Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1927, Page 61

FlasheLFrom the Screen BY C. E. HE literary style of the photo- play is being criticized, and the latest blast appears in the columns of the London Observer. Lady Oxford and Asquith, sometimes known as “the Irrepres- sible Margot.” takes up her pen to complain of the grammar empioyed in the movie captions—and her com- plaint is justifiable. American critics of the films have, during the past few years, made numcrous complaints along the same line, but they have been unable to accomplish a great deal. Perhaps the words of Lady Oxford may find readers among the producers of this country. She says: “Interested as I am—for personal and public reasons—n the future of the cinema, I would like to make one suggestion. [ think the literary style of the information given leaves much to be desired. Not being a lir I do not know if this criticis plies equally to foreign films impossibie that in Russia, Germany, Austria or F less vulgarly written, but some of . the English and much of the Ameri- can writing printed on the screen to enlighten us upon the course of the narrative lacks both grammar and distinction. The silly and rub- bishy words often spoil the cffect of the moving and perfect photog- raphy, and when one hears of the millions spent upon some of the films one wonders if they could not econo- mize on the costumes and spend more upon the captions.” One of the particular films Lady Oxford mentioned as having unsui able captions was “Ben-Hur," she also stated was a “poignant and »wunderful film.” L N the face of capacity houses, Har- ry M. Crandall. who founded and is directing the Crandall theaters of Washington for the Stanley Co. of America, announces that “presenta- tions have been discontinued at the Metropolitan and a return is made to the former policy of that house of presenting feature pictures.” There are many who will agree with Mr. Crandall in his belief that the , great attraction of the photoplay theater is the picture itself, and that any rival to that picture is a threat on the same program. There is much food for thought in this step by Mr. Crandall, * k % % 'HE National Indorsers of Photo- plays, through their monthly magazine. list the following pic as “worth remembering”: “We'r in the Navy Now,” “The Whole Town's Talking, The Marriage Clause,” “Exit Smiling,” “The Cana- dian,” “The Eagle of the Sea,” “Her Man of War,” “The Blue Eagle” and “Kosher Kitty Kelly.” Pictures listed for churche chools and community entertainments are: “The Return of Peter Grimm,” “Alaskan Adven- tures,” “We're in the Navy Now,” “Dorothy« Vernon of Haddon Hall,” “Pollyanna” and “When Knighthood *Was in Flower." . The Indorsers is a society which was organized n Indianapolis 12 years ago by Mrs David Ross, and it was developed into a national movement with 2,000,000 members. i SR ROM Paris comes the report that the former Crown Prince of Ger- many has signed a contract to star in a motion picture which will be titled “The Prince of Wieringen.” The production it is said, will be made under the auspices of an Amer- ican company, and Willie will be paid a fee of 200,000 marks. Work will start at Wieringen, Holland, Janu- ary 26. The picture will not be exhibited in this country on the same bill with “The Great Parade.” sk % UCLE SAM has become quite a movie exhibjtor since the World War, and his box office is now draw- ing $50,000 each month. This infor- mation was recently given the House appropriations committee by Adjt. sen. R. C. Davis during the consid- eration of the Army appropriation bill. The United States Army oper- ates 105 theaters, many of them started by welfare societies during the war. After hostilities ceased the theaters were practically abandoned, but were revived by Gen. Davis in 1922, The theaters are located at the various Army posts, and the service is entirely self-supporting. Some of the larger posts, like San Antonio and Fort Benning, have so great an income that they support the theaters in outlying posts. Gen. Davis stated that the Army rance the captions are | which | NELSON. motion picture service would soon build up a working capital of $150,- 000, which has been the goal. It already has $125,000, despite the fact that it has spent money on furnish- ing the theaters and installing ma- chines. The service has a civilian director and five district managers. all receiving salaries. "It is a straight business proposition,” says Gen. Davis. * XX % o HE NIGHT OF LOVE,” which opened with the world premier at the Rialto a week ag> yesterday, has proved one of the big features of moviedom in the Capital. During the past week each exhibition of the feature, which stars Ronald Co!man nd Vilma Banky, has resulted in sale of all seats. Why not try out all the big pic- tures in Washington? Capital audiences are credited with pretty sound judgment; the photo- play which goes over with a bang in | Washington will be a big box office attraction anywhere in the country. When Washingtonians turn thumbs lown send the can of films to cold storage. WEW EW YORK Geste,” “The viewing “Beau Music Master,” Buster Keaton in he General,” “0ld Ironsides,” W. C. Fields in “The Potters,” Syd Chaplin in “The Bet- ter 'Ole,” John Gilbert and Greta Garbo _in “Flesh and the Devil” he Sorrows of Satin” and “What Price Glory,” but not one of these pictures has been exhibited in Wash- ington theaters. o THESE German producers are de- serving special attention from American competitors. If this atten- tion is not directed toward Germany and the products of that country's photoplay studios, Hollywood, in the days to come, will not be the thriv- ing city it is today. France and Italy are not making great strides in the industry, but Germany is go- ing forward, and the pictures she is sending to th's country are attract- ing considerable attention. All this is brought to mind by a private showing last Thursday at the little Wardman Park Theater. Manager Matchett exhibited a Ger- man film, “The Treasure,” which iust about tops the list of best pic- tures now in this country. The work was directed by the German, Pabst, and its star is Werner Kraus, recognized’ as G v's leading film actor. The ‘photoplay is little short of marvelous. the settings are beyond the imagination of the aver- age director, and the simple story is told in a manner which holds the audience spellbound. With “The | Treasure” is the Ufa film, “Wonders of the Universe,” a two-reeler, show- ing the wonders of the sky from the viewpoint of the astronomer. * ¥ X % SCOTT FITZGERALD, rated * as one of America’s leading writers of fiction. has been signed to a movie contract by Features Pro- ductions, Inc. He will contribute original stories for the United Art- ists Pictures, and the first will be written especially for Constance Tal- madge. William Boyd, who played 3, star role in “The Volga Boatman,” has been signed to head the cast in “Two Arabian Knights” for United Art- ists release. The camera work is being done at Hollywood. “Abie’s Trish Rose” the goose which laid a five-million-dollar egg for its writer and producer, is going into the movies. Negotiations are in progress between Paramount and Anne Nichols, the author. The con- tract, it is said, will provide a guar- antee in the form of a cash payment and a percentage of the exhibition receipts. The play has been on Broadway for about - four years, while several road .companies are staging it over the country. “Ben-Hur” is drawing bigger crowds in London than any other picture. In fact, it is expected to break all records for England. Jesse L. Lasky has offered a medal and cash bonuses totaling $17,500 to the directors of what shall be judged the best three Paramount pictures to play in the new Paramount The- ater, New York, during the year 1927, Lois Wilson and the Famous Play- ers have arrived at a parting of the ways after an association of seven years. The star tired of Western roles and objected to being cast for the lead in “The Deep Ridge.” “Jealousy,” the newest Ufa film to reach this country, is being edited and titled by Harry Chandlee. It will be ready for release within a few weeks. is IN WASHINGTON SOON sriffith_and l“re,n(‘ls X. Lady in scheduled Bushman in the First National produc- for Washington exhibition soon. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JANUARY 23 HALE ANITA STEWART- Earle ON THE STAGE AND SCREEN OLORES DEL RIO, who brought the grace and polish of old Span- ish Mexico to the screen a year ago, prefers rags and tatters to gorgeous ball gowns for inspirational purposes. Caught by an acquaintance in - the drab and ill-fitting gray dress of a prison scene in ‘“‘Resurrection,” she declared that she did her best work in such attire. “When you are hooked up in a magnificent gown,” she said, *“you are the slave of the dress.” PERCY MARMONT has followed a number of his confreres in screen- land into the orchard. His two main pursuits used to be acting and golfing. Now he has added the raising of lem- ons, oranges, grapefruit or avocados. THE crisis through which the thea- ter is passing is a result of the devotion of modern youth to dancing and sports, beileves Franz Molnar, the Hungarian dramatist. He thinks, however, that better days—or nights— are not far away. “The trouble is the youth of the world has abandoned the theater \for foot ball flelds and dance halls,” he at a sidewalk table in Paris. “Be patient. They will come back and oc- cupy the galleries again.” Molnar's newest play, “The Red Mill,” is scheduled for production in New York next year. His “The Play's the Thing” now is on Broad- way. ST. LOUIS violinist has turned her back on her bow and rosin for costume and grease paint. Elinor Maynard for two years absorbed film technique whils ¢he played in a studio orchestra to give Inspiration to actors and acresses working before the cam- era. Now others play for her while she registers joy, grief, surprise and all the rest of it at the direction of Cecil B. De Mille. HE film hero lost a fight the other day and the villains won. Jack Holt struggled nearly eight hours with Charles Sellon and Iyan Chris- tie, while the camera ground out re- take after retake. After throwing Christie downstairs for the last time Holt sank into a chair and murmured weakly, “You win. "[HB yart the theater should play in \te depends, it seems, on_the actress, Four stars of the New York stage were asked for their opinions. | “To my mind,” said Lyin Fon- tanne, “the theater is for amusement pure and simple.” Leonore Ulric | fowis that the public wants to be car- ried out of real life “into a glamorous country of romanc “'The great plays ought to give us what Walter Pater calls ‘a quickened conscience of living’,” sald Eva Le Gallienne. Helen Menken belleves the stage should “‘mirror life.” I 28 years Dalys London, has staged but 19 new productions, which the management contends is a record no other theater in the world can tquch. “Yvonne,” the present at- tracti8n, with Hal Sherman of New York in one of the roles, has passed its 300th_performance. Other Daly successes include “The Maid of the Mountains,” which reached 1,352 performances. ‘“The Merry Widow" touched 1,017. The record run for London, however, is “Chu Chin Chow,” at His Majesty's Theater, with 2,238 performances. ON CHANEY, whose ability as a film studios, has developed a sideline accomplishment which s not so gen- erally known. Chanay is autosomnif- srous. Frequently his make-ups, such as stretching his eyelids sidewise for |an Oriental effect, are somewhat pain- ful. To relieve the strain -between | scenes he retires to a dark corner, curls up almost ke a dog and in & moment loses himself in sleep, told a friend while bolting his beer |~ ‘make-up artist i a byword in the | DANIELS - Next Week's Photoplays. PALACE—Claire Windsor and William Haines in “The Lit- tle Journey.” RIALTO—Thomas Meighan in “The Canadian.” METRCPOLITAN — Corinne Griffith in “The Lady in Ermine.” HAMILTONand MADGE DELLAMY- /V\e’rropoli*fan., Palace CONRAD NAGEL- 1927—-PART 3 \ ! Photoplays SILENT DRAMA COLUMBIA—"The METROPOLITAN ning PALACE evening RIALTO (second week) evening TIVOLI—"The Millionaires.” AMBASSADOR—"Summer Bachel WARDMAN PARK—"“The Treasu CENTRAL Scarlet Summer Bac Stranded in Paris"—Ir “Josselyn's Wife.” COLUMBIA—“The Scarlet Letter.” Lillian h, emotional star of many fine photoplays, will be the picture star at Loew's Columbia this week, beginning this afternoon, in her | newest romantic drama, “The Scarlet | Letter,” from the Nathaniel Haw- | thorne classic, at its Washington premiere. | Victor Seastrom, Sca rector of “He Who s S 1, produced “The Scarlet Letter” for | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release. The | cast includes al s Hanson, “the | Barrymore of Sweden,” who his American debut in this Henry B. Walthali, who was tured with sh in “Birth of Nation," Karl Dane, the famous | Slim of arade.” “The *"is a romance of Pur in_which | Miss Hester | Prynn te England, e, tres y s brings her under the disipline and romantic interest of the young Puri tan pastor, Dimesdale. From Hester’ short confinement in the stocks sprin a romance of almost tragic int The picture, with New England settings and costumes, depicts the morals and manners of Puritan New England in the early part of the seventeenth century The Columbia ymphony Orchestra, under Leon rusilof, will provide an appropriate overture and atmospheric accompani- ment. The Pathe newsreel, Topics of the Day and other features will lend varlety to the program. —“Summer Today marks the resumption of its former policy of a strictly photoplay program at Crandall's Metropolitan Theater, with admission charges re- duced. The entertainment this week, hegin ning thi: fternoon, will off as the n attraction Will: roduction of S by Warner Fablan Youth,” with three-reel Hal i comedy, star ring Mabel long absent from the local screen; the Metropoll tan World Survey, short reels and musical contributions by the Metro. politan Symphony, under Breeskin. mmer Bachelors' a scintillant picture p! . its action spirited throughout and the situations intensely amusing, with a vein of r mance. The production is elaborate and the story has its locale in gor geous play places of New York City and in the Adirondacks. In the role of the single young woman who is convinced matrimony is not for her because of the many unhappy marriages in her family, Madge Bellamy heads a cast that in cludes Allan Forrest, Matt Moore, Hale Hamilton, Charles Winninger, Walter Catlett, Olive Tell, Leila Hyams and Charles Esdale. The pic- as directed by Allan Dwan. Raggedy Rose” Mabel Normand appears in a comedy hilariously funny, Bachelors, of “Flaming authc also is described as narrative centering in a little rag picker of the alleys, who finally meets her Prince Charming while in a des- perate quest of food. The Metropolitan Symphony’s over ture will be a potpourri of selections. from ““Countess Marit by Kalman, and in the interpretative score ar ranged by Mr. Breeskin will be found “You Will, Won't You?" from Fred Stone's current play, “Criss-Cross,” by Jerome Kern. PALACE—"Stranded in Paris"— Irene Franklin. The program at Loew’s Palace this week, beginning this afternoon, will present Irene Franklin, international singing comedienne, as the feature of the stage bill, with Bebe Daniels in her latest Paramount comedy “Stranded in Paris,” as the chief screen attraction. An added number will be the Nelidoff Russian Quartet, and supplemental offerings will i clude an orchestral overture, Dick Leibert’s organlogue, Topics of the Day, Loew’s Palace Magazine and an Aesop Fable. Irene Franklin, “the girl who made a red head famous,” is presented here this week for the first time at popu- |lar prices. She will sing a cycle of old and new song favorites, with Jerry Jarnagin at the piano. “Stranded in Paris,” Arthur Ros- son’s production for Paramount, in which James Hall, Ford Sterling, Iris Stuart and Mabel Jullenne Scott also will be seen, pictures Miss Daniels as | Paris, loses her funds, is mistaken for a countess and passes through many adventures, comic and roman- tic, before true love straightens out her affairs. The Nelidoff Russian Quartet are solofsts from the Imperial Russian Strand Theater Portion of the National Presi Building ITH the completion of the etruc tural steel work on the National Press Building, it is reported, the theater portign of that building has assumed definite shape. The frame- work of the remaining part of the building will be of reinforced con- crete, which is now rapidly arising. The theater, which will occupy the rear lgwer portion of the buliding, has been taken on a 35-year lease by the Fox Theaters Corporation at an annual rental in excess of $200,000. The theater will seat approximately 3,500 people and will be not only one of the largest in the country, but also one of the most beautiful. It has been designed by the architectural firm of C. W. & George L. Rapp of Chicago, whose artistic work in this particular fleld of desigh has given them a well earned mnational reputa- tion. The interlor of the theater will be of extreme richness, with imported damask drapes, crown furniture, mir- rors, crystal lighting fixtures, and so forth. Within the next few days this portion of the bullding, whose roof is now being laid, will be entirely in- closed and work will start on the in- terior decorations. A large part of the artistic ornamental plastering which is to go into the theater already has been made and is ready to put in place The entrance to the theater will be on F street at the eastern end of the building. ‘The'grand and petite lobbies, as well as the ticket lobby, will be done in Old World marbles, warm in tones and color veinings, with decorations of pure Rapp design fitting into the artistic ensemble. The high lights of the ornamental plastering will be old gold and bronze treated in polychrome effects, with background in rich col- orings. There will be loungipg rooms, smok- [ ing rooms and other convaniences. The edifice !s being erected by the George A. Fuller Co., one of the old- »st and best known structural con- cerns in the United States, and is promised completion by the middle of this year, with the theater ready for oceupancy several months ahead of that time. “Know Thyself" MYSTERIOUS philosopher, Who might have graced the academic groves of Ancient Greece, has bobbed up in Movieland. No one seems to know whence he came or whither he is bound. But that he is a close ob- server seems to be never in doubt. He has been observing the movies, and he has announced that he finds in them the greatest movement of ali time, an irresistible effort on the part of humanity to find 2nd to understand itself. It was a Greek philosopher who de- clared that to know thyself was the sum of all wisdom. The Hollyweod peripatetic has declared that only the modern movie industry, in all the world, is seeking to aid humanity in the task. “Observe” he says “the various stories of the pictures, the develop- ment and unfolding of themes, the probing of character. types and the like, the range of appeal from a spec- tacle of beauty to the ugliness of the underworld. All these point .uner- ringly ‘to an effort to picture human- ity in its every phase of life and liv- ing. *How may one better “know thy- self” than in this? 5 IJOCW‘! Palace Rldio Club | E Radio Movie Club will “meet” regularly at Station WRC every | Tuesday night at 11:30 p.m., as a part | of ‘the weekly entertainment hour trom Loew's Palace Theater. Nor- man W. Pyle, publieity director, and Colby Harriman, production manager of Loew’s Palace, are planning an in- movation in this feature, whereby the meetings will be staged in homey fashion and the latest news of the studios will be discussed. Attention is also calledsto the fact that the Loew's Palace hour has been changeéd from Monday to Tuesday night of each week and ‘the hour from 11 to 11:30 o'clock. ‘ARRY LANGDON, tireless come- dian that he is, like his little sister, the Movles, recently made a slide for fame, but slipped. KNX, which is known as the radio “Volce of Hollywood,” engaged Harry to broadcast the recent swimming con- test from Catalina Island to the Cali. fornia mainland. Think of the oppor- tunity for making himself known to the Nation! “But just then,” says Graham Mc- Namee, than whom, eéxcept Philip Car- lin, there i8 no other; “along comes an unknown Canadian boy of 17, without money, motor or much of anything; rides to the Golden State with a kind of friend who owned a motor cycle, gets over to Catalina, begs the rich Wrigley, who staged the contest, to send a tug behind him to see if he drowned, and then sweeps in ahead of them all, a Bundred and fifty-odd, the sole swi to make the course. Oh, yes, there isiimore. This kid won the ‘and right in the heart of This is Laura 19 what more he won? ‘grove when she La #ssurns to k - Letter.” “The Night of Love." Daniel | {but with its moments of romance, the |. a timid shop girl who wins a trip to | ATTRACTIONS. This afternoon This and evening helors.” afternoon and eve ene Franklin. This afternoon and This afternoon and This afternoon and evening ors.” This afternoon and evening re™ Th s afternoon and even evening. Opera Co., who will group entitled ““Mus offer a son; vite Memories. RIALTO—"The Night of Love.” Owing to the fact that “The Night of Love," costarring Ronald Colmag and Vilma Banky, has proven such & sensational the Rialta Theater, the announced that the picture will be held over for second week's showing. The Night of Love" is repleta with thrills. It opens with a gypsy wedding ceremonysta the style, beauty and color Jof rs ago. The first thrill comes when the bane dit outlaws, under the leadership of Ronald Colman, storm the the duke and kidnap their duchess, | Vilma Banky, on her wedding night |One of the most dr scenes shows Colman serving to the luke and duchess, whom aped. and the orgy s as a “stag” party for the srand dining hall of the | other thrill. " The burning scene near the | the plcture, staged in the courtyard | of the castle before an audience of thousands soldiers, nobles and | peasantry, is gripping in the extreme, |and the that follows, ending in the rescue of Colman and the reunion of the lovers, is a dramatic climax. _The stage prologue f Themy | the tenor, and F Van, the | violinist, will be retained on the pro |gram, and Rox Rommell's novelty | overture, played by the Rialto Or | chestra, and’ the auxiliary features will be continued WARDMAN PARK—"The Treasure.” Commencing today, the Motion Pic- ture Guild at Wardman Park will H‘rfspm a special German production, | “The Treasure,” which elicited much pralse from the critics when given its American premiere recently at the Cameo Theater, New York. | The story revolves around an eerie | old house in a lonely Spot in Austria devoted to a bell foundry, where treas. ure is supposed to have been hidden by troops in their flight before invad ing Turks. The discovery of the treasure and its devestating effect on the simple-living group of peasants involved forms the theme of the story. Werner Kraus, seen here in the “Cabinet of Dr.’ Caligari,” has the leading role and the spporting cast |1s made up of prominent players of | the German stage and screen. TAKOM and Monday, Hoot Gibson Flaming Frontier,” Pathe Adolph Menjou in “The Ace of Cads,” Alice Day comedy; Wednesday, Florence Vidor in “You Never Know Women, "Priscilla Dean in “The Danger Girl"; Thursday, Vera Reynolds in “Risky Business,” Mack Sennett comedy; Friday, Virginia Valli in “The Family Upstairs,” Pathe News, “Bill Grimm's Progress,” No. aturda a Plante in “Her Big Night, Fable, comedy. in the an ose of | Sunday “The Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Belle Bennett in “Stelia Dallas,” Topics of ’ll\r- da Wedn v, Buddy Roosevelt lin “A’ Ramblin’ " Galoot,” comedy; | 'Thursd Matt Moore and Edith Rob- erts in “The Mystery Club,” Interna- | tional News; Friday, Bill | “The Patent Leather Kid," “Fighting | with Buffalo Bill,” No. urday, | Tom Santschi in “The Pride of the | Force,” comedy, “Trooper 77,” No. “Scarlet Letter"” Incidents VICTOR SEASTROM, the famous Scandinavian director, in his :produouon. for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, | of Nathaniel Hawthorne's ““The Scar- | let Letter,” wished to convey, with | unmistakable emphasis, the thoughts | of an early New England colonial governor, as he reads from a book of the law the penalty for an offense which Hester Prynne has been ac- cused. William H. Tooker, in the role of the governor, is seen reading the book, and as he reads his figure dissolves out and, instead, one sees the penal- ties he visualizes in a highly graphic manner. The device carries out with astonishing emphasis this strong dra- matic episode of the picture. Incidentally, Seastrom explains that one of the greatest difficulties he en- countered in filming this famous clas- | sic of Puritan New England wa: | find, in present day America, | whose faces were serenely at ri Miss Gish had this desired serenity to a high degree, but her supporting cast was difficult to secure, to carry out the peculiar feeling of repose that | was so characteristic of the Puritans of both sexes. BIGGER AND BETTER ORANGE Plunls"p ld‘et.;lng: :‘ plans on starting an orange [ Sullivan in [ -