Motion Picture Classic (Jul-Dec 1928)

Letters from Classic Readers $15.00 LETTER Something to Think About DEAR EDITOR: Come with me to a movie, fellow citizens, and bring your sense of humor and a bit of forbearance for the shortcomings of your neighbors. Have you ever counted the nunjber of times you have risen to let others pass, or caught your hair or hairnet on coat buttons of those passing behind you? Ah, an argument for persons with long tresses not to remove their hats ! And how about those, knees being braced against your seat or a medley played by feet thereupon? Not so good, eh? Do you give or receive the "fifty-seven varieties" of perfume, powder, onions or ether edibles, including gum ? Are you the kind of gum addict that leaves the used article for the rest of us to further enjoy? It's a fine stunt, too, to shop, goto a movie, take all your packages — and rattle and rattle them ! And oh yes — someone is always glad to read the lines for you, unsolicited, or the flappers will flap for you about their latest conquests. Ah well, a good time was had by all ! But — have a heart — you, you and you! ! ! (Miss) Mary B. Davis, Washington, D. C. $10.00 LETTER Give Them a Hand De.\r Editor : "Vou can never depend on the stars of today. They are so different, so fickle!" Thus spoke a friend of mine. Is it really the stars that are fickle or arc they merely trying to. satisfy an everchanging' public? Heavens! Could it possibly be us — the public, that are fickle? When I see people changing their favorites as quickly as they change their clothes, I wonder. Let us look at the stars' side of it. They have learned from experience how easy it is to be replaced by a younger face, a more beautiful profile, or for seemingly no reason at all. Yes, to be changed by the demands of the public who seemed to worship them a few months before. They have seen Charles Ray, Lila I-ee, Bessie Love, Bebe Daniels, and Phyllis Haver all reach stardom and popularity. They have seen these same players fall from stardom and fight to come back. The stars of today know the fickleness of the public. They know tliat they must be changeable in themselves, constantly giving the public new types. They work hard to render themselves worthy of the places they hold in the film world. Don't crab at them. Give them a hand. Mabel Shelhart, San Pedro, CaHf. $5.00 LETTER A Bargain at That ■ Dear Sir : I SOMETIMES drop in to see a movie when it's raining, and on such occasions there is flashed before my eyes, previous to the starting of the picture, the information that the picture has been passed by the Board of Censorship. I have heard people say, "What is it that this board censors?" But let's go on with the story. One of the pictures I saw a while ago, as the rain poured down outside, showed a scene in which a white man grabs a native girl in the tropics. He is on a couch, where she has just brought him refreshment. She fights him, but she's very small. The scene is cut, then flashed on again, with the native girl just gone. The man takes a drink ! In another picture a married woman gives her married lover the key to her apartment. She knows he is coming ! She is shown, taking a nice bath under a shower! Next, we see her in bed. He's gone ! She picks up the phone from a stand near the head of the bed and gets We Want to Know What you think of the movies and the stars. This page is devoted to Classic's readers, who are invited to write about their impressions of the pictures and players. Be as brief as possible, as letters must not exceed 200 words. We also suggest that you be entirely fair in your views. In other words. Classic would like to receive constructive criticism or arguments about the productions and performances. Fifteen dollars will be paid each month for the best letter, ten dollars for the second, and five dollars for the third. Besides these three prizes, we will also pay one dollar for any other letters printed. If one or more letters are found of equal merit, the full prize will go to each writer. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Sign your full name and address. We will use initials if requested. This is your department. We want you to take advantage of it. Letters must be addressed: The Letter Box, Classic, Paramount Building, 1501 Broadway, New York. his message. A flash shows him giving it to her. Presumably he's just saying "Good Night !" Perhaps he forgot it before. Censorship is certainly necessary. What is it they censor? Don't be silly! Well, what do you expect to see for fifty cents, anyway ? William Sanford, Box 574, San Diego, Calif. $1.00 LETTER "We Americans" Solves the Problem "■Vf/E Americans" is a phenomenon! When a picture can satisfy a universal demand, it is extraordinary. By its variety of phases "We .Americans" answers the demand of practically every class of people. Its spirit of patriotism for the military; its love stofy for the romanticist ; its pathos for the emotionalist ; its beauty and moral for the student and poet; its comedy for the fun lover ! Whenever any one picture combines an interest for so many individuals, it is phenomenal. Few pictures have accomplished this feat. It has, in addition, a duo-appeal, to Americans, as well as to the foreign interest, with its Italian, German, Jewish and Irish characters, each one made individually lovable and interesting. Pleasing nationalities has been a problem to producers. This picture is a solution. Almost anyone from stenographer up to president and from manager down to bellhop may go to see it, and be pleased. Was there ever any one picture so constructed as to interest so varied a group of individuals? That is clever work and it should enjoy a long run, coverin'g as it does so huge a scope. Chrystine M. Rannells, St. Louis, Mo. $1.00 LETTER Modern Stuff for Younger Generation Dear Editor; ^IVE us more of Clara Bow ^-^ and Buddy Rogers. We, the younger generation, make up the biggest part of the theater-going public, therefore, why not give us what we want. We want modern life stories, not old-fashioned pictures. We go to the theater to be entertained, not to cry our heads oflF seeing an outof-date tragedy. Young girls and boys want mirth, gaiety and laughter. Eleanor Holtje. 6