The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

Charlie Ray I am so delighted to see darling Charlie Ray back in pictures again. I will never forget him when he played in "The Girl I Loved" a long time ago. He is a wonderful actor, and has a grand personality. I hope he gets the lead in a picture, worthy of his talents, soon. I am also delighted that Tommy Meighan is back again. He is charming, and a master actor. I hope he stays with us, now, for a long time. I always like to see my old favorites on the screen. It seems to me the new actors and actresses never can take their places, in our hearts, even when they are marvelous and well-nigh perfect in their acting. — Mrs. K. Gloster, 422 Brook Street, Boone, Ky. It does warm the cockles of your heart to see these old-timers come back, doesn't it, Mrs. Gloster? It makes us feel that the world is a pretty good old place after all. Clothes and Charm How far would the glamorous stars of the screen get without the stunning clothes they wear? Almost any poor Cinderella could be a fascinating siren in the creations they sport. More praise for the designers, please. What say you? — Cora Herrle, 3100 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati^ Ohio. More praise for the designers by all means, Cora, but — tut, tut, it isn't all clothes, you know. You have to get to be a star on your own merits before they ever let those designers get to work on you. Mae (Leopard) West Change Mae West? Can a leopard change her spots? Impossible. We are not suggesting that Mae West is a leopard of course, but — oh well! You know? — George L. Bricker, 104 Watson Street, Detroit, Michigan. Tomatoes and Onions I dare say Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee would make a great team playing together in a Slap-stick comedy where tomatoes and grapefruit are plentiful (not for eating purposes, of course) but for the sole pleasure of decorating their goofy maps. An onion to Bing for his atrocious performance in "Here Is My Heart." The picture would have been a tremendous success if Lanny Ross had been selected -to play the leading part. For Lanny has charm, a pleasing personality and a marvelous singing voice. Bing hasn't much to his credit, but I presume he thinks he has, anyway. — Mrs. J. Magley, 52 Center Avenue, Chatham, New Jersey. Ouch! After what happened to Mrs. Johnson this month we're almost scared to print your letter, Mrs. Magley! Little do you know what you're in for! Umpteen million Crosby and Vallee fans are going to go after you, now, and we're going to have to print their letters! Watch out! Brute for Punishment My main criticism of the Movies does not concern the stars nor the pictures but the length of the shows. Although I am exaggerating for the sake of emphasis it seems to me that I no sooner get nicely settled in the average theater when it is time to leave. Two hours is apparently the length of the usual entertainment. Maybe I am a brute for punishment, but I like to spend three hours at a show, with the alternative of leaving when the spirit moves me. I wonder if I am alone in my desire for a few more reels — another feature perhaps? I'd like to get someone else's view. — Leroy Rice, 40 East Orvis Street, Massena, New York. All right, you other fans with views. Write in and tell Leroy Rice what you think about it. Mrs. McGee, Please Notice Right you are Mrs. McGee, of Orlando, Florida. To what you have said about the Travel Talks I wish to add a few lines. Have you seen the new one about Ireland? It is almost as beautiful as "Tulip Time in Holland." The coloring and the description given by the narrator help to make this picture, in my estimation, next highest to "Tulip Time." — Betsy Ross, 450 Allen Street, Syracuse, N. Y. You and Mrs. McGee have the same tastes, Betsy Ross. Why don't you write her a personal letter? We're sure she wouldn't mind, and it might be the beginning of a fine friendship. Many of our readers find friends through this column. We Want M-E-N Congratulations are in order for the New Movie Magazine, which deserves all the credit in the world for putting out such a splendid publication. The inauguration of the larger size has brought along with it a new era of better photography and more numerous illustrations of our favorite stars. However, this letter is not full of praise. I wish to offer this bit of criticism which is aimed at your "You Tell Us" department. I find, much to my regret, that the majority of the letters are written by women. Don't you appreciate the opinions and criticisms of men? Let's see more letters from men in your "You Tell Us" department — Mr. Joseph Vojacek, 2511 South 58th Court, Cicero, Illinois. Thanks for your compliment, Mr. Vojacek. About the letters — yes, more women than men do write in. We don't know why. Maybe women just like to write letters more than men do. We should like to have the letters about half and half, if we could. Cast of Characters I would like to suggest that the New Movie Magazine use its influence with producers of new pictures and urge them to give the cast of characters at the end of each picture as well as at the beginning. The reason for this is obvious. This will give patrons an opportunity to identify any new actor or actress who has given a good performance. — Mrs. R. H. Martindale, 1234 North Main Street, Anderson, S. C. We are happy to be able to report, Mrs. Martindale, that many pictures are now coming out with the cast of characters at the end as well as the beginning. Your suggestion, and others like it, has been heeded in Hollywood. Pictures in Schools Talking moving pictures! Why, that's History that lives and moves and almost breathes. Why not give it to the kids? Did you ever vow to kill all writers of history and geography books when you were of school age? Of course. But what if General Sherman had marched to the sea Before Your Eyes, if you had HEARD Lincoln at GETTYSBURGSEEN Napoleon at Waterloo — ? Ho, ho — THAT would have been different. And so it would be different and RIGHT today. Not only would school children LOVE their lessons if put on the screen, but the little rascals, God bless 'em— would REMEMBER them. How about starting some legal action to get such a movement going for our Public Schools? — Mrs. Clarence Rose, Hotel Cordova, San Francisco, California. Splendid, Mrs. Rose. There is only one thing to watch out for. If historical pictures are shown in the schools, we must make sure that the history is absolutely accurate. Good Pictures It is cheering indeed to note the grand improvement in films offered to the public during the last year. "The House of Rothschild," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," "One Night of Love" and "David Copperfield" were highly commendable productions. The response to these splendid works should have convinced the film makers that the movie public is not as moronic as is generally believed. We derived much pleasure from these pictures based on history, worthy literature and great music. We are satiated with movies that are predominantly love stories. We should enjoy seeing pictures, the main interest of which is sustained by intelligent dialogue. There are so many of us who would frequent the movies more than we do if we found them stimulating. As for musical films, the tremendous success of "One Night of Love" is evidence of the fact that movie patrons are lovers of good music well sung. We should enjoy a series of moving pictures that presented operas with Grace Moore, Lawrence Tibbett, and other fine singers. — Leah Neslin, 764 Jackson Avenue, New York City. It can no longer be denied, as you say, Leah, that the finest pictures are also the most successful. The trouble is simply that producers think they must turn out a hundred or so films a year. There simply aren't that many fine stories. Courtesy My Movie Dont's: Don't chew gum in the theater. Don't rattle paper bags. Do your eating elsewhere. Don't talk — the audience wants to hear the actors, not YOU. Don't be afraid to sit next to the other fellow, he won't bite you. Let the late arrivals have the aisle seats. Don't enter in the middle of a picture. It spoils the entertainment for you as well as the other people. In other words, don't do anything at the "Movies" that you're taught not to do at home. — Louise Williams, 1007 W. Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia. Picture-going would be a lot more enjoyable for all of us, Louise, if everybody had been taught such manners at home as you have been taught. Joan's Over-Acting In spite of the many adverse comments upon Joan Crawford's tendency to overact, I have always believed that the impression she created of overacting was not due to lack of dramatic talent but to an overwhelming desire on her part to put every ounce of her ability into her characterizations. In true loyalty, I have waited for her appearance in a role where she would seem at ease and natural, and when I saw her charming performance in "Forsaking All Others," I was most gratified to have my faith in her justified. Surely, no one can accuse her of overacting in this picture. — Joan Collins, 1020 N. Beville Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. You have made a very keen psychological observation, loan. Your namesake's own dearest friends tell us that this is exactly what has brought on such accusations. Joan Crawford is so terribly sincere, so terribly interested in her work, that sometimes she tries too hard, which is forgivable. — You can't whiz along the road to health on fresh air and exercise alone. It takes a well-balanced diet to really keep you going at full speed. And here's my recipe for a breakfast that gives you a flying start: Delicious ShreddedWheat and milk, heaped high with fresh fruits or berries." H H s This glowing young outdoor girl hands you a well-marked map for the glorious trail to health. And crisp, golden-brown Shredded Wheat gives you a high-test energy food for the morning start. Shredded Wheat, you know, is whole wheat — Mother Nature's most perfect grain — nothing added, nothing taken away. You get a natural balance of the vital health elements in their most appetizing and digestible form. Try Shredded Wheat tomorrow morning. Add plenty of fresh air and exercise. You'll be on the main highway that leads to a full life of buoyant health. SHR« Ask for the package showing the picture of Niagara Falls and the red N. B. C. Uneeda Seal. "Uneeda Bakers" NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY The New Movie Magazine, May, 1935 71