Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1920)

What the Fans Think On different subjects concerning the screen, as revealed by letters selected from our mail pouch. Shall Cecil De Mille Be Censored? To the Editor of Picture-Play Magazine. I'm the mother of a fifteen-year-old girl, and I want to protest vehemently against such pictures as "Why Change Your Wife?" I'll admit that I see some good in them and that I enjoy seeing them; their extravagance and exotic atmosphere are such a relief from my three-meals-a-day-and-darningin-the-evening existence. I learned something from that one, too ; after I saw it I came home and cut out three new house dresses for myself, and when my husband suggested that for our vacation we go on a boat trip with some of our friends, instead of to a Chautauqua, I gave up my plans and accepted his. But after my daughter saw that picture — and she sat through it three times — she cut all her summer dresses down as low as she dared in the back, and now she keeps a bottle of grape juice under the cushion at one end of the porch swing and a plate of fudge under the other. She uses so much perfume that her clothes fairly reek with it, and she hasn't had a petticoat in the wash for three weeks. Of course, I know that it isn't really the pictures of this type that are at fault, but the fact that young girls like my daughter haven't good-enough judgment to accept them for what they are. These girls know nothing of life, and think what they see on the screen is real. If they'd accept the principle of that picture and adapt it to their own lives it wouldn't be so bad, but they take the actual details of its practice instead—and just now, when their whole foundation of life is being laid, it's positively injurious. Isn't there some way of censoring these extravagant productions — not merely Mr. De Mille's — so that they will have a less dangerous effect? Mrs. R. J. D. — Winsted, Connecticut. In Defense of D. W. Q. To the Editor of Picture-Play Magazine. I have just finished reading "What the Fans Think" in the last copy of your magazine. I think it is most interesting and sincerely hope you will continue it. I think that D. W. Griffith is unquestionably the greatest director. He leads and the others follow. He is the great creative genius of filmdom, and a genius he certainly is, with a great deal of the poet also. Of all the many, many pictures there are comparatively few which are really fine and appeal to intelligent people everywhere. "The Birth of a Nation," "Intolerance," "Hearts of the World," and especially "Broken Blossoms" are at the head of these few. In England, during the past few years, Griffith's plays and his actors have probably been the most popular of all. I had the pleasure of seeing several Griffith plays in London and I noted their reception. About the actors : I think Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, and Mary Pickford have led. Lillian Gish is certainly an artist ; no one can come up to her. Her portrayal of Lucy in "Broken Blossoms" was wonderful. Richard Barthelmess shows great promise, and I don't know of any one who can play child parts better than Mary Pickford does. E. F. — Nashville, Tennessee. Why Can't Little Mary Grow Up? To the Editor of Picture-Play Magazine. I wonder if any one else was as disappointed in "Pollyanna" as I was. It was with much anticipation that I went to see Mary Pickford in this picture. But who, after seeing the stage production, would ever imagine Pollyanna looking as she did on the screen? I am sure she never possessed such a wealth of curls, at any rate. I have always longed to see Mary as a real, grown-up young lady, and I hope that some day she will give us a story which, all the way through, is like the fourth reel of "Heart of the Hills." To my mind, she was never more winsome than then. Quite recently I had the pleasure, for the first time, of see ing Mary Miles Minter. It was in "Anne of Green Gables," and she certainly gave an adorable characterization of redheaded, freckle-faced Anne. 1 hope it will not be long before ibis charming young star will be starring equally with Little Mary in public favor. A Devoted Movie Fan — Toronto, Canada. Let Well Enough Alone! To the Editor of Picture-Play AIagazine. As a motion-picture fan I would like to add my little say. I, too, think that the leading man or woman should be let alone. As a leading man for Norma Talmadge Eugene O'Brien was great, but I do not hear any one raving over him now. I see that they are going to star Thomas Meighan. I think that will be another mistake. And Gloria Swanson — surely money is being wasted on her, for she cannot act, and people want to see something besides an ornament with a hideous headdress. I believe the time has come when the people want a good story, well acted, with a good cast, regardless of the star. For very often the star is outshone by some one in the cast. I wish I could see Nigel Barrie play with Norma Talmadge ; I believe they would make a good pair. E. S. — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. An Argument Against Types. To the Editor of Picture-Play Magazine. I must take issue with what Mr. Herbert Howe said in your magazine some months ago about one of our leading players. For one, I do not believe Wallace Reid has "reached his height." In his present type of vehicle, perhaps so, for it seems impossible to depict more perfectly the clean-cut, happy-go-lucky young American than he does. But to any one who has carefully watched Mr. Reid's career, and noted his steady, consistent, conscientious growth, it seems that there are many possibilities before him yet, if he is given the opportunity. It is rather a pity for an actor to associate himself so completely with a type that his audiences refuse to see him in any other. Charles Ray, for instance, certainly has the "divine spark," and yet lately I find myself choosing other pictures, I am so tired of the kind of play he always appears in. No doubt it is asking a good deal of an actor to want him to forsake deliberately a sure-fire "best seller" of the sort he always succeeds in ; but with an established reputation, a long contract, or one's own company, it would be only a reasonable risk and would make enormously for versatility and art. G. W. A. — San Francisco, California. The Comedies Get It Again. To the Editor of Picture-Play AIagazine. S. O. S. voices my opinion of the screen comedies. Why doesn't some one can the pies, water hose, wicked black mustaches, and the skirts that won't stay put? They are all worn threadbare and should be in ancient histor}-. People do tolerate them in the absence of better, but watch and see how a good humorous story, minus the senseless buzzing around, is appreciated by every one. A great many comedies are hopeless, but not all of them. Larry Semon's are usually good, and Lyons & Moran's, also. There is usually something to follow in their plays. I think the others will surely drop the old stuff soon; they will have to, or be left behind. I have been very much interested in the little announcements, from time to time, that different comedy producers were trying a new kind of five-reel comedy. I shall be watching with much interest to see these new comedies. R. S. — Greeley, Nebraska. What Sioux Falls Thinks. To the Editor of Picture-Play Magazine. In this town the people are thoroughly f Continued on \ alive and keen for the best of things, and I page 100 J