Evening Star Newspaper, September 17, 1928, Page 19

! | | i [ { i i I 1 | § ) i | i { { ¢ | [ i | i i i | | | { | t f i THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1928 OPENING ATTRACTIONS IN WASHINGTON THEATERS i NATIONAL—“Wings.” “Wings,” the dramatic war picture heralded far and wide as “the epic of the air,” was, after more than a year's showing elsewhere, presented in Wash- ington last night at the National Thea- ter. If the picture appeals to Washing- tonians as it has to audiences in New York and other cities—and there was every evidence last night that it will— then it is due for a long run here. The outstanding feature of the pho- toplay is, of course, the air scenes. Nothing anyway comparable to them has ever before been pictured on the screen, and yet, it is possible, they fall short of the word pictures that have preceded them. The land battles also are masterpieces of direction in spec- tacular effect and the thrill of horror. Before one is permitted to get so much as a glimpse of the thrilling bat- tlefield episode, however, one needs must | sit through 15 minutes of sentimental love scenes and heart-rending farewells. Then at intervals throughout the piece more of the same note is interjected Despite this. the manner in which the plot is worked out is not at all bad. In fact, it is worthy of especial men- tion, for here is a story based on the old situation of two youfig men com- peting for the hand of a maidea in a rivalry which is brought to a rolution in an original if intensely sad way. ‘The picture opens at the beginning of America’s entry into the war. After bidding farewell to their mutual sweei- heart, the two young men enlist in the Alr Corps. Because of their battle over the girl they are enemies, but during their training period they become fas: friends. The war goes on and they are in the front line in the air fighting for months, barely escaping death time and again, sending down enemy planes in flames and having experiences such as few men have ever been through. Then comes 2n incident, growing out of their || rivalry for the girl, which threatens to | |f' As they arel| about to come to blows, the order comes | | break their friendship. to take to the air. One of them is re- orted as shot down over the enemy lines, but he escapes after his plane crashes, steals an enemy plane and starts home. The other, believing his companion has been killed, goes out in great bitterness to avenge him, and|| meets the vary plane in which the downed flyer is returning. Thinking it is piloted by one of the enemy, he gives battle and unknowingly sends friend crashing to his death. ‘The roles of the flyers are very well handled by Charles Rogers and Rich- |/ ard Arlen. Clara Bow plays the part of the girl who loves the man who survives, and her love persists while he is competing with his friend for the hand of the other girl. Needless to say, it is she who is finally chosen by the surviving aviator. The direction is by William A. Will- man. The screen version is the work || of Hope Loring and Louis D. Lighton, based on the story by John Monk Saunders, KEITH'S—“The Perfect Crime”— Marion Harris. Yesterday afternoon the opening of the theatrical season was observed in 700 Keith-Albee-Orpheum theaters in the United States and Canada. The ‘Washington vaudeville house opened its program with “The Perfect Crime.” starring Clive Brook and Irene Rich, as its screen offering and a stage program featuring Marion Harris, known as “the || ?ueen of song,” with Jack Golden, formerly with Le Paradis, at the piano. If the hearty Jaughter and frequent ggahuse of the audience and curtain Bow Mystery,” by Israel Zangwill, directed by Bert Glennon. Clive k is cast as Dr. Benson, a famous tective, whose continued success in ving crime mysteries has convinced him it every criminal is a bungler. original ideas of fun, and is helped by Jack Rosen in ihe comedy sketches. George Stella offers a good brand of soft shoe dancing, and his specialty is just about all that can be desired in that kind of dancing. Harry C. Van takes care of the straight roles and sings a few songs nicely. Opal Taylor leads the feminine con- tingent and the patrons last night couldn't get enough of her singing and dancing. Ray Keith and Joan Lee earn a share of the applause for their singing and dancing. They lead the chorus of 16 attractive and well trained misses through many numbers. The entire revue is fast moving, with good music. It takes the audience on a tour “Round the World” in the seven scenes. EARLE—“Lilac Time.” “Lilac Time,” which was shown at a special midnight presentation last Fri- day night, is the current screen attrac- tion at the Earle Theater. It is the sec- ond “sound” picture to be presented at this house, and comes to Washington after a long run in New York. “Lilac Time" is offered at an oppor- tune time, when the movie-going public is developing a keen interest in synchro- nized screen productions, and its sub- ject of war time aviation makes it a most appropriate vehicle for the utiliza- tion of “sound” interpretation. The picture is not a “talkie,” there being practically no sound dialogue. Rather it is an attempt to convey the sounds which attend the action as it is repre- sented pictorially. There must have been blenty of “noise” in the filming of the graphic aerial scenes—the drone of motors, zoom of exploding bombs and the rattling of machine guns in aerial combat. And these sounds and thun- dering noises are all brought to the ears of the audience, thus providing the full atmosphere of the thrilling photographic action. Colleen Moore is cast as the star, with Gary Cooper in chief support. The story concerns the combat adventures of a unit of British aviators in Prance dur- ing the war. Their thrilling battles up in the clouds, their reckless gayety when off duty, and their beautiful devotion to one another in comradeship—‘mese are the ingredients which make “Liles Time” a great picture. There is also a fine love story developed, but the chief interest must center in the thrilling pho- tography and the synchronized sound accompaniment. Miss Moore in the role of a little French girl, whose vivacity and tender heart make her an indispensable com- panion of the gfoup of fiyers who take their meals at her home, gives a fine dramatic_portrayal, which also enables her to display that charming whim- sicality which has made her celebrated as a comedienne. The role of Jean- nine affords opportunity for a wide range of acting, for in addition to the lighter moods she is called on to ex- press in the capacity of “sweetheart” to the whole unit of flyers, there are tender emotional scenes enacted in the romantic setting of a garden of lilacs. Gary Cooper has a part which recalls his fine work in “The Legion of the Condemned.” He makes his role of daring aviator and lover a romantic and virile characterization. Others in the large cast who render fine support are Burr McIntosh, Cleve Moore, Kathryn McGuire and Eugene Besserer. Some marvelous serial scenes have been filmed in the picture. There are thrilling close-ups of planes flying at terrific speed in close combat forma- tion—when wing tips seem almost to touch. Machine guns spit fire and motors roar as daring loops and dives are executed for the point of advan- tage in attack. At times there are head-on views of a plane pursuing an they reach tion— health and use ‘Wondering if there really is such a thing as a perfect crime, he decides to commit one himself. His crime is planned and executed so well (or is it due to police inefficiency?) that not one person sus- pects him. An innocent young man with a beautiful wife and child is con- cted of the murder, but, as it always o sinulas as it sy seetn, happiness as it may seem, happiness feigns in the end. Marion Harris easily carried off stage honors with the lyric beauty of her voice and her pleasing expression. Some of her songs were in a more serious vein and some humorous. Jim ‘Toney and Ann Norman appear in a skit, “A Man About Town.” Although some of Mr. Toney's jokes were.not of the brand relished by the more con- servative theatergoers, it is apparent that his extraordinary ability as a comedian should enable him to please and keep any audience shaking its sides with laughter. Frakson, “the man of a hundred cigarettes,” scored a big hit with his magic—lighted cigarettes ap- pearing from nowhere and members of the audience surprised in the act of concealing half-dollars in their hair and ears. Steve Freda, guitarist, and Johnny Palace create much hilarity with and wise cracks, the Barr Twins and Arnold Gluck furnish a very entertaining dance number, and Tom and Betty Waters do some good slack- wire and dancing. Excellent music by the house orches- tra, C. Prederick Clark, director, and Pathe News complete a very good pro- gram. STRAND—“Sugar Babies.” ‘The burlesque attraction at the Strand this week is “Sugar Babies,” a musical show in two acts and seven scenes, staged by Harry (“Hello Jake”) Flelds, with numbers by Raymond Perez. Fields has the featured part of pass- ing across the comedy. He is the Hebrew type of comedian, with some What Women Are Thinking About Keep your children up to the high standard of health —Julia Huston Riley. HE same sun, a little farther away, the same air, but cooler, envelops your child in the Fall and Winter months as in July, and the same Simp- son’s Milk with its wealth of vitamins essential the year round to child growth is at your grocer’s. Women now think what makes for continued child Sold at the Grocer’s Nearest You during vaca- ‘9 Many people, two hours after eat- ing, suffer indigestion as they call it. It is usually excess acid. Correct it with an alkali. The best way, the quick, harmless and efficient way, is Phillips Milk of Magnesia. It has remained for 50 years the standard with physicians. One spoonful in water neutralizes many times its volume in stomach acids, and at once. The symptoms disappear in five minutes. You will never use crude methods when you know this better method. And you will never suffer from ex- cess acid when you prove out this easy relief. Please do that—for your own sake—now Be sure to get the genuine Phillips Milk of Magnesia prescribed by phy- sicfans for 50 years in correcting ex- cess acids. 25c and 50c a bottle— any drug store. “Milk of Magnesia” has been the U. S. Registered Trade Mark of The Charles H. Phillips Chemical Com- pany and its predessor Charles H. Phillips since 1875. GLEAMY WHITE TEETH and a Sweet Breath Try Phillips Dental Magnesia Tooth Paste just once and see for yourself how white your teeth be- come. Write for a free ten-day tube. Address The Phillips Co., 117 Hudson St., New York, N. Y. He brings new standards’ of heme sanitation Phone Today For Free Trial and Demonstration ONLY $go0 DC Balanee Monthly Liberal allowa on your old electric cleamer enemy ship, hits on the enemy craft are recorded, and then the camera fol- lows the flaming plane in its fall thou- sands of feet to the earth. These graphic scenes, with the atterfant sound interpretation, make ‘“Lilac Time” a pping and entertaining picture. Due to the length of the feature pic- ture, the only additional attraction is the “Kinograms” news reel. FOX—“The River Pirate.” Synchronization comes é¢n for a big hand at the Fox this week, where the Movietone is used as a musical and at- mospheric accompaniment to the fea- ture picture, “The River Pirate.” “The Birthday Party,” observing the theater's first anniversary, is a glitter- ing, gay and gorgeous stage presenta- tion full of fun, pep and jazz. Victor MacLaglen is the star of the picture, which 1s an exciting story of a lawless but not unlovable figure of the wharves, whose real fineness is tested in a friendship and proves real. There are moments of tense excitement in this l)lcture of banditry versus the law, great- y augmented by the atmospheric effects achieved by the Movietone, which re- Section Second Floor produces perfectly all the weird noises of the river front. ‘The entire cast in the picture does nobly. There are times when MacLaglen catches the spirit of the thing superbly and makes the most of a character- ization brutal on the exterior but warmly human at heart. Earle Foxe also does some notable acting in a new type of villain role, as the degenerate yet piti- ably weak tool of the law breaker, even though at times his villainy is spread a little thickly. Nick Stuart is seen in a role of emotional possibilties, and Don- ald Crisp as the detective, a grim, virile part, plays with admirable restraint. The feminine interest is sustained by Lois Moran sincerely and charmingly. “The River Pirate” is a grim tale— an unpreachy sermon on the good in every man and a little that smacks of propaganda on juvenile reformatories. “The Birthday Party” is a gala affair, one of the most pretentious stage offer- ings seen here in a long time, with Harry Rose as a fast-moving master of ceremonies with a real flair for the job and the Fox Melody Makers taking first honors. Toots Novello, an extraordinary dancer, does all but bring down the house with his marionnette novelty dance, and -even those who get 40 winks M Rosenthal Ivory Body during most animal acts will be capti- vated by Maxine and Bobby in a tun that has real charm. Eccentric dancing of the hilarious sort is offered by Cran- dall and Marly, and the Rath brothers do a bit of acrobatic dancing. There is also a blues singer, Dorothy Murray, who capitalizes on queer vocal accom- gllshments. and evidently gets by with a ang. The Fox Grand Orchestra offers the beautiful “Dance of the Hours” from “La Gioconda,” and the Fox Movietone News reel completes a birthday party that is quite happy. PALACE—“Four Walls.” The drawiny wer of John Gil- bert’s name blazing forth in electric llfshu as well as the popularity of his co-stars, Joan Crawford, Vera Gordon and Carmel Myers, was well attested by the crowds of people pa- tiently awaiting entrance to the Palace theater Saturday at the open- ing of “Four Walls,” with the stage attraction, “High Hat,” a gorgeous Eig;:t club presentation by Wesley ly. \“Walls do not a prison make nor EXTRACT FROM LETTER— “In sending you enclosed check I desire to extend to you my appreciation of the man- ner in which you attended to all details.” Complete Cost, $110.00 JOSEPH Creablizhed 1850 MORTICIANS ‘iffed B. Gawler 1730-1732 Penna. Ave. NW. N Main 5512-3513 4 (Continued on Twentieth Page.) & R.-F R N C Special September Discounts For One Week Only We offer Reductions on a group GLADMERE —a conventional design that is en- hanced by the floral basket me- dallions. 25% less than regularly Dinner Plates, formerly,doz., $26—Reduced to $19.50 of selected, open stock patterns and dinner sets CHINA- WARE CLEARANCE Theodore Haviland ARCADIA —bird and floral decoration 33Y4% less than regularly Dinner Plates, formerly,doz., $18.75—Reduced to $12.50 Included in'this offering are the finest products of the best French, English, Belgian, Austrian, Bavarian and Amer- ican potteries— Theodore Haviland, Black Knight, Ahrenfeldt Limoge, Copeland Spode, Johnson Bros., 5 Rosenthal, T. & V. Limoge, Alfred Meakin, decorations with Keramis, Staffordshire— all discounted 25% and 33 1-3%, Dinner Sets Five Beautiful Patterns in atiractive rich gold handles Regularly $50 and $67, 331-3% off HOURS, 9 to 5:30 Dulin & 25% & 33y4% discounts .25 Patterns to Select From 25 charming patterns that will delight the woman who strives for a tastefully ap- pointed table. The pattern you are now using may be one of those included in the reductions. Copeland Spode WICKERDALE —embossed wicker effect with floral border in colors. 2564 less than regularly Dinner Plates, formerly,doz., $16.50—Reduced to $12.38 PHONE MAIN lZfl Martin Company o Caoent Mt 1214-18 G STREET FOR OVER THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY” APPLIANCE POTOMAC ELECTRIC “Gwti\e Have EVERYTHING Electrical—Pay on Electric Bills 14th and C Streets N.W. Phene Main Ten Thousand (486-3) 1215 F STREET “SERVING WASHINGTON