Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

10 What the Fans Think Continued from page 8 against which I particularly wish to protest. When an actor permits his name and photograph to be used in "testimonial" ads, the effect is usually bad, both for the advertiser and for the actor. If the ad is based on a statement that sounds natural, and if the commodity thus advertised has probably been of real benefit to the actor quoted, the ad is not objectionable, although there is doubt in my mind as to whether it is really efficacious even then. But the majority of these ads are certainly a strain on the credulity. Norma Talmadge, Laurette Taylor, Estelle Taylor, Billie Burke, and Pola Negri all make the statement that they love a pipe-smoking man. You just know they wrote spontaneously to the maker of one definite tobacco to impart this confidence to him! "Red" Grange is quoted making enthusiastic remarks about a five-cent candy bar. Now, every one knows that an athlete is supposed to abjure sweets for the period of his training. Besides, can you imagine him getting so worked up over the excellence of this five-cent titbit that he felt obliged to sit down and from the depths of his heart communicate his delight to the maker of that candy? Also, fancy Ann Pennington of the light feet finding certain corn plasters so wonderful that she had to tell the manufacturer about the wonders they had accomplished for her. Or Richard Dix so enjoying a certain make of saxophone that he felt constrained to urge all young men to invest in one. I can understand an ill-advised young player, in need of money or publicity or both, permitting his or her name and face to be used in such a way. But when I see a player like Ramon Novarro, who certainly needs neither the publicity nor the money, stooping to the rank of the testimonial writers, I object. I suppose, .any day. now we may expect to hear Ronald Colman proclaiming the excellence of some brand of desert tents, John Gilbert boosting some one's army shoes, Vilma Banky urging all dyspeptics to take So-and-so's indigestion pills, and Mary Pickford indorsing somebody's middy suits. Why not leave this method of cheap publicity to European queens? G. B. A. Dallas, Texas. Pooh! Any One Can Get Into the Movies ! It may be difficult to get into the movies, but it sure looks easy ! Despite the fact that we read of rigid screen tests to be passed, pull required, special adaptability, and so forth, we are inclined to be skeptical. It begins to look as though M. Anybody and family, including fifth cousins, are eligible. Time was when great actors were born, and were thought to be a class of immortals, different from the ordinary run of human beings, but that time now belongs to the faded past. Almost every day we read of a new "discovery" — some man or woman springing up from nowhere and being admitted to the inner and sacred circle. A woman shoots her husband and has her name published in all the newspapers — and the very next day we learn that she has signed a movie contract. Let any one acquire a bit of publicity or notoriety, and he joins the movie clans to appear on the silver screen. If acting is an art, how come that Tom, Dick, and Harry so quickly turn into first-class actors? From the stage to the movies might seem a step most reasonable, but from every other walk in life, without any previous training or experience ! Prize fighters, authors; doctors, even firemen — all kinds and all classes of people, from the butcher and baker to the candlestick maker — all, if opportunity favors, sign contracts and appear in the movies. There seems to be something rotten in the State of Denmark. Is acting an art to be acquired by persistent effort and steady endeavor? We should say not! The only requirement seems to be that a person be not camera shy — and, in these days of publicity seeking, who is afraid of a camera? Although I've never seen the inside of a studio, I'm as good an actor as the next man, and, as soon as I can bribe some smalltown gazette to run my tintype, I'm going to Hollywood — to enter the movies ! Frank Kenneth Young. 929 West Seventh Street, Traverse City, Michigan. Don't Call Each Other Names. In a recent issue of Picture-Play my impressions of the stars were printed. These were my impressions, as / see the players. Two days after the issue was out, I received a letter from some person who signed herself "One who is too mad to sign her name." The letter was one of the most ridiculous I have ever read. This was part of it : "You must be cross-eyed or dense to say that Florence Vidor is not beautiful and can't act. I suppose you have never seen Florence Vidor, and you just want to have something to say. You must be one of those red-cheeked people who can't appreciate good acting." At least, the words were to that effect, and it was all in such poor grammar and spelling that it was difficult to understand what the ignorant person wanted to say. : It would have been perfectly all right for this person to criticize me in a decent manner, but when it comes to calling another person names, I draw the line at that. She starts out with, "I do not know who you are and I hope. I never do." But I would like to meet her, very, very much ! I'm sure we could have a wonderful argument! Most of the fan letters of that particular issue were especially good, with the exception of one. That was from "Mrs. H. H." of Brooklyn, New York. Her letter was most disagreeable in its references to different fans' "poetical ravings." Can't she realize that these fans were doing their best and giving their impressions? I disagree with her when she says that Pola Negri does not resemble a "volcano." Pola most certainly does. At least, that is my opinion. The best fan letter of all was that of Howard Cunningham. He says that the Paramount graduates show promise, and I most heartily agree. Gerald C. Hamm. "The Plains," Weatherly, Pa. Her Ire Is Roused. I would like to challenge a few of the statements made in letters in a recent Picture-Play. First, there was that of Doris Burns, who was so disgusted at the thought of a girl smoking that she said the most unkind things she could possibly think of about Louise Brooks. And does Louise deserve it? Who is Miss Burns to say such things? Why does she take it for granted that Louise is "sulky, sophisticated, yet a young, overbearing, haughty creature?" How does she know? In my opinion. Miss Brooks is one hundred per cent perfect and very likely to remain so. Don't you agree with me. fans? Next I will go to the letter of Gerald Hamm. He says that Florence Vidor can't act and is not beautiful. Fans, doesn't that rouse your ire? I wonder if Mr. Hamm has seen "You Never Know Women," Florence's first starring vehicle? If not, I should advise him to do so at once. He might change his opinion. I do agree with Mr. Hamm about Lillian Gish, though. Now, fans, let's finish with three long and loud cheers for the screen's favorite jumping jack, Richard Talmadge! Are you with me? Eve J. Robinson. 1216 West Eighth Street, Wilmington, Del. Words of Praise. I feel impelled to write a word of praise for Florence Vidor, who so charmingly handled her first starring vehicle, "You Never Know Women," though I'm still wondering over the inane title. Traveling about the country, doing magazine work, I am in a position to note which stars seem to be the most popular, and I sincerely believe that the tendency for appreciation of the more refined type of actress seems to be growing greater, in the smaller towns as well as in the cities. Under this class we may include Miss Vidor, Norma Shearer, Lois Moran, and Virginia Yalli — two mature sophisticates and two "unsophisticates," and all are essentially ladies. While Greta Garbo should be classified in an altogether different group, that of a gay charmer, there is something tremendously compelling and magnetic about her personality. I wonder if it is actually known how little experience she has had in acting? This may be of interest to some of the fans. While visiting a friend, several years ago, in a boarding school in Vienna, I was introduced to all the girls. One seemed to stand out in the group. She was a bit more charming than all the rest, and made such a vivid impression upon me that I recalled her long after my friend and I had returned to the States. Imagine our surprise one afternoon, when seated in a movie theater, to see the face of this lovely creature flashed on the screen, and in a leading part, too! But, after all. we weren't so surprised, for how could such an unusual type be kept out of the clutches of our movie directors? The girl was Greta Garbo. Lilica Braun. Wichita, Kan. Why They Rave Over Greta Garbo. I have just finished 'reading a letter in Picture-Play that makes me want to come right out and say what I think. It was written by Dorothy Derr. And I wish to tell her and every one else why the magazines rave over Greta Garbo. She is certainly some one to rave over ! Miss Derr said for us to hope that Ibanez's "Torrent" would be Greta's last picture. Well, I'm hoping she will make many, many more. If Miss Derr was disgusted with "Torrent," she certainly should not take it out on Greta. Greta didn't choose the picture. For my part, I'll say that if all the foreign actresses are as lovely and wonderful as Greta Garbo — "On with the foreigners !" Doris Burge. 1440 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. Think What We'd Have Missed. I am an American, but I can't let the letter of Carl A. Buss, in a recent issue, go unchallenged. Surely an intelligent person can understand why the foreign players have come to America. If you or I w^ere offered a splendid opportunity in some foreign land, would we go? We certainly would! American film magnates, keen business men, saw the possibilities of these foreign players,' and put them -under contract. They were not employed because they are foreign, but because they have personality Continued on page 12