Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

66 Pictures and Pichjretyver "Q TANDS England where she jj did?" the Pessimist inquires, and the Movie Optimist, with thoughts only for the silver-sheet, returns an emBritisht and proud phatic negative. of it too ! Well it is for the world of film that Englard does not stand where once she did in matters kinematographic. We stand, to-day, a hundred miles further along the road to Perfection, and we should be proud of our progress. This All-British number of THE PICTUREGOER, like the British Film Week, has one aim — the advancement of British pictures. The object seems to me to be a very worthy one. What do you think? JANE writes : "I want to sing a J Hymn of Hate about the things that imitate. I hate the blue-eyed " onjensoo." She's always too good to be true. With A Hymn bitter hate I foam of Hate. and rave when heroes wear a marcel-wave. I hate the aged whitehaired dame, who bows her head in anguished shame because her son's too proud by far to recognise his poor old ma. I hate to see upon the screen, tears, idle tears, of glycerine. I hate the child with all my force who saves the parents from divorce, by waking up at night and crying, or catching mumps and nearly dying. I hate a film that prates and preaches about the lesson that it teaches. What we should do, and how to do it ; a film that puts the hero through it because he's been a wicked lad. He suffers and it makes us sad. We feel so sorry for the goof, until we find it's all a spoof. For films aren't always what they seem. Oh, how I hate ' 'twas all a dream ' ! " " HTHERE are many who would like to see Mary Pickford as " Juliet." I have seen some very good tragic roles played by Mary Pickford, so why A Champion not this one? for Mary. Anyway, Mary is far too sensible to have any foolish vanity. Therefore, " Juliet " is best left for Miss Pickford to decide upon. If the advice of a few had been taken we should never have had the chance to see "Our Mary" as "Rosita" and "Sweet Doll of Haddon Hall." M. M. (London), is apt to get a big surprise in Marv's latest film Rosita regarding ' limitations.' "-B. B. (Hull). " T AGREE with Jumbo with regard to her attack on leading men. with the exception of Novarro, and when she's seen him in Scaramouchc I guess she won't There are complain he's kid Others. dish any more. To my mind he's one of the few leading men of the day with a sense of humour. Tom Mix is NOT my ideal hero, but everyone to his choice. But what about the hundreds Jumbo hasn't mentioned. What about Richard Dix, Clive Brook, Wheeler Oakman, to mention only three? Say, Jumbo, don't they please you any ? Haven't they virility, rugged beauty, and a few other things that Tom Mix would do well to copy ? — Non-Mixite. FEBRUARY 1924 " Tfl/HAT are all the Wally fans doing? Why aren't they clamouring for revivals of his films? Do they really think Valentino, Novarro or any Wally is of the film heroes Wanted. of to-day com pare with him. Valentino gives one perhaps a thrill, but Wally in his films, livens you up and makes life worth the name. Nobody compares with Wally. What does everyone say? Why not up and write to Paramount about revivals?" — liinifrcda (Palmers Green). DURITAN, who appears to live up to her nom-de-plume reads me this severe lecture : ' I read an article on Kinema Kisses in a recent issue of Kinema THE PICTURE Kisses. GOER, and I was very grieved to find that the writer had dealt flippantly with his subject. Is it not time that someone protested seriously about the long-drawn out close-ups of kissing couples that disfigure nine photoplays out of every ten? Love is a noble passion, and should never be degraded by being paraded in public. When I hear a kinema audience laughing at a particularly long-drawn out kiss, my blood boils with rage. If film players must kiss. it should be done in sub-titles." T HAVE received a large number of letters on the subject of shadow lovers dealt with on this page under the heading : " An Idyll of the Screen.'' Sentiment and Hope writes : the Screen. " I quite agree with Sentimental in her views about her Shadow-lover and can understand her interest in life now that was lacking before. I speak from experience, as I am one of the lonely ones, but I find a lot of pleasure and interest in life since I have been a very keen Picturegoer, and I have a film favourite whom I am never likely to see personally but my greatest pleasure is to go and see him on the Silver-sheet. I am not so lucky as to see him every week. As to those who call this morbidminded, I am sorry they cannot find a pleasure in anything so simple. So cheerio ; I think we can be content with the shadow. If every one could think like this, why, life would be one long, long bliss. I may be wrong, it's for you to say (The Thinker) I mean. That is all to-day." The Thinker.