Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

for July 193 1 97 Slams and Salvos Clara Bow fans are sticking by her. Let's hope she gives a good performance in "Kick In." WANTS GARBO AND GILBERT RE-UNITED Why must actors like John Gilbert and Greta Garbo be separated, when their best work was done playing together ? Surely, John's acting has not improved much since he became a star. His most splendid work was done opposite the great Garbo. And why must they be separated now ? To be stars in their own right ? But what difference does that make, when a star seems to do better work as a featured player? Greta Garbo. and John Gilbert belong together. Without each other there is something lacking in their acting. They are such an ideal pair, and work beautifully together, and their love scenes were created so realistically that they always left me spellbound. And now, must they be separated forever or will someone get wise and cast them together again, where they both belong, before anything happens to their popularity? Sybil Steinberg, 71 West 182nd St., Bronx, New York. ANOTHER CHANCE FOR CLARA Should Clara Bow be given another chance? I should say so! Clara cannot prove she is a great actress because she has not been given good stories. I'd like to see her play Sadie Thompson. She'd walk away with it — she'd make screen history ! I want to see Clara Bow on the screen and I know there are a million others like me. Dina Martin, 1343 South 51st Street, _ Cicero, Illinois. SEE PAGE 24 All my life I've boohed the blondes ! Blonde women were pretty bad, but blond men — well, they were like stale crackers ! A dashing, dark, daring lover, or even the brutal black-hearted brunette villain Continued from page 8 sounded pleasing notes in my responsive heart. But, invariably I edged toward an exit when a slim-shouldered corn-haired hero hounded the films. And, after a good many years of feeling frankly justified in blasting bland blonds, I have to take it all back and sneak in to see a Swede ! And what a sweet Swede he is ! Broad, bracing, brawny shoulders. Keen, kind, kingly eyes. Wide, winning, will-o'the-wisp smile. Low lilting, ravishing voice, and a dashing, debonair, deliberate manner — crowned with a wealth of golden hair ! And who is this wondrous, winning wizard ? Why, Phillips Holmes, of course ! Jeannette Lloyd, Apartment 2-F, Sherwood Hall, 4322 45th Street, Long Island City, N. Y. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Wouldn't it be wonderful if — John Gilbert could make a big comeback? They would film "Blossom Time" ; We could see Molly O'Day again ; Joan Crawford would quit smoking; Norma Shearer wasn't so conceited; Bebe Daniels would sing more. Willie Summers, 619 Cypress, Kansas City, Mo. A TOAST TO TIBBETT The producers are correct in their assumption that movie-goers are tired of musical pictures. They are — but not to the extent the producers seem to think. Pictures in which the players break into song for no apparent reason, and at illogical intervals, are embarrassing to the audience, but pictures such as "The Prodigal" with Lawrence Tibbett are a treat. His songs were delivered at sane times and places, and did not interrupt the natural unfolding of the plot. And what a grand voice and personality he has ! His exuberant good humor is as irresistible as his glorious voice — there is nothing of the wilting crooner about Tibbett. (I'd like to see him in a role of the D'Artagnan type; he would understand the robust adventure and gallantry of that day.) Yes, when musicals are as stimulating as "The Prodigal," they are welcome. Miss L. Chapman, 665-a Castro Street. San Francisco, California. A SUGGESTION You fans who have read "Kitty," by Warwick Deeping, don't you think it is an ideal vehicle for Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell ? I can think of no other actress or actor so ideally suited to these parts as Gaynor and Farrell. Can't you just see Janet as tiny, lovable, brave Kitty Greenwood, and Charles as pathetic, war-torn Alex St. George? This story is one of the sweetest I have ever read, and I would like to see Janet and Charlie make a talkie of it. Marion Morris, Conwav, Arkansas. ROASTING THE AUDIENCE I used to become outraged at the type of motion picture shown on the modern screen. Especially those comedies whose high spot was a sequence in which the men had to run around sans trousers, finally ending with a general house-wrecking. And then I saw "City Lights." Remember the final sequence, when Charlie is out of prison and he walks along the street, a pathetic figure, and the two newsboys begin to pester him? It was during this scene that the audience laughed ! The only person who thought there might be some pathos in the scene was a (Continued on page 126) Charlie Chaplin can make as many silent pictures as he chooses — the crowd is with him. "City Lights" is his most successful film to date, so Charlie can't be wrong!