Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-09
THE MOVIE FANS LETTERBOX
BY HENRY NJ. NEELY


NJ. T.. l.. writes: "Of all the disap-
pointments I've ever had The Young
Rajah' was about the worst. The
whole thing spelled CHEAP with capi-
tai letters-and that impossible Wanda
Hawley! Poor Rudy! II nothing else
1t serves as good evidence to show what
the producers were trying to do with
him. They seemed to think that any
thing would do so long as his name was
tagged to it.
"Yes; they are right to some extent.
In the promenade. heard such remarks
ny these Wasn't he adorable| THE
best I've seen yet. Better than the
book etc. (bccausc he doesn't die !
SUPPOSE. and yes. the happcrs were re-
ioicing because his hair wasn't cOmbed
funny.
"Wcll. | was glad some could enjoy
1t. | couldn't: simply felt like crying.
that's all. After seeing Blood and
Sand | was looking forward to some.
thing if not as good at least pretty
near it and--lo, behold. | sat there as
limp as Il rag. having visions. too. of
Rodolph being slowly led to slaughter.
Such material to such n personality!
OF course, they figured, while they had
him why not make as many pictures as
possible with the least expense and de-
lay, rush him through; he won't be
any good after we're through with
him.;
and l do hope he will win with all my
heart for Rudy. so much so that !
wouldn't miss a picture of his If ] had
to crawl on all fours to get there.
A Preildiced Gentleman writes:
The exquisite daintness Of the fairy
tale prelude to that recent atrOcity,
'Singed Wings gives me new hope
that some day, in the not too distant
future, n producer will commission one
o! our artist directors to film an un-
adulteratcd fairy story. There is no
doubt that that step will mark the be-
ginning of an era of finer things for the
screen. GLOW like Merton that sounds.)
But seriously, the subject is re-
ceiving no small amount Of thought by
more than one famous director. In Z
recent address Mt Temple University,
Herbert Brcnon confessed that th"
supreme ambition Of bis career was to
film some of the fantasies Of Grimm
and Andersen.
And why not? OF course the thing
| is n gamble on the face Of it. but would
not the perennial bit of Peter Pan in
all of us be awakened to such dcsr""
| that a commercial success would result ::
| | am almost afraid (" hope for it, but
| here is my choice for the staff of artists
whose united efforts would create II
wonderful furry story:
"Pcnrhyn Stanlaws and Herbert
Brcnon. directors.
Ferdinand Pinn"y Earl" and War
ron \. Ncwrombe. art directors.
civilian Bitter and Lrjarcna Hitler.
! photographers.
"I'ossibly n case of too many cooks.
hut wouldn't we have a lot Of fun wait
ing for it,
(You couldn't have made better
choice Of personnel. And | believe that
such stories, done by such men. and
sincerely treated or else let alone by
the producing executives, would be tre-
mcndous popular successes. Speed the
dayo
June Weston writes: Regarding
Mr.. lines letter | don't see where
girls are nutty for being Rody VAL
entino admirers. | am one and think
he is one of the best ever put on the
screen.
"Alr. Hines wrote something about
one of Rody VS. pictures being Mud
and Sand am most sur" that
was called Blood and Sand and rs
for Beyond the Rocky Mountains that
one was called Beyond the Rocks and
really don't think Spain throws bulls,
but they have quite q lot OF bull lights.
II think it il shame to let jcal-
ousy ruin persons character. |
really do think they had n grudgc
against Rody when they made him die
in most Of his pictures.
II. ID. II. writes: "You want to
know the fans opinions of Nero
Well, for one, think that it was II
very good picture. The scenery was
splendid and the acting was great.
"The two best actors in il. | think,
were Salvini and the fellow who played
Nero. ] cannot recall his name.
"Salvini is good. sincere actor and
has great ability. Really, he ranks
high in my opinion. Nero also did
some excellent acting. ! did not think
much of the actresses.
care yOu ready to give us your
opinion of The Young Rajah' yet. II
you meant that for the worst picture
you ever saw, / must say you and
/ differ greatly in our opinions.
"As for Valentines acting, lc acted
the dark, mysterious Indian prince
very well. In fact, | think his next
best after Blood and Sand OF
course, the story was unreal and very
fantastical and you could never sit
back and say, 4 believe it, but neither
could you say that to the Lotus Eater'
nor to DR.. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Still you didn't think they were so
bad. did you?
swell, let me tell you, ! for one
would never support any one who was
trying to dish (cxeuse exprcssiouC,
some one else out of his hard
popularity, You say we should be fair
to this Frenchman, ~ the poor bow
didn't know what he was doing. Thai
Is n very easy thing for him TO saw.
and, furthermore, Mr.. n. no mati"r
how much You try to disguise Your
true feelings, we fans are not 80 dull