The Washington times., 1929-05-04
GLEANINGS'
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SCREENINGS
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By ANDREW R. KELLEY

Dear Sir:
/ am a constant reader of
your column, and not because /
agree with one-half of what you
say but because / must confess
that | do find your column in
teresting.
"Why you do not like William
Haines is one of the pet peeves
that / hold against you. In
this writer's opinion he brings
to the screen a refreshing, en-
tertaining character, or l should
say personality. Your complaint
against him is, I believe, on the
score of his smart aleckness.
But you fail to take into con-
sideration that he is merely
giving Characterization and
not revealing his own true per-
sonality and character.
Another one of my peeves is
your inclination at times to be-
come prudish in your reviews.
Personally l am bachelor and
not forced to write to please
someone else. Maybe this has
deal to do with it in your
case and in every other married
mans. There is no denying it
that when a man marries he
submerges his own personality.
Truly,
F. E. HARRIS,
Que Gardens, City.
Reading the above letter over
for the second time, / can't con-
strue it as anything else but
flattery. To please anybody,
even close to half the time, is
maintaining a high average for
interest or diversion. A con-
slant reader of these columns
must be one who finds it's con-
tent neither boring nor dull,
too often otherwise his fealty
would suffer. / have a cordial
dislike for the species of human
who always agree. As a rule
they are colorless, stereotyped
and too flexible in opinion to be
interesting. They are as pain
fully uniform as a Model T
Ford.
The same goes for writer's
who turn out the "Spring Is
Here" Pollyanna editorials
which you can pick up for two
cents on any Washington news
stand if you make the right in
vestment. What's the use Of
having an opinion if everybody
in the world agrees with it.
For that matter, why call it
opinion? If one is afraid to
speak until he is certain every
one within the hearing of his
voice will nod approvingly then
he will be silent most of the
time. The chances are also
good when he does bespeak
recognition they will walk out
on him as his colleagues do on
Senator Heflin.
Now about William Haines.
/ have been in and about theater
box offices for long time and
have always been impressed by
the practical success of stage
and screen stars who attract
the multitudes. Mr.. Haines
holds the record for inveigling
patronage to Loew's Palace
Theater. That indicates a popu-
larity which cannot be talked
away by any choice of words.
The mere fact that I do not
like his smart aleck characteri-
Nations on the screen hardly inn
plies the dislike extends to Mr..
Haines in person, as so many
seem to think. AS matter of
fact, had a cordial invitation
to meet the unsalted star on the
occasion of his recent visit to
Washington. ! had no fear that
Mr.. Haines would, as a charac-
teristic Introductory, pull out
my carefully tied neckwear and
at the same time innocently
plant a brogan on the toe of
my new tan oxfords. 1t just
happened that the hour ar
ranged was not the most con-
venient moment for a busy
editor.
have never yet seen anyone
accomplish the pastime of eat
ing a pigs foot gracefully.
Neither do I expect the day to
arrive when some of the things
which Mr.. Haines does to get
laughs in pictures, will be -ac-
cepted as fun in real life. There
may be such people as Bill
Haines' characters roaming
around unconfined, but the
chances are good if they
happened on any Washington
weekend party with his film
bag of tricks there would be a
new second-edgree or man.
slaughter headline. SO from
that standpoint his characters
are travesties on realism, grant
ing they are funny.
Most screen stars find that
rubber stamp type of role is a
menace to popularity, but Mr..
Haines may be the exception.
Lon CLANCY has gotten away
from the grotesque make-ups in
every feature. The suave So
phisticate, Adolphe Menjou, has
receded as box-office magnet
because of the sameness of his
anuan.. nhnrnnAnrr MI:lIsn,.a G