Life — January 31, 1924 — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Movie Annual THING succeeds like a year-t It_ is an announcement ‘arriva that it’s all over but the shouting, that a new field of human endeavor has been found worthy of annual checking up between board covers. Current an thological activity is the outward visible sign ¢ that the proof of cream. Is it any wonder, then American screen should have fo length a 1 critic and c who possesses the qualifications manded of him who would pass fin judgment ur motion — pict ut, who would divide the screen convi to which he comes “The Best Movi ert E. Sherwood, p Maynard and Compa a r of the American reen and Who's Who in the Movies,” in a very real sense, an achievement. “I am_ compelled to see two hundred feature films 1 year, and a great many shorter pic tures, con . scenics, edu- cational films and news weeklies. It all adds up to something like twenty- five hundred reels, which, when re- Ived into terms linear measure nounts to two million, five hundred thousand feet, or over four hundred miles,” asserts the author plai That Mr. Sherwood could prese reasonable claim for a Carnegie medal for courage is apparent from the above but the actual reward that is to come to him from his calm intrepid bearing where the battle r the soul of the screen is hottest will be the con: sciousness that he has devised a method for annually winr ing the wheat from the ff of moviedom, to the end that the powers that be therein may exercise more care regarding the seed they plant My experience in following. these miles of film as they flickered across the screen has bred in me a deep respect for the movies, and an abiding faith their possibilities,” says Mr. Sherwood His is a faith which finds itself con- fronted by mountains of prejudice, but against this prejudice, which does such grave injustice to a new art in the making, his movie year-book is des. tined to exercise a powerful influence It is impressive in its presentation of illuminating facts, its brilliant critiques. its biographical data, and in the appeal which it is bound make to the un- discriminating movie fan, to the more critical screen-lover who longs for guidance in his quest of good picture- plays, and to the still-unconvinced re actionary, the man who has as yet failed to realize that the motion pic ture has become worthy of his serious consideration. BESS 2 The Longest Gang-plank in all the World Yr walk up the gang-plank at the edge f New York—and you are in France! Yes, as completely in France as if you were promenading a Parisian boulevard or enjov- ing the cuisine of the famous Parisian hotels. For these luxurious ships of the French Line are truly arrondissements of France. Each has the atmosphere, lesprit de corps attentions complete and unobtrusive, the diversions and conveniences si Francaise It would seem that your trip to France started six days earlier—that the gang-plank at pier 57, North River, had its other end in France—the longest gang-plank in the world Truly, it is not hard to understand why experienced travellers always journey abroad on the French Line. Further information or beautiful descriptive booklets and sailing schedules on request THESE SERVICES: Ex de Luxe Liners New York Plymouth Havre PARIS FRANCE LAFAYETTE New York Havre Paris One-Cabin Steamers DEGRASSE LA SAVOIE CHICAGO — SUFFREN ROCHAMBEAL New York Vigo Bordeaux LA BOURDONNAIS ROUSSILLON New Orleans Havre Paris DE LA SALLE NIAGARA North African Motor Tours Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 19 State Street, New York Offices and Agencies in Principal Cities of Europe cnd the United Stat _comicbooks.com