Picturegoer (Jul-Dec 1937)

PICTUREGOER Weekly July 17. 1937 "Rather Dick! Imalivaij. (jame fot alonq daij hike She's never Inconvenienced now Like nearly all modern girls she uses Modess, the towel with the moisture-proof backing. She is fastidious about her personal daintiness and freshness, she would not risk the least suspicion of carelessness — yet she never has to refuse an invitation, or cut short a long day's fun. She trusts Modess, and is gloriously comfortable and at ease the whole day through. Besides the wonderful moisture-proof backing, Modess have many other advantages — advantages which have become necessities in the rush of modern life. They are soluble, of course — as easily disposed of as toilet paper ; they are made of superabsorbent downy cellu-tissue, absolutely the most absorbent material there is ; and they are edged with softest cotton wool to prevent chafing and stop moisture from spreading to the sides. Until you have tried a Modess towel you can have no idea how comfortable you can be — you just put it on and literally forget all about it. Next time, ask for a packet of Modess. Sold at all drapers and chemists. Modess THE SOLUBLE SANITARY TOWEL WITH THE MOISTURE PROOF HACKING With or without loops. From all drapers and chemists. 1/-perdoz. 6d. for six ' Beginning to be a Woman' is a booklet especially written (or girls entering their 'teens. Write for a free copy to: Miss Mary Hollis, Medical Service Dept. G.17 Messrs. Jobnsou & Johnson (Gt. Britain) Ltd., Slough, Bucks. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Letters from our readers THOSE CRITICAL STARS They Blame Our Producers I REALLY cannot understand the attitude adopted by some Hollywood stars towards British studios and British films. They come over here for, presumably, at least as much money as they would receive for one film in Hollywood, are treated as reigning queens on the lot, get all the adulation and attention from press and public that even their publicity agents could possibly want, and then go home and complain about everything connected with things "filmic" at this side of the "herring pond." Ann Harding says she was kept hanging about for months doing nothing, but surely even that was justified, as when she did start work it was in the notable Love From a Stranger which gives her the best break she has had for years. Would Miss Harding really have preferred to be pushed into just any production and taken a chance on its being a success? Let us have Hollywood people here by all means but let them be a little considerate of our feelings on their return to their home ground. — M. G. Allman, 139 McDonald Road, Edinburgh. (Still, there is the possibility that they have been misrepresented by certain interviewers, who are inclined to elaborate a chance remark. — "Thinker.") Kept by Crime • When the reel of film has been unwound, producers should get together and erect a statue to crime. In every film I have seen for years crime has had some feature in it. Whether seeing the machinations of a gangster, Western desperadoes at work, or watching the reporter blow the city wide open we meet with cinematic crime. It would be a good test for moralists who prate that crime should not be featured in films how many crime-free films could be made, and on what subject? Then, if the moralist insists that films should be abolished, ask him also to abolish almost all the great books including most of Shakespeare's plays. Truly, a crime free cinematic world would be as strange as a book starved world. — A. Carol. 46 Southey Crescent, Sheffield, who is awarded the first prize of £1 Is. With Love to Bing Dear Bing, we love to hear you croon About the roses and the moon, Your singing still is very charming And your manner most disarming. But — your waistline, Sir, is going ; I implore you, take up rowing. Take up boxing, skating, swimming, Take up anything that's slimming ! For those inches we're deploring, "Try a diet I" we're imploring. You advised, "Keep young and healthy" Don't you get like all the wealthy; Please don't let your waistline suffer, If you're tempted, just get tougher, And resist those sickly dishes. Won't you please respect our wishes? If your resolution's slipping, Don your shorts and go out skipping: Don't sleep on while day is dawning, Do your daily "doz." each morning. Soon your waist will be returning, Hope in all our hearts is burning. Croon with all your vim and vigour But please don't neglect your figure ! — (Miss) Maisie James, 27 Chilton Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent, who is awarded the second prize of 10s. 6d. Realism • Your reader's "scrap" book reminds me of a film "scrap" I shall never forget. It was in the old days of the late Fred Thompson and silent Westerns where fighting and run-away trains were much in evidence. A friend had taken six of us children to see it as a special treat. The little boy next to me got most fearfully excited, and, when Fred Thompson suddenly began to get the better of his enemies, hitting right and left, let drive with his fist and landed me one plonk on the nose ! It was swollen for days afterwards but it certainly made it the most realistic fight I had seen on the films ! — (Miss) Joyce I. Corlett, " Bonshaw," Selborne Drive, Douglas, Isle of Man. (Is this a foretaste of" thefeelies ? — "Thinker.") Impetuosity • Does not British filmdom err rather on the side of impetuosity in its desire to create new big-names in films ? The mere whisper of praise cast out upon some supporting player is sufficient to elevate that performer to the dizzy heights of stardom. Had Lewis Stone or C. Aubrey Smith been acting in British films it is safe to assert that they would have been stars long ago. Yet how much more valuable becomes the art of these players in supporting roles, and how fatuous and unnecessary to alter that which is almost perfect ? Britain possesses too few supporting players of such calibre. Such men as Gordon Harker and Max Miller, for instance, are of the rare type who can turn a mediocre film into a great one. Hollywood, in its wisdom, realises that there are certain supporting players who are too valuable as supporting players to convert them into stars. Britain should realise this, too, and not rush to create stars of players who show their true greatness in supporting others. — L. A. Turvey, 112 Tennyson Road, Portswood. Southampton. (But what better star-material can you find than these sterling players? — "Thinker.") "Post-synch." 9 I am sixteen years of age and have never heard the real voice of Gar bo In Picturegokr I often read about the husky voice of Garbo which moves me. Every M.G.M. picture that comes to our island is synchronised in French. I often hear in synchronised pictures the actor or the actress s.\y " Yes" instead of "Oui." I am so anxious to hear that husky voice of Garbo. Then Gable's, Shearer's and all the M.G.M.'s stars' real voices — not the voices of unknown Frenchmen and women. Film fans in England and U.S.A. are lucky ones for they have never seen a synchronised picture, and some of them perhaps, don't know that there is such a cruel illness as that called Synchronisation. Can't they stop this, Mr. Thinker ? — K . Yazmadjian, c\o P.O. Box 6, Nicosia, Cyprus. (I'm afraid I don't see any remedy — " Thinker "\ The Right Way • I should very much like to say a word or two about a Film Club. I have just recently joined the " Be be Daniels and Ben Lyon" Club (in which they both attended the first meeting). May I recall a letter printed in January 30. (Continued on page 381 36