Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-03
THE MOVIE FANS LETTER.BOX
BY HENRY NJ. NEELY

tune is coming soon. Where did you
hear that foolish story about his being
a beggar when he came to the United
States? II is true that he did not have
much money. and. being unable to get
n job. became Il dancer in Il cabnrct.
but there's nothing to that bcggar story.
] don't know much about deserts. but
| should say you've spotted an anach-
ronism in those roses. | refuse TO
reopen that Valentino controversy, no
matter what the temptation. OF course.
l like Agnes Ayres, though I must ad-
nit. rather as Il beautiful woman than
Il great actress.
Seventeen" writes: ''For long
time / nave admired from afar both
you and your column, but, although
admiring, | have not always agreed.
However ] find that in most things we
are in accord.
Il agree with you in saying that
the American public is not yet educated
TO an appreciation of truly artistic
! films. Yet. is it not 80 with af great
works Of art? Take. for instance. the
great masters. One must see them
again and again before one fools that
true and unreserve'i love for them, AMI
even then it is only the few who are
privileged to experience u whole and
keen appreciation.
Judging from appearances and cir
cumstancGs, the movie going public
consists Of f1apDers (and ex- happers, +.
who seek the realization of their ideal
heroes in the pictured Reds and Val.
ntinos. and of boys (and cx-boysi whn
grip thei; S"atS and grit thcIr teeth
as the Harts and Mixes do death defy
7 {, fp - tl. N,p,
pictures have been damned by this sort
of public.
True, there are many people who
love art for arts sake and who renl. =.
izc the art and value of the better class
Of pho.oplays, but oh these people are
in sadly small minority. AS this is Il
majority rule country, there is only
enc thing to do--catcr to the majority !:
but in doing 70, could we not give them
bit of sugar coated art? BY gradu-
ally increasing the dose Il happy me.
d!um might be reached.
Tell mo. Mr. Nicely. is Nazimova
really Russian. or is it Il case of trans :
forming Lizzie Parsons into II LISA
Parsimoma! ] am inclined to thin,
that she is Russian. for no mere Amcri =
can could possess such II variety Of vi
vacious and delightful expressions. Sad :
| Hess, s.dHHeSS, ulSuilll, NumlllLy. CO.
quetry, fear, anger-all are ut Nnzi +.
mova'S command. In second her fea :
lures can portray any one or all oi
these emotions. for they are all the same
to her. 4 pretty pucker of the lips, a
drawing Of the brows, n widening or q
narrowing of the eycs--Nazimova is sad
Nazimova is glad. she is angry. sor.
rowful. proud, coy. Is it not nn ac-
cOmplishmcnt to be all Of these ut on,
and the same time. with little or NJ
chang" of expression:
'Now for some questions: WhCr,
can | address raulin" Frederick: How
old is she: j. it true that she Is think
ing of retiring? ! certainly admired hel
acting in The Lure Of Jade. and shoult
hate to think of the screens losing sucl
a splendid actress.
Il hope that | have not said to'
much and that l may come again.
(You bet YOU may come again--anc
often. I'm glad you like Nazimova 81
much. for dislike her just ~ much
You speak very truly when you say tha
all the ciuUtion> ARE til" same to her
Yes, she is really ltu~>iHn--born in tin
+ crimeu. address Pauline Frcderc