy task for the scrIvener to pass muster with the actor or for these two to convince the director as they have had to todo todo do in the the case of Greed The Merry WIdow and Lind The Wedding March whIch is now in tion And this rehearsing is done as a afew afew few of his intimates relate with all the fervor that goes into the final finalI I product In The Merry Widow 2800 scenes were thus given giyen the triple test before the script was put to camera for its ten reel length Stroheim always hides out for his agony In preparing preparing pre pre- paring The Wedding March larch in which he returns to the screen as actor under his own direction he spent many weeks prowling along alonga a lonely California beach courting the screen muse The idea wouldn't crystallize So he forsook the beach for the mountains Von is geographical minded Place has a great influence upon Ideation And high peaks are particularly particularly par par- stimulating HE GOT IT It took him almost two days to reach a solitary peak after he had deserted the beach Then when near the top tol sweaty with the climb he yelled to his sole companion Ive got it Perched upon the crags like an eagle he brooded the drama Stroheim's mind is a night blooming one Occasionally when pressed for time he attempts to write in the daytime but invarIably he tears up such day product when the shades of night fall In the thed d dark rk hours come his hunches his facility and the approval of his judgment After Atter the film Is completed Stroheim Stroheim heim the playwright gets back at athis athis his other two crItical selves Terrible Terrible Ter is his usual comment to the theother theother other selves uttered wIth a sort of thumb to nose mockery which comports corn com ports precIsely with his pung nt individuality individuality in- in and bespeaks his his' never requited passion for perfection