Evening star., 1932-02-14
Women Capture Laurels
In All But One Branch
Of Motion Picture Work
They Are Successful Except in the Directoria!
Line-Male Stars Do Not Draw at the Box
Ofce-Local Screen Notes of the Week.
By E. de S. Melcher.

CAID Reuben Mamoulian, ace
director of Paramount, re-
~ Gently at a talk given before
the motion picture confer
ence of the California Fedora
ton of Women's Club: Women
play a three-fold part in art
through their creation, inspira-
ton and appreciation. In such
capacities they are both the be-
ginning and the end of art, of
which motion pictures certainly
are a part.
"Creatively, woman's part in
motion pictures is obvious. They
write, act and even direct. The
feminine contribution to the
stage and screen is more pro-
nounced that in any other
field, even that of writing. The
stage today remembers those two
great personalities. Sarah Bern
hardt and Eleanore Duse, when
many man actors are forgotten.
Today, on the screen. the leading
acting figures are women.
In the appreciation of motion
pictures as an art women lead.
It is no secret that women choose
the family's entertainment. There
is an Oriental adage which says,
When in doubt ask your wife's
opinion. and then do the oppo-
site Today that has been re-
versed. Women have keen
sense of discrimination which
practically always guides the
choice of motion pictures"
Mr.. Mamoulian. who, of course,
found it expedient to place this
halo at such a session. has hit
truism firmly on the head when
he said "in the appreciation of
r'0tion pictures as an art. Wom-
y Lead And there is little doubt
IS to the validity of his assertion
that the leading acting figures
are women" In turning over the
pages of a motion picture guide
it is the weaker sex which
dominates.
There is no question but that
the past year has seen the
dwindling of the popularity of
the male star and the greater
glory of his opposite High and
wide float the publicity banners
of sister sirens from California
and mortal man is relegated to
"also rams" and other humble po-
sitions. He is seldom glorifled in
print, and unless he is Robert
Montgomery or a Clark Gable his
chances for Immortality are slim.
The matinee idols hey-day, in
other words, is spent. And in his
place rises the first cousin of
Mother Eve as the proud pos
SCISSOR of Hollywood's golden
apple.
1t was we'll that Mr.. Mamoulian
stresses the Importance of ladies
as miners rather than as di-
rectors. Except for one or two
intrepid souls on various lots
(Paramout has the best the fe-
male species is notoriously inef-
fective in the latter pursuit. While
she may blister her audience by
the provocativeness of her emot-
ings, as the promoter of human
emotions on the lot lin a direct
ing capacity. that Isl she seems
not to breathe forth sufficient
fire and her Imagination for once
leaves her fiat.
AS a thespian, now, she has
scored one or two and, perhaps,
even three and four on her breth-
rem. AS curious as it may seem,
such outstanding an actor as John
BARRYMORE. for instance, has
faded a little during the past
year. AS the logical bearer of
this country's acting banner. his
leadership has. waned as percep-
tibly as that once-favored COM
edy favorite Jack Oakie. While
Mr.. Barrymore has not met with
rip-roaring success, his acting
having been touched, perhaps,
with a certain sameneSS, such
consultations as Norma Shearer,
Marie Dressler, Greta Garbo Eyes
never a week goes byD Marlene
Dietrich become brighter and
bigger and better every day. You
have only to plant one of these
names in front of a theater and,
no matter what the story, the
public will flock to it like dis
ordered penguins.
Plant the name Of mere male
before a cinema door and see
within the portals the wide, wide
open spaces. Few Of the old order