Motion Picture Classic (Jul-Dec 1930)

Tell Us All About It $20.00 LETTER Abraham Lincoln/'^ A Masterpiece Philadelphia, Pa. For the first time I have seen the Abraham Lincoln that my imagination has always conjured up. For the first time I have seen a living, breathing Lincoln, with all the faults and all the virtues of a human being. A Lincoln stripped of romantic legends, a Lincoln that stands in all his elemental rawness, in all his elemental tenderness. D. W. Griffith has dipped into history and extracted from it the beauty of human life. But he had the courage to leave in all the daring crudity, all the daring realism that touches our experience, that clutches at our hearts, that brings to our cheeks flushes of shame as well as pride. Here, for the first time on the screen, I have beheld the true greatness and the great weakness of the man whose awkward, stooping shoulders once carried the cross of a whole nation's suffering. I beheld his greatness in his very hours of failure, and I beheld his failure in his very hour of greatness. Such is the magic with which Griffith has touched his latest masterpiece! Such is the magic which the art of Walter Huston injects into Lincoln's portrayal! I consider it a great privilege to have seen it, and a greater privilege to have the opportunity of telling my friends about it. The Abraham Lincoln I have seen will remain enshrined in my heart forever. Pearl Kustin $10.00 LETTER Glorifying Gloria Pittsburgh, Pa. I am in the mood of singing the praises of Gloria Swanson. What an actress she is and what a picture she made of "What A Widow!" Had some other star played the almost slap-stick role of "Tarn," the wealthy and merry widow, "What A Widow!" would have become just another cheap slapstick comedy, but with Gloria Swanson it was nothing short of high class comedy. Gloria is a real artist and she has proved her ability and versatility in doing light comedy parts as well as heavy dramatic roles, doing justice to the two distinctly different types of acting as only a finished artist of her calibre could do. She has poise and charm. However, while I enjoyed the comedy "What A Widow," 1 prefer (Gloria in ihc type of parts she played in "Sadie Thompson" and "The Trespasser." These r61es gave her many opportunities to do some real dramatic acting. In closing I wish to say a word for the novel manner in which the announcements preceding the picture, "What A Widow!" were presented when giving the names of the author, director, cast, etc., etc. J. A. Nichols $5.00 LETTER And Now The "Smellies^* Hollywood, Cal. In Hollywood it is said that something must be done to revive mov^ie-goers' interest in motion pictures — but how? Sight has been well served; hearing is pleased but it has in store for it undreamed of satisfaction; color laboratories are striving for more natural color effects and will get them but the screen still lacks good perspective and relief while our olfactory nerves have been left entirely without entertainment. Now that we have the "talkies" why not the "smellies " as well? What we should have next is a smell of the movies — I had a taste of this when Sid Grauman opened the "Hollywood Review" at his Chinese Theater in Hollywood. It was during the screening of an orange grove scene Sid wafted through the house, via the ventilators, a wonderful orange blossom perfume and the audience was spellbound. Everyone was struck with the realism which leads us to believe scent effects should be written into the script so that appropriate odors and perfumes would be released at the proper time. Outdoor scenes would easily lend themselves to such elaboration, an easy matter for perfumers. Certainly a lady's boudoir should be scented with perfume. A kitchen might smell of fresh baked bread or a juicy roast in the oven. Should the odor of gasoline be emitted from a garage and what does a ship's hold smell like? When the roses are sent to the leading lady in her dressing-room, why shouldn't we smell them as well as she. Apparently all very ridiculous but easily possible and very probable before long. Miss M. Young $1.00 LETTERS Judge by Virtues, Not Faults San Francisco, Cal. At the outset, I wish to say that no one has a greater reverence and appreciation for the Arts than I. I worship the geniuses of literature and am enthralled by the magic of music. It is quite impossible to understand the few carping critics, who laugh outright when someone speaks of the Motion Picture industry as an Art. • That many pictures are stupidly dull, inane or merely hokum, anyone will readily admit, but then, an Art is to be judged not so much by its faults as by its virtues. No critic would care to be • quoted as saying that most "literary" productions, for instance, are praiseworthy. For one great novel or poem, there are virtually hundreds upon hundreds of trashy novels or puerile poetic effusions! It is inconceivable that any sane person would deny that Motion Pictures not only add greatly to the enjoyment of countless millions but that a magnificent production does occasionally flash itself across the Silver Screen, to shed some sunshine on our none-too-happy lives. A. M. Egan \ Chevalier Charms His Audience Chicago, 111. The local movie house was cool and dark as I crept into a seat. Outside, the glare and noise of the city were harsh and irritating to raw, tired nerves, but inside the cool anaesthesia of the darkness and the music crept over me and dulled the weariness and irritation. I succumbed. And onto the silver sheet flashed a face — the face of a man who will not soon be forgotten. No one can explain the charm of his features. It comes from within. When he does not smile, the face is somber and ordinary. But when he speaks or sings, it is like lighting a searchlight in a dark room. He seems to say — "Smile, my friend! Forget the troubles that have turned your face to gloom and set your teeth on edge. The world is not so bad a place after all — I like it! I have seen its ugly side too — more often than you perhaps — but I have forgotten that. Smile with me, my friend!" There is something touching about his gay philosophy — the radiant good humor of a man whose life has had its seamy and sordid chapters; who could still take a good many knocks on the head and "like it!" I admire him — for his humor, and his sparkle, and his vivacity, and for the startlingly charming things he does to our English language. And as for America — may he "like it" well enough to stay and give the country a few more exquisite hours of laughter and song — this Chevalier of France! Gwennie James You may have S.A., but do you have S.E.? Motion Picture CLASSIC wants to know. We want you to join our free clinic. If the tests show that you have a superior kind of S.E., you stand in line for one of the prizes: $20 for first, $10 for second, $5 for third and $1 for every other letter published. To join the clinic all you have to do is to write a letter of, say, 200 to 250 words, about some phase of the movies, advancing an idea, an appreciation, or a criticism, without becoming ga ga or vituperative. Sign your full name and address, and mail the letter to: Laurence Reid, Editor, Motion Picture CLASSIC, Paramount Building, 1501 Broadway, New York City. No letters can be returned, and we reserve the right to print any or all that we like. Having done this much, you will perhaps be conscious, without our telling you, that you have S.E. But if you win a prize, there can be no doubt about if, you have Self-Expression. Pictures Lack Individuality Oakland, Cal. The day of reckoning, as far as the motion picture industry is concerned, is at hand and the producers realizing this fact have asked, through the medium of Motion Picture Classic, just what sort of pictures the public really wants. I have filled out a questionnaire and am also expressing my opinion by letter. I really thought this day was to {Continued on page 107) 16