Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

12 Wkat the Fans Think But one should not speak of extraordinary beauty without thinking of Pauline Frederick. Her beauty comes from character, courage, and sorrow. I can compare her to no one. Her beauty is the blend of the Virgin and Messalina. She is a great artist. Gloria Swanson — -what a gorgeous and versatile beauty ! I think she must be a sorceress, for she can be separately or altogether, for our analysis, gamin, queen, diva, maiden, courtesan, hag, or grande dame. How authentic are all her moods ! And how artful her display of good or bad breeding ! Look back on several of her characterizations, particularly her Countess, in "The Coast of Folly." Think of Bernhardt, but do not compare them. The Bernhardt tradition would suffer. Swanson has only begun. She is already the great character actress of the screen. Emil Jannings is the one great male screen artist. Novarro is alienated from greatness by a Ben-Hur complex. Some day he will step from his unsteady pedestal as a plaster saint. When he does, there should 'be a crown of laurel leaves awaiting him. Imagine Novarro as the real Don Juan of authentic historians, or as the Cesare Borgia of popular fancy. W. A. Burford. Waukomis, Oklahoma. Two Brickbats. I wonder if there are other fans who are as bored with all this fighting over Rudolph Valentino as I am? Fighting, I call it, or tongue scrapping, as you like. I wonder if he would appreciate it. I bet he wouldn't. It's all right to give him praise. He deserves it. He was a wonderful actor, but why not give him fine, clean tributes, instead of sickening nonsense like calling him "a little, dark-eyed, impetuous boy, laughing with the sunshine," et cetera. I'm glad I'm not sentimental. Another thing — I don't see what any one can see in Conrad Nagel. He hasn't any looks, or acting ability. Every time he plays in a picture I consider the picture spoiled. He is old and blond and bald. Bald on the top of his head. He ought to play grandfather parts. Madelon Bradley. 1635 Orchard Street, Chicago, Illinois. Blessings on the Kind Policeman. Last month I had the pleasure of seeing one of the dreams of my life come true — I vacationed in Hollywood. But I certainly didn't believe — as optimistic as I was — that on one night I would have the pleasure and privilege of seeing and talking to almost every star in the movies. Several years ago I was drafted as an extra to work for two days with Tom Moore, Eileen Percy, Eddie Phillips, and Chester Conklin. To all of you real fans I needn't say that I was thrilled, and on that memorable occasion I had several chats with Chester Conklin, and number among the most thrilling moments of my life my dance with him. But that was as far as my movie career went ; and other than seeing almost every one who makes a personal appearance in our town, I have met few actors. Therefore, imagine me close to the rope at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, with a five-cent notebook and a fivecent pencil, bought because of the forethought of a good friend of mine, awaiting, the stars who were attending the premiere of "Lilac Time." Can you fans away from Hollywood imagine Richard Arlen and Jobyna Ralston walking into your theater, or Lita Grey and Roy d'Arcy, or Charles Rogers and Claire Windsor, or Virginia Valli and Charles Farrell ? Can you imagine John Gilbert passing through an excited throng, throwing a kiss in your direction? Can you picture your favorite, which Gloria Swanson always has and always will be to me, being yelled and shouted at all the way to the entrance? I couldn't contain myself — I shouted and screamed and waved, crazy with happy delirium. It isn't every one, on a two-week vacation, who can see Gloria ! Norma Shearer was beautiful and queenly with her handsome husband, Irving Thalberg, at her side. Jack Mulhall passed by, and that prince of fellows, Harold Lloyd, whose smiles would warm the coldest heart, was there. Olive Borden, George O'Brien, Mabel Norman, Colleen Moore, Mayor Walker, Larry Kent — dozens passed into the theater. And when the crowd had lessened, and it was intermission, I smiled at a kind policeman and was allowed through the ropes, I alone, the only person in that vast throng of personages. Johnny Walker started the autograph — a bit of bother it seemed for him — then Al Jolson, Richard Arlen, Charles Chaplin, Lupe Velez, Edna Murphy, Lew Cody, Laura La Plante, all a bit kinder, following. Joan Crawford, next, wrote beautifully, with Doug, Jr., following. Very distinctive handwriting has that fellow. Madge Bellamy, Leatrice Joy, Alberta Vaughn, Jack Pickford — I can't name them all. John Gilbert kidded me as he signed, asking me if I wouldn't like Ramon Novarro's signature, designating some one far from being Ramon. Ruth Roland, Ben Bard, and Dick Grace, the aviator, were next. Then that big, fine fellow, Gary Cooper, signed — I thought with boredom — but he returned the book to me with the nicest smile in the world. Now he's just about my favorite. Do you blame me? Gloria Swanson, Lupe Velez, Laura La Plante, Norma Shearer, and perhaps Sue Carol were the most beautiful. The most disappointing in person — they may have just seemed so to me — were Bebe Daniels, Phyllis Haver, and Lina Basquette. They were certainly kind to me, and if some didn't like the trouble I put them to, I don't blame them. I love them just the same. Just think, they all might have given me cold stares if they had felt so inclined, but they didn't. I say "Hurray !" for all the stars, and send a silent prayer of thanks to that kind policeman. Jeanne McCarthy. 367 East Eleventh Street, Portland, Oregon. From the Argentine. I feel that I must express my opinion, too, as every one does. First of all, I agree with every one that Novarro is wonderful. I think he is the type that all women idealize. Fine, sensitive, supremely clean — in all senses of the word, spiritually and otherwise — but at the same time human. Ronald Colman is another one who is an ideal type of man and should be given roles like the one he had in "The Dark Angel." I do not think parts like the one he took in "The Night of Love" are suited to him. I saw him long ago in a comedy with Constance TaT madge, the name of which I don't remember, about an impoverished nobleman who sells his house to a rich American with a beautiful daughter. He was very good in that, too. Vilma Banky is a darling, too. and I am so glad that she married Rod La Rocque, and I hope they stay married and do not get divorced. Why should people think it is good publicity for the stars to be continually getting divorces? I am sure we fans prefer to have them stay married. Another one I want to see more is Rod La Rocque, who, I consider, was splendid in "Resurrection," with a role which suited him down to the ground. Those are the parts he excels in, and in which he is much better suited than Ronald Colman. I hope he does not become a director, as was reported in one of the magazines I read lately, but stays on in pictures to delight his fans. Bebe Daniels is suited very well in her comedies, and is one of my favorite actresses. Also, I like James Hall, but consider he ought to be given another part like the one he had in "Hotel Imperial," with Pola Negri. He is good enough, like Conrad Nagel, for more serious roles. Why people rave about Clara Bow's acting, when she does not do anything but show a lot of leg and throw herself about, is another mystery to me. She might be able to act, but we do not get many opportunities of seeing it. The same might be said of Olive Borden. Some of my other favorites are, besides the ones mentioned above, Leatrice Joy, Norma Shearer, Doris Kenyon, Richard Barthelmess, Richard Dix, and a good many others. And, of course, Rudolph Valentino will always remain the one and only. Mabel Ridley. Rio Bamba 1042, Buenos Aires. To Ward Crane. We loved you — and oh, how we shall miss you ! The news of your passing was a bit hard to swallow. We haven't yet recovered from the shock. It was so sudden, so unexpected. Your roles on the screen — some good and some not so good ; but, no matter, your charm, your breeding, and your good looks only made us wonder when your big chance would come. When? When? And then this ! We wanted you, and wish you could have stayed with us a little longer, but — God's will be done. We loved you, old pal. Anita. Stockton, California. A Tribute to Pola. All the letters about Malcolm H. Oettinger's interview with Pola Negri have interested me a great deal. By this time, I feel that I must say something about the matter. I think Pola is by far the greatest actress on the screen, although Dolores del Rio is a close second. I have never seen Pola in person, but I have a letter from a lady in New York who entertained her a few years ago. She says that Pola is very charming and fascinating, with a beautiful voice and a lovely figure. I like Greta Garbo quite well on the screen, but B. L. F.'s letter about how she is in person goes to show that you can't always take Mr. Oettinger seriously. Pola can act as she pleases in private life, as far as I am concerned, just so she continues to give us as fine performances as she gave in "The Spanish Dancer," "Passion," "The Woman on Trial," and "Three Sinners." A Pola Fan. Los Angeles, California. More About Writing to Stars. I so much enjoyed reading Elinor Garrison's experiences in writing to stars that I have decided to tell about my own.