Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

114 SCREENLAND Slams Paul Lukas expresses his personality with his voice, says an excited admirer. romances ; and all the remembered roles of Barrymore, Jannings, Reid, Ray, and a host of others. I know that I would rush to see at least one each week. Ellis Jandron, 20 Randolph Street, Cambridge, Mass. CHEERING BEERY Now that the sheiks have had their day let's give credit to that one and only — (there could only be one) — Wallace Beery. He hasn't the beauty or charm to hold his audience spell bound, but wait — where can they get as good a tough character as this swashbuckling, dashing old buccaneer? Where can they get such a heavyweight mirth producer at the same time? The answer is, they can't; there is only one Wallace Beery. He has a different kind of "It." L. G. Ameson, 6257 Niagara Ave., Chicago. 111. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM If the producers want the fans to become more intimately acquainted with the players why do they not have their publicity departments include the cast of each picture in the lobby display so that we can refer to it when we come out of the theater ? Character names mean nothing to us at the beginning of a picture — and, anyway, the whole audience and his wife decide to change seats just at the time the cast is flashed on the screen. It's when the picture is finished that we are anxious to see who played "that part" so cleverly. Hazel Van Tinkess, The Carlinwood, 2612, Carter, Detroit, Mich. GARBO-DIETRICH AGAIN! Everywhere one hears of Garbo and Dietrich ! I find the discussions help both actresses, since they invite interest just at a time when the movies were falling into monotony. Let us not be cruel or unfair to either actress, but be thankful for this new competition. The great difference in this menace lies in the fact that Marlene Dietrich is a proven actress, whereas in former cases the rival had merely the looks, not the ability of the original favorite — (which proves, folks, girls especially, that beauty helps but there must be that something more — brains and personality). Think of the new things on the market; if good, they stay ; but do older products go out of business? No. Always — if good, both stay and prosper. Dietrich — Garbo — both good — both stay ! Competition is the spice of life! Miss Louise Pettijiohn, Hallock Street, Amherst, Mass. FOR JANET AND CHARLIE Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in "The Man Who Came Back," true to form, make this classic one of the greatest romantic dramas ever played. Farrell depicts the fall and rise of a young man who rallies with the assistance of Janet's wonderful love. Miss Gaynor lifts a wrecked human to the "Seventh Heaven" and he comes back to live a life of honor and achievement. No young man can see this picture without having a change of heart. I work hard every day and when I envision this play I triumph over obstacles which seemed insuperable. Long live Janet Gaynor and Charlie — together ! R. J. Hubbard, Box 353, Little Rock, Ark. HIS VOICE HAS "ZAT SOMESING!" Garbo and Valentino had the sort of personality that could go over in a big way on the silent screen ; Rudy Yallee expresses his personality in his voice ; and sc. does Paul Lukas. Before I saw Paul Lukas in "The Right to Love," he had never made the slightest impression on me. in silent pictures. His looks didn't appeal, and there was nothing about him to divert my attention from the star. But now ! He has the most fascinating masculine voice I have ever heard on the screen. Just the faintest brush of an European accent, and a charm of in An interested writer discovers that Wallace Beery has a different kind of It! flection that bring color and romance to his every look and gesture. At once, he leaps into eligibility for the Adolph Menjou sort of part. Only he has the tremendous advantage of being — or at least, looking — young enough for the hero. That voice makes him universal. He might be anybody from anywhere. And now that the talkies have come, that's the rarest asset an actor could have. Priscilla T. Campbell, Peterborough, N. H. BOOSTING BICKFORD Why don't we see more of Charles Bickford? He's a splendid actor and dominates every picture in which he appears. He was just as good as Greta Garbo in "Anna Christie" and he walked away with all his other pictures. He's a new type of leading man and is a relief from the usual ga-ga heroes we've been seeing these many years. And please, producers, don't polish this diamond in the rough ; we like him as he is. We want Big Boy Bickford in bigger and better pictures ! Marion Simmons, Hewlett, Long Island, N. Y. AND STILL THEY COME! The question that seems to be the most frequently asked in the world today is whether The Great Garbo has a rival. Who but Greta Garbo could do the things she does and make the people like them? Who but Garbo could keep aloof from the world and make people desire them ? Who could be mysterious and quiet, making no friends, and still have people worship at their shrine? Why tell her to beware of the new rivals that are springing up ? Why tell her that this French rival or that German rival will steal the crown she is now wearing ? It doesn't worry her and why should it ? She knows" she is the only woman in the world who can do the things she does and make the people like it. She knows she is the Darling of America ! Miss Ruth Clifton, 1404 Summit Ave.. Springfield. Mo.