“Movies would be better if they shot less film and more actors”
The term film “shoot” has been the subject of jokes, like this one in 1938:
“Winchell thinks Hollywood should shoot fewer pictures and more actors.”
The Hollywood joke has been frequently repeated, usually without credit to New York-born columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972).
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
13 October 1938, Wayland (NY) Register, pg. 2, col. 1:
Winchell thinks Hollywood should shoot fewer pictures and more actors.
Google Books
The Cooperative Poultryman
1940
Pg. 109:
And then there are cynics who claim that movies would be better if they shot less films and more actors. — Stationery Suggestions.
17 November 1941, San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Hedda Hopper’s Column, pg. 11, col. 1:
Milton Berle and Joyce Mathews haven’t set the altar date yet. He’s bought a Beverley manse—and says Hollywood should shoot fewer pictures and more actors if it wants to improve itself.
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
28 May 1942, Cortland (NY) Standard, “Unfair to Love” by Watkins E. Wright, pg. 3, col. 2:
I read the other day where a man said that he thought Hollywood ought to shoot Fewer pictures and more actors.”
Google Books
The Railroad Workers Journal
Volume 5
1944
Pg. 41:
And then there are cynics who claim that movies would be better if they shot less films and more actors.
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
31 March 1945, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, “Daffynitions,” pg. 12, col. 1:
UTOPIA: Where they shoot less pictures and more actors.
9 July 1954, Springfield (MA) Union, “Today’s Chuckle,” pg. 1, col. 5:
“Movies would be better if they shot less film and more actors.”
13 December 1982, Boston (MA) Herald-American, Paul Sullivan column, pg. B9, col. 6:
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE TV and movies, Jayne Kennedy? “Sometimes one gets the feeling that today’s movies and TV programs would be greatly improved if they shot fewer films and more actors.”
Twitter
blondediva11
@blondediva11
To improve the quality of Hollywood films, they should shoot more actors instead of movies.
9:15 PM - 2 May 2009
Twitter
HalfTruths1/2Off
@Jeffstruth
Hollywood should shoot less movies & more actors. Films all suck now.
7:51 AM - 25 May 2012