The Expressions of Irene Castle (1920) 🇬🇧

The girl who danced her way into the pictures

Irene Castle, who is now starring in the Paramount Artcraft famous picture play, The Firing Line, has had a remarkable career as a public entertainer. She started in vaudeville, but, although she met with more success than the average artiste, it was not till she met and married Vernon Castle that she really became famous. Their dancing act became known all over the civilised world. Their appearance in this country synchronised with the craze for ball-room dancing which was demonstrated by professional dancers in private houses, hotels, and fashionable night clubs.

Queen of Modern Dancing

But of the hundreds of professional dancers who came before the public, none made such a success as the Castles. There was a beautiful rhythm in their movements, a perfect understanding between them, that made their dancing unique. They justified the adage that dancing is the poetry of motion, where so many of their rivals made it a sort of mixture of a Zulu war dance and a scramble for the last ‘bus.

In 1916 she danced at Drury Lane in a special matinée before Queen Alexandra.

It was not only Mrs. Castle’s beauty that made her the queen of the modern dance — though her beauty would have made her an asset to any gathering of the Smart Set — but it was because she had a real gift for dancing, and in Vernon Castle she found an ideal partner.

His tragic death while serving as a captain in the Flying Corps caused his widow to retire from public life. Later, she went to America, where she met her present husband, Captain Tremen, while rehearsing for The Firing Line.

Their engagement was kept secret, and not until they were married did the public know anything about it.

Will Not Dance Again

Irene Castle has appeared with great success in other films, notably in Sylvia of the Secret Service, The Girl from Bohemia, and Stranded in Arcady. She has stated that she has definitely given up dancing, but that she intends to go on with her work as a picture star.

During the war she did good work entertaining the wounded in British and American hospitals, and she was a great favourite with the troops of both countries. At the time she crossed over from America to England the Hun was very busy with his submarines, and nearly everybody on board was nervy. The great dancer was the life and soul of the ship, and by singing, dancing and telling stories, she kept the troops and passengers from thinking of the U-boat perils.

The Firing Line gives Irene Castle a part which allows full scope for her wonderful gifts as an emotional actress. The play is based on the story written by the celebrated writer, Robert W. Chambers, and first appeared in the “Saturday Evening Post.” It was afterwards published in book form, and had a tremendous success.

Her Favourite Part

Other screen plays you will remember her in are The Whirl of Life, Patria, the thrilling serial which Irene Castle has confessed was her favourite part, due to the many daring stunts and the risks she had to take during the screening of the many thrills, The Mark of Cain, and The First Law.

Her Life in a Nutshell

Irene Castle is the daughter of the famous Dr. Foote. She was born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1893, so she is twenty-seven years old this year. She is taller than most screen stars, being five feet seven inches in height, and is famous for her beautiful fair complexion, her bright brown hair, and grey eyes.

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(Special to “The Picture Show.”)

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Photo captions:

• Sorrow.
• Bewilderment.
• Startled.
• Reproach.
• Unhappiness.
• Interest.

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Queen of Modern Dancing

Collection: Picture Show Magazine, April 1920