Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1932)

What the Audience Thinks | CONTINUED PROM PACE 12 , Wow! What a storm of comment "Red-Headed Woman" brought forth! Some thought the picture was too frank, others said it was great stuff, but everybody agreed that Jean Harlow, red hair and all, gave the performance of her life. Folks were surprised that Chester Morris could play a straightforward business man without a single leer TRUE PERSONALITIES I have great respect and admiration for the stars who have adapted or changed their personalities to suit the blase and sophisticated roles that seem to be demanded at present, thus being able to keep in the swim amidst the keen competition of the younger players. However, I always will have a warm spot in my heart for the stars who, despite the trend toward sophistication, have had the courage to retain their true personalities. I refer to such players as Ramon Novarro, Richard Barthelmess, Harold Lloyd, Jean Hersholt, Marian Xixon, Charles Chaplin, Tom Mix and ZaSu Pitts. Ida Raech, New Glarus, Wis. JOAN CRAWFORD I think Joan Crawford is a wonderful actress and never miss one of her pictures, but after reading "The Girl With the Haunted Face" in the July Photoplay, I can't help wondering what it takes to make a movie star happy. Joan makes more money per week than most people make in a year. She has come up from obscurity to one of the top places in the picture industry. But she is still searching. She is taking herself much too seriously. Mrs. W. B. Edman, Stratford, Calif. Joan Crawford should stop thinking so much of Joan Crawford and take more of the "be yourself" medicine prescribed by Lupe Velez. Lupe has not a fourth of Joan's acting ability, but she is liked by almost everybody for her naturalness. I am in hopes something can be done about Joan's unhappy mental attitude. Mrs. Marion McClaix, Chicago, 1U. Joan Crawford has shown me that where there's a will, there's a way. She is my inspiration. Xola Champion, Wichita, Kan. u We never attend a Joan Crawford picture, although we admire her ability, because we do not care to place before the children the idea that the only way society people can amuse themselves is by drinking and smoking. Janet Gaynor gives them much lovelier surroundings. Vivian Farley, Valley Ford, Calif. HERE'S YOUR ANSWER, JANET What's this I hear about our darling Janet Gaynor wanting to go sophisticated? It can't be true. If she only knew how much we appreciate and enjoy her adorable, unaffected acting and the simple but sweet happy-ending pictures she plays in, perhaps she would change her mind. We do get so tired of this heavy acting and tragedy stuff. We want our Janet just as she is. Betty Edwards, San Francisco, Calif. HOW YOU "GONNA" FEND 'EM? Jackie Cooper and his pals may be all very well as a type, but why can't we also have op the screen some clever, well-bred boys and girls with cultivated voices and pleasant refined manners? Instead, our ears are pierced with strident tones and ungrammatical crudities of speech such as "gotta" and "gonna" and our eyes disgusted with unkempt locks and a slovenly, unmannerly appearance generally. A certain class of Americans seem to think that one must be as crude and ungrammatical as Will Rogers to be considered a typical American. Heaven help them! If they only knew what people outside of the U. S. A. think of such specimens. There is, I am thankful to say, a large class of Americans of another type who would be more glad to hear cultivated children in bright, cultured plays. All children are not brought up on rubbish heaps. Will film producers please take notki ■! K. DOUGLAS, Theresa, X. Y. ""WESTWARD PASSAGE" The worst picture I have seen this year is "Westward Passage." What a shock to see our Ann Harding taking the part of a flighty, irresponsible blonde — our Ann who is all beauty, charm and dignity. Any more pictures like that and Ann Harding won't be a headliner. Gertrude Blasch, Philadelphia, Penna. " Westward Passage" with Ann Harding was a bitter disappointment. Margaret Ayet Barnes' story is absolutely perfect in its original form for talkie fare, having a logical ending that is a knock-out for suspense and originality. But the movie-makers must butcher it, making it silly and unbelievable. Xeither was I satisfied with Ann Harding in the role of the modern, sophisticated 0 Never once in the picture did she look smart or up-to-date. Dorothy Edmondson, East Mauch Chunk, Penna. HOW ABOUT IT, SYLVIA? I understand that Clara Bow's successful comeback depends upon whether she can reduce sufficiently or not. Why must she. like so many actresses, have to possess that very slim Crawford figure? Personally I would enjoy seeing a plump, snappy, healthy looking little actress once again on the screen. I am sure that a plump Clara Bow would be a very pleasant contrast to those thin, snaky women now so plentiful in the movies. Eleanor Dahl, Columbia Lake, Conn. "What Price Hollywood" gave the fans something to write to Photoplay about. People who had never liked Connie Bennett's work before threw their hats into the air and cheered when this picture came to town. And as for Lowell Sherman — well, he was a real sensation