Evening star., 1935-07-23

that Valley Forge Is to be made into
a motion picture. Is it too late to
nominate for the part of George
Washington that sterling actor, Frank
Morgan? And can I not enlist your
active support for his candidacy? He
has the necessary physique, though
perhaps a trifle short, and he most
certainly has facial expression which
could be made into striking resem-
blance.
Why not give this old trouper a
chance to do something really worth
while? Please consider bringing the
matter to the notice of the casting
directors or the executives who will
have the final choice.
Respectfully,
DANIEL w. WASHBURN."
Good idea.
Dear Sir: Will you let me take
issue with you over a sin OF omission
which you committed a few weeks
ago? Late in June you published in
The Sunday Star list of newcomers
to the screen whom you considered to
be outstanding. was surprised to
note that Nelson Eddy'S name did not
appear in this list. Was this a mere
oversight, or can it be that you failed
to recognize in this remarkable young
man the most outstanding combina-
tion of personality, acting ability and
voice which the screen has yet pro-
duced? Even if you don't agree with
this somewhat sweeping statement,
you will admit that his work in
Naughty Marietta entities him to
high honors IN acting and singing.
Do you realize that this picture is
still, three months after its initial
public showing, playing return en-
gagements to crowded houses in the
neighborhood theaters? Hundreds of
persons are seeing it over and over
again, partly because of the perfection
of the cast as a whole, partly because
of the superb direction which it
exemplifies, but chiefly, suspect, be-
cause of the sheer charm and glori-
GUS voice of Nelson Eddy. If you
don't agree with me I forgive you.
Very sincerely,
A. H. COE."
We agree-moStly.
4 X
"Dear Sir: I have just finished read
ing your article in The Sunday Star
where you state that you quite agree
with a certain young lady that all
continental actresses act alike. I,
knowing something about acting my
self, do not in the least agree with you.
I do not want to say anything about
our own actresses-they are good
but they can never compare with
those of Europe. And the reason for
this is because our standards of act
ing do not reach the high level of
Europe's, and until they do our Hol-
lywood actresses can never hope to
reach the artistic perfection that every
great European star possesses.
A. p"
Yes and no. Nevertheless, we'd
stack Miss Cornell up against the
bunch of them.
my dear Mr.. M" (and clipping
of a column headed Motion Picture
Theaters Urged to Tone Down Sound"
Is included) Referring to the in
closed letter of G. w. Hodgkins: In
deed it is 1ogical'-if you must be so
careful In avoidance of anything Sa-
voring of overstatement. Haven't the
faintest idea who the writer is, but
I join in a most fervent amen in
his complaint and pray that some
thing be done to curb the awful din
that is running the pleasure of the
present-day movie. The projection Of
sound seems to be predicated on an
assumption that every one in the
audience is stone deaf, and that only
by unbridled and positively maniacal
blasts of uproar can the sensitivity of
the listener be reached. This is by
no means confined to the neighbor-
hood houses.
Mr.. Hodgkins has stated his case
80 well and completely as to need no
addition here. I'll only state as an
item of mere fact and not f1ippancy
that of late when go to the movies
I put cotton in my ears-and still get
too much sound! AS for the News
Reel announcer with his synthetic
'the-bases-full-an wo-men-out' in
lection of excitement with everything
he details-all or any Of him without
exception-he can easily qualify as
public nuisance No. Al. Something
special should be done about him.
Can't you in your capacity of
public voice reaching many readers
bring some pressure to bear on the
operatives of movie houses toward
the exercise Of little intelligence in
this respect? Or is that expecting
too much Of them?
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM ROBERTSON"
It's expecting a good deal--but
we'll see what we can see.
X \ X
Dear Mr.. M: Won't you write
a column some day about the way
people behave at movies? I have had
my neighbors rattle paper sacks, sit
and crunch on I don't know what
talk out loud-till I was afraid