Motion Picture Classic (1923, 1924, 1926)

THEY SAY FIRST PRIZE Fair Play for "The Big Parade" EDITOR, CLASSIC: I am English. I love my country. But, above all, I love truth and fair play. I went to the premiere of "The Big Parade" in London on May 21st, and never have I heard anything to equal the spontaneous and enthusiastic applause which greeted this superb masterpiece. The next day a large section of the most widely read newspapers had headlines to this effect : "America wins the war — on the films." "Not a British soldier seen in America's version of the war," etc., etc. These criticisms were most unfair and prejudiced, and gave a totally false idea of the picture, and have prevented many people going to see it and judging for themselves. There arc no British soldiers in the picture. Why should there be? It is an American film ; war episodes as seen thru the eyes of an American doughboy. It distinctly states in the foreword that his experiences might have been those of a soldier of any other nationality. One English newspaper. The Daily Sketch, wrote of it : "It is an international picture, no more American than any other great work of art." The following is an extract from a letter I wrote to The Sunday Herald, which, amongst other things, had criticised the behavior of the men in billets : "United States and War Films "With reference to your film critic's comments on 'The Big Parade,' I should like to state that during the last eight years I have seen a large number of British war films and do not recollect in one of them that American troops were even remotely referred to. "In two plays the French were mentioned. Had America seen the British film, 'The Better 'Ole,' they would have concluded that our 'Tommies' were a set of low comedians, whose time was entirely taken up by drinking and kissing French girls, for they did practically nothing else. This film was not redeemed by either fine direction or acting. "D. G. Shore." because the producer was jealous of his own country's exploits." The English are not what a certain section of the press would have the world believe. We are a generous people, and I know many who have seen "The Big Parade" and have come away with the tenderest feelings of gratitude and affection for the happy-go-lucky doughboys who came over to join in the "great adventure." A British Army officer, who had a great deal to do with the Americans in France during the war, said their fearlessness was wonderful. I am sure that the abolition of war and the world's peace lie in the hands of America and Great Britain, and I, for one, earnestly desire a better understanding between the two countries. There must be mutual generosity, a truce to petty spite and jealousy. I have lived in America and love it and the Americans, and I found that so much of the foolish prejudices that people of one nationality have towards another simply arise from a want of proper understanding. Owing to the almost moribund condition of the film industry over here, it has not been possible for Americans to see pictures representing real English life and characteristics (which may have something to do with the constant re-appearance on the American screen, of that curious creature — the monocled, mincing Englishman — in spite of Ronald Colman!). A big movement has now started in order to better conditions and revive the industry, and huge studios are being built. I hope America will give our pictures of English life a fair showing. All art, all beauty should be international— universal. Each country should give of her best. The great new art of living pictures ought to be the means of uniting, not of disuniting nations. The movies should be the "entente cordiale" of the world. Dorothy Grace Shore, 11, Drayton Gardens, So. Kensington, London, S. W., England. "The Big Parade" is a supreme work of art, in spite of the extremely simple and conventional story and certain "heroics" which, perhaps, slightly mar the latter half of the picture. I have seen hundreds of moz'ing pictures, but this is the first living picture. The actingreaches such heights that it ceases to be acting ; it becomes life, real, surging, pulsating. The film critic in The Morning Post wrote, with justice : "We should not condemn a wonderful piece of stagecraft The MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC is devoting a page each month to the best letters from its readers. The prize-winning letters for the August number are reproduced on this page. Fifteen dollars will be paid each month for the best letter, ten dollars for the second and five dollars for the third. If two or more letters are found of equal merit, the full prize will go to each writer. Letters must be constructive and interesting. They must deal with pictures or screen personalities. And — please note — they should be typewritten. SECOND PRIZE For the Foreign Girls and the Native Sons Editor, Classic : Since this department is for the benefit of Classic readers in which to expnss their opinions, I cant refrain from having my little "say so." Being first and foremost for all things American, it is hard for me to feel compelled to say that the foreign actresses have it all over our own players. Undeniably our leading ladies are the more beautiful, but who among them can compare with the Pola Xegri of "Passion" and "Gypsy Blood." Mme. Xegri has never been given an opportunity by American directors, or by Famous Players. She was interesting in "Good and Xaughty," but Pola Xegri is in no wise the comedienne. I should like to see her, not Raquel Meller, as the Empress Josephine to Charles Chaplin's Xapoleon. Then there is Greta Garbo, who, because of her interesting and colorful portrayal in "The Torrent," should be among the most popular players. Xot one of our American leading ladies could so subtly express the various emotions as Greta does. And it is gratifying to know that she has so able a director as Xiblo for her second American picture and so charming and romantic a leading man as Antonio Moreno. I must not forget to mention Greta Xissen here. She has had but one real opportunity, in "The Wanderer," a part so unsympathetic as to cause her to lose, rather than gain, admirers, so set are we on having all our heroines of the saccharine variety, in sugar-coated roles. It is no wonder that Greta Xissen has deserted us for Ziegfeld and the stage. Perhaps I've seemed too partial to the European players, but the readers of this letter who do not agree with me will forgive me when I say that my vote goes to the American leading men, unanimously, as against the Xovarros, Valentinos and De Roches. They are not to be compared with Gilbert. Dix, Haines, Lloyd and the incomparable Wally Reid. Who on the screen today is there to take Wally's place, and who ever will? His death left a void in all our hearts, one that will never be filled. John Gilbert deserves a place in the Hall of Fame for his James Appcrson in "The Big Parade" and his Danilo in "The Merry Widow." Who can deny Gilbert's ability after seeing him so ably portray two so diversified roles? I was very happy when I learned that Jack and Greta Garbo will playtogether — that should be a picture, and Von Stroheim should direct it. Richard Dix's Indian of "The Vanishing American" was fine. but I like him best in his lighter type of picture — "Take a {Continued on page 90) 8