Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

8 Wkat tke Fans Tkink A Plea and a Prayer. FIRSTLY, a whole-hearted "Hear, hear!" for those fans who thank Picture Play for the friends they have made through these columns. I, too, have formed associations with readers all over the world, and many of them are now very dear and real friends. I am an average English girl, and I love America and Americans. You are a generous, sincere people, and I am very glad that some of my greatest friends are Uncle Sam's nephews and nieces. I understand you so much better, admire you so much more, since I have grown to know some wonderful American fans. Now, I have a piece to say! I am not a talkie fan, but I commend the inventor of Vitaphone for each and every honor that this world and the next can bestow, for giving me the indescribable experience of "getting" Al Jolson. He is a great artist, with matchless personality and talent, and I have never fallen so hard in my life. Another bushel of thanks to America ! Got any more like him — unattached, if possible? Finally, a plea and a prayer. I hope I am not unkind, but I must say that if I read any more articles detailing the intellectual brilliance of Louise Fazenda, I shall rise up and hie me to the nearest river, wherein I shall throw the offending magazine. The prayer — please give us back Betty Bronson. She is unique, and an enchanting memory too rare to be lost in the joyless hash factories. Bettie G. Edwards. 7 Belmont House, Candover Street, London, W. 1, England. A Deaf Fan's Views. This hideous talking-picture invention has got to have its day, serve the sensation seekers, and fill the box offices. But I beg to disagree with Lee Bailey of Houston, Texas, when he says a talking film is "progress." It is not. It is merely a hybrid horror which, because of the novelty hounds and rival electric companies, may succeed in ousting the silent drama, an entirely individual and unique art. Nothing can improve upon it. It stands alone. Talking dialogue perverts and ruins its raison d'etre — silence. I like an , appropriate musical accompaniment, as in John Gilbert's "Masks of the Devil." I was delighted with it, and rejoiced that there was no dialogue. You see, I am deaf. Talking films are im possible for me. What is the point in ending the existence of the army of handicapped people to which I belong? We are facing no entertainment, if silent pictures are no more. We will much prefer to stay at home in that event, and must lose the only form of entertainment we can really enjoy. As the "Silent Drama Fan" alluded to says, the producers are certainly taking much for granted when they say the public wants talking pictures. To those with whom I have talked on the subject, there is nothing more wonderful than the silent drama. So how much more so must it be to those who cannot hear ; how much more sane to leave all disagreeable noises to the imagination. For instance, of all the awful things, I think the Movietone news reels are the worst. The ear-splitting — to me, deaf as I am — noise of yelling crowds at ball games could not be duplicated in Dante's "Inferno." I tried to stop my ears, but couldn't. I fail to see anything gained, while everything restful and pleasant, is lost. I might have enjoyed hearing King George's speech, if I could hear, or other speeches of the sort, but sound does not belong on the screen, except for musical accompaniment. That is my final opinion, and no perfected Movietone or Vitaphone could ever change it. I don't want anything canned, and I don't believe sane or thinking people, on the whole, do either. As for bidding "the silent drama a sad good-by," as Lee Bailey suggests in his sublime pose of ignoring everything and everybody but his own point of view, let us rather say that the noisy era will be short and come to a speedy end. Ethel M. Stearns. 1253 Beacon Street, Brookline, Massachusetts. Allah Help Us! Heaven preserve us from the all-talking pictures ! I have managed to sit through three — "Lights of New York," "The Terror," and "The Home-towners." They were all terrible. The action could have been beaten by a two-day-old snail. Everything must be slowed down so the actors can talk. If the producers must have all-talking movies, why can't they be limited to comedies ? I think talking comedies are enjoyable. [Continued on page 10]