Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

10 What the Fans Think Continued from page 8 arc ageless, and the sooner people realize that fact, the better it will be. We should not count the years — a person should be the age he seems in appearance and actions. I'd much rather not know a player's age, because I think it is nobody's business, and besides, what does it matter? Forget the actors' ages, and forget your own. If you feel and look young, you are young. And if the players appear young, they are young, no matter how many manmade years they can count up. D. Robertson. Los Angeles, California. Nothing Old About Richard Dix. This is my first fan letter, though I've been reading this department for years. First, I want to dispute a statement made by "An Appreciative Fan," in which she said that to cast Conway Tearle, Lewis Stone, and Richard Dix as romantic lovers and college freshmen is asking a great deal of credulity from the fans. I agree with her as to Mr. Stone and Mr. Tearle, but why class Richard Dix with them? Certainly he is not nearly so old as they, and why not accept him as a "romantic lover and college freshman?" Those who witnessed his fine performance in "The Quarter Back" know that he was a knock-out ! He has virility, pep, and is young and handsome. Recall his charming and wholesome love scenes in such pictures as "The Quarter Back," "Say It Again," "The Call of the Canyon," "The Stranger," and various others, and then tell me why he cannot be accepted as a romantic lover. He's one of the most popular actors on the screen to-day, and his pictures are clean, wholesome, and very enjoyable. I want to say a word about Cullen Landis. Why don't we see and hear more of him? He is a wonderful actor, and I don't mean maybe ! Besides, he is very good looking, and has a boyish charm and an appealing, contagious smile which is altogether delightful. I have been waiting a long time to see him get a picture worthy of his efforts. The mediocre films he is given are enough to pull any one under. Come on, Cullen Landis fans ! Let's get together and boost him, and help him win the_ place at the top of the ladder of fame which he has certainly earned ! Vivian Stephens. Perry, Lake County, Ohio. Is Valentino Speaking from the Beyond? I have read with much interest the many letters and articles appearing in magazines and newspapers about Valentino since his death, and I think that I am in honor bound to make known to the fans several strange experiences which I have had since his going. I hope that what I am going to say will not meet with unbelief and ridicule from those who read, because I have gone through a great deal of real mental anguish before bringing myself to the point of making this public. About a week after Valentino's passing, I was awakened one night by hearing his name called twice, very distinctly. But when I became fully awake I realized that I had been hearing so many people speak of him as a result of his death that probably the sound of his name that had awakened me was only a reproduction of my own thoughts. I gave the incident no more attention, until I was forced to admit that messages which came later were too distinct and entirely apart from my own thoughts to be ignored. And now that I have come to believe that these demonstrations do come from an identity apart from my own, I am writing a general letter to let Valentino's friends decide whether or not to believe what has been given. I did not have the honor of knowing Mr. Valentino, or of ever seeing him off the screen. I should like to add that I am not a professional medium, not a medium at all that I have ever known, though I have been told by persons who have made a study of such things that I am "psychic." I have since I was a child frequently seen and heard things that must have been of the other world, but never thought much about it until this last experience. Should this letter be published and some reader find an interest in what I have told, I shall be glad to go more into detail to any one who will write to me at the address given below. Eulalie Foster. 201 West Poplar Street, San Antonio, Texas. Rudy Had His Faults. I am writing in protest against all the silly and sickening poems and grief-stricken letters appearing in these columns about the death of Valentino. Of course, it was sad that he had to die, but to make him out to be an angel or saint is foolish, when we fans know that he wasn't that. He was human just as the rest of us are, and he had his faults and made mistakes in life. If he was to die, isn't it better that he was taken at the height of his career than later when we might all have forgotten him? Perhaps I sound hard-boiled, but why not be sensible? I don't see why there should be guilds, memorials, clubs, and so forth, formed in his memory. What did Rudy do for humanity that he should be remembered for all years to come? Surely not any more than others who devote their lives to humanity— missionaries, government officials, philanthropists, and the like — and yet we seldom hear of their deeds. Rudy was a wonderful actor, I admit, and I was one of his fans, but to be so gushy and sentimental about his death is foolish, so let's just be sensible about it, and accept it as something that had to be. Elinor Garrison. 6022 Twenty-ninth Avenue, N. E., Seattle, Washington. Novarro versus Gilbert. I am disgusted with Metro-Goldwyn officials for putting before the public such a film as "Flesh and the Devil." Also for putting John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in the front row of their stars and leaving other geniuses to bring up the rear. By which I mean Ramon Novarro, for if ever there was or is a genius in moviedom, he is it, and will continue to be it if only given a fair chance. Movie critics say that Mr. Novarro's appeal lies in his personality and handsomeness. Haven't you often seen men whose shapely noses and perfect profiles were quite in evidence, but who just the same did not appeal to you? It's the soul that counts. Look at Mr. Novarro's eyes and you see his soul — generous, kind, sympathetic. And he has a mouth that denotes firmness in spite of his youthful look. Did Novarro care about his handsome face and wavy hair when he portrayed the Roman galley slave in "Ben-Hur?" No! I am quite positive no other movie actor could have taken that part and played it with such excellence as Mr. Novarro did. Ramon Novarro looks into his soul for his portrayal of a part, whereas John Gilbert merely looks at the surface and, with an ear-to-ear grin or staring eyes, tries to put over a role. This, no doubt, sounds terrible for Mr. Gilbert, but I am sure he thinks that his popularity is secure and that he needn't worry. If he could have heard the audience laugh, as I did, at his performance in "Flesh and the Devil" — in the most serious and dramatic scenes, at that — I'm sure he would wake up to a few facts. I sincerely hope Metro-Goldwyn will rouse themselves and give their real genius a chance — oh, not to be a great lover, never, but a great actor, which he is and ever will be. An Interested Admirer. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Oh, Where, Oh, Where Are Ramon's Films? Whenever a person, especially a girl, has a grievance or is hurt in any way, she always looks for a friend to tell her troubles to. I am hurt, deeply hurt, and I must tell some one about it. So I am writing to tell all my friends — I mean Consuelo Marsh; E. H, of New York; Marion Young, of Chicago; V. T., of California; Mary Lytton, of England, and all those fans who deeply admire Ramon Novarro. I saw Ramon in "Ben-Hur" on its opening night. in New York, December 30, 1925. I haven't seen him since. That is the best picture he has been seen in. He made "A Certain Young Man" at the same time John Gilbert made "Bardelys the Magnificent." Ramon finished this picture in May, 1926. I thought it would probably take a month or so to prepare it for showing, so I expected to see it released in July. As each week came and a different picture opened at the Capitol, I said, "His surely will be out next week." "Bardelys the Magnificent" opened, but still no sign of Ramon's film. Christmas came. "He will be out next week, for sure," I thought. January arrived, and with it a new picture of Gilbert's. Still hopeful, I thought, "Ramon's film must be out next week, because it is nearly a year since he made it." But it hasn't yet been released ! Meantime, he completed another picture, "Lovers." One night it was announced over the radio that "Lovers" would open at the Capitol on March 26th. I was overjoyed. As March 26th was nearing, I gave my sister strict orders not to dare make any appointment for that day, because we were going to the Capitol for the first performance and would take our lunch and stay all day. To-day is March 26th. I am not in the Capitol. I am at home writing this letter. Ramon's picture has not come out — I don't know why — and I am miserable.* Evelyn Panella. 1265 Havemeyer Avenue, New York City, New York. Let Novarro Take Care of Himself. I am not so sure that I agree with all the loyal Novarro fans who think their idol is not getting a square deal from Metro-Goldwyn. True, he has not had many pictures, but after all, they did give him "Ben-Hur," and that beautiful picture I feel sure can never be surpassed. It seems to me that Ben-Hur should mean more to Novarro than half a dozen ordinary roles. Personally, I'd rather play that part — that is, play it beautifully and successfully as Novarro did — than be the President of the United States or the Prince of Wales. Ramon Novarro is easily my favorite among the motion-picture people, and I should like to see him oftener, but I'd * "Lovers" finally opened about three weeks later. Continued on page 12