Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1928-Jan 1929)

Letters to the Editor {Continued from page 114) even ask that producers put a stop to it, but is that quite fair to the fans who long to hear the voice of their favorites? The roar of aeroplane engines, the screech of the falling planes in "Wings," Paramount's masterpiece! The voices speaking to you in "The Lights of New York." Fans! Won't you give them a chance? Before you condemn the "sound pictures," why don't you let the producers show us just what they are trying to do? Can't we be fair? Phyllis Carlyle. Good Criticism WASHINGTON, D.C.— Reading Diana Montgomery's letter in December Motion Picture, I was impressed with her ideas. Not only is it outrageous that the movies should be ruthlessly cut, regardless of the plot or moral presented, while vulgarity and obscenity are allowed brazen, unreasonable freedom on the stage, it is wrong that movies should be so ridiculously exaggerated, as Miss M. L. Buechler, in the same issue, points out. Were there more sincerity in story, acting and direction, I am confident the censors would not be so hard put to manipulate their traditional long shears to the tom-tom rhythm of fanaticism. Meanwhile, the varied mentalities which comprise the public suffer in three ways: from education by glorification of crime to do wrong; insult to intelligence and reason, and that stumbling block to consistent, righteous progress, monotony and sameness, hidden from many only by the awe-inspiring glamour of the dictates of fashion and logical change, and the recurrence of new faces and situations. Need it be said that until the movies become infused with a co-operative desire for sincerity and simplicity, which are Art's favorite handmaidens, we will necessarily continue to have monotony, moonshine and monkeyshines? Dorothy L. Caton. For Women Only HOLLYWOOD, CAL— This September I began my first year in college. In fact, it is the most thrilling year of my life. All summer I planned for this occasion. To me, and most girls, college means sorority teas, football games, fraternity dances, studies, and — clothes! I think clothes are very important because every girl has a natural desire to appear at her best. However, I didn't have a great deal of money with which to buy a complete wardrobe ready made. If I had done so I would have had to go without several things that I wanted most. What did I do? Well, one day I got out my stack of Motion Picture magazines that I had saved for the past year. From these I cut the clothes that most appealed to me and then from the list I selected those that I thought the most original and the prettiest. Among the stars who wore these clothes were Joan Crawford, Sue Carol, Clara Bow, Alice White and Dorothy MacKaill. I am fortunate in being able to copy almost any dress I see. The result is that I have the most complete wardrobe I have ever had. It is original because the dresses were designed by some of the leading modistes in Hollywood. It is certainly "the thrill that comes but once in a lifetime." I wish to thank Motion Picture and those stars who have, without their knowledge, made me the happiest "freshman" in the state of California. H. H. L Why, Oh, Why ATHENS, GA— Why, oh why, do they have to make so many "crime pictures?" No one cares especially for those sordid, horrifying dramas. And indeed, what group or class of people would? Certainly not the criminals themselves; not the happy carefree youth of to-day; not the sophisticated class of people to whom such things are repulsive. And I think it is a sin and a shame to put actors and actresses who have meant gay youth personified to the public into moving pictures like "The Noose" and "The Racket." Take Clara Bow, for instance. She who is usually the daring, the irrepressible, the laughing flapper should never have been given such a sad and awful role as she had in "The Racket." These crime pictures also have a rather terrifying downward pull on the youth of to-day, the men and women of the next generation. Becoming acquainted, as you might say, with crime, it becomes less and less awful and distant to them, and more and more apart of everyday life until, finally, when the time comes to decide they take the lower road with hardly a qualm! Had you ever thought of that aspect? Agnes Jarnagin Anent Talking HIGHLAND PARK, MICH— And now comes Miss Shryock of Arlington, Texas, with a query as to why people object to talking in a moving picture theater. That ought not to be difficult for her to comprehend since she is apparently intelligent enough to observe that her talking annoys others when, as she puts it, they are observing a picture. I believe there are some individuals who merely "observe" or "look at" a picture and when they leave the theater couldn't tell what it was all about to save their souls. But the large majority do more than just observe — they sort of "soak it in" (talkers, gum-choppers, feet -tappers, paper-rattlers permitting). Can you imagine anybody merely observing a picture like "Four Sons" or "Street Angel"? Those pictures had characters in them who will live in our memories for many a day — yes, years. Who can forget the loveliness of that darling mother of the four boys and do you think, when having the picture unfold before one's eyes, it added anything to the pleasure of the occasion to be obliged to listen to the somewhat inane remarks of the chatterbox behind one? And take the musical theme so often used in conjunction with the pictures — half the pleasure of listening to the music is destroyed for many just because a few simply must talk. People go to a theater to be taken out of themselves, to be entertained, amused or some even seek sanctuary there as they might in a church! So why should a few be permitted to spoil the pleasure of the majority? Surely it wouldn't be too great a strain on their constitutions for the talkers to give their tongues a rest for two hours — surely they could remember the high spots of the show until they got out of the theater and discuss them then to their hearts' content and not to the annoyance of their neighbor in the show. The theater managements are doing everything in their power to make their patrons comfortable and happy — and then some members of the dear public come in and deliberately undo all the good work of the management. The hue and cry is for "better pictures" — it should be for "better audiences." I. C. $*jr Extra ^M£achWeeh Make BIG MONEY— Spare-Time or ^ Full -Time — with Hawaiian Guitar |7l?Mmfe. lie the life of every party— be paid big for |1\\\V your spare-time hours! Dances, parties, -V. orchestras-all pay HEAL CASH for tho swet melodious music of the Hawaiian fc Guitar. YOU ran make $25 a week and up xtra; or $65 to $100 a week full time pay I PROOF "Had learned only a few chorda when 1 was asked to play at a dance. Received Hixteen dollars ($16> for nne night's playinjr." — R A. Prutzman, Lehighton, Pa, "Only quarter way through courseand already playing 3 evenings a week, sparetime, for $10." J. Krulichi, Kitchener,Ont. , Can, •*Have made almost $200 with my Hawaiian Guitar in spare-time." -John B. McMullin. Cadet, Mo, PHONOGRAPH RECORDS andCompleteOutfit at No Extra Cost You also receive clear, correct, foolproof Demonstration Phonograph Records of every selection in thecourse. And NOT ONE CENT OF EXTRA COST to you ! FREE BOOK Shows You How Shows how I train you at home, quickly topIayHawaiianGuitar; how you risk absolutely nothing to learn; how 1 sendyou every thing you need. Clip the coupon and send it today. NOW! J%»\V No Musical Knowledge Needed; Learn Ml4\V QuickKiglu at Home in 1 to 3 Months m Myeasy method explains everything. Ho hard practice, no tiresomo 'scales" to learn. You play real tunes from the very first! And In only 1 to 8 short months you can . actually be playing/07* pan. I'll «*»%\Y\ prove it to you without cost: ijl*" \v get my FRUE Book below? hv II] HAWAIIAN f Guitar Cornell Iwhh Lt Lesson] LSA^i mail now! A. F. Eloch, PresidentHawaiian Studios 97019 of New York Academy ot Music, 100 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Without obligation, send me FREE i Book^'*How to Learn Hawaiian Gai I tar," with facts on how 1 can make | BIG MONEY ..spare-time or full-time. . STRAIGHT &9i HAIR MADE WAVY Amazing new French preparation transforms straight, unlovely hair into soft, lasting natural waves in a few minutes at practically no expense. Wavette adds new beauty, life and luster to your hair — new loveliness to your appearance. Bo your own hairdresser. Wavette is a perfectly harmless liquid discovered by a famous French beautician. Even one application will work wonders for your hair, exciting admiration and envy among your friends. Withstands heat and dampness. Send only 50c stamps, coin or M.O.. for full size bottle on money back g'nt. Henderson Products Co., 757 Broadway, New York.Dept.M.P. T\lO imFREE r'rite Today for sample lessons of J ie wonderful MARSAY PRACTICE METHOD— which turns out expert operators I In a few months , at home in spare { , time! Earn as you learn! You I can make from S10 to $20 a week | , while learning. $50.00 to $100.00 a WEEK Plenty of positions now open. We help you go in I business for yourself — we'll back you to open a MARSAY licensed beauty shop. Profits of $3,000 to $7,500 a year. Satisfaction or money refunded! We show you how to earn your way. Write today! MARSAY SCHOOL OF BEAUTY CULTURE ^1 Oept. 314 219 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, III. 121