Screenland (May-Oct 1941)

FIRST PRIZE LETTER $10.00 There's one angle in these modern familylife films that remains a puzzle to me. How can movie mothers always look fresh as a daisy, when they are supposed to represent average housewives like the rest of us who do our own cooking, wash the dishes, and keep the house spotless ? Twelve years of this kind of life have shown me that if I do my chores satisfactorily, I can't find enough extra time to powder my nose, polish my fingernails, and maintain a fashion-page appearance. I can't greet my working husband looking like a dainty deb. Yet husbands expect us to do it because the movies picture it that way. I hope Hollywood will oblige by revealing the secret of how Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Hardy, et al, can still look like Fifth Avenue models when their husbands behold them across the dinner table ! MRS. E. M. CARTER, Atlanta, Georgia SECOND PRIZE LETTER $5.00 The one person who is making it hot for Bette Davis is Ida Lupino. In my estimation, Ida's performance as the murderess in "They Drive By Night" topped Bette's Mildred in "Of Human Bondage." And following that came her role as the faithful sweetheart of the gangster in "High Sierra" which out-shone anything Bette has done in some time. Now she comes to us again in "The Sea Wolf," which is destined to bring her the Academy Award for 1941. Bette's acting causes me to hate her, while Ida tugs at my heart, making me forgive her for what she has done. She is ruthless, yet beneath it all she has a heart of gold. Where Bette gets you with her drawn mouth and sharp tongue, Ida plays with her eyes, making you feel the pain and hatred which she herself is supposed to feel. This can be best explained in the close-up at the end of "High Sierra." Aside from mastery of photography, probably the greatest piece of acting was done at that moment, when only her eyes spoke. My advice to Bette is to watch out or Ida will be way ahead of her, and prove to be perhaps the greatest star Hollywood has had in a long time. LAWRENCE A. WIGGIN, New York, N. Y. FIVE PRIZE LETTERS $1.00 Each Perhaps if I made the motion enough seconds will be voiced to help overcome a practice among "praise agents" which is small but PUHLENTY irksome to those of us who are getting no younger fast. For several years an actress' age is mentioned freely in the press, and apparently, truthfully, for the age increases year by year, even as does yours and mine. Then presto and all of a sudden-like, the actress becomes anywhere from one to five years younger, and moreover she stays this much younger from here on in. Now this may at first blush seem like a relatively unimportant matter, which truth to tell, it is. However, it is important enough that the ages are consistently fed to the reading public as part of the regular diet. What the heck's wrong with getting older ? Either the actresses should age along with the rest of us, or nothing should ever be said about their ages. For "checking-up" purposes you might just start with the mild case of Loretta Young, who miraculously got one whole year YOUNGER just lately. That means that I, who used to be the same age as Loretta Young, am now, alas, two years OLDER, because on my recent birthday I got a year older while she was getting younger. MRS. DALE ORINDA, Oakland, Calif. A few years ago many movie producers tried to make us motion picture-conscious. This was done by means of a contest with an impressive title stating that, "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." After seeing a number of recent movies I am forced to believe that they have forgotten this statement. Why must the public be subjected to propaganda movies that are either too brutal or, just stupid? In the pictures which try to show the dangers of our enemies within, the villain can usually be recognized in the first reel. They either have a monocle and a thick accent, or a crew haircut and piercing eyes. If every Fifth Columnist looked like this the G-Men would have no worries. I do not consider pictures such as "Night Train" and "Escape" stupid, because they both had moving, dramatic stories and were done with a minimum of "heils." If the studios must make propaganda movies I wish that they would remember that the public will not accept movies that are childish or hysterical." JOAN DOYLE, Brooklyn, N. Y. Although I am a junior high-school girl, I have been reading your magazine since the 7th grade and would even miss a show so I could read it. I enjoy the true facts you tell about the stars and the beautiful pictures your men take. Your photographs of CASH CORNER Screenland's policy of publishing letters both panning and petting the stars has unloosed a lot of pent-up feelings. Which, of course, was the idea we had in mind when we allotted this little corner to you readers. And, we might add, Fans' Forum is fun according to consensus of opinion. Also, you have been most generous in your salutes of approval of this, your department. We take advantage of this limited space to acknowledge our appreciation. But, getting back to more material matters — there's the appealing cash rewards ! Keep these in mind, and submit your entries immediatelv. Prizes of $10.00, $5.00 and five of $1.00 each. Closing date is the 25th of the month. Please address your letters to Screenland's Fans' Forum, 45 West 45th Street, New York, New York. young high-school actresses (Jane Withers, for example) and what they wear helps me in choosing my clothes. I love to see the pictures of new discoveries, for some day I want to be either a singing actress or a reporter on a movie book. I wish you could print your book twice a month instead of once. SHEILA LEBO, Milwaukee, Wis. Why, oh why, does a half-baked actor like Jimmy Stewart get an Academy Award ? Deliver me from that overworked, stuttering little-boy stuff of Stewart's. M. CLYMONTS, Webster Groves, Mo. I was thrilled beyond words the other evening when, as I leisurely looked over the evening paper, I saw a little notice about a big-hearted man, the darling of thousands of women, and the envy of all red-blooded men. This concerned the induction of the winner of the 1940 Motion Picture Academy Award — James Stewart — into the Army as a buck private. He had just given up $13,000 a month for the Army's $21.00 a month. He said, "I'm sure tickled I got in." I sincerely believe he meant every word of it. "Jimmy" will be just as popular in the Army as he was in the hearts of every theater-goer. The sacrifice that Stewart made will serve as inspiration to millions of patriotic Americans ; so I say, "Three cheers for Stewart — a man's man!" RALPH L. THOMPSON, Plantsville, Conn. HONORABLE MENTION If Joe Louis is getting tired of the pushovers he's been fighting, why doesn't his manager arrange a bout with terrible Eddie Robinson ? After watching him punch his way through "The Sea Wolf," I wondered that even tough John Garfield could stand up under his fury. Screen fights have always puzzled me. My common sense tells me that they're faked, yet they look so darn real. How do they manage to put them over so that they look like real scraps, yet at the same time keep their valuable actors from getting hurt? MAXINE BAXTER, Norwood, Ohio I think it was swell of you to put Miss Kathryn Grayson on your Screenland Honor Page. I, personally, think she is destined to become one of M-G-M's best stars and singers. I could sit back and listen to her singing for hours. Why don't we see more pictures of this new star, or does she live a too secluded life? A little more publicity and a few more 3