Screenland (May-Oct 1941)

AN INVITATiON To dispense with formalities, we cordially invite you to use these pages as an outlet for your innermost feelings concerning, of course, "the people's best entertainment" — the movies. If the word "best" gets your goat, tell us about it; it may win you a prize. If you simply dote on the histrionic doings of your favorite cinema darlings, that, too, may hit the jack pot. Monthly prizes of $10.00, $5.00 and five of $1.00 each. Closing date, 25th of the month. Please address your letters to Screexland's Fans' Forum, 45 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. a terrific impact. James Stewart was not only visiting, but he was here to stay for he had been transferred to the army base at Moffet Field. The whole town was eager to get a glimpse of the famous movie star, but no one knew just when he was to arrive. Army officials had shunned publicity. On March 28, at 7 :22 a.m., it happened : Mr. Stewart arrived in Mountain Mew. By sheer luck I was one of the few who was at the station to greet him. I had missed my 7:20 train and was waiting in the station room when the 7 :22 local chugged in, bound for San Francisco. Only one passenger stepped oft' the train — a tall, lanky young man dressed in khaki and wearing an Overseas cap. His blue army duffel bag slung over his shoulder and he carried a suitcase in his other hand. Jimmy had arrived and there were only four persons there at the station to greet him ! Without fanfare, the shy Mr. Stewart arrived in our little town. It was indeed a pleasure to know that Jimmy Stewart has the same likeable quality off the screen that he has on the screen. As one of the army privates told me : "That Stewart guy is really a swell fella ! He doesn't talk much about Hollywood; he seems to be thinking all the time. Boy, who wouldn't think about Hedy Lamarr, Marlene Dietrich and Olivia de Havilland !" CARL PERRY, Mountain View, Calif. What has happened to Wallace Ford? This great, natural actor is forced to take parts like those given him in "Two Girls on Broadway," "Scatterbrain," and "Roar of the Press." In all these pictures he portrayed reporters. Now tell me how a fine actor like Wallace can show his talent with roles like that? Has the public forgotten his superb performance in "The Informer?" Or his poignant portrayal of the "good guy" who never had a chance in "Back Door to Heaven," which was truly a great film ? Won't some wide-awake producer or casting director give this powerful dramatic actor a good, strong, meaty role? I'll guarantee you that Ford will then rank right up with the Munis, Tracys and Robinsons. FRANK J. PEPE, Watertown, N .Y. HONORABLE MENTION I wanna complain about those cowboy stars who look old enough to be John Barrymore's grandfather. Must they all be short and, to put it kindly, stout? Aren't there enough young, handsome extras ready to pounce on the chance for a Wild W est part, who do not have excessive chins and receding hairlines? Boy, is Gene Autry gonna hate me for this! HAZEL LEWIS, Frankfort, N. Y. In your "Tagging the Talkies" in the June issue you add this little remark at the end of your review of "Rage in Heaven." "Femmes will adore Sanders as a hero." As a George Sanders fan, I protest the import of such a statement ! I "adore" him even as a villain ! CATHERINE M. SCHIFFER, Brooklyn, N.Y. I'm one of those fifteen-cent neighborhood theater-goers, so perhaps my opinions are worth just about that much. It seems to me, after seeing "He Stayed for Breakfast," "This Thing Called Love," and "Arise My Love," that the movie powersthat-be are just itching or daring the Legion of Decency to take up its cudgels with renewed vigor. Personally, I don't see why such good actors and actresses as Melvyn Douglas. Ray Milland, Loretta Young, Rosalind Russell and Claudette Colbert, should lend (or rather sell) their talents for such shady entertainment. "Arise My Love" could have been such a grand picture without all those sly innuendoes, and it seems too bad that we can't take our teen-age children to pictures without having to blush in the dark. I'm neither a prude nor a reformer, but I think the movies could stand a little bit of both. ROSALIE JACKSON, Glendale, Calif. Editor Delight Evans' "Open Letter to Private James Stewart" should induce every American male of draft age to feel proud that he may be called upon to serve his country in her hour of gravest emergency. Miss Evans, in her article, indulges in no subtle theatricalism — to make the reader "feel sorry" for the "poor movie star" who is forced to leave his glamorous job, fabulous salary and fan adulation for the grim routine of soldiering, at less than a dollar a day. Her writing is frank and sincere. She reveals — and truthfully — that Uncle Sam harbors no flair for favoritism. Movie star, banker, doctor, lawyer, merchant and humble clerk are all one in the Draft. MAURICE JACOBS, Philadelphia, Pa. When my work with a "Travel Bureau" took me to many foreign countries, I was fascinated and highly amused to see the reaction of foreigners to American movies. One Sunday night in Valparaiso, Chile, we saw a line of patrons, three blocks in length, waiting to see Laurel and Hardy in "Out West." The script was written in Spanish, the "talkie" was English. I never watched such a good-natured audience, for the house fairly rocked with laughter when the pair burlesqued. It was a treat to be in such happy company. At an open-air theater in Cairo, Egypt, where "Anthony Adverse" was the lead, the natives almost rolled from their seats when a lover was repulsed. They like best to have the young man ejected by the father, and then sigh in pain for his ladylove outside the door. In Italy, audiences tire of continued reels, so acrobats and jugglers relieve the boredom by throwing balls and gadgets to friends. At thrilling moments throughout, they alternately show their glee and displeasure by exclamation and booing. Mae West is so much the embodiment of a type that any blonde in London is humorously addressed by that screen name. After all, what does it matter for under the skin we're all brothers and it doesn't make any difference how we enjoy makebelieve. VIVIAN VEE, Milwaukee, Wis. "POUR YOURSELF ' a pair of 'STOCKINGS with MINER'S LIQUID MAKE-UP. Gives stockingless legs eyecatching glamour and the same velvety attractiveness^ it does to face, neck and arms. Covers blemishes! Saves you "hosiery headaches", too! No runs ... no twisted seams . . . when you "pour yourself a pair of stockings". Stays on for hours and hours! Will not rub off or streak! Waterproof! Try "Hawaiian", the new Summer tone . . . or one of the other 4 flattering shades. 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