Money vs. Merit

Re “Who is Box Office Gold?” (Calendar, July 7). It seems the only thing that matters today in the world of movie-making is the almighty buck! What was I thinking? I always thought it had to do with talent, creativity and the art of telling a story. Movies used to touch your heart, make you laugh, make you cry and even give you something to think about. Unless you’re the investor who is investing all that money, who really cares how much money the box office took in? I, for one, could care less. Start making movies that give the audience a chance to appreciate the actors on their own merit. Not how many zillions they made. The legacy left to the movie fans, from the likes of Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy and many more will always remain indelibly in our hearts and it has absolutely nothing to do with money.

FRANCES TERRELL LIPPMAN

Los Angeles

Harrison Ford, star of “The Fugitive” may have put “people in their seats on a movie’s opening weekend” but it was left to Tommy Lee Jones, the perfect actor to play U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, to keep them there.

MAE FERRIS

Los Angeles