Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-01

Do Luxe Annie" writes: "I've sue
cumbed too. ! simply couldn't re-
sist any longer. just want to
ten you what n perfectly fascinating.
delightfully candid, dcliciously humor-
Gus letterbox you edit. Got your breath
yet? I really mean il. though. Would
you believe 1t. l never had the least
interest in movies. actors or actresses
until began to read your l"tterbox: For
the last two or three years lOh, yes!
I'm nh old timer. you see. like your
seif) I have been bored to death by
fAns and fanettes raving about her
ssuile' and his eyes etc. j never
caught the disease until began to read
year etterbox. 1t happened that ! came,
IN just after the Valentino controversy
and not knowing what il was all about
made up my mind to learn-so | have
become q movie fan.
ssYou said you wanted an argument
- here goes. Didn't you think that
Peter Ibbetson' was the most nalnby-
unmby picture you've ever seen-now'
hoaezt? Every one else that have
aGked Just looked at me with that sort OF
faf-away gaze and exclaimed. why, It
was absolutely wonderful. Now won
YOU klvp ule your cplilDb
the photography and acrIng were per
feet. Wally was at his best lbut say.
Ssh. how do you like his hair mar
celled?). but the story-pl,ew DO you
yourself now. honestly, like that sort ot
imaginative romance? Not for me--oid
bean-I like the real stuff. Imagine
sailing around in gondolas all your lie.
but. seriously, don't you think that
this general lack of decent plot is
one of the most disappointing features
OF all the movies? ] always 90 to see
4 picture with the same feeling with
which / pick up book-with the ex-
pectation of a good story and charac-
atsrs giving a good Interpretation OF the
'xplot, but not Overshadowing 1t. When
DO You see this in the movies: Seldom:
No ever. No expense or time Is spared
In giving elaborate settings; only veri-
chosen for the leading parts. often re-
sardless of their capabilities as actors !;
while the photography in nearly all
cases Is marvellous. Yet why. oh why,
will they neglect the very element on
which the whole revOlves-the story it
self? Oftentimes all the above careful
considerations are taken for thread
bare plot, stuck together somehow by
reminders In the way of line of eN-
PLANTATION thrust in now and then. The
Four HOrsemen' mcrited such deserving
praise. Why? Because 1t was built
on firm foundation, unified. wcll-co
ogdinated plot. Why not choose actors
With a view to their talents as actors,
and not because they have beautiful
hair, charming smile or pearly teeth!
Why not let the plot play, bigger part
In the picture? Make the title mean
something. One sees What Every
Woman Knows and it may be about
the price of eggs or what not.
w II suppose that / nm uttering hcrcsy
when say that I don't like Griffith :
pictures at all. do you: In Hearts Of
the World he made hit with tragedy.
but We gods why shove It at ,Is whole
sale? Did you like Dream Street
Ug-xh! Too drab for words. Don t
you think that his pictures merge into
sInelodrama--to be candid-sob stuff?
t.You don't seem to like Mae Murray
--n'est &c pas? And why not? think
'1MSe has great possibilities. but l will
aAShit they are rather undeyeloped as
20, n But isn't she graceful? And in
lnGlW broken French, she certainly
tnpked into some pretty idiomatic Eng
llSh. And did she bring her house over
from Paris on the boat? I'd recognize
that dizzy thing in blizzard.
'sWhat did you think of Geraldine
Farrer In Carmen? ! never hope
10 see such sordid picture! Can't she
be ; tough nut when she wants to be!
~ ~ way. when is Wally coming back
\ ~ his old racer?
~ was looking forward with grcat
pleaeure to seeing Nazimova in Ibsen's
Upll House, having never seen hel
( hGIoee. Unfortunately. I missed 1t. Do
K & think there is any possibility Of
" sgturning to town?
QAn you tell me why those per.
honest to- goodness pictures tha
6Gt us at the shore G believe you
u you summered there) never com,
ne city? One of the best picture.
9 9Ier saw was at the shore. think
Eos called "A Kiss in Time 1t wal
(npy clever. do You remember VIII,
4 1Eg1 the leading roles?
III suppose you think I'm a cynic
X>oe really I'm not. Sailor Made Man
!. 'Connecticut Yankee were wonder
y y hope you are not tired by thi,
NM long letter and that you ma!
Qme to answer II. Thanks lot 1!
NM. ~ esstaisiy stepped on lot Of