Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-16
THE MOVIE FANS LETTERBOX
Bv HENRY NJ. NEELY

Stalky writes: MAY l not. at risk
Of being the mlliOnth writer, say that
your column is a welcome relief from
the usual =. \. filler that takes up
the space on the movie page of other
papers?
II have been sitting IN front Of tho
silver screen from the days whom It cost
q nickel to get in and when to laugh 4,
and approve Of keystone comedy was
considered very. very low.hrow.
II admit il. I'm low hrowcd. Cam
you imagine? think that Charley
Chaplin could put across the deepest
sort of pathOS and COuld play tragedy
that would choke his watchers vita
emotion That lad. despite his Clown
ing, is the premier pantomtme artist OF
the screen. What he tries ~ put across
you get. and what Is greater art COM
ing from movi" actor
"Chaplin plays with the heart stun
with deft and sure touch occasionAlIE.
Ever sce that 'Shopder Arms bit when
he didn't got Letter:
"Enuf SPd
stars mean nothing TO me-. ] have
seen several big pictures mad" anu
when the director has reh"ar~rd tho
PRINCIPALS several times, | WOndrr how
the actor can forget that he j. merely
a medium 10 express the director !dra
Of how it should be done.
Zone of the best pictures | haze seen
lately is One Glorious Day. VIII
Rogers was at his best he showed two
sides TO his work and the thought be-
hind the plot was plausible. The double
exposure work was mnrve lous. ! cannot
see why the spirit Fix was not men
toned that is, the players name should
have been programmed.
These two are old stuT I'll admit,
but what a fine lot Of junk have seen
since that passes by without leaving
an impression.
Were you watching pictures when
the different companies had to pUt th"!'
trademarks in each seen" shot Tha'
stunt made q continuous puZAl" for my
pals and self. back in tn" old days.
We cast rowing eye over tho srro"n
to glimpse 'AB' Of Biograph, tho whit"
diamond IS Of Spllg, tn" r"uSt"r "t
Pathe. the zgzag lightning Of E"l"ir
and the blazing sun Of GaUmont.
Good grief, how + do run on, ju.'
like a gOssiping Old woman Yours ri
Buster Keaton forg"ts himself am
cracks a smile.
fNoting the Newark posi- mark, nhH
being duly honored n having a cor
respondent from such II distance, va,
even more tickIod at seeing your kin"
words for the pOtcntialr"s Of Chaplin
and the excellence of "buc C!OriOu,
Day" Only don't think YOU ar" n ''low,
brow" because Of tho former belief; 0I
the other hand You re right in III" SWIM
of advance opinion. Yep, | remember
those days Of trademarks. v l.. $ f.
.tvitagraph, Lubin, Sclig and ESsa.
nay) had peculiar, and ON" OF th'
companies-Kalem was it?--had an In
dian head. Gossip some more, Sralky.
"N0name" writes: "AlthOugh 7 hNvr
long been movie fan and reader o
. your column | hav" never before con
etc:
"As an Interested reader and movie
goer, ] must SAY my say about NaI"n'
tino. | think he has in him the ability
to act. He must have to have made surl
sudden climb to fame. HIS good look'
and personality could never have ganoo
him his high standing. People may tall
about his morals and actions While no
on the screen. but what bearing hav,
they on his power to act: When we see
such a picture as Valentino has played
in. we should think only of the wonder
full ability he possesses to make thcs'
pictures real.
"The fans criticize him for his act.
ing in this picture and thar. II they
don't like him, why. may ! H>k, dc
they GO to see him? I doubt If ther,
Z Is another actor whose pictures ar" a.
we'll attended |. however. have no re-
spect for the happers who make him an
\ idol. Such girls do not apprccIat" hi
ability to act. II is merely his looks that
appeal to them, Looks never made 4
good actor.
"Why does no one ever mention
Richard Barthelmess? He is as hand
some as Rodolph and his art is more
perfected. His first stellar picture,
'Tol'able David was exceptional. He
played the part 10 perfection, II Is such
men as Barthlemess that make picturr'
worth while. And such women as Norma
Talmadge. Her wonderful picture,
smilin' Through represents all that is
!. rood. fine and uplifting In motion pie
4 fnsses ThA picture was full Of human
IA ~ ~ .e4 y taslt y ~ Esl ~ VIZ !. at