Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19

IRON the time the photoplay
- seriously threatened the
stage in popularity, it has
= been target. It has been
long-suffering. The intelligent
and unintelligent criticism hurled
at the screen may have had
good effect; 1t may have resulted
in improvement and the solving
of some problems, although a
great deal of the shooting was not
deserved. From highbrow head
quarters came word that the
screen was an appeal to the mo-
ron; that 1t would never attain q
high place in the public mind, and
that It's future was dark and fog
gy. Monthly and weekly period
Gals were established to inform
the public just how wrong the
producers and directors were
and they were never right.
One OF the results of the criti-
cism and q sort Of inner warfare
was the appointment of Will Hays
as Gear" of moviedon. The for
mer Postmaster General was
given unlimited power in his new
position. He was to correct major
and minor ills of the industry,
and "Czar" Hays went into the
job prepared to clean the movie
house.
There Is no getting away from
the fact that Hays has accom-
pliShed much. Even the produc-
ers themselves have found little
to complain of since he took up
the reifls, and he has served as q
buffer between the caSh-paying
public, the critics and the indus
try. Now that there Is some talk
of his resigntng his position, his
work stands out more promi-
nently. He has been valuable
asset to the industry and he
should be kept in his high posi-
ton.
Gradually, through the years,
the photoplay has been able to
solve its own problems. Many Of
the severe critics have either been
hushed or they have gone over to
the other side. Many of them
admit the bright future Of the
screen, and they have discontin-
ued their comparison with the
stage, which was decidedly unfair.
There has been a noticeable drop
ping of criticism of the industry
as a whole. Single productions, Of
course, come in for their share Of
critical darts, and this Is proper
and fitting, but big, worthwhile
pictures are being: produced and,
In a way, they make up for the
poor product Of the studios. The
entire industry seems to be on q
substantial foundation, and it will
solve more Of its problems as the
days go on. II one doubts that
the photoplay Is getting better
and better - reaching a much
higher plane-all he has to do Is
to view some Of the older prod
uctS, some Of the crude efforts Of
the first producers and directors.
The progress has been truly amaz-
ing, and It is really wonderful that
50 much could have been accom-
plished in such a short span Of
years. The progress In sound
alone Is something to think back
over.
Mad0e a Kennedy comes to
toDft IN the stage production
OF Michael and Mary ar
D1tdG has quite q prominent
part i9 NINA Rosa" behind
the 5o0ttights. Alma RubenS
Is making her stage debut on
Broadway as star of with
Privileges" Wilma BGnkcg and,
perhaps, Mary Pickford also
may fry the "IiUing and speak
ing" drama. 1t Is probable that
all this comes about through
q closer alliance of the screen
and stage By the sound pic
stage seeks to gain by the pop
ttlGrtty OF certain screen stars,
Just as the n10Ote producers
seek big stage names for their
pictures. Or, maybe, one OF
these days zoe may see the
stage and screen Join hands,
erchGn0tng their stars and
scripts.
WILLIAM sLAvENs McNUTT
~ well known as q writer Of
short stories and recently en-
gagged by the Hollywood produc-
ers, comes forward with a state
nent that the sound pictures, 81
recently developed, form the best
storytelling method ever known
I quote from the writings Of Mr.
McNutt:
THE sound picture, potentially
at least, frees the old motion pic
ture from the limitation of silence
and the old stage from the lirnita-
ton of space. In considering talk
ing pictures as an art, one should
recollect that the technique Of the
speaking screen is only q little
more than two years old. True
enough, the arts Of which the
talking picture is a combination
are ancient, but the technique Of
the talking picture is develop
Inent Of the past two or three
years. Figure the strides made In
this new form Of story tellinf
within that short period and yoI
may find yourself less severely
critical Of the faults Of construc-
ton yet in evidence. There Ger.