Picture-Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1928)

12 What the Fans Think Continued from page 10 ertheless she is a great actress, a loyal trouper and photographs wonderfully. Wait till you see the good-looking James Murray on the screen! You know, he is King Vidor's discovery and plays the lead in "The Crowd" and "In Old Kentucky." Girls, as well as boys, are going to rave about him. Any one would fall for the charm of Irene Rich. She is very, very attractive, and is a wonderful person. "The Extra Boy." Culver City, California. Whew! So Ramon Novarro would flop were it not for his publicity, would he? Though now I read every word that is written of him, and never buy a magazine unless it contains his picture or an article about him, he was my favorite actor long before I ever read a ivord about him. When first I saw him in "Trifling Women," I was immediately attracted by his marvelous acting, his youth and freshness, his purity of countenance and, of course, by his physical beauty. What I read later, of his gentle and idealistic nature, mere!y confirmed what I already knew. To deny that he is an actor, is as ridiculous as to deny that he is handsome. I try not to allow pulchritude to influence my opinions of a man's performance. Raymond Keane, for instance, may be very handsome, and a nice enough young man, without being my idea of an actor. But Ramon Novarro, who could not possibly be handsomer, is, in my opinion, the greatest actor of them all. He has been forging ahead quietly but steadily. Each performance is an improvement over the preceding one. "When it seems that no one, not even himself, could do better, he astounds us by improving upon perfection ! Those who claim that his friends paint him as an impossibly perfect human are unfortunate in their prejudices. When they insinuate that his admirers lack brains, they become positively insulting. I, for one, prefer to believe that there is such a person as Ramon in existence. Though I have read of great souls in "The Lives of the Saints/' Novarro is the only one whom I have had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh. I cannot describe the sensations I felt while near him. It was as if I were in the presence of something sacred. And now it seems as a dream. Yes, I can almost agree that Ramon Novarro is too wonderful, too beautiful, too, too good to be true. C. R. M. 415 North Sweetzer, Hollywod, California. What is an Artistic Picture? There is a ' tendency among some interviewers and magazine writers to wax enthusiastic about the more "popular" variety of films and to pretend a contempt for art. A famous director is quoted as saying that he believes in making pictures for the majority, and that as far as he is concerned, he doesn't give a darn if he never makes an artistic picture. An actor in slapstick comedies passes the opinion that he's tickled to death he can play in films that please the mob, and that he wouldn't appear in an artistic picture on a bet. Now, if by artistic pictures something dull or miserable is meant, I heartily agree with them. However, if they are being contemptuous about such pictures as "Faust," "The Merry Widow," "The Way of All Flesh," "The Little Journey," "Variety" or Chaplin's films, I'm afraid I can't join in with their jeering. In fact, it is just such films as these that have kept up my enthusiasm for the movies. Directors and actors who are incapable of understanding art, are quite right in attempting nothing beyond their comprehension, but surely they shouldn't boast of their ignorance. A great respect shown their more talented coworkers would be more in order, I think. Joan Perula. San Francisco, California. A Lecture. Why do some fans "pan" the incomparable Gloria so? Don't you ever stop and wonder what the, screen would be without her? That you once raved about her when she made a successful picture ; how you used to boast about the photograph she sent you? Oh, yes, you have! And you still like Gloria Swanson — you just won't admit it, that's all ! Don't be a hypocrite and condemn her when she is not riding the waves. Besides, what good will this petty criticism do, anyway? Nothing except perhaps reflect on your opinion. Oh, "The Loves of Sunya" was a failure, and so you think "Sadie Thompson" will be. A true fan does not desert her favorite when she has made a bad picture. Just wait until "Sadie Thompson" is released, won't you simply run to see Gloria's second independent venture? You know, deep down in your heart, that you will! I've been a movie fan so long that the usual picture fails to interest me, but I still like Gloria Swanson, best of all — before, now, and to-morrow ! In my opinion she is the best actress on the screen, and although Miss Swanson isn't the most beautiful, she is true to life, a superb woman ! So let's give Gloria a hand, and please don't turn traitor. If this letter has in any way helped you again to become her devoted admirer then my little lecture hasn't been in vain ! Miriam: Rosenbloum. South Valley Street, Collinsville, Alabama. Syd, the Brother of Charlie. Having had the honor of meeting the most charming, patient, diplomatic, and humorous man on this earth, I wish to state that America, England, and Hollywood should be proud he belongs to them. He is Syd Chaplin. I have just finished appearing as an extra in his new film "A Little Bit of Fluff," during seven strenous days — but I feel it would take seven years to describe adequately the never-failing kindness that characterized all his behavior, and the charm of manner pervading all his work. Say, did you ever try to climb a balcony, in a glaring, stewing light, -with hands pulling roughly at you both ways? Ever take a hand at chasing under and over tables ; at being elbowed and knocked and roughly trodden underfoot by a surging crowd? If you did, I'll bet you didn't come up smiling. Syd did — all of that and more — sometimes six or seven times a day. Do you wonder that we extras were tired ? But not for long. For Mr. Chaplin seemed always to come forward at the right moment with some amusing absurdity or silly gesture, to start us all laughing, and hearten us again. A disheveled, exhausted Mr. Chaplin — but still smiling. He performs all his stunts himself. Knocks, grazes, bruises and trampled fingers are all part of the day's work for him ; and you can take it from me that, if a dummy was used in that balcony scene, it did not represent him. One day there was a row on the set. Such things will happen, and there was a great deal of shouting and noise. We gathered around interested, but alarmed. The dispute was very vehement. Up on the balcony a heated voice was clearly heard above the din : "You mind your own business ! What's it got to do with you?" We swung round in one movement, and saw two other combatants, engaged in a far fiercer argument than the original couple, who were instantly forgotten. Arms were whirling wildly around as the antagonists writhed here and there. They were Syd Chaplin and the Dummy! I never heard such a roar of laughter in my life, followed by deafening applause. Some diplomatic way of ending a row, eh? But Syd smiled modestly and made the dummy bow to the clapping. I am proud to be one of his most faithful and sincere admirers. Mary Lytton. 146 Norwood Road, West Norwood, S. E. 27, London, England. Tell Me What You Like— and I'll Tell You What You Are. Looking back, it appears that the principal argument in "What the Fans Think" has been the attempt to convince others that our ideal lover is the screen's "perfect lover." Many and varied have been the arguments employed to bring about the conversion of others to our manner of thinking. Perhaps this letter might help solve the problem. To those of us who are bored with the ordinary, everyday type of lover, such as perhaps our own Bill, Bob, or Jack might be, and who long for an ardent lover who cares naught for consequences, John Gilbert is the ideal lover. Or perhaps some of us are stirred by love-making of a gentler type. The kind that is serious, sacrificial, and solemn. To these Ronald Colman is the ideal lover. To lovers of anchovies, caviar, orchids, ermine, first nights, and sophistication to the (ith degree, I offer Adolphe Menjou as the ideal lover. To the spoiled, pampered beauty, surfeited with admirers — or, yes men — and who longs for a lover who is different, does not the nonchalant, devil-may-care. Jack Mulhall appeal as the ideal lover? Would not the timorous maiden whose life is perhaps dominated by a fanatical parent, look upon that bold, rash, selfconfident Bill Haines as an ideal lover? For would not his egotism and intrepidity overcome such inconsequential obstacles as a fanatical parent? The zealous maiden who looks upon love as God's greatest gift would find in the pure, sacred, devoted and inspired love-making of Ramon Novarro her ideal. Then, too, there may be some who, like the writer, find a screen lover who embodies in his love-making all the qualities enumerated above. In other words, one whose technique is well-nigh perfect. To this humble scribe Clive Brook suggests such perfection.' So you see, dear fans, the screen has any number of "perfect" or "ideal" lovers. It all depends on what manner we individually measure their perfection. Grace O'Donnell. 2242 West Ninety-eighth Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Something Ought to be Done. Much has been said recently about breaking up the costarring team of Ronald Colman and Vil'ma Banky, and I wish, howContinued on page 115