Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

What the Fans Think From a Fan Who Is a Cripple. I'M a cripple, being paralyzed from my hips down, and for the past four years I've been spending my life in a wheel chair, but during that time, I've been an ardent movie fan, and my greatest pleasure is writing to the different stars and receiving their pictures. Every evening finds me in a different show. All of the theaters in this neighborhood know me, and they let me in to stand at the back of an aisle, or at the very front of it sometimes. During the day, I'm all alone, for the four girls I room with work, and do not come home until suppertime. After supper, one of them takes me to the show, and another one calls for me later on. Every day in the week I go to a show, and on Saturdays and Sundays I sometimes go twice. The movies are a complete world for me, and make me forget my legs. Among the stars whom I most admire, there are Richard Dix, George O'Brien, Gary Cooper, Ben Lyon, William Haines, Vilma Banky, Irene Rich, Louise Dresser and Dolores Costello. But among those whom I think are snobs, there are Jack Gilbert, Ronald Colman, Richard Barthelmess, and Ricardo Cortez. I did like Lois Wilson, but after I saw "The Great Gatsby" I changed my mind. And "New York" made me entirely forget I ever wanted to see her. And in "Paradise for Two," whatever in the world possessed Richard Dix to get Betty Bronson for his leading lady ? There are only two actions in her entire make-up. One is the right eyebrow arched, head cocked over on the left side, and the aristocratic look that always prevails around her mouth. The other is one hand on her hip, twirling necklace, body poised over to the left side. I think about the nicest leading lady for Richard Dix is either Esther Ralston or Alyce Mills, who played with him in "Say It Again." But now I hear Mary Brian is playing with him in "Knockout Reilly." May she do better than her colleague did in "Paradise for Two." Chicago, Illinois. Mugs. Do You Agree or Not? It seems unfair to me that a real actress like Pola Negri gets so much criticism while mere clothes racks like Norma Shearer and Esther Ralston seem to get only praise. I think Norma has a nice figure, and Esther a beautiful face, but they certainly are not actresses. Pola is wonderful. I don't know, and do not need to know, what she is like personally, but as an actress, she rates about one hundred per cent in my estimation. She has it in her to act — has the acting "spark," or whatever is necessary in the make-up of a real actress. Also, she is beautiful, and intelligent. Claire Windsor is always so pale and pained-looking. And Olive Borden is absolutely insipid, in spite of her flawless face and figure. And I cannot warm up to Janet Gaynor, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson, or Mary Brian. They lack depth. The stars I'd walk miles to see are Renee Adoree, Marion Davies, Carol Dempster, Eleanor Boardman, and Joan Crawford. They can act! And how! And Corinne Griffith combines unbelievable beauty with plenty of acting ability. I think Corinne looks prettiest with her mouth open. It wouldn't become her to have a tight-locked jaw. And I like Lois Moran. She is so sweet, so sincere. Here's to the actresses — the girls who have the courage and the mentality really to put themselves into their parts, to forget for the moment that they are this or that great celebrity, who must look stunning with each move, even at the expense of the story. John Leo. 902 Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Why Care How Old a Star Is? I feel constrained to write to this department after having read some of the criticisms made by the fans in these columns. Some of the fan critics write in a cynical vein which only serves to antagonize the reader, not against the person criticized,, but against the writer. Why, for instance, do some of the fans speak of a young person in his thirties as if he were doddering on the brink of the grave and were unfit for anything except character or granddaddy roles? How many of these critics' are under thirty themselves, and if they are, do they intend to commit suicide when they reach that venerable old age? There is no age in this universe of ours. A year is a man-made institution and therefore not a reality. We Continued on page 10