Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1931)

1 he Audi ence Oveaks U p P "\\ ith Brickbats and Bouquets Photoplay Readers Voice Their Opinions of Pictures and Personalities When the audience speaks the stars and producers listen. We offer three prizes for the best letters of the month — $25, $10 and $5. Literary ability doesn't count. But candid opinions and constructive suggestions do. Write up to 200 words, no more. We must reserve the right to cut letters to suit space limitations, and no letters can be returned. Address The Editor, PHOTOPLAY, 221 West 57th Street, New York City. HAIL the new king! Leslie Howard is the boy who brings shouts of delight this month. Too bad he says he's tired of Hollywood and won't come back. Even so, Clark Gable's crown is still secure on that sleek black head. And it looks like a comeback for John Gilbert. The folks went for him in "The Phantom of Paris." Charlie Farrell and Janet Gaynor spelled romance in "Merely Mary Ann" and possess the biggest chunk of the fan heart. "And don't separate them," is the cry. Some "yeses" and some "nos" on "An American Tragedy" and "Street Scene," but not a single brickbat for "Bad Girl." Everybody is crazy about James Dunn and Sally Eilers and said so with flags waving. Cries for human stories and comedies. And they want the old swashbuckling, singing Ramon Novarro back. "Son of Ind;a" was a big disappointment. Besides the players mentioned, top-notchers for discussion were Garbo, Dietrich, Crawford, Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck, George Arliss and Lionel Barrymore. James R. Quirk's editorial in the October issue found plenty of agreers who don't want favorite book titles changed for pictures. This was a big writing month. Join the word parade. Dip your pens in vitriol or saccharine. But dip. Here's your chance to express your opinion. THE $25 LETTER She was one of those sweet young married things who had always had just what she wanted. She had a little red brick house with a large attic that would have made a lovely nursery. There was a big back-yard that would have held a sand pile and a swing. But she did not want a baby. Her time and plans did not permit. And then she found out she was going to have one. She was furious. She determined she wouldn't tell her husband just then. A show tonight — that would take her mind off her trouble. Here was one that sounded sexy and entertaining — "Bad Girl." Not having read the book, she was totally unprepared for what she was going to see. She watched the film. On the way home her husband reached over and took her hand in his. "Weren't that boy and girl sweet and didn't it get hold of your heart when the nurse brought the baby to her? I wish . . ." Softly she said, "I'm glad you liked it, dear. We're going to have a baby." Mrs. D. Stich, Oklahoma City, Okla. THE $10 LETTER Many times one reads letters, in the columns of leading newspapers, from a bashful boy who simply can't get up enough nerve to tell the sweetest girl in the world he loves her and wants her for his bride. I think there is no better cure for such a malady than a clean, wholesome love picture by America's greatest screen lovers — Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Take my advice and try it and see. And then if your nerve fails you I believe your case must be entirely hopeless. Josephine Miller, Covington, Ohio THE $5 LETTER The folks in our neighborhood seemed to misunderstand me, because I was always out for a good time and did not act as poised or ladylike as I should have. Of course, they talked. Well, I became hardened until I went Here's Trouble ! I'VE just read "The Book of Dilemmas," published by Simon and Schuster, and it gave me an idea for one to put up to PHOTOPLAY' readers: Lost in the desert were the following twelve stars: Greta Garbo Marlene Dietrich Clark Gable Gary Cooper Lupe Velez Constance Bennett Clara Bow Nancy Carroll William Haines Robert Montgomery Joan Crawford Jean Harlow You can save eight, and leave four behind to perish in the desert. Which ones would you save? Nora Myers, Detroit, Mich. PHOTOPLAY Magazine has enough troubles of its own, but if readers lack excitement just let them ask this question the next time the bridge club meets. We will have no part in it. THt Editor to see "The Common Law" and "Laughing Sinners." These pictures made me realize how common I was acting without meaning to. Now I am a different girl in actions and talk; I even feel different. My parents are proud of me again. I think pictures like those are wonderful as well as the actors and actresses in them. A. M. Black, Wenatchee, Wash. ONE FOR JACK When anyone can stir a Baltimore audience to applause he must be great. This town, as a rule, has about the most unresponsive audiences that are to be found. But I want to congratulate Mr. John Gilbert for doing something to wake up the audience to such a pitch that they forgot "The Phantom of Paris" was just a picture and applauded with a vigor that has not been shown here, to my knowledge, since "The Big Parade." Mr. Gilbert, do it again. Joseph S. Bohannon, Baltimore, Md. SO DO WE I want Fatty Arbuckle back and I want Clara Bow back. I don't want to criticize their affairs. They gave me pleasure and I thank them. Hazel L. Smith. Stratford, Calif. THIS TEACHER KNOWS Now, as never before, the modern teacher is called upon to know and understand the interests of her very modern children. Inasmuch as the proximity of Hollywood creates an exceptional interest in the screen for our youngsters, we Los Angeles teachers find it necessary to keep pace with them by "knowing our movies." I invest in Photoplay each month and study "The Shadow Stage." I feel that it is important for children to know they may discuss current films with their teacher, because it opens one of the avenues through which the teacher may guide and protect the tastes of her charges and tactfully discourage their seeing some of the poorer productions. Gertrude M. York, Los Angeles, Calif. BUT PARROTS TALK BACK I'm sick of all this bunk about Marlene Dietrich. Why, she can't even act. She imitates Garbo, but Garbo is like Photoplay — imitated but never duplicated. Von Sternberg's parrot — that's a good name for her. Christine Clay, Jackson, Miss. CHEERS FOR LES Why not do a little shouting and commenting upon a truly good actor — Leslie Howard? [ PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 ]