Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1923)

Movie Beauties Answer Penrhyn Stanlaws HOLLYWOOD is in an uproar over the I s\l »/\l ^> — ' ) — ^\|N slurring remarks which Penrhyn Stanlaws has made upon the beauty of many of our movie queens. The fact that Penrhyn has the reputation about the studios of being one of the choice limburger directors of the business hasn't seemed to mitigate the offence. He said that Viola Dana has a big nose and her jawbones are too wide; Betty Compson's hips are musclebound; Betty Blythe has "horse nostrils;" Norma Talmadge has a bulbous nose ; Agnes Ayres's figure is what is technically termed not under control; Anita Stewart's upper lip projects too much and her eyes are too small for her head; Wanda Hawley has fat ankles and her mouth is too big ; the entire lower part of Clara Kimball Young's face is out of drawing and that May MacAvoy's eyebrows are too low and her nose projects too much out of her face, etc. As our policy has always been fairness to one and all, we interviewed several of these fair favorites and asked them for their opinion of Mr. Stanlaws. Herewith we print their replies : Viola Dana : "Mr. Stanlaws has a big head and his hat is too small for him." Betty Compson: "His ears are musclebound. This greatly limits their graceful action." Betty Blythe: "Mr. Stanlaws is what is termed in art 'non compos mentis.' " Norma Talmadge : "He has carbon in his cylinders and his carbureter needs adjustment." Agnes Ayres: "His brain is what is technically termed not under control." Anita Stewart: "He has too much chin and his feet aren't mates." Wanda Hawley: "Mr. Stanlaws is what the cameraman terms an 'N.G.' He needs to be retaken." May MacAvoy: "I just hate him. Please tell everyonethat he is the one who was responsible for 'Pink Gods' and 'Singed Wings.' " We wish that the movie magnates would give more C\\ attention to the seats in the theaters. One of the chief 1cJ46 drawbacks to the cinema of today is that it is such an uncomfortable place to fall asleep in. For This Have We Critics ! ! For unadulterated nerve, ignorance and stupidity rolled into one we introduce the alleged movie critic on Judge, who writes under the name of Ruth Hale. This Hale person, in a review (?) of "Tess," first has the audacity to announce that it is the first time that she has ever viewed Mary Pickford on the screen, and then attempts to throw Mary forthwith and forever into the ash-heap as an actress. Now, we dont wish to give undue attention to this Hale, from whose blurblings one can only get the impression that the writer has not even the qualifications to pass upon the abilities of a Murial Ostriche or Billie West, but what we would like to know is how can an individual have the effrontery to set herself up as a critic of films whose experience with the silent drama has been so limited as to have never included a Pickford production ; and why does a magazine offer the lollypops to a writer of such marked incapacities ? FIint to Directors When in doubt, put some animals in the picture. They can always be depended upon when the plot begins to misfire. Besides, they are such good actors. Hint to Actresses When called upon to register fear, always raise the right hand quickly to the mouth and bite hungrily on the finger nails. The way Lillian Gish always does it. very emotional. It's An exhibitor in the Middle West has refused to play Tourneur's picture "Lorna Doone" because he claims it is an advertising stunt for the National Biscuit Company.