Lois Wilson — Lois Laughs at Men (1925) 🇬🇧
The principles of physiognomy embrace the obvious relationship between feature and character Strength is denied by one section of a face, only to be affirmed more definitely by another; and so, by a shaded selection, we may arrive at a bound at a true estimate of character without long study, intimate knowledge and personal information.
by Vincent de Sola
The snap judgment formula is in most cases successful. In this journalistic series of articles I do not attempt to do more than scratch the surface in a rapid summary, accenting here, focusing there. It would seem comparatively a simple thing, but it is not always so simple or so certain. Lois Wilson’s is a case in point.
“To begin with, her features seem bent upon a conspiracy of concealment. I do not mean that she is secretive. I do mean that temperamentally, underneath whatever front she may show the world and those she comes in contact with, she is extraordinarily reserved. That is not shyness; on the contrary she is sure of herself and knows how, to employ the old phrase, to fall upon her feet. It is simply, as I have indicated, a temperamental twist of character that is very seldom found in professional people of any kind.
She has excellent concentration indicated in the broad brow and well-knit eyebrows. The forehead is extremely thoughtful, and is limited only by the feminine quality of her mind.
This feminine quality is of a dominating kind in the nature. The eyes reveal it unmistakably in their outline, shape and placing. Her attitude towards men, I should deduce, to be of a gentle, somewhat maternal, and highly amused variety. The truly feminine woman does not actually respect the ideas and purposes of men. Forced by circumstances to regard them with apparent seriousness often enough, she invariably looks upon them privately with a certain polite derision.
To the character under survey here, men must be like that. She must regard them as boys, full of absurd solemnity and much wordiness, signifying, as a better writer has said, nothing.
She is conservative, and her opinions are conservative. There is tenderness, a sympathy of broad outlines, and great hopefulness in the mouth.
There is no tumult here, and small clash of opposing traits. The eyes reveal a certain tendency to brood, a certain moodiness now and then, but the face is too well-balanced to permit this to dominate the general note of quiet humour.
Although this character is simple and not complex, it is in perfect harmony and is able to attain its ends with. little difficulty. She is quick to analyze, or interpret a person or situation to herself, and once this is done, she seldom changes her mind — a weakness at times. Her code is probably an instinctive one, born with her, and she submits everything to that code, like an acid test, except — the code itself!
In other words, this is a woman who knows exactly what she wants. Most people merely think they know. They struggle for things they have no real desire for. Her face is somewhat maternal in type, having this quality in common with Mary Picktord’s, and like most maternal faces it is extremely practical in the things that deeply concern it.
She holds as her public those who wish to see the sweet girl part represented by someone who is not entirely acting that part. Her work is not spectacular, but it is always satisfying.
In this lies her success of the present and her chances of success in the future. Emotional, her eyes and lips actually declare her, but her features deny her the willingness to exhibit that emotion openly, after the manner of actresses. She relies on her reserve. There is no tendency in her to hurl her characteristics at the gaze of her audiences. Rather she prefers to suggest these with a hint, when she does not hold them back completely. She would, we think, be admirably adapted to the typical Barrie heroine, a compound of simplicity and sweetness of character plus quiet but incredible ability to secure her own desires against any obstacles and in any situation.
Collection: Picturegoer Magazine, April 1925
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