Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-24
THE MOVIE FANS LETTERBOX
BY HENRY NJ. NELLY

'sUnity" writes: "Of course. by this
time. you must have received dozens OF
letters regarding the opinions of one
3. r. whose disparaging comparisons
between German and American pro-
ductions are n challenge to every mo.
tton. picture enthusiast.
81 have vet to talk with even on,
person who considered The Cabinet "f
Dr. Caligari' worth while. 1t appar-
entity has no 'raison d'etre. no excuse
for being. Unless picture inspires;
amuses. tnstructs or points moral
there Is no reason for 1t. Surely. no
sane. right minded person can find any
thing edifying in production when
embotiies the rawlings Of a maniac.
i.Yet. IS. r. terms this picture
masterpiece 1t is-a masterpiece OF
wGlrdly horrible situations. easily trace
ahe to an undeniably morbid MIND
Tonne it seemed simply feast OF hor.
foS. with hideous futuristic garnishings.
And that's that!
WMay any one other than Lee or
ON Timer answer Jean in reference
20 that picture in which she thinks she
saw Betty Compson? She didn't. 1t
was Claire Windsor, and the picture
was a Lois Weber production. of which
/ have vainly tried to recall the name
Mona Lisa was also in the cast. 10
YOU not think the latter looks very like
Bebe Daniels?
n ssIt has been many. many moons
since I have felt as bloodthirsty az
when read that epistle from NJ. ). J..
In Tuesday evenings paper. And. on.
how your reply did fill me with
the most unholy joy; Such
satisfaction and egotism. proclaiming
its writer an unmitigated snob. whose
apparent culture is merely superficial.
ance true breeding renders insults
without provocation impossible? 1t is a
clear case of cause and effect.
stesdy diet Of Shaw and Wilde would
:, make any one that way. l imagine.
What ! am unable to fathom is how
= low. as to become interested in the
Limericks. They. assuredly, had no
literary value. and most of the time.
no meter (if you really are the Linn
eriek Editor. please forgive). so it must
have been the lure of the Elusive hun
dred."
II Mona Lisa appeared in that film
with Claire Windsor. it narrows the
list down to two picturcs-''To Please
One Woman and What s Worth
While" Which one was it?
So you didn't like 'Caligari" ]
did-immensely. consider 1t mas
z tsrpiece. If your restrictions in judg-
ing stories are correct. then Po" never
wrote literature. "Caligari was Zoe
on the screen. 1t was n purely imag-
inative work. without any moral or
purpose. but it was a masterpiece Tex
cuse me, ! mean I think it was) of
direction. acting and production.
I don't mind your slam at the
lam rick Editor. Why should l:
so, G." w'rites-'I think you might
like to know Of the experiment ] wit
messed some time ago which proves my
theory of the effect Of pictures on the
average girls mind.
"A young lady friend of mine re-
turned from session with the 'Sheik
and for two weeks all / heard was
adoring comments on friend Valentino.
You have heard the same thing, so you
know what mean.
~ ''Some weeks later ! purposely took
this same young lady to see the same
incomparable Valentino in the vii
famous role of chief transgressor in
The Four Horsemen.'
"Horrors villain. cur, dog. etc.
ct al. And l still feel guilty to think
that am the cause of such sweet dis
illusion.
i"And all this leads TO a thought that
it 10 not the handsome actor but the
& coveman attitude mat sui NOUS Ouf
fair sex enthralled.'
'isA ('Course it is. If Valentino had q
broken nose and a caulihower car anC
game leg and wart on his lip HI
might be as great an actor as Salvin
but the girls wouldn't go to see him
but it's all right. He fills his niche il
tho world.) I.
&C. B. s." writes: II feel impelleo
% protest against a very voclleiou'
communication given publicity in youl
column Of this date. 1t Is signed M
M and proceeds to belabor a grea
screen favorite of mine. to wit. Poli
NeKri The attack seems unfortunate
to be inspired bv a very poisonous com
buAfion of patriotic sentiment and lem
fnine spite. II cannot be said to breathe
that Hne spirit of judicial criticism II
which such debates should be carried on
a '''It seems inevitable. however. tina
such opinions es those of =. r.. should
hose torrent of opposition. for hi
- beS) opinions are as extreme in thei
fSEias those Of M. NJ
No. you have intiniated more thai
4 IA Nh your comments, DE gustibu
.& y,ldisputandum,' which Is 10 sa!