Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

Advertising Section 13 on the stage — and made a huge success of it — is now devoting his talents to screen work. I refer, of course, to Joseph Schildkraut. "The Firebrand" ran for almost a year on the New York stage, with Schildkraut in the role of Cellini. I saw it three times and it was great! Then, when Joseph left it to appear in the film "The Road to Yesterday," another actor was substituted, and in a very short time the play closed. Was not that rather significant? The critics admitted that they went to "The Firebrand" expecting to be bored by heavy historical drama. Instead, Schildkraut made it a show of tempestuous love, subtle and exquisite comedy. Why, then, is he not borrowed from De Mille and given the role of Cellini in the movies? Obviously he is the perfect choice for it. And, oh, what a picture would result '. Schildkraut and Estelle Taylor— marvelous ! Jackie Cathewe. Rockville Center, L. I. Who Can Replace Rudy? No One! "Rudy is dead \" It is impossible to estimate the sorrow that this announcement caused. I am sure the Valentino fans felt as though some part of themselves had died. Already people are looking for a successor to Rudy, but there is not a man on the screen to-day who can take his place for one minute. Some people think Ronald Colman will step into the niche left by Yalentino. That draws a hearty laugh from me. Ronald could never forgot himself for long enough. My goodness, the man has conceit written all over his face, and the frost is never very far from his love-making, albeit we have to hand it to him for his work in "The Dark Angel," and he was almost human in "Kiki." My idea of the screen's best lover right now is Jack Gilbert. Many think of him as being full of ego. Personally, I don't think so, as he is the same Jack who was a great favorite with me when I saw him in such pictures as "Truxton King," "St. Elmo," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "A California Romance," "The Love Gamblers," and "The Exiles." In those days he had no reason to be puffed up, as it was hard to find mention of him in movie books other than as "the handsome husband of Leatrice Joy." In those days I wondered where the eyes of the fans were, and was surprised that it took so long for him to be "discovered." Of course, the Jack Gilbert of to-day is a much better actor, and getting better all the time. Ramon Xovarro will never become a very great screen lover, as he is quite effeminate. Perhaps I get this idea from the fact that it is so long since I have seen him in movies, and the still pictures make him appear that way. He needs to make more movies or he will surely lose a great number of his fans. Valentino will not soon be forgotten, and the passing of no other male star could leave the vacancy he has. Viola Davies. Toronto, Canada. To a Dead Mummer. Our life is a gamble with dreary chance, And, because he made us forget for an hour And gilded the sordid with pure romance, I lay on his grave this tiny flow'r. Who shall succeed to the vacant place? Who so winning, so debonair. So light of foot and fair of face? "Exit Chartres!" Good-by, Bcaucairc! Ruth Hall. Catskill, X.. Y. Thoughts on Death. • What a strange spirit the public shows ! ; To one it grants greater fame after death, i to another "mere oblivion," regardless of merit. To the living it often turns its backs ; then, when the object of its sneers I is dead, it sends flowers. Valentino had thorns with his roses in life, but in death came the lilies, which | have no thorns. His death is still like a ghastly nightmare, out of which we want to awaken but cannot. With the pens of amateur poets, some try to praise him and commemorate him. I, as one of those, praise and commemorate, yet find in his death a singular happiness— it is that he now belongs to the ages. To Rudolph Valentino. Better the hero dead Than fallen ; Better the flower pressed Than broken ; Better the picture lost Than faded ; Better the lover free Than mated ! Better the tender dream "Than grim reality ; Better the shrined soul Than mere mortality ! Better the idol buried Than forsaken ; Better the vision vanished Than mistaken! ■ Better the cup relinquished, Before the dregs we taste ! Better a memory cherished, Before the affections waste ! Dorothea E. Rahexkamp. Dormont, Pa. Sincere Sympathy for Pola Negri. Anger at the cruelty and spitefulness of people has prompted me to write in defense of Pola Xegri. Xow is the time j when all her fans should show their loy i alt} to her. As it has been remarked, hers 1 is a nature absolutely different from ours, and there is no doubt in my mind that her grief over Valentino's death was sincere. I It was all quite sad enough without the malicious stories that her grief was only i acting and that she came to see him only , after he was dead. She has my most sin ! cere sympathy, and through Picture-Play j I wish to express it. You've been my favorite, Pola, ever since you played in "Bella Donna," and may the j years bring you happiness ! D. E. K. London. Ontario, Canada. A Correction. Thank you for printing my letter in I the Xovember Picture-Play. You gave it the title "Criticism from an Egyptian Fan," but I would like to say that, though I live in Egypt, I am not an Egyptian, but a Greek. Ma noli A. Bexachi. Care of Chorem Benachi & Co., Alexan , dria, Egypt. For Fans West of Wisconsin. I am an enthusiastic fan and enjoy reading "What the Fans Think" on various ' subjects, but I do not "enjoy throwing brickbats any more than I care to receive them. So if there happens to be a player I don't like. I just avoid thinking of him or her. I am preparing to start for California about the middle of March by automobile, and should like to hear from some of the fans. It would make the way seem shorter Continued on page 114 I $225 a Week Because she learned to DANCE S225.00 a week! Yes, you too can earn a handsome salary as a stage star or teacher of dancing! Learn at home! Xo experience needed. Betsy Rees. premiere danseuse of the Keith-Albee Orpheum Circuit and solo dancer at the smart Club Richman, in Xew Y"orli, earns S225 a week. She is only one of msny leading Broadway stage dancers trained by Veronine Vestoff , world's loremost ballet master. EARN BIG MONEY TEACHING Hundreds of men and women are making big money as teachers of stage and classical dancing. 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