Motion Picture Classic (Jul-Dec 1930)

Black and White Read and Write (Continued from page 8) winter months and witness the swishing streams of Canada or Alaska, laden with trout and salmon, rushing to their destination at sea level. But now, practically everything in the scenic line is gone. Evidently nature in her more demure ways does not make enough noise for the talkie. Whatever the cause, I make a plea that I hope will find listeners: Give us scenics, one or two-reel scenics. We want pictures of the north woods; pictures of Alaskan snows; scenes of Norwegian fjords; glimpses of majestic Mont Blancs. Whether you present them silent or with a musical accompaniment, at least, you heads that be, give us scenics. Earl J. Gagnon to view every single foot of its dazzling magnificence — but the supreme minds think that we must be satisfied with a niggardly hour of picture and then depart with heavy hearts — resentful that we could not have seen more details of Byrd's vivid Antarctic drama. Gelson Willets See ''The Big House" And Learn Conditions A Downright Insult San Francisco, Cal. "With Byrd at the South Pole " is the most astounding historical drama ever filmed — yet it is also the most flagrant insult to American intelligence ever given by any producer. Byrd tells us that 30 miles (over 159,000 feet of film) were "shot" by his two brave cameramen — yet the producers believe that the theater-going public will only stomach about 1-0,000 feet of the astonishing Antarctic epic, every foot of which is crammed with novelty, adventure and thrills never before pictured in any film. Is this not a slur — this belief that the [)ublic could not sit through more than a short hour of that marvelous drama? What l)ccame of the other 149,000 feet of film? It is probably preserved for posterity — but we, the people of today, would sit for days Louisville, Ky. Our penitentiaries are now full to overflowing and it is high time that the public learn something about the existing conditions in and the conduct of such institutions. See Chester Morris in "The Big House" for inside information. You'll also learn from the acting of Morris and Wallace Beery that there is a code of honor among convicts which calls for courage, honor and loyalty raised to the A'th power. This film visualizes the densely crowded conditions of our penal institutions, thus showing the necessity of putting a youthful first offender in the same cell with hardened criminals. It shows the mess at which food, not fit for a dog, is slopped out to human beings. It also shows the leaders of the gang being placed in practically airtight dungeons there to suffer cruel and inhuman tortures, the infliction of which is a disgrace to our muchly vaunted civilization. My sincere wish is that every senator, congressman and legislator in this country see this enlightening movie, for after seeing it, our lawmakers will surely take steps to right such deplorable conditions. Lee Hamilton He Didn't Know Better {Continued from page 51) seventy-year-old maestro looking at me, studying me, wondering at my kiddish arrogance and my pride in what at best was a mediocre voice. "Finally, he said, 'I'll take you. It will be a long hard pull . . . for you, a heartbreaking one in many ways. V^ou will study, study, study. You shall sing scales, and nothing but scales, for years. We shall see what we can do with that voice of yours." " Those who knew the kindly Alberti, who had coached the great of music, including ("aruso, say he came to love this "greenhorn" kid, Fred Scott. For two years he 'irilled the gold out of that voice, bringing i<ut all the charm and depth of its miraculous range, sweetening and softening the clear notes of the tenor. Had the old man lived, he would have breathed with pride to know that Fred Scott, his little country boy, had been chosen of them all to supiwrt the American prima donna, Mary Lewis, in her first singing picture, that he hail "clicked" in a picture called "Swing High," that the Pathe studio had put him under contract on the strength of the beauty of his voice. But unlike the story-books, all this did not happen in a day. Vocal Boy Makes Good F(iR one thing, Fred drifted in and out of extra work in silent pictures. Now and then he got a part, too small to bring him to contract attention. The radio proyidi-d a much more lucrative source of income. Fred and three other "boys estab lished a quartet that was in great demand with the advertising programs. Incidentally, they made excellent money, so much of it that for a while Fred forgot pictures "A (quartet is a great commercial proposition,' he explained. "We had more offers than we could fill. The radio and various local stage productions kept us busy, and I enjoyed the life. I was not fretting that I was making no headway as an actor. I am a singer. When I can sing, I am happy." The first studio to recognize Fred's unusual voice, and its talking picture possibilities, was Fox. They put him under a six-months' contract about the time Helen Twelvetrees was signed. He did a few "shorts" in that time, and sang a casual theme-song for a dramatic picture; outside of that, he merely hung around. He was not exactly happy with the contract and when Pathe offered him a bigger opportunity, with a larger salary, he jumped at it. An Operatic Jazz Singer SPKAKIN(i of grand opera, he believes it should be heard and not seen. "It is one of the incongruous things of life to listen to the glorious voices of the opera stars and have to look at their panting girdles as they warble romantic and passionate love songs. I suppose it sounds like sacrilege, but grand opera is a very over-estimated thing to most of us. I do not believe it is music at its best. Certainly, it is not the mood of music at its best. For one thing, the staging is too unreal and ineffective. Some People Have All The Liuck They either inherit a million. Or know how to make one — They are born with good looks. Or know how to acquire them — They know how to diet, Or have a figure already — They have Push and Pull Or their friends do — They don't have to live Fifty miles from nowhere — They can .see the world Without joining the Navy — They .see all the good shows Miss all the poor ones — They can talk about movie stars As if they knew them — They know Wlio's Wlio .\nd Who's Whose — They can talk about Hollywood As if they had been there — They know all the latest I'p-to-datest movie news — These are the lucky fans arrive at the newsstand In time to get a cojjy of MOTION PICTURE The Oldest— The Newest— The Bent 105