Picture Play Magazine (1934)

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10 Continued from page 7 picture, in which she did give a good performance, I'll admit, but the role was E< proof. She is only a fairly good actress, not pretty, and her voice is terrible— nasal, harsh, grating. 1 certainly will not suffer through another film in which she appears for I intend to keep away from any theater that displays her name -either herb or Hepburn's. G. M. W haters. Buffalo, New York. Tom Brown Boosters. I WOULD like to voice a plea for greater screen opportunities for the line talents < f Tom Brown. When an actor gathers admirers from the United States, India, New Zeal, old. Australia, and England, and all these from walks of life, that is the supreme test ! 1 correspond regularly with these stanch and again and again comes the "Why doesn't Tom Brown appear in films more worthy of his abilitj Tom is a most sincere and unaffected person and instills this same sincerity and charm into each of his screen portrayals. This is indeed a rare gift and adds the spark of life so necessary for a successful i mance. Producers, do not ignore this talented young actor. Give him roles that will be complementary to his ability and watch him take his rightful place on the very top of the acting profession! Doxato R. Ceduoxe. 288 Nevada Street, Kewtonville, Massachusetts. Those Supporting Players. 0\'K thing which I have always particularly liked about Picture Play is its willingness to wander off the beaten path, especially in the selection of interviews with players. In many of the magazines the only pictures and interviews we get the old established players. Of course we want some of those stories hut how refreshing your story on Nydia Westman, how welcome the picture of Thelma Todd, the stories on Lionel Atwill and Bela Lugosi. I was also glad to see the picture of Gene Raymond, for I think we do not get nearly enough large ■ iits of the men stars. There are many line supporting players that we are all interested in. Anyway, you arc doing the best job of any in this line, so tin ire power to you! "Li.lemar." Escondido, California. Won't Be Kidded. PLEASE quit boring the fans with tales and more talcs of Isabel Jewell's loyalty. We believed you the first time, now it merely begins to look like a swell build-up for her. Stop frying to pound us into believing that Harlow is one hundred per cent pure. \\ hether -lie is or not we don't care. She won her fame by being a "fast and gal and evidently the fans didn't object t.. her being that way. And give us a break by letting up on the subject >hc i so heartbroken over her matrifailures ! Don't give us so many stories Hepburn. We can give all the answers already. \'o personal objections to her either. Speak to Crawford just once I about her make-up. I imagine the Africans turn green with envy when the) her mouth. 1 also sincen I that this crack doesn't hurt that sensitive spirit of hers that we have read about until it's rather funnv. What the Fans Think Stop trying to convince us that Jimmy Durante is a comedian. No doubt I'm a little nutty, but I still think Charles Butterworth is the funniest man on the screen. Please stop kidding the public about ,i Swanson. She may be magnetic personally, but the screen certainly does not reflect it. Gladys Brim. Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Praise — For and Against. I'D like to tell you what I've decided about the movies and check with the rest of your readers. Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and tance Bennett are three stars wdio can't act. Crawford and Shearer at least try hard to give the fans their money's worth. Joan has an interesting personality even when she becomes slightly ridiculous. Norma is a very ambitious and hard-working girl. But Bennett never even tries. She gets by on publicity and the family name. All of them are overridden with affectations and mannerisms. The real actresses of the screen are Llelen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck, and Ann Harding. Ann has an attractive and original personality as well as being a capable actress. Barbara is the most sincere and natural. Helen is Nelson Eddy manages to be cheerful as well as hopeful as he waits for that promised musical, "Prisoner of Zenda." one hundred per cent actress, while Katharine is the perfect combination of glamorous personality and acting ability. Among the men. the greatest actors are Paul Muni, Walter Huston, the Barrymores, George Arliss, Charles Laughton, and Kdward G. Robinson. There are some ingratiating leading nun. hut among them only Fredric March can really act. Cagney, Lee Tracy, Chevalier, and Mae West are types who play one role well and will delight their special fans only for a time. There are two classes of players I am strong for. These are the character act< rs and comedians. Names of these grand performers are too numerous to mention, but every fan is grateful to them for making mediocre plays interesting and life worth while. There are some capable and attrai leading women — Myrna Loy, Miriam Hopkins, Carol Lombard, Claudettc Colbert — who may become big stars some day. Then there are Dorothea Wieck, Elizabeth 1 ner, Anna Sten, and Francis Lederer, who have unusual and valuable gifts but need more pictures to prove them. Garbo — a unique personality who is humble and learning more in even role. Dietrich — a picture very slightly animated. A class I have no use for is radio crooners, and that goes for Bing Crosby and Dick Powell. Jean Radcliffe. Seattle, Washington. Madge, Sublime and Divine. FOR some years I have taken an interest in pictures, and after wading through a lot of mediocre publicity anent the screen, have come to regard Picture Play as the most dependable and therefore the best magazine. As for recent correspondence relating to Madge Evans, I would add that, in my opinion, she represents the highest pinnacle of achievement in the picture arts and sciences to-day. And that is saying something, because very many are very near the top. Where can you find such naturalness, such sublimity — I might be pardoned if I said "divinity" — as is to be found in this player's achievements ? If producers would give us more players like Madge Evans, the screen would rise to still greater heights ! R. Kerr Dewar, B.Sc, M.D. Fort William, Ontario, Canada. Honey, Gold, Emeralds. KATHARINE HEPBURN is unquestionably the world's greatest, grandest, most interesting, most brilbant young genius on the screen to-day. She is magnificent in everything she does. It makes no difference what part they cast her in, she seems to have the emotional vitality to adapt herself to any role. "Bill of Divorcement." "Christopher Strong." "Morning Glory." "Little Women." "Spitfire." Five triumphs each one featuring a very different character, but our beloved Katharine was magnificent in all of them. Five triumphs, each one a complete and truly brilliant and inspiring masterpiece in itself. Not since the great days of Bernhardt, Duse, and Ellen Terry, has there been another genius quite so wonderful. Her voice is honey and gold. It's a pleasure to listen to her. Her beautiful, expressive eyes are like two sparkling emeralds. Her glorious hair is like a brilliant halo of summer glory. She possesses a rare beauty all her own. In answer to Picture Play's current question, "What's Ahead for Hepburn?'' please permit me to say this : Greater glory, new dramatic heights, greater and grander success, greater achievements, world adoration. Just wait and see. Sally Reich. 175 Prairie Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island. Versatile Gable. WHEN Clark Gable first appeared on the screen, he was discovered immediately by the fans because he was able to make a small part stand out. He has not lost that ability and therefore will never become "just a leading man" as Frank Tully fears. Gable is the most popular man on the screen to-day. but he would not be if he wasn't versatile. If he had continued in the gangster-woman-beating role he became famous for, the public would have grown tired of him. But he didn't and the public has shown increased interest instead. I have seen Gable's "Men In White" and "Manhattan Melodrama" and both of them hear out the fact that he is at last getting his big chance. Eileen Mark Chicago, Illinois. Continued on page 61