Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-17
THE MOVIE FANS LETTERBOX
By HENRY NJ. NEELY

l.. B. II. writes: "Herc's another
one from Washington. |. too, would
like to see Wallace Reid in The ANA
teur Gentleman and ! agree with YOU
as TO the director-William De Mile
IS always intelligent and sincere. even If
sometimes uninspired. John Robert
son for second choice. After seeing
Peter Ibbetsono. Reid would also be
my choice for The Broad Highway,
though that story does not seem 90
well suited to the screen, since it is
more subjective. and requires dual
role. What would you think of Con-
rad Nagel? He seems 10 have a touch
OF the divine spark which is lacking in
oil those extremely attractive and thor
oughly reliable actors whom we all en-
Joy and admire, but who virtually
never come through with fire'--Milton
Stills. Jack Holt, Thomas Meighan. etc
"You seem to be very widely read and
very influential. Did you notice that
certain professional weekly credited
your Valentino discussions with greatly
augmenting attendance on Moran of
the Lady Lefty? / sincerely feel that
q column of this sort does Il great
deal toward increased intelligence and
enthusiasm in audiences. Even IL they
begin by being crazy about Mae Murray
- Rnd Hope Hampton, they learn lot
Of other things as they read. and even
tually and inevitably develop their
taste. Philadelphia picture audiences
seem unusually responsive and d!scrim-
inating-one would would say better
bred and better read than most-and
while it is partly accounted for by the
quality of the theatres and of the
presentations. | think it is also be-
cause Of greater knowledge, trained
by intelligent public discussions in the
daily press.
Better training on the part OF
critics, TOO, wouldn't come amiss,
While personal taste counts. the mo-
tion picture has reached stage where
there are fairly definite standards to
any one who studies the art. But what
do you think of an expert who in
cludes Pola Negris Vendetta. Mary
Pickford's Love Light and Con-
stance Talmadge's 'Woman's Place in
his list of best plays and refuses to
admit Peter Ibbetson'?
~ began to feel encouraged about
movie audiences. when Foolish Wives
apparently Topped in New York. but
alas. IL was only that people didn't
want to pay extra prices-when IL came
to the Capitol it drew a record crowd.
Your adjectiveS .lewd' and 'bestial'
fitted perfectly only wish they had
been applied earlier.
THE movie game is ruthless and
cruel one, after all. The public adores
and then overnight gives the gladia-
torial thumbs down when fresh di-
vipity appears. And sometimes it seems
all 1t cares for Is youth and sort OF
fapperish charm. How do you suppose
Dorothy Phillips feels TO have her pic
ture advertised 'Rodolph Valentino with
Dorothy Phillips! And very few ar"
trained TO judge what proportion Of
quality Is due TO superior vehicles or
direction. Just now, too. all the talk
Of ridding the industry Of undesirables
must be particularly embarrassing 70
players whose contracts are expiring
and not being renewed. even though
there may be legitimate reasons Ike
reductions in salary.
well, this Is quite too long 10 pub.
Iish, but l wanted to write my interest
and appreciation, and hoped you could
endure reading on, since it is typed. -
Looks as il "wally" is the popular
choice to play the heroes of Tic Broad
Highway" and The Amateur Gentlc-
man. and all that remains now is fer
his company TO acquire the rights for
those two romanccs. In regard 10 that
second paragraph of yours, | could u
tale unfold--but ] won't, So there y
you probably have guessed, think
any one who picked n "best list" and
left out Peter Ibbetson'' is committin.
''lese majestic Your letter il ~
darned interesting from first to last
that l couldn't help printing the who.c
OF II even If some of the fans do Oh.
Ject 10 the long communications. Please
forgive my delay in answering; your
letter got stalled somewhere In my
desk.
Movie Disguised No More writes :
This is 10 let you know (as I cant
let you know any other way--except
by telegraph, radio and a few other
ways) that l am highly disappointed
In you. Sir, you have betrayed me.
l write one letter, you print II, then
j write another, and you dare lose,
misplace 1t. or whatever you did with
II. Do you expect me to forgive? Per
haps, after many years of sorrow, but
not yet, not yet. ] can never forget,
never!
"You see, when certain body signs
himself Cor herselD Movie Disguised
there must be a reason for it. One can
easily see that this person isn't exactly
enthusiastic about the SO called moving
drama. I'm sure about the moving
part OF It, but I'm not so sure about
the dr-n. hma. But l have reformed.
1 no longer think that the movies are
Y aeinine. banal. Il couldn't look up
B asY more words). I saw Peter Ibbet-
- Rsfornsd, at last. My soul is
4. |, pnesl Wonderful picture have
4 IS ". 3 4 as delicate and as
)|.s..,. q \ w ,s:I f<...l X X X ~ - y " it