Simple Reason for State of Films

Ray Stark challenges Jack Mathews’ credentials in “Producer Turns the Tables on a Film Critic” (Counterpunch, Oct. 28), primarily because he dared to attack the studio chiefs. I would bless Mathews for this. If more such voices were heard, I’m sure the quality of studio product would improve.

The present situation where a studio executive that has caused a substantial box-office loss is fired only to be hired at another studio is ridiculous. The same sort of industrial incest helped bring down the S&L; industry.

I have a theory: Studio heads give us movies based on their current reading material. In the Hollywood glory days, we had films based on writings of Dumas, Dickens and Faulkner, to name a few. Today we are given such characters as Batman, Dick Tracy and Popeye.

JAMES M. TAYLOR

Los Angeles