Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-10
THE MOVIE FANS LETTERBOX
BY HENRY NJ. NEELY

Heloise writes: Last evening I
Splendid Lie with somebody Davis
in the leading role.
This morning, I ask why there can
not be motion picture rouses that cater
to people above the ten. twenty, thirty
cent intellect? Charge more IL neccs
sary. but try to have such pictures
ms Peter Ibbetson'. Sentimental
Tommy. 'Smilin' Through. so that
one night YOU don't see something
rather clever and amusing, and the
next time nj the same theatre YOU have
inflicted upon you such rot, as say,
Over the Hill.
I'm looking over n motion picture
audience in certain sections of the city.
YOU always see dozens of people who
are cultivated. at least have intelligence
enough to be annoyed with asininc
plots, ludicrous acting and RIDICULOUS
lines. Surely it would pay some theatre
10 enter to this type of persons.
when motion picture stars feel II
incumbent upon them To appear IN
cheap perfume If they are to walk
through the audience: And certainly
they have money enough to have their
speaking voices cultivated; likewise
put themselves in the hands Of q clever
modiStc who would dress them attrac-
lively. not allow them to look like a
cross between circus lady and q
newly rich woman.
Il expect you wonder why | 20 10
the movies. If dislike them So much.
| 90 hrruuSc | cant always afford the
theatre. and IN summer the theatres
are closed. and because the times ] have
seen a clever movie ! have enjoyed it
immensely.
"CouId you not give criticisms Of
the movies that are to come in this
column? 1t would be Il great kindness
to many people.
II am not n cross crank, but loathe
being bored and wasting money.
,Tm afraid II is the producers. not
the exhibitors who are at fault. 1her"
aren't NOR" than scant half dozen
"Pctcr Ibbctsons' or anything np-
proaching TINT plane made II year.
And ] say that even more sadly than
YOU should. because its my business
to SEQ most of them, while you hav"
YOUR choice and can stay away when
YOU wan, to. Still, | know how YOU
feel. I'm hopeful though, as lv" said
before in these columns. that the day
will come when they have different
kinds Of film theatres for different
standards Of films. When thar time
comes. | doubt very much whether
you'll have NOR" than on" house. oven
in big city like this. which will cater
20 the class of people y0u mention.
That's what ! candidly think Of III" ap-
peal nf tho really big, significant pic
lures. For the present. IN afraid "" II
hayn to take the good ones when they
com,--Shop for them rs other fans
have said-and be thankful that there
ur" any at all.
I'm afraid couldn't review pic
lures in advance in this column. m
crowded enough A~ II IS with the vast
amount Of mail / get, and after all,
this j. Letter Box. aS the name i'm
plies. You'd like 10 pnt som" NOR"
work on my shoulders, wouIdn yoNo
Deyon writes: "ThC discussion rs 10
wnrthor the nctor's prival" lii" HA"Ulu
concern the fan in his judgment Of that
actors work gives riS" t" rUm"uS
train of thoughts which deal more with
suhconsciOuS rCa Soning than with con-
scious realization.
"The decline Of the English drama
some centuries ago was caused to Il
considerable extent, We are tOlG, by the
immortality Of the plays and players.
Il appears that the human mind IN
rruiSing and cOndemning functions II,
Inc pendulum. For certain extent It
does not interest itself with the roy
US of others or with their lives and
work. then with the impetus Of forward
movement il may encourage II little
lOoscncss and clnmor for excitement ii
| n kind. bur suddenly and inevitably it
| swings back and denouncCs those things
which it has sanctioned. Its morality
/ is Indignantly aroused from its dormant
| state and it remembers. So the actor :
! life through the years had been stained
with the mark of disdam and luath =
! Ing. II should be II lesson 10 actors
| in a profession that has succeeded in
! lifting itself from the rut.
"Thc silent drama works upon the
SubconsciouS mind to a greater extent
than in spoken drama. II seems that the
actor in living part must put II certain
amount of his personality into II If II
j. 10 be success. II acts wat he
'nnks is III" character, bur he is be-
fore the camera aud tho camera records
things thar ordinarily the eye docs n",
perceive. His actions. his glam,r, hi.
facial expression, his %alh register on
the mind aud uncOnsciously we iudlc
tie man. What is 1t that causes a