Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-03

In handling review Of a show of
the type Of Ladies' Night" a reviewer
faces two alternatives-one to put soft
pedal on the indecent proceedings or
tell the honest truth about the stage
filth. In exposing the indecency of such
shows, the reviewer must necessarily face
the possibility of being accused G press
aeenting a show" That is, some people
have the foolish thought that people will
flock to a theater if the critics brand
the show as indecent"
Those who labor under the belief can
arouse themselves from such dream
In the review of Ladies' Night" this
week in The Times, the reviewer honestly
branded the show as tndecent-that was
the way he felt about it. In giving an
honest opinion of this indecent" and
silly show, the man who covered the
show did so in following out the policy
Of this paper to give the honest report
on all stage and movie proceedings
Honesty-that is the highest attribute
Of dramatic or movie criticism. We have
no motive in urging people to attend
the theater If the reviewer considers
performance Of an indecent or unworthy
manner. 1t is our little job TO tell the
patrons of the stage and the screen the
truth as we see il.
Following the review Of Ladies' Night"
this department has been congratulated
by patrons of the theater for honestly"
handling this attraction The Indian
apolis public did not break its neck"
TO see Ladies' Night" From the reports
this department has on the business done
here bv this show it was worse than fair.
The sooner all dramatic writers over
the country realize the value OF uncon-
trolIed stage and movie criticisms, the
sooner the public viii come to the
theater or the movie showing meritOrious
productions.
We may all differ and differ honestly
upon the dramatic value Of q play and
the manner Of presentation, but there can
be no difference of opinion on 'tnde-
cency."
Honest reviews are not press agenting.
l. Il
Received in the mail this week that the
readers Of "Photoplay Magazine" Curing
contest to decide 1.-The finest motion
picture" made in 1920, have awarded the
honor to 'HumOresque." This depart
ment, in considering movie production Oh
last year, headed its selection OF the
twelve best movies with "Humoresque."
The Cosmopolitan Productions have
made the following announcement:
Two million readers OF "Photoplay
Magazine have cast their votes in favor
of "HumoresGue" a Cosmopolitan Pro-
duction, as the finest motion picture
product in America in 1920. The De
cember issue Of the magazine announces
the result Of the balloting and the con-
sequent award Of 4 gold medal TO Cos
mopoIitan Productions. The magazine. OF
which James X. Quirk is editor, con-
graduates Cosmopolitan Productions and
all concerned with the making of
'HumoresQue"
Early in the year "Photoplay7 an
nounced that it would award a gold
medal to the company that produced in
1920 the picture taat was judged by its
readers as the best photoplay. Ballots
we're printed in four successive issue of
the publication and it was not long, the
editors said, before their offices re-
sembled an Arctic landscape, so heavy
was the return Of the ballots.
The medal is of solid gold, Weighing
1894 pennyweight and was executed by
Tiffany. The inscription on the diverse
reads: 1.-THE Photoplay Magazine Medal
On the reverse: Presented TO Cosmo-
politan Productions by PhotODlay
Magazine for the production Humoresque,
the best photopiay Of the year 1920"
In announcing its plan to have its
readers vote on the best photoplay OF
1920. 'Photoplay" gave those quaIlfica-
lions to be considered: Theme. story,
direction, acting, continuity, setting and
phOtoplay.
In its December issue the magazine, IN
making known the result Of the contest,
says:
you. the 100000 readers of this
magazine, constitute the jury for the
awarding Of flmdom's Croix de Guerre.
You are the judges. The photoplay is
by, Of and for the people. 1t was up
10 you.
I'VE think you made a wise selection
in Humoresque.'
This picture is truly great II IS an
artistic achievement and a popular tri-
umph. Its theme, the universally Of
motherhood. It's direction, worthy Of the
beautiful theme. Its acting, exceptional.
Its settings, extraordinary. Its cOntinu-
ity, smooth and faithful. It's pbotog
raphy, clear and fine.
ITO william Randolph Hearst of Cos
mopolitan Productions, the producer Of
'Humoresque' is awarded the first medal
Of honor, the first presentation of a
lasting tribute of significance and ar
tistic value. The medal goes to the pro-
Queer because no picture can be greater
than its producer. e taxes the produc-
ers faith, foresigh -sdness, money and
appreciation to make a great picture. Mr..
Hearst believed in Fannie Hurst's great
short story, which appeared in Cosmo-
politan Magazine. He believed in Frank
Borzage 1.-THE director He brought these
two together. The result has been seen,
wept over and applsuded by nearly every
one in the world"
Following fast on the public pronounce
ment by william Jennings Bryan that
the motion picture is one Of the greatest
educational institutions that man has
known" and there isn't anything good
that cannot be taught by motion pic
lures" comes the announcement from the
national non-theatrical exchanges that
good films suitable for schools and
churches are IN such demand that even
now reservations for Christmas programs
are being made for such films THE
Fairy and the Wait" Holy Night,
God and the Man." II and the Mountain
and others like them.
Always on the lookout for films suit
able for the nontheatrical exhibitor,
Harry Levey has recently added several