Motion Picture (Aug 1931-Jan 1932)

Now You* re Talking! THE FANS SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES Wynne as a Gun Moll Why do they always give Wynne Gibson the part of a gangster's girl? She sure thinks she is tough but is getting tiresome. M. Caleb, New London, Conn. Only Constructive Criticism Welcome I wish to protest against letters like that of Jane Woodrum in a recent issue, concerning Constance Bennett. Miss Bennett's acting is legitimately a subject for public discussion, but I cannot see that the shape of her head is. Those who cannot break into print without airing their personal spites and jealousies will be much better off if they stay out. I am also getting very tired of people whose principal recreation seems to consist of giving advice to Clara Bow. Perhaps she needs it. I don't know. But I fail to understand how it concerns the public. Those who enjoy pictures can — and will — continue to go to see them. Those who don't are free to stay away. Edward W agenknecht, Seattle, Wash. Those Hungry Eyes Do you like Joan Crawford? I do and I don't. She is beautiful, charming, looks interesting, but there's something missing, somewhere. What do you think? Don't you agree with this? If Joan Crawford wouldn't diet so strictly, she'd be lovelier than she is now. Her eyes look hungry in some of her pictures published in fan magazines. In "Paid" Joan Crawford fitted that role nicely because as Mary Turner she was supposed to be a poor undernourished girl. If I were in Joan Crawford^s boots, I'd eat more and if the public didn't like me with a few more pounds, I'd get out. Jeanetle dePont, Lyndhurst, N. J. The "Lanky" Swede Has the movie industry turned into a Garbo specialty? All I can see or hear is something about the glamourous Garbo. I would like to see the "lanky" Swede take her carcass back across the pond. We have some beautiful American women on the screen. Let's put some praise at their feet. James Eady, Birmingham, Ala. Is There No Law Against It? 'Tis true (according to Mr. Hays' standards) that words, such as God, damn and also Hell are forbidden. But what about the Health Department? Within the first three hundred feet of "Public Enemy" five men spit. They are bartenders, gangsters and toughs. The director thought it made them look tough. Well, it made them look exceedingly stupid. Then too, what about the small boys in the many audiences throughout the country? Youngsters, under twelve, who will, most likely, follow suit. I thought that when the signs "Spitting Unlawful" were posted, it ceased. But now, we pay, it seems, to see people do that, which is disgusting and also setting a bad example for small boys. A thing like this does not help pictures. Mrs. E. H., Hollywood, Cal. 106 Poor Policy, Connie Constance Bennett acts a bit snobbish in pictures. I imagine she is that sort of a person, but I don't think it is very good policy in pictures, and others agree with me. /. A. R., Columbus, Ohio Mary Shows Her Undies My idol has fallen! When Mary Pickford cavorted around in "Kiki, " showing her underclothes as she did, I was disappointed. Not that such is unusual in any picture, or from any star, except Mary Pickford. America's Sweetheart has long abstained from taking such roles. We do not condemn nor look down upon other actresses for showing their undies in pictures, but at the same time we, or at least I, f eel_ surprised to see Mary do it, and I resent it. Never again will I feel toward Miss Pickford as I have felt for many years; never again will I hold that sweet, sincere affection for her and her acting that I once held. M. M. Turlington, Jr., Seminole, Okla. Tallulah No Siren Who ever had the nerve to suggest putting Tallulah Bankhead in the movies? And as a siren at that. With her drooping eyelids and her straggly hair she looks better fitted for the role of a hausfrau, scrubbing floors and doing the dishes. Carmen M., West Hollywood, Cal. Elissa's Lingerie I admit I like the girls' knees round and their lingerie revealing, hence the following irked me considerably. The lingerie Elissa Landi wore in "Body and Soul" looked more like a couple of flannel nightgowns than anything else to me. And the knees Patsy Ruth Miller displayed in "Lonely Wives." Oi! Oi! Abner Smith, Denver, Colo. Motion Picture invites you to thrash out your likes and dislikes, voice your complaints, tell the stars how good or bad they are, or you» may come to the defense of your favorites. In other words, we invite knocks as well as boosts. Let's make this a monthly get-together where we can all speak up. Make your letters short, peppy and snappy and address them to Laurence Reid, Editor, Motion Picture, 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Why They Can't Appreciate Garbo There seems to be much criticism of Greta Garbo of late. The truth is that Greta Garbo does not appeal to persons of , low intelligence for the same reason that Shakespeare does not appeal to them. They are utterly unable to appreciate her superb artistry. Let them have their ga-ga girls, their Alice Whites and Clara Bows, with their slapstick, their cheap tricks, and their weak, vacant, pretty faces. These come within their limits of mental appreciation. Because she has the shy, sensitive soul of a Genius, she withdraws herself from a world that cannot understand her. So she is called an eccentric. Because she prefers a sane and simple life to the hectic, artificial, unnatural life of Hollywood, she is called a mystery. To take a man who can appreciate nothing of art but that which appeals to the cruder senses to see a Garbo picture is like leading a bull into a museum of art! A. Holmes, Worcester, Mass. More Attention to Details » » I 1 1. I wonder why directors do not notice the little things that so often spoil the effect of an excellent picture. For instance, in "The Big Trail" one becomes lost in sympathy with the struggles of the brave men and women in their progress across the desert and then is completely disillusioned by the sleekness of the cattle that are lowered over the side of a canyon. Why are they not lean after the long trek across miles of sand? And why does the wagon train, after being battered over canyon walls and through rivers and stretches of mud, look as respectable as at the start? And if Marguerite Churchill must appear in one dress through the whole journey, why isn't it mussy at the end of the trail? And why must John Wayne ruin a touching love scene with these words, "the answer must be yes or no — it can't be maybe"} I can remember when this slang expression was first used and I am far from pioneer age. In nearly every big picture one finds details that take away the effect of reality. C. A. Pelrofsky, Sheridan, Wyo. Here's a Dare I wish I could line up those who say Buddy Rogers is not an actor and throw bombs at them to see which one I could hit first. Buddy is neither a poor actor nor a sissy, so why try to make out that he is one? I dare any one of you to go to Hollywood and make a picture that would turn out one-tenth as successful as Buddy's poorest one (if there ever was a "poorest one"). Come in -you Buddy Rogers fans, and let's defend our g, handsome boy. X. Y. A., Marion, Ohio More Power to Marlene I wish that people of the movie world would all get together and give one big pull for Marlene Dietrich. She far surpasses Greta Garbo in the art of acting. However, this world goes big for tradition. And Garbo is simply a tradition. She took the world by storm. Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas R. R. DONNELLEY* SONS CO., CHICAGO