MOVIE QUESTIONNAIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 3 (Supplement)

MOVIE QUESTIONNAIRE.

VIEWS OF NEW YORK FANS. Tabulation of the questionnaires filled out by the patrons of the Rialto, RivoJi and Criterion Theatres, in connection with the International Congress on Motion Picture Arts, reveals some interesting items about what theatregoers think of motion pictures (says the “ New York Herald ”). The committee which the congress nominated to carry on its work has been able to form a pretty definite idea as to what fans do and do not link and what remedies they advocate. George Barr Baker, chairman of the committee, reports that a statistical summary of the answers reveals that j the story was deemed more important j than the star or the direction of a picture by a three i<> one vote; that two to on© preferred seeing literary masterpieces on the screen to stories written directly for the screen ; four to one would rather see simple, true-to-life stories than spectacular and | fantastic ones and pictures that in- j struct and provoke thought rather | than pictures whose sole purpose is i amusement. Questions icgaiding their favourite j authors, directors, actors. actresses ! and pictures revealed the following:— | That D. W. Griffith is the favourite ; director, with Rex Ingram second and | Cecil B. 3>e Mill© third. That Ibanez i.s the. most popular ; author. Conrad coming next, and > Edith Wharton, Booth Tarkington and j .Tames Oliver Cur wood being active j competitors for third place That Thomas Meighau i.s indisputably the favourite actor, having received twice as many votes as Douglas Fairbanks, who coroes second, and three times as man vyotes as Richard Barthelmess and Milton Sills, who take third place. That Norma Talmadge is the favourite actress, with Mary Bickford taking second place and Gloria Swanson third. That. “ The Birth of a Nation ” is still the tans’ favourite picture, with “ The Covered Waggon,” “'Die Four Horsemen ” and “ Robin Hood ” running it a close race*. Among the suggestions offered toward making better pictures were; “ More natural stories,” “ elimination of star system,” “too many cooks are spoiling tho broth." “omit the false impressions of life.” ‘‘less concentration cn wealthy class and their spectacular life.” “ simpler stories of actual people with intelligent direction. ’ “ fewer and better pictures.”