The Movies ... and the People Who Make Them (1940)

TALKING IT OVER ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT TO GIVE TO your father your mother your husband your wife your son your daughter your nephews and your nieces your uncles and your aunts your teacher your town library your favorite companion at the movies FOR CHRISTMAS ? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GIFT THAT WILL BE unusual useful enjoyable ALL THE YEAR ROUND ? THE ANSWER IS a subscription to “THE MOVIES . Who Make Them” . and the People SEND YOUR ORDER TO-DAY TO Theatre Patrons, Inc., 6 Church Street New Haven, Conn. A card telling of your gift will be sent to the person designated in time for Christmas. This will be followed by: THE NEW 1941 POST-BINDER WITH REVISED ANNUAL SECTION AND THE SERVICE ON CURRENT FILMS EACH WEEK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER: One subscription $$.00 extra gift subscriptions $3.00 each l “If you were to ask me what I consider the best movie of the year,” said Agatha, “do you know what 1 should tell you?’ “I don’t know,” I said, “but I could make a good guess.” “What would your guess be?” “The last picture you saw.” “Do you know what picture that was?” she asked. “I have no idea, but if it was at all good you probably think it was not only the best picture ot the year but the best picture you ever saw.” “Why do you say a thing like that? You must think I’m a gump. ’ “Well,” I replied, “of course I do think you’re something of a gump but during many years ot talking about the movies with all kinds ot people I fand that most of them are very lickle about the movies, or else their memories are short, or their immediate enthusiasms lead them to make statements they don t really mean.” “Elucidate,” said Agatha. “It doesn’t need much elucidation. When you saw (jrapes of Wrath you thought it was marvelous — the best picture you ever saw. Abe Lincoln in Illinois — the best picture you ever saw. Of Mice and Men, Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet, Our town, Pride and Prejudice, Rebecca, The Great Dictator, The Letter, 1 11 bet you dollars to doughnuts that alter seeing each one of these you said ‘That’s the best picture I ever saw.' How about it?” “There may be something in what you say,” Agatha admitted. “Every one of those pictures roused me to a pitch of enthusiasm, and 1 suppose I may have talked that way about them. But now you've got me all mixed up and I don't know which I would call the best picture of the year.” “Don’t be glum about it. It is of no importance. The critics will soon be having their annual argument over the question. They will ballot and ballot over the best picture of the year, and the ten best pictures of the year, and then they will keep busy writing columns telling why they voted for this and disagreed with their colleagues on that, and the old game will be on all over again. It’s a lot ot ballyhoo. The really important thing is that the industry keeps turning out pictures that make you think each one is the best movie you ever saw. It’s a healthy sign. If a year comes along when you can pick one picture that stands out so far above all the others that without a second thought you can proclaim it the best picture of the year it will be just too bad. By the way, what were you going to say was the best picture of the year?” “The last one I saw,” said Agatha, “The Long Voyage Home.” “I thought so,” I replied. “And I could almost go for that myself. But I am very partial to the work of the particular man who directed this picture.” “John Ford?” “Right. I think he’s the best director of any year.” “Let’s see,” said Agatha. “He did The Informer, didn’t he? And Stagecoach? And Grapes of Wrath?” “Right again.” “I guess I’m pretty good,” she said. “You’re improving,” I assured her. “Who directed Of Mice and Men?” “I haven’t the ghost of an idea,” she admitted “I don’t pay much attention to the names of the directors. But I always look to see who designs the clothes.” “Thy name is Woman,” I answered, “and I believe you are a gump.” — Penetrix 8