Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

12 What the Fans Think Continued from page 10 much rather wait and see him in a masterpiece once a year than to have him presented in some shoddy, flimsy thing every few weeks. Ramon is much too high class for that sort of treatment, and it looks as though his company understands this perfectly and is handling him in the best manner possible. In any case, I think Sefior Novarro can be trusted to take care of himself. He seems to have done fairly well with his career so far. IONE LAYBOURNE. 365 South Gage Street, Ravenna, Ohio. Bravo, All You Novarro Fans! I hope Mr. Oettinger has discovered by this time that there is real fighting blood in the veins of Novarro fans ! They swallowed most of the praise given to the flashing Jack Gilbert when Novarro was left in the background. But when the climax came and a supposed-to-bebrilliant critic piped up such unheard-of things, did they boil! They became young volcanoes, spitting forth praise for The Novarro and sharp lashings for The Critic. And still they continue to erupt, bless them ! I have a word to add to the NovarroGilbert discussion. I myself am fond of John Gilbert. I like his performances, and I see no fault to find with his type. But I don't prefer his type. Ramon Novarro is my ideal. I admire his quiet nature, his love for music, his determination to keep his people free from publicity, his love for beautiful things, and his other innumerable characteristics. I wish to thank Picture Play for its numerous and splendid portraits and pictures of my favorite. I wish, also, to thank the other fans for their brave and clever come-backs to those horrid criticisms. Good luck, Ramon, in "Old Heidelberg," and in all of your future pictures ! G. Harvey. 132 Hillside Avenue, Rochester, New York. She Gloats! She Gloats! On reading Elinor Glyn's latest profound message issued to a breathless and waiting world, I leaped into a complicated Black Bottom, played a little Chopin, and ate three dozen cream meringues, all to express the extreme joy and relief that possessed me. For, look you, she has pronounced that Ramon Novarro has not got "It!" Sincerely I am glad, and with hectic mania continue to celebrate. A pernicious influence this thing "It" has become. True, it gave us John Gilbert. But we already had him, and it is well known that you can't keep a good man down. As soon as John Gilbert loses "It," he will be an artist. And anyhow, the beastly thing isn't even madame's invention. Rudyard Kipling, in approximately 1910, wrote a story called "Mrs. Bathurst," in which he referred to the lady as having "It." Calooh ! Callay! Hear me gloat! Ramon has not got "It!" Bettie G. Edwards. 7 Belmont House, Candover Street, London W. I., England. Ronald Conceited? Huh! May I dispute Viola Davies' statement in a recent Picture Play? She shamelessly said of Ronald Colman, "My goodness, the man has conceit written all over his face." To that— huh ! And the Canadian winter must have been too much for her, for she said, "The frost is not far from his love-making." Again —huh! Now, Viola, do you allow for types in people? Don't you see that it is not Ronald Colman's nature or style to emote openly? But how effective his calmness is! Mr. Colman is not lacking in admirers. His fans would not have him otherwise. To my mind, Ronald Colman's aloofness seems born of sensitiveness, even shyness. A suggestion of great emotional depths — passion and strength — under control. For all his calmness, he seems a trifle selfconscious. ' Some people insist this is a form of conceit. But I think it is the reaction of a very sensitive nature. You'd better take a closer look at Ronald Colman, Viola. Greta. Taunton, Massachusetts. This is my first letter to any movie magazine. But — I cannot refrain from writing after having read Miss Viola Davies' unjust criticism of Ronald Colman. It may be that no one will ever take the place of Rudy, but why should Miss Davies so bitterly condemn Ronald? In my opinion, he is a better actor than Valentino ever was ; though no doubt most fans will disagree with that. I wonder if Miss Davies read "Why Is Ronald Colman So Aloof?" in the February Picture Play. If not, I advise her to do so. It may explain to her what she calls "the conceit written all over his face." Unless Miss Davies has a heart of stone, that article about Colman should cause her to change her mind about him. Ronald is unsurpassed. His marvelous acting in "Beau Geste" and "The Dark Angel" proved that. Elsie Cinello. Atlantic City, New Jersey. While clinging frantically to a swaying strap on a homeward-bound trolley in the evening rush several days ago, my glance wandered to a Picture Play in the hands of a fellow passenger. I glimpsed a fan letter headed "Who Can Replace Rudy? No One!" Well, that was perfectly all right — probably no one will, and why should any one wish to take his place? It may have been an enviable one, but I am sure we all prefer all the stars in their own individual places. But that isn't the point. In reading further, I discovered a rather nasty slam at my special favorite, Ronald Colman, and that I cannot take without an argument. The letter went on to say that he had conceit written all over his face and could never forget himself for very long. Imagine any one saying that, especially after seeing him in "The Dark Angel," "Kiki," "Stella Dallas," ;'Lady Windermere's Fan," and "The Winning of Barbara Worth." It almost breaks my heart for any one even to think it. Personally, I think he is marvelous. He is so splendidly human, so genuine, so simple and sincere. I wouldn't miss one of his pictures for anything. My only regret is that we see so few of his films, and so little of him in these few. Peggy Marshall. 519 West Twenty-fourth Street, Richmond, Virginia. A Romance Fostered by "Picture Play" Olive D. Thompson's letter in a recent issue, about the friends she had made through Picture Play, was very interesting. Picture Play has played a wonderful, glorious role in many lives, including my own. Once in a small country town I placed a copy of Picture Play into ihe hands of a twenty-year-old girl whose father had just been killed by a falling log. This girl was a typical country kid, who knew next to nothing about the world outside, and the death of her father seemed to take all the pep out of life for her. Well, this one little issue of Picture Play awoke her sleeping instincts and sort of dulled the edge of her grief. She asked interestedly for more issues of the magazine, which I gladly supplied. And before many months had passed, I received a shy, blushing girl into my arms and wished her joy and a long and happy wedded life with her Picture Play hubby ! 'Twas through the "What the Fans Think" Department that these two had become acquainted. They are one of the happiest couples I have ever known, and have a charming baby girl now. What do the fans think about "talking pictures?" I, for one, was well satisfied with what we had. The great silent drama leaves so much to the imagination that it is indeed highly romantic. In closing, I'd like to say that I'd love to hear from some of the fans, especially the Helen Ferguson, Bebe Daniels, and Harrison Ford admirers, and from those interested in writing, for it's my greatest ambition to become a writer ! Louise Buckholz. Box 351, Osseo, Wisconsin. We Don't Want Hokum! "We— Want— Hokum !" Well, / don't! And I live in a small town, too. I think the reason why the theaters get big crowds when a Western picture comes along is because they usually run a Western on Saturday night, and that is the night that draws the biggest crowd — that and Sunday night. The crowd goes to the theater on Saturday just the same, whether the picture is going to be good or not. And it usually isn't good! The theater in our town never has a good picture on Saturday night — always Rin-Tin-Tin, Rex, Tom Mix, or Hoot Gibson. Why, if these players and their pictures are supposed to draw such big crowds, don't the exhibitors show them any other part of the week? And why don't they show Gloria Swanson, Adolphe Menjou, or Douglas Fairbanks on Saturdays? Because it is such players as these who draw the big crowds — any time of the week. The main reason why there is such a big crowd on Saturday and Sunday is because the country people, having to work the rest of the week, find no time or are too tired to go out on week days, so they generally drop into the movies on Saturday night, and see the*worst pictures ever, while the smart theater manager saves all his best draws for the rest of the week so that, whether we are tired or not, we'll go again ! But most of us can't go again. We're too tired after a hard day's work, so it's no wonder the producers think "we — want — hokum!" A. R. Porterville, California. An Appreciation of "Beau Geste." Ever since I read "Beau Geste" I have been looking forward with mingled anticipation and apprehension to seeing it on the screen, and now that I have seen the splendid picture Mr. Brenon has given" us I simply have to write about it. So many, mam? times I have suffered in seeing favorite books "adapted" to the screen that, for the last year or more, when I heard of such a production, I stayed as far away from it as I could, but after seeing Mr. Brenon's production of "Beau Geste," I've taken heart again. I simply can't say enough for the fidelity with which he followed the story. It is certainly like coming on an oasis in the desert to find one director we can depend on to give us