Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1921 - Feb 1922)

What the Fans Think 91 Continued from page 67 I noticed that popularity contests were quite an important thing in America. There was one held recently in Paris, and I thought it might interest your readers to see what players are our favorites. The list was headed by the three following stars : the emotional star, Sessue Hayakawa; the great comedian, Charles Chaplin; and a French artist whom I don't name because you never saw him, I think. Close next came Pearl White, William Hart, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, Nazimova, and a few of your best players. Now, let me say a word about A. M. Delaure's letter. Of course, I agree with him about Hayakawa, and about the excellence of the American films. Your best productions created quite a sensation in France. During two months, this winter, we only spoke of "Broken Blossoms" and of your great Griffith. And how eagerly we do wait to see " 'Way Down East." But I don't agree with Delaure when he condemns our own productions. I wonder if you have already heard, in America, the names of Louis Delluc, Marcel Lherbier, or Abel Gance — three French producers — and good ones, I am sure ! M. H. Epstein. Rue Josephine Soulary, Lyon, France. An English Fan Praises Wallie. I always read your magazine whenever I can get hold of it, as it is by far the best movie magazine one sees over here. I was very much interested in a letter about Wallace Reid in your May issue. I agree with every word of it. Wallie is very popular indeed over here, I should think that he is probably the first favorite. He is certainly far and away my first favorite. But delightful though he is, as your correspondent says, we want better things from him. Every one enjoys his pictures, every one comes away from seeing them feeling happy and jolly and vigorous. In these comedies he shows himself to be plucky, charming, handsome, and a real, good sort. But people who saw his Don Jose and his Eric Trent know he can be far finer; in fact, really great. Think of Eric Trent watching the flogging of the messenger, Eric Trent as a prisoner, Eric Trent watching Joan of Arc being burned to death ! It seems to me that Wallie, with his splendid height, his fine face and finer acting is just made to interpret great historical parts. I'm not clever enough to say what parts, I leave that to the producers, who know better than I do. But I do know that while I want to go on seeing Wallie in his charming comedies, I want still more to see him, now and again, in a really great role. "Peter Ibbetson" is perhaps paving the way to better things. Possibly in that his chance has come. Anyhow, I know he'll make good, whatever he does. A Wallie Reid Fan. Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. We're as Open to Criticism as to Praise May I venture to say that what your Observer said concerning Pola Negri a few issues back was utterly disgusting? In_ an odious comparison you belittle Pauline Frederick and Nazimova. Pola Negri compares with neither of these women, and, in turn, only Frederick compares favorably with Lillian Gish. However, no actress, with the exception of Bernhardt, equals Miss Gish in emotional power. "Passion" may have impressed New York, but that doesn't settle the question as far as the United States is concerned, by any means. No one out here cared for it. Again let me say that editorial was not only disgusting — it was hysterical. Elma, Washington. Jane Moran. Hurrah for Pola Negri! Have you any idea as to the thoughts that come to an American picture fan, after he sits through a showing of "Passion ?" Call the picture propaganda — call it what you will — but you must at least admit that, in comparison with Pola Negri, our so-called emotional stars of the screen appear cheap, hysterical, and amateurish. Not only does Miss Negri shine ; but the other members of the cast of "Passion"— even those who make up the mobs — are far better actors and actresses than most of our top-heavy stars. Take the man who impersonates the Duke de Choisel. There is not one of all our overrated male stars and character actors who could invest that part with the poise, dignity, and "velvet finish" given by the unnamed actor whose fine work helped so much to make the picture the finest ever flashed on an American screen. Any agitation against the showing of foreign-made pictures is the veriest rot. Would you bar the great works of art and the gems of literature simply because they are of foreign origin? The whole trouble is that we, the pic ' ture-loving public, have been bunkoed. For ten years we have been fed up on a great deal of worthless and impossible stufi:. The picture producers and theater owners have handed us a lot of junk. We have been kidded out of our sober senses by trick photography, mechanical effects, and other studio devices that must now be shot into the discard, simply because a picture — a real picture — has shown the fans of this country what the art of screen acting is really like. Chicago, Illinois. John D. Cahill. A Welcome Back for Crane Wilbur. Oh! Oh! Oh! What has happened to our blessed Billie Russell? Erstwhile our ablest exponent of fistic heroism, he seems at present wallowing in a slough of maudlin clap-trap, from which one can only hope that time will save him ! AVh}-, he used to be the biggest favorite of the old American stars. His sincere, manly portrayals ; his fine ability to round out his characterizations with those subtle, true-to-life details that alone distinguish the real actor from the director's puppet; his pleasing personality — all sacrificed to William Fox's love of the sensational ! A splendid actor with a decided personality all his own, has been made over, first into another William Farnum ; then, a second George Walsh ; and finally, into another Tom Alix ! The result is, there's very little left of William Russell. Won't some producer with charity in his heart for a long-suffering public, come to his rescue and give us back the Billie Russell we loved of yore? And can't we have more of Monte Blue? In the midst of misspent, film-exploiting stage stars and dress-suit poseurs, too afraid of spoiling their appearance to exhibit real emotion, this honest-togoodness artist reacts on the jaded audience like a spring on a desert castaway. His complete abandon to whatever part he is playing, his absolute unconsciousness of self, his humanness, above all his remarkable appeal to the emotions richly entitle him to the popularity he receives, a popularity which increases, without paid publicit}-, with every picture he makes. And last, but not least, may we have a chat V(-ith Crane Wilbur ? He's been my favorite ever since I first saw him, as an Italian, in an old two-reel Pathe, and went home and raved about him — I was only fourteen — and never forgot him. I've followed both his screen and stage career pretty closely since then, with increasing appreciation for his fine, sincere acting, his rare understanding of human nature, his unequaled grasp of screen technique; and a versatility too often overlooked by misled publicity agents in lauding his extreme good looks and colorful personality. His roles — and they were many — ranged from the Nazarene in Tolstoy's "God is Love" to a half-breed cook in the "Perils of Pauline." He played comedy", tragedy, or drama with equal success. And his transition to the speaking stage took from the screen an actor it could ill, afford to lose. Now, he's back again, an ideal hero in "The Heart of Maryland," and the stage has not made him the least bit theatrical. I'm sure I speak for many of his old admirers who are glad to have him back, and hope he'll stay upon the screen a long, long time. His coming back is the big news of the month ! Alma S. Hilton. i6 Waverly Street, Everett, Massachusetts. Here's a Letter from Jackie Coogan. Dear Me. Editor : Do you know of a good book or story that would make a nice photo plaj for a six-year-old boy like me? I need some stories for my new pictures. My director says I should make pictures from books that the world has read and loved. Grown people tell me editors know everything, so I am asking your advice, or perhaps somebody in your city has a book in mind for me. You know it's not easy to find a good story for a little fellow. If the people in your city knew I wanted stories, they might send me some suggestions. If I use a suggestion, I will give the sender a lovely present. Any suggestion sent me, care of the Brunton Studios, Hollj-wood, California, will reach me safely and quickly. Thank you. Good-by 1 Respectfully, Jackie. A Plea for Accuracy. What is the matter with some of the motion-picture directors? Take, for example, a picture which was recently shown at one of our playhouses, "Just A Wife," adapted from Eugene Walter's play. In this production is shown the interior of a railroad president's cabin in a construction camp in the Far North. The cabin is luxuriously furnished, there is ever3 convenience for the comfort of the occupants. Now as the wife of a man who has helped build railroads, I know that "the3 ain't no such animal" as silver coffee services, silver candelabra, and overstuffed leather chairs in construction camps. That cabin could have been comfortable, and cheery, but it could not have been as it was presented to us. But the thing that brought forth snorts of ever3-thing from the audience was when the heroine's young brother came in and told her that she must get her divorce as he has discovered oil in Alaska, and is now able to support her. Will you please have The Oracle tell us where those oil fields in Alaska are located? Mrs. Doris Doty. San Antonio, Texas.