Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1929)

Tr paper cutters. If they are wise, they will cut and run for the deep woods until the fussing Academicians forget this silly peeve and begin fuming and sputtering about something else. Oh dear! Some people never will learn when they're well off! A LITTLE German girl is going back home from Hollywood. In this fact is hidden one of the little heartbreaks of the gold coast. Irving Thalberg, honeymooning in Germany, found Eva von Berne and imported her. They reduced her and redressed her and primped her, and put her across from Jack Gilbert in "Masks of the Devil." Now she is going home. Metro-Goldwyn says the talkies have made her garbled English useless, but we can take that or leave it alone. I am afraid the truth is that Eva just wouldn't do. She didn't photograph well, and her acting opposite the star didn't spell anything like hit. And so a little German girl is going back to Deutschland, probably with a serious crack in her heart. Goodbye, Eva. It's a tough break. Just a little Cinderella on whom the prince couldn't fit the glittering slipper. WHEN Prince George of England played hookey from his cruiser and made whoopee in Hollywood he did a better job of handshaking across the sea than a dozen notes by nervous, high-strung diplomats. Young George struck the human note on the royal xylophone when he tea'd with Lily Damita, dined with Mary Pickford and danced the morning in at Fatty Arbuckle's night club. The whole country smiled at his carryings on. Only his captain seemed a little peevish. And when his girl friends wirelessed the ship at sea, offering condolences on his punishment, the kid had a good-sport answer ready. "The fun I had in Hollywood was worth it." THE Soviet Government's newest blow for Art to reach this country is "Ten Days that Shook the World." It ought 28 to be retitled "Ten Reels that Ruined the Eyesight." And while it seems too bad to dampen the enthusiasm of those who rate the Russian film directors higher than our local talent, may we remind the public of a few facts? All films made in Russia are produced under the direct supervision of the Soviet Government. They are pure propaganda and should be plainly labeled as such. THE Soviet Government is no more inclined to give an unbiased picture of the events of the Revolution than is the AntiSaloon League likely to give you the straight facts on Prohibition. For example: in "Ten Days that Shook the World" Trotsky is completely eliminated from the picture, although he was an active factor in the Revolution. But Trotsky is out of favor and the present leaders don't want to give him any publicity. SO when you go to see a Soviet picture, keep a few of these points in mind. Remember that you are seeing Russian history as the Soviet leaders want you to see it — not as it happened. Remember you are paying your admission fee, not for a commercial product, but for advertising. And remember that there isn't a political party in this country that could produce such propaganda and have it presented in theaters where an admission fee is charged. IS the heavy film lover dying with the immortal dodo? With all precincts reported, Peoria, 111., votes "yes." Lon Chaney is cock of the walk in the middle west now. The great Putty King, in "When the City Sleeps," outdrew John Barrymore, Ronald Colman and Rod La Rocque combined in the same length of time. CHANEY is the best bet, with Emil Jannings not far behind and George Bancroft a hot third. The day of the hairy he-man is in, as far as Peoria goes. You remember the old political saying, "As Peoria goes, so goes the nation." Take heart, male fans! Perhaps it's out of the boudoir into the logging camps! A