Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

10 Continued from page 8 The only flaw in "The Red Mark" was the happy ending. Why do people make something almost perfect, then spoil it? How much more unforgetable would the production have been if the hero had been guillotined ! Forced happy endings are artificial and make' the best picture ordinary. Tragedy is much more effective than silly sentimentality. Perhaps the reason I am more interested in Barry Norton, just now, than in any other player is because of the tragedy which always surrounds him. That and a few other reasons, such as his excellent acting ability and his physical beauty. Barry is gloriously tragic. Realistic, yet withal an atmosphere of refinement and breeding, and of whom else can this be said? Just now there is no one like him. In the very near future he will be a star of the magnitude of John Gilbert — or even a Ramon Novarro. There is something so deep, so penetrating about him that no woman in whom the maternal instinct is strongly developed can resist his appeal. One feels that he needs a mother, and one would like to be the mother of a boy like that. His nose affects me more than any other feature. I never beheld such a sensitive, artistic nose. His nostrils are superbly expressive. In fact, I never knew nostrils could be so expressive before. He's the new king. Viva el Rey! Crocella Mullen. 118 North Oakhurst Drive, Beverly Hills, California. Del Rio Kissed Her. I agree with Louise E. Johnston, who wrote so well of Miss Del Rio's charm. I have met the exquisite Dolores and know of her splendid qualifications, vivid, sparkling personality, beauty, but most of all, the sincerity of this star, which comes deep from the heart. Some months ago, at the Sherman House in Chicago, the local chapter of the Dolores Del Rio Club met its honorary president. Mere words are useless. We cannot praise this star to the heights she deserves. Dolores is so human and friendly. Why, she sat down with us, talked on almost all subjects — Paris, gowns, pictures and her club. This club has Miss Del Rio's cooperation. Her enthusiasm is unbounded. She gave us pointers, suggestions. We all love her. Can you picture her asking questions of her members, their opinion of her pictures? A few were given huge photos in remembrance, but I have a far greater treasure. The star I admire and love kissed me ! It wasn't a cold kiss, hut was given so tenderly, with meaning. It is something I shall always remember. This is but a rough outline of this glorious experience. The whole story would take up much more space. Rose Badale. 717 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois. Old Stars Are No Better. Some months ago, E. V. W., of Baltimore, Maryland, said that the "new players recently introduced are as insipid as weak tea." He thought that the older players had personality, which quality the young stars lack. He is wrong, for none of the older male stars have more personality than Charles Rogers, or Richard Arlen. And, likewise, none of the older feminine stars have greater personality than Mary Brian, Phyllis Haver, or some others. E. V. W. takes for granted that his opinion is that of every one else, or perhaps he considers himself plural, for he What tke rans Tkink speaks of what the fans want and think, et cetera. E. V. W., if you don't like Charles Rogers, you aren't compelled to see his pictures. Because you don't care for him, you needn't publish that his head is flat. Maybe it would be wise for you to examine your own dome, and allow Buddy the privilege of attending to his. It doesn't count what the outside looks like, nearly so much as what the inside does. Buddy's head is just right, and his acting is perfect, or as nearly so as possible. After seeing him in the scene with Pop in the hospital in "Varsity," any person with common sense will agree that his acting is as good as that of Gilbert, or Ronald Colman, Mary Brian is as gifted and accomplished an actress as Norma Talmadge, Pola Negri, or Corinne Griffith. They are haughty and cold ; she is friendly and sweet and far more beautiful. My opinion is that the older stars are equal to the new ones, but no better. I do not challenge E. V. W. to debate through these columns on young and old stars, but wish to answer his unjust statements about Charles Rogers. J. R. B. Rouseville, Pennsylvania. Who Gets the Quarters? I think something should be done about this photo-collecting business. We are advised to send our quarters, if we want a photo. But I have lately discovered these quarters don't mean anything. I wrote to Greta Garbo three times, sending postage each time, too. But, oh, how I'd love to get a photo of this lady ! Lon Chaney was sent a couple of quarters in stamps, but Lon sends neither a photo nor the stamps back. Madge Bellamy is in the same class. But I received lovely ones from John Gilbert and Marion Davies. At first I thought the letters went astray, but after a couple of times it doesn't look right, when you put a return address on the envelope. Another thing, I have a girl friend who writes for photos and doesn't send even a stamp, yet her photos are as large as mine, and she laughs because I waste my quarters. The stars should check up on their secretaries, and send better photos to those who send postage than those who don't. Phyllis Walter. 2647 Harlem Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland. They Praised Only Nils. The other day I went to see "Dream of Love." Large signs proclaimed that Joan Crawford was the star. Some of us have been looking forward to this picture, hoping that perhaps, at last, Metro-Goldwyn had "come to" and given Nils Asther _ a real role. We were only partially satisfied, and I doubt if he was supposed to receive much credit. However, if one is to judge at all by after-theater chatter, he will get plenty from the fans. I sat through the picture twice, the first time to enjoy it, the second to dissect it, trying to find out just what Joan Crawford gave to the part that any other young actress might not give. Afterward I sat in the ladies' lounge a long time, trying to get opinions of the picture from others. I got a lot of them, and the majority, young or old, were in praise of the ability, grace and good looks of Nils Asther. Was there a lot of raving about the star? There was not ! Did she share honors equally with Aileen Pringle, who shows finesse that Joan Crawford has not yet acquired? Also, is there no credit due our old friend, Harry Myers, for his humorous support? I would say that Joan furnished good support, with the rest of the cast, for Nils Asther, who certainly held the picture from start to finish. Will some of the Joan Crawford fans explain why she, with her small claim to beauty, and her dances, which any flapper can do, should be proclaimed a star, and why Nils Asther shouldn't? Is it because he appears to be a gentleman, instead of the hard-boiled type so favored by our American boys? Or because he is a foreigner in our midst, or his inability to speak our language fluently for the talkies? Perhaps some of the dictators of the movies cannot see anything beyond beauty and sex appeal. Here is a man who possesses an abundance of both. If any one of our actors is versatile, I believe it is Nils Asther, given a chance and some decent pictures. Tragedy or high comedy, sophistication or lack of it, boredom or enthusiasm, hate or love, anger or gentleness, all of these he can portray with ease. What other leading man of his age can do this better? Let's stop worrying about Rudolph Valentino. He was ridiculed, when alive, by many who are now grieving over his untimely end. If it is true that his spirit still invades this earth, and that he can see and know everything, he is, no doubt, grateful to his loyal followers. On the other hand, what a laugh he must get over those who made so much fun of his ardent love-making, and are now sorry that they failed to give him credit while living. I'm sure that he would agree with a lot of us that it would be far better to give our devotion to some of the living, who are making a struggle for recognition, some who have acting ability far beyond anything Valentino ever had. Foremost among these is Nils Asther. Grayce M. Tether. 13136 Indiana Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. Intolerance Chilled Pola. I have come to the conclusion, after reading all the letters for Pola Negri, and all those against her, that Mr. Oettinger has proved her best press agent. Curiously enough, the letters against her, almost without exception, stressed her marriage and not anything Mr. Oettinger wrote, as the reason why his interview was good. Personally, I think it is the most prejudiced, childish interview it has been my misfortune to come across. Those fans who call Mr. Oettinger "honest," are only half right; he is not honest with himself, but he is honest with what he pretends to be. Think that out, and you'll see I'm right. His blase, affectedly cynical outlook had proved pretty successful — until he met Pola. This woman knew the wheat from the chaff; she saw through him, and let him know it. Her utter indifference to his "blasting" must have annoyed him. Some fan said that "Greta put on a better show than Pola." My dear, whoever you are, Pola's was infinitely more successful, for the simple reason that Mr. Oettinger was convinced she was cold, artificial, unromantic, when she is decidedly not. Pola a poseuse? Yes, but a natural one. All great actresses and actors are poseurs. Posing, like acting, is natural to Pola ; in fact, she would not be half as interesting if she didn't pose.