Their Characters Are in Their Faces

Their Characters Are in Their Faces

This majesty that adorns the face of Robert Taylor conceals, contrary to what appears at first glance, the will that knows how to face difficulties and triumph over them...

And this leaping will is nourished by an energy that knows no faltering and will accept nothing but steady advance... He detests the castles of dreams... and believes only in what falls into his hands, as though he would carve out his portion from the very heart of time, whether it will or no!

He is, for all that, no reckless man... for in his wise mind he has a rein that points to the right road... Nor is his mind of that dry sort — if the expression is permissible — rather it is tempered by a delicate sensibility, and by a feeling that does not close in upon itself, but gives from its store as much as it takes from others...

He knows no deceit, and his nerves cannot contain their sharpness when he meets from others a deliberate slighting... This is what inclines him toward truthfulness and fidelity; and he is truthful and faithful, out of conviction and out of noble intent — and, upon my life, what quality is loftier than these "human" qualities?...

Here woman's selfishness reveals itself... Lana is exceedingly pleased, within herself, because she represents exactly the opposite of what Greer Garson represents. Does she realize, one wonders, consciously, that the signs of her face suggest a mean stubbornness and a dead will?... And yet she is entirely content, because this trait represents the very contrary with respect to Garson...

In her glance there is a hastiness about things... She looks at everything as though she saw nothing... for the scenes dance beneath the rays of her eyes and race by, each pushing the other on... She cares for nothing... and here is proof of her pride...

And yet she is avid... Is she avid, one wonders, to understand the secrets of things, or is she avid to possess everything?... No... she does not want to understand... rather she wants to stretch out her hand to everything, with these words on her lips: "This is mine — mine alone, and no one else's"...

In vain does her heart try to show her the way... She does not listen to it... and acts only on what the mind dictates...

A curiosity among women... and a curiosity among the married of them, for she is a model of ill success... And yet, what green youth does not promise himself a whisper of her whispers, or a kiss of her... kisses of fire?!

Men, likewise, incline to selfishness, as women incline to it... And here is William Powell, challenging his colleague Taylor... In the signs of his face there is that which suggests cunning and guile... a guile that fails on many occasions, because it lacks strength of will. He cannot curb his inclinations and his passions... he feeds them... and is never satisfied!

And this wanton abandon may be among what has worked to destroy the last of what remained to him of the power to judge matters... He is forever the enemy of logic. Life, in his eyes, is a spell of play. And he succeeds in acting his part among the players, for he calls to his aid his diplomatic guile, his courtesy, and his lightness of spirit — that lightness which bewitches the feelings of mortal women.

Woe to women from him... for he does not surrender to any one of them the surrender of a lover. As for men, they may find in him a companion who knows the worth of companionship.

William Powell was, until lately, among the most popular of actors, thanks to his lightness of blood, the magic of his eyes, and the keen heroics whose parts he was accustomed to play in his pictures. Today, however, his star has begun to set, to leave its place to bright new stars. And novelty, as everyone knows, has a glitter that captivates minds and bewitches hearts.