Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1929)

j^rickb Three prizes are given e'very month for the best letters'^ $23, $10 and $S Bouquets The REAL CRITICS, the FANS, GIVE THEIR VIEWS The Monthly Barometer nPHE Talkie situation still has the center of •*• the stage. Photoplay's readers would like theater managers to differentiate more sharply between pictures with spoken dialogue and pictures with incidental noises. Also there is a demand for more music, singing and dialogue and fewer distracting incidental noises. And now that the novelty is wearing off, the me.hanical imperfections are beginning to jar on the nerves of audiences. Since "The King of Kings" has been presented at popular prices, it has become one of the leaders in popularity. "Wings" still remains a fa\-orite while, among the newer iilms, "Our Dancing Daughters" and "The Singing Kool" are by all odds the most popular. Richard .\rlen. Xils Asther, Joan Crawford, (rcta Garbo and John Gilbert received the greatest number of bouquets. And Photopl.av's Life Stories are the most dis;ussed feature of the magazine. What have you to say about the movies? This is the pla:e to air your opinions, grievances or enthusiasms. $25.00 Letter Grand Rapids, Mich. It is too bad we hear so much about IT and the sex appeal of movie folk, for it gives some persons unacquainted with photoplays in general the impression that the main function of the movies is to depict red hot love scenes. As a club woman associated with many organizations having unofficial movie censorship committees, I regret this. And I have been interested to note that among the movies I have seen during the past year or more, the biggest drawing cards had nothing to do with sex appeal — some of them did not even involve a man and woman romance. Among these were: "Stella Dallas," "The Patriot," "The Jazz Singer," "Beau Gcste," and "The King of Kings." In "Beau Geste," for instance, that powerful drama of courage and brotheriy love, there was (he merest suggestion of a boy and girl romance — and no love scenes. Vet so moving and appealing was this splendid picture that, as the lights went on, I could not sec a dry eye. Quite a compliment to the "morons" who attend the movies! The major theme of the popular "Stella Dallas" was mother love; of "The Jazz Singer." the religious passions and lofty domestic ideals of a colorful race. "The 8 The readers of PHOTOPLAY are invited to write to this department — to register complaints or compliments — to tell just what they think of pictures and players. We suggest that you express your ideas as briefly as possible and refrain from severe personal criticism, remembering that the object of these columns is to exchange thoughts that may bring about better pictures and better acting. Be constructive. We may not agree with the sentiments expressed, but we'll publish them just the same ! Letters must not exceed 200 words and should bear the writer's full name and address. Anonymous letters go to the waste basket immediately. Patriot" depicted the love of a man for his oppressed country. The affair with his mistress was the merest incident. And "The King of Kings" speaks for itself. Mrs. Pendleton Stew.'vrt Morris, Jr. $10.00 Letter Laconia, N. H. Visiting at the home of a friend, I was surprised when the daughter, aged eight years, presented me with a typewritten invitation to witness " Seventh Heaven." It transpired that a number of children, eight or ten years of age, belong to a Photoplay Club, under the care of a chaperon. With her, they see certain pictures and proceed to study the principal points and characters. .-Yssigned to their parts, the chaperon teaches them every necessity for a production. .An unused garage has been fitted up with everything necessary for producing movies. The Club earned enough by selling Photopl.ay subscriptions to furnish the necessaries. The boys ha\e been taught how to handle scenic effects and one girl gives her time as pianist. Benches are used for seats and ten cents for admission helps along the project. The "coach" is fifteen years old, but he knows his business, and the realistic production I witnessed was perfect. .After the show, "stars" and audience were asked for criticisms and plans were made for the ne.\t produ lion. .\nd then the mothers offered light refreshments. Worth-while? Pleasure and instruction and a new good use for Photoplay. Incidentally, the idea was invented by a crippled child. Mrs. Charloite Hill Twombly. $5.00 Letter Chicago, III. When will movie magnates cease to believe that aviatrices, channel swimmers, football heroes, baseball wizard:, cl alia, can attract fairly intelligent mo\'ie patrons? What a pleasure to witness real acting by an artist! But what an insult to the intelligence to see persons of questionable, or even unquestioned, prowess in fields of endeavor far removed from acting exploited because of their "fame"! (iive us an overdose, if possible, of great artists like Garbo, Jannings, Chaplin, Baclanova, \'eidt, and others of their calibre. Spare, oh spare us from "great" flagpole sitters, marathon dance winners and so on, foisted on us as great depicters of all human emotions! Let the roller-skate marathon winners and the sensations in all allied activities join the side-shows in circuses and get publicity for whatever they excel in. 15ut by all means keep them out of a field in which they have absolutely no place, except, perhaps, as news-reel features. Betty Benkett. Going Up! Chicago, III. Joan Crawford certainly is shooting up like a sky-rocket. Her pretty legs and dancing feet took her to stardom, but her fine acting wUl keep her there. Harriett Lafquert. Personal to Doug and Jack Rush City, Jlinn. Here's my brickbat to a couple of stars, and I think many thousands of fans will agree with me: Douglas Fairbanks! Please discard the gypsy outfit for at least one picture, and let's see how you look in a straw hat. John Barrymorc! Please face the camera. Some of us might get a chance to go to Hollywood some day, so give us a chance to recognize you. .\rxold W. Ogren. [ co.ntinued on page 12.s ]