AFI Does It Again
The [American Film Institute’s] selection of the top 25 screen legends of each gender prior to 1950 was even more bizarre than its 100 greatest films list (Morning Report, June 16).
William Holden made a greater impact than Rudolph Valentino? Robert Mitchum over Harold Lloyd? Where did William S. Hart, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers place? And while the Marx Brothers surely belonged on the list, what about Laurel & Hardy and Abbott & Costello?
Lauren Bacall made sparks with Bogart, but there were no long lines for any of her films without Bogie. Contrast that to the enduring careers of Irene Dunne, Loretta Young and Rosalind Russell. And I believe even Ava Gardner would bow to Gloria Swanson.
STAN RESHES, Whittier
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The folks at AFI should be stopped before they vote again. It’s bad enough that they couldn’t find space on their list of best movies for anything by Buster Keaton, but now they have compiled a list based on no discernible criteria.
Any list that seriously purports to name the 50 greatest screen legends and omits Mickey Rooney is just plain goofy.
BURT PRELUTSKY, Van Nuys
Only good movies
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