Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-27

cf April birthdays is that his birthday
is October 49,
Fine DOugIlnuts" wrire>-"Was it
AloySius Il. MciinniS who said he
couldn't stand Douglas Fairbanks: If
it was I'd like to say that he must be
referring to his earliest pictures. but as
for The Mark Of Zorro and The Three
Musketeers. who didn't like these: In
both Doug acted like natural born
musketeer.
What more refreshing diversion cap
any one want after seeing that depress-
ing picture called 'Footfalls' or that
worn out story that your Crush Caus-
err Norma played in called Loves Re-
demption' lthc only thing that needed
redemption was the picturcl. than the
two Doug pictures named: What
other humorous picture can boast of
; such elaborate scenery. perfect direction
and such fine acting: Am | right, Hen?
Now | want to jump on the hypo-
critics who are beginning to razz our
Charlie Chaplin of tho spread walk. IN
admit that he Is sitting on his high
wagon throwing cheap old stones at us.
but no one is asking or forcing US TO
get in the way. And. Hen. isn't II
curious that the ones who 'dctcst' him
and tho ones that just can't bear him
laugh the very lOudcst:
'ContidcntiaIly. will You ask Alloy.
slus l.. McG!nnis how he liked Bull
Montana in Peter Ibbetson.' and
George Arliss in Pay Day: Then asx
him Why il Monte Blue
Now. whiskers. I'm going to hop on
you. You've caused a lot Of fans to
dislike good picture and n lot Of chicks
have followed the hen. I'm going TO
start a riot right now. The picture I'm
referring to is Foolish Wives.
Now. frankly. aren't the scenes
wonderful and the types picked for the
picture perfect: Weren't Miss du Pont
and Won Strohcim convincing: I'll
on Il good picture and tried 10 SEE 40"
much power you lave in pcrsuading
people to look ut it your way. even
though yo,. knew YOU were wrong.
And now, kind sir. look at II this
way Surprising all the fans lived in a
vast woods where we hav"n'l seen
picture for while and we didn't hav"
the opportunity I" see Foolish Wives.
and you were sending us the criticism of
il. DO You think for Il moment that
YOU could or would omit that il was Il
wonderful picture in which q Sr"at di-
rector wrote. directed and played the
part Of misorly. low. nneahy coward.
something that none Of our directors
would lower themselves TO: Could
you really and honestly refrain from
describing the gorgeous scenes Of the
Monte Carlo fashionable gambling house
and the thrilling scenes Of the unique
fire engines: Or how he brought out
the vile. cunning methods Of man try
ing 10 obtain money from one OF those
foolish wives: These ar" not TOO abb
surd to be realized as reality.
just publish this letter and YOU Il
SEQ that I'm not tn" only fan 10 believe
as ! do.
"Will you give mo your homes, opin-
ion oc my fuvoriteS: Bert l.ytc!l,
Norma Talmads". Theodore R"b"rtS
Thomas Meighan.. Conrad Nagcl. Lew
Doug Fairbanks. Mary Pickford, Madge
Bpllamy IN 'liail III" Wo'nan'l.
Charlie, Chapin. Ru>ter Keaton, Hale
,lIamD Hamilton. three Original COM
cdians. As for Harold Lloyd ! don't
rhiuk his acting makes a"opl" laugh
is Tie picture. DO You Ike him.
Foolish Wives" old top. II You read
The review the day after its showing,
you'll recall that | did give due credit
10 all the many r"n arkabic things about
II. Summarizing. | consider Won Stro'
helm. the greatest trchuician. the most
mastcrful director. tho finest workman
the American screen can Show. But |
believe firmly that his association with
any pictures in the future should be
confined TO AN advisory capacity and
that 10 should never be allowed to hay"
full charge OF any production. II /.
inst because of his genius in technical
things that Foolish Wives is a men
ace. II it were an ordinary production,
the average theatre owner would refuse
to show It. But 1t has such n box
Office value that theatre managers can
/ not resist the temptation to profit by
! 1t. even though they know it isn't the
Kind Of thing that should be shown.
Won Stroheim is mentally incapable
Of approaching the clean and sane
American viewpoint of life and he ought
/ to he held very carefully in hand.
I'm hear, and sou! with you about
Doug and Chaplin, hut | hate Lloyd
Hamilton, and. on the contrary. con.
slider Harold Lloyd our greatest come
| dian. Please excuse me from giving
my ofhand opinions of the other stars
you name. spacs forbid ~