Hollywood Vagabond (Feb-Dec 1927)

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June 23. 192; Hollywood Vagabond Page Five AGABOND ^VERDICTS Department • of ■ Personal • Critical • Opinion ^>^ There is no such thing as an infallible critic. These 1 -&L CNo^1 reviews of motion pictures and spoken drama are '"'^^^ ch L personal opinions and should be adjudged as such J «3£ A MILLION BID, a Warner Bros. film directed by Michael Curtiz. starring Dolores Costello with Malcolm MacGregor. Betty Blythe, Warner Oland and others. The title has nothing to do with the prices the exhibitors are offering for this one. If our memory does not fail us, "A Million Bid" was first filmed by Stuart Blackton for Vitagraph some years ago. It was a good picture for that day. The modern version, however, is somewhat more elaborate and introduces, among other things, a good, 1927 Warner shipwreck. Dolores appears very attractive in this film but is given small opportunity for acting. Malcolm MacGregor is just Malcolm MacGregor, because there isn't much else to do. Betty Blythe bills, coos and cavorts about but does not register very effectively as the mother. The sinister and, later, apathetic role dished out to Warner Oland is, as "Variety" would say, "nothing to write home about." Mr. Michael Curtiz has gone to great pains, it seems, to introduce a lot of "psychological" camera flip-flops patterned after the German nuances of "Caligari," "Last Laugh," "Variety," et al. Here it doesn't mean much. "A Million Bid" is just another movie. f. w. F. TOPSY AND EVA, a United Artistspicture, featuring the Duncan Sisters. Directed by Del Lord. Hail Rosetta Duncan — because you're a great little actress both on the stage and on the screen. Hail Vivian Duncan — because you photograph like two million dollars and look like four million on the stage. (Continued on Page 8) OPENING SALE "% Miller & Company Jewelers 6369 Hollywood Boulevard CJust across the street from our old location) OPEN EVENINGS ? Y It I I. 11' I' I ■ M. J. ENGEL -„ , ,.. IIDYTOC I n MHN UPAN1 Tin Largesl Vssorlmenl <>l Rattan, Reed and Willow l'tiinitun in the I nii'-d Stales ^ There arc Critics and Critics By BILLY JOY A very prominent local motion picture star, after having read the criticisms following the showing of her picture at a down-town theatre, became hysterical and cried for two hours — she was a female star, of course. A very prominent local motion picture star, after having read the criticisms following the showing of his picture at a down-town theatre, fired his chauffeur, threw an expensive vase — vawse — take your choice — at a mirror — breaking both and, locking his home, left for his mountain lodge. Both very foolish children. The fact that the reviewers allowed personal venom to enter into their criticisms was, to say the least, unsportsmanlike. Even so, if either one of these stars would realize that no one or two reviewers ever made or ever unmade a star — or ever will for that! A review of a picture is only one man's or woman's opinion — and the success or failure of the picture, star or cast does not rest within their individual powers to prognosticate. Some reviewers have a much-inflated opinion of what their opinions constitute and their arrogance at times fairly borders on puerility. And so — my poor little star that twinkles — fear not these psuedo-Bogey Men or Witches — they live in a little self-inflated and pompous world that is all their own — most of them are terribly circumscribed — and y o u i wealth, your adulations and your ability to twinkle, while they sputter and putter about, pricks them on to measures — not fair — not honest. What a blessing to you are the reviewers — and we have many of them, who are tolerant and honest. On the other hand, there are some stars whose egotism prevent them from allowing a constructive criticism to be of any help to them — and for those we hold but little brief.