Motion Picture Magazine, July 1914 (1914)

MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE 169 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR "Constant Reader," from Albuquerque, N. M., shows a very fair spirit in Her difference of opinion with "Broadway," and we gladly publish her side of the "comedy" question: Dear Editor : If the young man who signed himself "Broadway" In a letter published in the March number had not written that letter to you, I would have been able to spare you the reading of this letter, which will probably be long and tiresome to you. However, I do not feel that I can overlook the unjust criticisms which were heaped on some of the pictures which I con- sider the leading ones shown on the screen to- day, and I feel safe in saying that I am not alone in my opinion. The writer above referred to says that so many of the pictures lack "snap," which is essential to a good comedy. If by "snap" he means the jumping and hopping around that the Biogr'aph and Keystone actors are char- acterized by, we can be glad that some of the rest of them lack "snap. I have seen numer- ous farce comedies put on by the Biograph Company, also the Keystone Company, and they invariably end by having the entire com- pany fall over fences, sidewalks, and the like, in a mad chase for one who is in the lead. If these are what may be called comedies, I think many people would prefer something a little more intelligent if not quite so funny. What can be funnier or more laughable than some of the comedies that the Edison Company put out, for example, "Why Girls Leave Home," "An American King," or some of the Essanay comedies featuring Billy Mason and Wallace Beery? Arid the Vitagraph Company are right in the same class with such a picture as "A Regiment of Two." Such pictures as these are funny and at the same time sane and inter- esting. As for the foreign pictures, they may be very high-class, but hardly without exception they are characterized by so much gesticu- lating that interest is lost even in a serious picture by the manner .in which the play is enacted. I do not intend to make this a letter of criticisms of a few films which do not happen to please me, but I do want to say that it is a grave injustice to companies like the Vita- fraph. Edison, Lubin, Essanay, Kalem and elig to say that their pictures lack "punch," are too detailed to hold the interest as they should and that the action is too sluggish. De- tails are what make the picture, and a very good picture may lose much of its force by the lack of some little detail. Who ever saw a picture featuring actors like Earle Williams, Leo Delaney, Maurice Costello, Francis Bush- man, Arthur Johnson, Harry Morey, Ben Wil- son, Clara K. Young, Norma Talmadgc. Anita Stewart, Julia S. Gordon, Gertrude McCoy, Beverly Bayne, Lottie Briscoe, Mary Charleson (I might mention fifty others) that was too detailed, too sluggish in action to be interest- ing? When the photos of such actors as I have mentioned are posted in front of a Mov- ing Picture theater here, the management, is assured of a crowd, and the crowd is seldom disappointed in the pictures. Take such plays as "Love's Sunset," "The Wreck," "The Mills of the Gods," "The Next Generation," "The Silver Skull," "The Test," "The Trap," "The Awakening of a Man," "A Leader of- Men," "When the Earth Trembled," "Dear Old Girl." "The Parasite," "The Tiger Lily"—I might go on and mention dozens of them—how can any one say that they are too detailed, that they lack the "punch" necessary to make them interesting? Why, one could see such pictures three and four times and not grow tired of a single detail in them. I hope I have not been too presumptuous in writing this letter, but really it made me so angry to have any one attack pictures which are put on by companies which cannot be sur- Some of the Advantages of TINDALE MUSIC CABINETS Accessibility of the music—every copy always at hand when wanted. Life of the music doubled by doing away with unnecessary handling. Classification —each class or kind of music kept in separate drawers. Special compartments for large books, opera scores, etc. An index system that assures perfect order at all times, and yet so simple as to require practically no attention. . Wide variety of styles, sizes and fin- ishes; suitable for residences, studios and theaters. Prices from $17 to $85. Write or send coupon for Folio of De- signs, No. 11. COUPON • TINDALE CABINET COMPANY Salesrooms: No. 1 West 34th St., New York Please send gratis your Polio of De- signs, No. 11. Name , Street City When answering advertisements kindly memtion MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE,