Film Spectator (1927-1928)

Page Sixteen THE FILM SPECTATOR July 23, 1927 be advanced in their entirety as a defence of the system. Ernst Van Pelt directed, and others in the cast were Florence Lawrence, J. Frank Glendon, James A. Marcus, Harry Northrop, Hazel Keener, Pat Harmon, Charles Gerson, Tom London, Jack Waltermeyer and Lucille Irwin. The photography was extraordinarily good and there were many exterior views of majestic beauty. Joseph B. Walker was cameraman. Screen art is going through the experience that all other arts have had: those who starve at it advance it most. These little fellows, who must rush to finish a picture before their bank-rolls pinch out, are doing more for the screen than the Laskys, Mayers and Schencks, with their millions. The Other Side is a thoroughly meritorious little picture, reflecting considerable credit on the many-sided Mr. Carre, the final letter of whose name has over it an accent which is beyond the mechanical ability of our type-setting machine to reproduce. Not so, Mr. Beaton, note the accent — Carre. — Operator. Fancy that! And I’ve been avoiding its use! — W. B. * ^ In the last issue of The Spectator there appeared this sentence: “In the motion picture business there are too many Jews given positions merely because they are Jews, and that is bad business.” One good friend writes me that I should try to square myself in this issue because I am credited with an anti-semitic sentiment. Another man congratulates me upon having “given the Jews in pictures a wallop.” Three Jews write me indignant letters asking me why I introduce race feeling into the present mix-up. I could write an article about German directors in Hollywood and the Germans would not resent it. I write about Jews in a perfectly legitimate way and Jews — only some of them, of course — get sore, notwithstanding the fact that what I wrote of itself contains nothing that should cause the soreness. Why are some Jews forever on the defensive? Are they hedged around with some divinity that makes mention of them being Jews sacreligious ? If there be any person, Jew or gentile, who has read The Spectator consistently and has arrived at the conclusion that I harbor any ill-feeling against Jews as Jews I will leave him in undisturbed possession of his opinion. He would be a very small person, and I like to argue with big ones. ♦ * * Some weeks ago I had as my dinner guest a well known Eastern writer who was securing data in Hollywood for a series of articles that will appear in one of our most widely read national magazines. He pumped The WIGGERY and BEAUTY PARLORS The Silver Screen’s Popular Hairdresser, Wigmaker and Make-up Artist, GEORGE WESTMORE Creator and Maker of the Characters, Wigs, Beards, Hairdressing and Make-up for the entire cast of “The King of Kings” NOW located at ' 1467 North Vine St., Hollywood — GL. 6452 Is Permanent Waving an ART? Let Westmore demonstrate that it is. Every branch of BEAUTY CULTURE for the “WOMAN WHO CARES”. Complete Line of Cosmeliques, Grease Paints, Powders, etc. Open from 8:00 a. m. to 8:00 p. m. Free Parking Space in Rear. me, but would not believe what his pump brought forth. I told him of the almost total lack of a sense of courtesy in the screen industry’s conduct of its business. I told him that at the moment B. P. Fineman was the acting head of the production department of the biggest producers in the business, a really exalted position; that I could write him an ordinary and courteous business letter that he would not reply to because I criticize Paramount pictures adversely when they deserve it. The writer would not believe that a man at the head of such a big business enterprise could be so lacking in ordinary business courtesy, so I proceeded to prove it to him. I wrote Bernie a pleasant little letter asking if I might have a pass to the Paramount lot, something I didn’t want, but I couldn’t think of anything I did want. It was a request that an executive might concoct a reason for refusing, but the letter was one that it would be inexcusable rot to reply to. Bernie did not reply to it. I had proved my point, as the national magazine some time this fall will record. The funny thing about it is that the author had no difficulty whatever in securing one of Bernie's photographs to illustrate his article about the lack of business courtesy in the motion picture industry. :4c :(( Perhaps Wally Beery is a comedian. I don’t know. I have seen him in Behind the Front, W’eTe in the Navy Now, and Casey at the Bat. In all three he does only what dozens of other players on the Pararrount lot could do equally well. The parts are so asinine that all anyone playing them need do is to make an utter ass of himself. That that is all Wally does is not his fault. We know he is an excellent actor. Casey at the Bat might have ROSEWALL SANITORIUM (Strictly a Private Instittiion) 1930 East Twenty-sevent.’i Street Oakland, Califoriia W. G. R. BISCHOF, IManager Licensed Physician in Daily ittendance A synthetic, painless, non-narcotic, "n needle” treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism. -\!1 correspondence strictly confidential and answered in plan envelope. I 4