Picturegoer (Jul-Dec 1936)

PICTUREGOER Weekly August 15, 1936 Speed = 1 m.p.h. Thirst = 1 m.p.g. but uou COM/ tckife iMn CiMKi <« PadtilU6 When you wish you hadn't a throat — then that's the time for Rowmrec's FRUIT PASTILLES and FRUIT CLEAR GUMS. Real orchard flavours strawberry, gooseberry and tangerine apricot and blackcurrant — with quenching lime and lemon. In Tubes ASSORTED FRUIT PASTILLES (MeJ,„m, or FRUIT CLEAR GUMS (Hard) Also try JUICY-FRUITS (.Soft) 6d. ' I lb. packets or loose. What Do You Think ? Letters from our Readers Fickleness Of Film Fame Forgetting the First Favourites HE passing of Thomas Meighan in comparative obscurity provides yet another exarnple of the fickleness of film fame. The announcement of his death came as a distinct shock to me, as it must have done to numerous other fans who are old enough to remember the days when "Tommy" was one of the screen's best-loved stars, and I feel I would like to pay some tribute, however small, to the memory of the charming actor who, because of his straightforwardness and sincerity, must always be associated with the finer traditions of Hollywood; there was never any nonsense about him, no distasteful publicity was ever connected with his name, and I don't think there was anyone who did not like him. And now he has gone, the handsome, unspoiled idol of The Miracle Man, The Prince Chap, Cappy Ricks and the rest. Gone from the world which gave so much and took so much away, to join those other glamorous people who have gone before him, and perhaps to look back at the great stars of to-day with a wistful smile in which there must be just a trace of cynicism, as though to say: "Yes, make the most of your fame while you have it — revel in the applause of the public before they forsake 3'ou for another, newer idol. It seems now that your glory can never be dimmed, yet in a few short year.s " How time flies and how easily we forget ! —Ernest H. Jahins, 7 Chestnut Wash, Cheshunt, Herts. Thomas Meighan " Only A Film R-jcently, at a local kinema, I saw a woman surreptitiously dabbing her eyes when viewing a sentimental film. A friend with her told her not to be silly, and that it was "only a film, anyway." I thought at the time of what that woman has missed and will miss if she continues to see films in that cynical state of mind. How much more enjoyment she would get if she were to relax and let her imagination run by itself ! A friend to whom I mentioned this said that he expected a child to be "carried away," but for a normal adult he considered it mental weakness. That n^ay be, but I am sure the person who "Uves" the film through gets more value-formoney then the one who views it on the surface in an apathetical "third person" manner — S. M. Shead. 57 Thornsbeach Road, Catford. S.E.6, who is awarded the first prize of £1 Is. Does He Weep Alone ? I have been going to the motion pictures for a good many years. I have watched stars wax and wane, rise and fall. I have never gone to criticise, but as part of a big audience. I have wept and laughed, suffered and thrilled with that audience. I have never seen a picture so bad that there wasn't something in it that I liked, or which interested me. 1 have seen very few pictures so good that I wanted to see them again. .\m I the one and only male sentimental film fan? — Reginald J. Olsen, 22 Bentinck Street, Birkenhead, Ckes. Anaemic Films At the recent Methodist Conference held in Newcastle-on-Tyne, a great deal of criticism was directed against the kinema industry. At the same time, these critics were so con\nnced of the popularity of the kinema (in spite of the alleged defects and limitations) that they strongly urged the governing body of the Church to pay special attention to the establishment and development of film propaganda. I sincerely hope that future developments will not result in a war of words between the "legitimate" motion-picture industry and that grafted on to motion-picture production by religious organisations because if it does, the latter will suffer severely. Anything more anemic and "wishy-washy" than the pictures produced up to date to correct the alleged influence of the Hollywood -British regular output I cannot imagine. I am afraid the aforesaid critics will have to get up rather early in the morning to teach American or British producers anything in the art of creating films which do attract the British public. — (Airs.) H. J. S. Billing, 46 Poiiis Square, Bayswater, London, IF. 11, who is awarded the second prize of 10s. 6d. Films for Kids Many of our children go to the pictures once and sometimes twice a week, but I find that the average child is rarely very enthusiastic about the films. He enjoys a good detective drama (provided the plot is not too involved) and he quite likes the "Wild West" cowboy type of film, but the ordinary American film which shows the " After Office Hours" pleasures and love affairs of the young people of New York, is definitely boring to the child. We want children's films showing hfe as it has been experienced by them — tales of school hfe, boy scouts' adventures at camp, the hfe of the orphan child in the institution. Films showing the hves of young people in training on board ship, at the university and in the factories would have a very wide apf>eal. The educational value of such films to the children would be enormous. — (Mrs.) D. E. Hirst, Barnby Hall, Cawthornc. Barnsley. " Astounding Value As a re.gular reader of your excellent paper, I recently purchased a "Summer Extra." The sixpenny worth is astounding, and I've told all my friends about it. Thank you for such a fine book. I should al.so like to thank you for forwarding letters on to stars to which I address c/o '"The Picturegoer." Thank you once again. From a regular reader. — (Miss) Mary Walker, Breydon, Meadowcotirt Road, Leicester. " Human " Stars Living in a great seaport town I am privileged to see many famous Hollywood .stars entering or leaving this country. Almost without exception, I have found the {continued on page 30) 28