Picture-Play Magazine (Jan - Jun 1931)

he is like tint in real life? It i> h.ir.l to believe there could be one 10 nice, though. But maybe I .1111 wrong I nop) 1 kntia Ron 180 Florence Street) Roslindale, in, Massachusetts. The Accent Question Again. I think .in a] due to tin Ameri can i.ii!> lor the ridiculous non have re. id ;m<l beard, especially Sii \ifred Knoa \ if any one Brit ish [an has h.i«l [ear oi being corrupted In American slang I Oh, excuse me while I laugh I 1 wonder it Sir Alfred Knox has heard a London cockney speak! Or the Yorkshire or Devonshire dialect? Not to mention an Irish. Welsh, 01 accent! Before he turns his attention to the "ravages" made in our language by American talkies, I'd like to ask him exactly how tunny of the films he has b I presume that he wants Victor Mcl.aglen or Eddie Lowe, in "The Cock-eyed World," to call each other "Mv de-ah fellah" ! Really, I am ashamed to think that an English gentleman should have spoken about the corrupting of the English language, and let him ask himself if our own speech is so perfect that we can afford to find fault with other people's, and to take into consideration that we fall far short in the pronunciation of words as they are spelled. If this is a time for criticism, let me say this, that it is only the affected May fair talk that has made the English pronunciation what it is. If we have to he correct, let us beiriii on one word alone ; that word is "can't." Oh, I know one should say "cannot," but why do we English say "carn't"? Answer that, if you can ! So carry' on, and give us natural talkies, with natural speech, and the real English audiences and fans arc with you all the way. and here's an honest I ness British "Bravo !" and an American "Rah! Rah!" to all the talkie stars— good, bad, and indifferent ! Sez you? Sez I ! "The Rooter." London, England. Why Like Garbo? Please, please, why do so many people admire <ireta Garbo? What has she that's of interest to the American people? In my opinion, and in the opinion of others I know, there are so many more actresses who excel her in every way. In September Pictire Play I read a letter written by Virginia Burns, and I quite agree with her in everything said. Greta Garbo is certainly not beautiful or cute, either. She is right when she says that to compare Garbo to Nancy Carroll or Anita Page is foolish. They certainly do outclass < ! To give Garbo a rest, why isn't Mary Brian a star? She is a very good ad and surely worthy of all the honors any one can give her — hut perhaps to be a star is no longer an honor. How about it? It's a mystery to me why Alice White doesn't go on a rampage. I wouldn't blame her. If all the people who criticize her could do half as well as she docs, then perhaps they'd have something to say. If Alice White suddenly put on long skirts and wore a black wig. would she have half the popularity she does now? No, yon bet she wouldn't. Give the girl a chance. She's good. Penny Casey. Detroit, Michigan. What the Fans Think Buddy's Friend Speaks Up. Pei • ! in "\\ hat the Think" was n ritten by "B M. K one could > jump at conclu i-rning I i bc B. M. I rirl frici> wrote a letter of appn Mr. tnd that in return the regulation p pi sum of money the actor's picture ■■ ut her. From th Miss K. draws the 'i that Mr. l< is conceited. Evt ry month i thousands of letters, and the note of B. M. K s friend was hut one. I am so vehement Mis K.'s assertion that Buddy Rogers is con ! to l>e utterly false and unfounded I have had the pleasure of meeting him twice — once before he became a star and again quite recently — and both times he was unself-consciously charming, thoroughly unassuming, and altogether delightful, which is quite the opposite of conceit, is it not? At our second meeting Mr. Rogers enthusiastically received me, though our previous meeting had occurred fully two years ago and was but of a moment's duration. In our conversation he remarked that he considered himself extremely fortunate in 1 so many loyal fans and expressed 1 that he was unable to get in closer touch with them. Charles Legrand. Detroit, Michigan. All This World Can Give. I admire you, Juliette Brown, of Pennsylvania, for your faithfulness to Joan Crawford, and with you I come to her defense. I, too, am devoted to Joan, but without any reciprocation whatsoever. I may as well be placed in the highest ranks of a class of unfortunal Some few years ago. when Miss Crawford made her film debut in "The I standing Heart," I took a fancy to her. Being only at the beginning of my I I felt and knew that I would grow up with an increased love and devotion. To be exact, I have written twenty-eight letters to her, eagerly awaiting a reply after each one. but in vain. It really makes me blue every time I realize what futile attempts I have made. Am I discouraged? I am only strengthened in my desire to grasp definitely what is a little beyond my reach. It is said by fans that Joan is not pretty, •iceited. and unmoved by the fans who have so greatly acknowledged her acting ability. It is untrue ! It may be seen in "Our Blushing Brides." a rare jewel in the most perfect setting of loveliness, a type of beauty from which great masterpieces are created. Fai Joan more intently. Do not look to her external features as final. Her performance are marked with true realism, a remarkable talent not easily tten. She is not harsh and temperamental, but tender and sympathetic. Look to her emotional character, her hone-ty and faithfulness, and there is revealed the finest characteristics any refined woman of this modern world can possess. Dorothy Frymark. 830 Racine Street. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Give Arlen a Big Hand. Don't you fans ever get tired of raving about Gary Cooper when Richard Arlen ■ng just as good, and often better. work than Gary? Take "The Virginian." Cooper was the star, and he put over an U extremelj rformance, hut D 1 . the big dram try to n half mm can in I irt from hi, man, to me the most decided man on t to-<! k Arlen may not be the type breathh but I'd t have him for a pal than any of the famous profile-. Now, fans, isn't it about time bowed Dick wc know what I worth? David Scott. Thrums, British Columbia, Canada, Beauty and Talent in Men. Frank 'Fully, if > o narrow and too jealous to admit, even to sonthat it is possible for a young man I unusually handsome and an actor of ight-provoking" caliber as well, I feel very sorrj I am not a "silly schoolgirl," but a serious-minded young lady over twentyone, . Duration for Barry Norton is a mature appreciation of a great histrionic genius. You would probably consider Oscar Wilde's admiration of the art of Sarah Bernhardt a thing naive and giddy, too, wouldn't you? I have read many letters written to Barry by "these silly schoolgirls." so I felt your insult more than you could suspect. If you think it is his profile that has me excited, you are very mistaken. I think Barry has a comparatively poor profile, although, to be -tire, from the front he is really beautiful. It is hard to understand why one must look like Emil Jannings to be considered the greatest act.>r." I never did agree with that theory. Jannings was never the screen's greatest, and his lack of pulchritude has nothing to do with my opinion. I am attracted to handsomeness in men — naturally. But acting is acting, and beauty of features has little to do with it. Since when is it SO childish to want to know people wc admire? Shall we make friends with people with whom we have nothing in common? For a long time I wanted to know Barry. Every friend who has really meant much to me I have met by mail.' Why not Barry? Wc have much in common. Our correspondence was friend-hip at its noblest. There are precious few of our sex-conscious, selfish American men capable of so fine a friendship with one of the opposite sex as the sophisticated young Argentinean. I never claimed to be excessively patriotic, so it irb me a bit if I am taken to task for this statement. Yon, Mr. Tully. are evidently one of who consider all people stupid and prejudiced, except those who happen to have the same stupidities and prejudices as yourself. For example, your e for the party who criticized Lillian C.ish whom I, too, happen to think is a poor actr Croct.lla Mvli 6?07 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. What Is a Fan Club? A reader of Picture Play recently asked about the fan clubs. That it's a large subject is probably the reason he has not, as yet, received any information. Let me explain. A fan club is officially organized in honor of some particular favorite for the sole purpose of boosting him. All this star's admirers are invited to join and participate in the activities