Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

"NOW, BRUCE, IUST WHAT HAS THIS REEL GOT TO DO WITH OUR HONEYMOON FILM DIARY?" FILM -FLAM Desire 'Neath the Kleigs CHAPLIN wants to play Napoleon. John Barrymore's efforts to display his legs at every opportunity suggest a hidden passion for Mae Murray's laurels. And, if the truth were but known, probably Louise Fazenda is languishing to do Ophelia; Ben Turpin sees himself most perfectly cast as Don Juan, and Wallace Beery covets the role of Little Lord Fauntleroy. This multiplication of personality is both interesting and amusing, for, while the range of an actor's ability is determined by the number of types he can imagine himself as being, the aforementioned people have so definitely established themselves in the publics mind as comedy, heavy drama, burlesque or slapstick stars that any departure from these accustomed roles is not likely to stand in favor, regardless of the fact that Chaplin would probably make a good Hamlet, Fazenda a Lady Macbeth and John Barrymore a stunning Ziegfield beauty. Thus life goes in Hollywood "where a tragedy lies deep in every heart, though a smile may cover the pain of hidden yearnings." Certain celebrities may have noticed, however, that, while tragedy gives a thrill, comedy provides the alimony, which is a compensating factor not to be overlooked. Churchmen Jealous? "T>EING a special Clara Bow fan," *-* writes a constituent in Photoplay's agony column, "I read with avidity the first installment of her life story. Who can doubt or hesitate to say that Clara is, indeed, pure gold, and a more worthy example to be copied than is found in many of our best church audiences." Ironic Laughter T^OR movie goers who chuckle ■*■ gleefully at those moments meant to be serious, and who seldom so little as smile at those supposedly funny, the sad experience of a fellow fan should serve as a lesson. A Chicagoan was recently ejected from a movie house for laughing at a sub title not intended as comedy. A better solution of the situation might lie in the manager's rejection of pictures whose seriousness produces such gems as one seen the other day which introduced a character played by a sophisticated woman obviously approaching the girlishness of forty with, "The elfin charm of a girl brightens a lonely household," otherwise there may arise occasions when the whole audience will have to be ejected. Worse and Worse SO Sally Lilley broke into the movies?" "Yes, she landed a big contract playing opposite George Marion's subtitles." — College Humor. Caterwaul Cure TN response to the "clever use for old ■*■ reels" contest announced in August Movie Makers, C. Bond Lloyd of Chicago sends the following solution, "I keep the reels on nails in my kitchen. During the concerts which are usual these moonlight nights I stand on my back porch and cleverly skim the reels at the cats. My record, one cat in fourteen skims." We might suggest that he also include in his bombardment, practicing opera aspirants, parrots and ( parents please skip) such babies as are deserving. Inquiry FALLOWING is one of those let*■ ters that every technical consultant on the use of any camera knows. The postscript is the sort of answer usually required to solve the problem : Dear Dr. Kinema: I have just bought a camera and I can't understand the instruction book. Will you please let me know how to thread the film in the camera and also why it won't run the other way, also why I pay for a piece of paper and I don't get any picture on it and I took a roll of film the other day and made some wonderful pictures of the baby at least they looked wonderful but when I took the film out of the camera and tried to show it I couldn't get anything but a yellow light on the screen should I send this roll back to Eastman and get a new one for it because I was very careful with the exposure card and put the little jigger on the front just where the card said to and then I pushed the button and saw a dandy picture in the finder and then when I ran it there was nothing on it and all their advertisements say "What you see you get" and I saw it but didn't get it and I think something must be wrong with the film because I saw it in the finder but I didn't get it on the screen and I followed instructions very carefully so what do you think I had better do. Very truly yours, P. S. I just read the instruction book again and I see where I should have had the film developed before I showed it. So never mind the above. 573