Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

12 What the Fans Think of the Princess in John Barrymore's "Tempest" was nothing short of miraculous. Fraulein Horn seems to prefer the medium of stark feeling for expression rather than the ordinary tricks and mannerisms so often used. You will notice, fans, that her love scenes with John Barry more were uniquely satisfying in their repression, rather than like this "GilboGarbage," as one flapper fan so neatly calls this too-forward love-making so often seen. Florence F. Dostal. Box 95, Mercer Island, Washington. Britain Can Make Films. I felt extremely angry after reading William Mitchell's letter. He says Britain cannot make films. Let me state here and now that Britain can. I think Mr. Mitchell's letter was very unpatriotic and disloyal. He speaks of our being forced to see our own films. Possibly a regiment will be spared, with fixed -bayonets, to do the forcing and the theaters will be supplied with chains to each seat to hold us through the entire program. In spite of all this, I am going to make a request to American fans. John Maxwell, Chairman of British International Pictures, Ltd., has just completed negotiations for a gigantic distributing concern, which will handle an unlimited number of British films in America and Canada. This will be a great help to our films, and I ask American fans to give welcome and appreciation to them and to our stars, as we English fans have given to American pictures since films began. I can assure you they are not nearly so bad as Mr. Mitchell would have you believe. Esther Martin. 4 Burton Street, Leicester, England. A Plain Tomb for Valentino. Do you want to know why the fans are reluctant to give money for a tomb for Rudy? I'll tell you ! They all adored him, just as I did, but in their adoration for the wonderful roles he created on the screen, for his wonderful acting and his artistic ability, they did not forget that beneath it all he was a man — just a human, living man. When that plea for money went forth, they wanted to give, for the memory they had of the screen Rudy, but movie fans are human beings and have homes and relations to consider. They stopped to think of their own people. Murmurings that the several thousands contributed were too little to create a suitable tomb for this beloved hero irritated them just a little! In their hearts they knew that the grave they would be able to give any of their loved ones would be worth much less than that, and they could not help but think what they could themselves do with that much money, were it on hand to use. Do you see the implication? A grave, costing, say, twenty-five hundred dollars was not good enough for Rudolph Valentino— after all, a man! And yet a grave of five hundred dollars or less was good enough for the people whc went to see his pictures, who were expected to give enough money to raise that twentyfive hundred dollars to five thousand or more. It is a rather difficult subject to talk about, and one that is ' rather hard to face. There is the question : Would Rudolph have wanted an expensive . tomb at the expense of his fans? If he lived as humbly and as simply, and was as perfect and gentle as his life story leads us to believe, would he have desired an imposing memorial, devoting vast sums of money given by people who could ill afford a grave for their own people at approximately a fifth of the cost of his? I don't believe he would have, this dear, dreamy Rudy of ours. I'm more inclined to think he would have been pleased to rest at peace in his beloved Italy, in a grave such as his fathers had, where he could be remembered and adored just as much as if he were in the most magnificent tomb of imported marble. Why leave him in a borrowed tomb? With the small amount of money already given, why not begin the making of a memorial suitable for the remembrance of a man who was regarded as a living person, a man who lived humbly, died peacefully, and whose greatest show in life was his love for his beloved Italy, and his desire to please the world? With this in view, what fan will not desire to help? None could refuse. But in the request for fabulous amounts for a tomb worthy of kings, the plea is a step in the wrong direction. Pearl H. McLaughlin. 137 Wilson Street, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A Good Word for Gladys. My praise is for Gladys Brockwell, an actress who has deserved a good break for a long while. She can act and talk, and proved it in "Lights of New York." I'm for talkies as long as Gladys plays in them. She proved her worth in this picture to a greater extent than ever before. She will prove a valuable actress if she is given more good roles. Could any one have spoken, "He was my man!" with more sincerity and real meaning than she did? She claimed the sympathy of her audience._ Rosemary Hedeen. 927 Liberty Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Taste Misplaced. My choice Is a Rolls-Royce. The new Ford Is more in keeping with my hoard. My burning desires Are for sapphires. Instead, while my desire cools, I'll inherit grandma's "jools." I love coats of mink and sable, With a smart Parisian label. I have a taste for sunken tubs And Arab horses and dogs and lion cubs. But what's the use? I can't induce Any one to star me ! JULIANNE ASQUITH. Box 373, Manassas, Virginia. Why Slight Leslie Fenton? Can any one tell me why, after a career of fine portrayals, Leslie Fenton has not been made a star? John Gilbert, Ramon Novarro, and John Barrymore are all "much of a muchness" as the Mad Hatter said, but Leslie Fenton occupies a niche all his own in movieland, and it is a perfect shame that he has been overlooked all these years. In "Havoc," "The First Kiss," and "The Dragnet," Leslie Fenton played but short par ■,. He gave simple, moving performances in each picture. Believe me, talent is not appreciated in Hollywood. I sent to four different studios for a picture of Mr. Fenton, and each time my letters were returned. Can some one please tell me where I may obtain a photo of him? "The Big Parade" and "What Price Glory?" were two of the finest films I ever saw. They were not, thank goodness, accompanied by this awful din of canned music, yet they were big hits. May we soon get over the craze for talkies I We go to the movies to lose ourselves in the beauty and drama unveiled before our eyes, to the accompaniment of well-played music. Who can lose oneself in beauty, when voices break the enchantment of our dreams and sound disturbs and jars our nerves? Anne W. Cassidy. 285 West Tenth Street, New York. Correcting a Juvenile Error. The verse signed "Jill Merrick" in Picture Play calls for a comment. The writer calls herself a reporter. Surely a very embryo specimen. When Miss Merrick has been a film reporter as long as I have, she will know that to express her private opinions as publicly as she has done, is in the very worst taste. Experience will teach her that to manifest her temper is a breach of etiquette. And she will also learn that to be ignored by a prominent star, who does not depend on fifth-rate publicity for her position, is the treatment to be expected by insignificance. I am not defending Miss Corda. I am endeavoring to correct a juvenile mistake. Cordite. London, England. New Battleground Seen. Well, the guy that started Vitaphone and Movietone certainly was out to raise Cain ! The only good that will ever come out of it, is that it may make the fans stop wrangling over Novarro and Gilbert, or mourning Valentino, and rise up, either for or against, the talkies. Can't something be done about it? The producers seem to think talkies are here to stay. The talking picture is just an effort to combine the stage and screen and make a mess of both. Talking slows down the action of a picture and wrecks it. I would really have enjoyed "Tempest" if it had not been for those ridiculous squawks from the mob. Deaf people say they cannot hear them, and thereby they lose all en* joyment. They are fortunate in not being able to hear this form of annoyance. A little goes a long way ! I wouldn't object so violently to the Movietone news, or the short selections, but when it comes to jamming it in a feature, I draw the line ! C. Henry. Baltimore, Maryland. A Motto for Grouches. Richard Dix is my favorite. He is, without doubt, one of the outstanding actors on the screen to-day. Now, as seems to be the custom of writers to this department, I should pick three to five other actors of repute, and tear them to pieces, vainly trying to find an excuse for their existence, much less their success, as stars. Silly, isn't it? But as you read through some of the letters, isn't that exactly the idea they convey? "Don't be satisfied with naming your favorite, but try to knock the pedestal from beneath some one else's," seems to be the motto of many contributors. Why can't the fans send in helpful criticisms, instead of seeing who can say the cattiest things about the stars? Too, if they would restrain their -criticisms to acting alone, it would not be so bad, but when it .comes . to including the way the stars dress, how big their feet are, the way they wear their hair, how much they show their teeth, and even probing into private affairs, which are none of their business, then is the time some of the fans should quit.