Evening Star Newspaper, March 4, 1929, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS BERT BELASCO—“Security.” It is highly appropriate that when the Capital is showing itself to best advantage to thousands of persons from all over the Nation, Margaret Anglin | should come to town in one of the best plays seen here this season. She comes in a finely cast play which digs deep ' into the well of human conduct and emotion, then emerges from stark tragedy into a light end airy piece not | without its provocation of laughter. argaret Anglin is cast as the wife of a successful man whose conduct to- ward the other sex has not been com- mendable. For 20 years she and her husband have attempted to keep up appearances for the sake of the two daughters. When a young woman with | whom her husband was in love chooses | death to disgrace, Jane Mapleson (Mar- garet Anglin) comés into the breach and diverts scandal from the family name at the coroner’s inquest. Through all this there is drawn a fine picture of & woman who knows of all her hus- band’s frailties, but steadfastly refuses to admit th®m, and so goes on, rising higher and Ligher on that 20-year ac- cumulation of lies and sham. The maladroit husband comes i{o her and confesses that he was in love with the woman who killed herself. That changes matters. Jane Mapleson is through. She did not mind knowing, but she did mind being told all about it. and she decides to leave the home. A handy pistol which the husband finds in his desk drawer where his wife put it obviates this and Jane Mapleson blos- soms forth in the third act as a highly, desirable, wealthy widow. The final little situation of the play, the acceptgnce of a marriage proposal to save the happiness of one of the daughters with a somewhat errant hus- band, is the gem of the entire piece, and lifts the play out of the heavy tragedy of the first two acts. Margaret Anglin gives a delightfully easy, but thoughtful performance in a rather difficult role. One of the longest speeches of the season comes to her in this plece and suffers nothing by its length. Thurston Hall, as James Mhpleson, vies with Miss Anglin for tgg honors. “Security” 'is the first work of Esme ‘Wynne-Tyson and last night's showing POLI'S—“Rain eor Shine.” A capacity inauguration audience at Poli's Theater last night greeted Joe Cook in his latest musical show, “Rain or Shine,” and were highly entertained. A “~rge cast of pretty girls, clever princip. 's and male singers, abetted by some original ideas in scenery and other features, contrived to make three hours of pleasure. The costumes are bright, the tunes catchy and the show deserved the patronage which distinguished the opening night. Tom Howard with his brand of dry humor takes considerable of the spot- light from Joe Cook, but the latter ln:,rodmuc% a Jlm w'xlz’ilch :lk‘xould el ‘ynne k en there's Ethel Norris, a cute little plece, whose “Oh, Baby” song was the hit of the show. Nell Roy, as Mary Wheeler, the circus girl, cast in the title role, is a delightful brunette, anything but hard to look at Warren Hull, as Jack Wayne, reminds one of a from “My Mary- land,” a preyious ibert success. ‘The story, such as it is, relates the trials of a runaway son of the rich, who while working as & circus acrobat falls in love with Mary Wheeler, tapeze performer, whose father has just died and left her the show. - The whole show is built about the trials and tribula- tions of keeping together the circus, be- set as it is by deputy sheriffs serving warrants for unpaid animal feed bills, unpaid salaries for of the roustabouts. Joe Cook introduces his one-man cireus and is accompanied by some clever numbers, and Rosie Moran who alternates be-' tween ballet dancing and circus. acro- bating. Special dance features-are fur- nished by the “16 Ameriean Rockets” and the Nip:dancers. There is a kaleido-~ ;eohp:u r:l .n‘,p:dlbyo clunlllnge filM;enes for ) people stage most of the time. - There is & male chorus of 16 as has featured of the ey many Shubert musical KEITH'S—Savoy Musicomedians. ‘The Savoy Musicomedia: laying “Little Nellle Kelly,” got I:':y ':a you: t;;fl'.hetllr“b,e';tm lnl:,lood show be- & capac! audience in Keith's Theater last night. Th casion marked reopening of the Yvaudeville house of other years and the initial appearance of the Savoy Musical Comedy Co. there after an éxtensive Tun at the Belasco, where it gained rapidly in popularity before large au- diences. If the members of the company ocontinue to perform as they did last night they are destined to gain more L-tme and enjoy a long stay in this y. With musical numbers of a snaj swing and superb acting thrmuhg\'x,ty the show proceeded with a snap and charm sufficient to make any musical prod n & success and the achieve- ment was particularly noteworthy for an opening night in a new presentation. ‘Wherever g with a par- ticular kind of voice was necessary -here was an actor to ‘fill the bill’ The same applied to the dancing, talking and other features of the play. And, | last but not least, the “glorious garden | of girls” performed with “pep” and in unison, | The main plot centers around the | Tival affections of Jerry Conroy, played by Frank Gallagher, and Jack Lloyd, played by Robert Carbaugh, for Neilie Kelly, played by Patti harrold. Jack is rich and offers Nellie anything money can buy if she becomes his wife, but{ Nellie, although Conroy’s modesty pre- vents him from knowing it, is never in doubt as to just where her love is. Miss Harrold and Gallagher perform well, making a particularly charming team, while Carbaugh, a local boy and comparatively new on the stage, is giv- ing promise of becoming an actor of the highest order. Capt. John Kelly, or Nellie's father, played by George Shields, performs beautifully as a real “copper” of the old nc}l:oul and entertains with a good bass voice. There are various other clever scenes, with all the performers really worthy of mention. The other characters are: Wellesley, the Lloyds’ butler, played by | James McKay; Mathilda, the Lloyds’; housekeeper, Rosa Snowden; | Potter, Robert Capron cott and Ambrose Swift, a society detec- tive, played by Robert Burton: Francoise de Vere, proprietor of a modiste show, played by Harold Kennedy, Jean de Vere's modiste, Thelma Parker; Mrs. Langford, Jack Lloyd’s aunt, by Bea- trice Lee, and Marie, the latter's daugh- ter, played by Mary Deery. Kennedy gave an excellent picturization of a French male dresmaker or designer. STRAND—“Peaches.” All Washington seemed to know yes- terday and last night that, though March is just opening, “Peaches” had arrived at the Strand Theater—not the | lusclous Georgia variety of puches. but “Peaches” the sensational young dancer | who turned burlesque patrons topsy turvy on her last appearance in Wash- | ington. She is still the same “Peaches.” ‘The star is surrounded by a_ clever company of entertainers in humor, songs and dances that seem to catch | their inspiration from the young prin- cipal whom the patrons seemed to want to hold indefinitely. Joe Van is a good comedian and he can warble with the best of them. Katherine Stevens is a most attractive song bird. Art Harris knows how to make them laugh and Edna Harrls, Althea Conley, Benny XKannes and Billy De Gray, with a troop of youthful, spirited choristers, keep the ‘show moving apace with delight to the beholders. ‘There will be a midnight show to- night and a wrestling match as a part of the Thursday evening performance. METROPOLITAN.—“Weary River.” “Weary River,” current at the Metro- politan, reveals through its Vitaphone { that that great invention should come rformers and a! THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY, MARCH "4, 1929. very clever though tricky synchroniza- tion has takén place, the same Mr. Bar- thelmess has an even more engaging baritone, all of which means that the popular star has scored something akin to a knockout in this “his talkie” debut. Aside from the personal triumph for the leading player. the excellent sup- port of capable Betty Compson, who seems to fit her role as well as if not better than any one else of whom we ly diverting entertainment which “Weary River,’ as a whole, offers, | would seem ample recommendation for | the picture. Two particular noteworthy | Willlam Holden, as the too-good-to-be- the familiar role of gangster. In this week of weeks, when almost every radio dial is tuned in on Wash- ington. it seems thoroughly appropriate in for its share of glorification in “Weary River.” Indeed the plot even depends in great measure upon it, and unless Phillips Carlin, the famous an- nouncer, has a movie double, you may see and hear him too, which, after all, is very fitting in that Mr. Carlin is scheduled to be in town for the in- auguration ceremoni Don't miss \ “Weary River,” it is worth your time. By way of added attractions, two | Vitaphone shorts, which are both en- { tertaining, feature Jack Goldie as “The Ace of Spades” with his tomfoolery in one and the team of Jimmy and Betty Morgan with novel songs in the other. A Pathe Review in natural colors and interesting news reels, silent and with noise, | average bill. FOX—“New Year Eve.” | The shuttle of fate sometimes weaves | strange patterns, as witness the story | “New Year Eve,” a Willlam Fox produc- tion, current at the Fox Theater, wherein a marked $100 bill is an impor- tant facto. in the changing fortunes of Mary Astor, her sick little brother, Charles Morton, and the thief and the gambler. _ Christmas holidays look gloomy to Mary, who is out of work, but in one short week all is changed, the gambler and the thief have paid their scores and Mary, her lover and little brother greet the new year as a new era of happiness and promise. The Foxettes appear sitting on 12 lit- with the music; three militar; form tap-dancing steps wil precision, a nify number is Betsy Rees | of the Ziegfield “Follies” on her toes in “Black Maria.” The master of cere- monies introduces a schoolmate, Ruth Hamilton, who sets him up with riddles and sings “Blue Grass” and “What a Man”; Johnny Marvin, the radio voice with a smile, accompanied himself on | the guitar while he sang “Ohio, Where the Shy Little Violets Grow” and | “Sweethearts on Parade,” and his brother Prank, from Oklahoma, yodeled | “Oh, Lady.” Both responded to nu- merous encores. The Sully and Gomaly team, “Beau Brummeis of Broadway,” excited admiration by their difficult twists and tumbles, and the show ends with the dainty Foxettes in vellow silk ruffied panniers staging an effective | tableau. . lads per- portrait of the new President is flashed upon the curtain, lighted in tones of mauve and orchid, while the archestra, propriately. Fox Movietone News introduces Maj. Seagrove arriving at Daytona with the car in which he expects to shoot over the beach at the rate of about 235 miles per hour. Next follows a travelogue PALACE—“Desert Nights.” ‘To John Gilbert, Mary Nolan and Er- nest” Torrence is due the credit for whatever success may accrue to “Desert Nights,” current at the Palace Theater. Gilbert enacts the role of Rand, man- ager of the British Crown Diamond Mines, situated in the depths of Africa far beyond the customs and conveniences of civilization,. When.an English lord (Ernest Torrence) and his chic voung daughter, Lady Diana (Miss Nolan) ar- faster, especially that of Rand, who falls hard for the young noblewoman. But the thrill is soon replaced by disillusion 1215 G St.Washington’s A Well Selected Fur merica—while more anywhere in rich Furs themselves Dossers a style seasons ahbead. Fox Scarfs in the Newest Shades Red, Pointed Beige, Cross Brown, Silver Brown Blue Also_charming Sables and Marten: $25.00 to $125.00 A Small Deposit Will Reserv Your Selection can presently think, and the consistent- | degree of skill and finesse and Ernest minor characterizations are offercd by | Usually vivid picture of human suffering { true warden, and by George Stone in|%00d laughs donated by Mr. Torrence enhance a much better than { tle stools as the curtain parts, and with | ‘was its first in the theater. :hcads. arms and feet keep perfect time | | military | Enthusiasm is most apparent when a | the conducted by Leon Brusiloff, plays ap- | through Cairo and Egypt. Bob Smith | sings a solo entitled “Father Machree.” | rive at the mines masculine hearts beat | & sat Monday Evening, March 4, 7:30 to 1 A. M. WEEDE MEYER And His Versatile Orchestra Special Entertainment—Couvert $1.00 Dinner Parfait, $2.50 Including Couvert Wm-Rosendorf piece Will Complete the Spring Ensemble Perfectly Were justly proud of our new Fox s, “Hhe:re ugmatchable in value a¢ 287 “live~ Tess” that makes them unususily beau- 1 Modeled by Craftsmen who advance Amber, Paradise ment when Gilbert discovers that his titled guests are only a pair of diamond i heniy cTeeat guerds” and. force s y eficlent guards and force him to accompany them with their loot. across the desert to the coast. Therein lie what there is of plot and the dra- matic action of the story. Gilbert's work is up to the usual high Gilbert standard, Mary Nolan handles a very difficult role with a highly commendable | Torrence, like Gilbert and Miss Nolan, ! deserves a better vehicle for his ability than is afforded in this picture. There is some good desert scenery and an un- from thirst and exhaustion—also a few and the subtitle writer. The “Carnival Cocktail" stage revue, devised by Charles A. Niggemeyer, starts off with clown costumes and the famillar bedlam of a regular circus, with Charles Marsh as barker and singer; Joe Besser and Moore and Pal furnish the comedy; Frances Wills, con- | tortionistic dancer, seems to be made of | rubber instead of flesh and bones; Ethel Dallon, a dainty bit of femininity, sings | | songs of the sentimental type, and the | Foster Girls step through several lively dances. Wesley Eddy leads the Palace | | Syncopators through several rousing | | numbers and sings “If T Had You.” Supplemental features are pictures of former inaugural ceremonles, a film displaying what the well dressed Amer- ican girl will wear this Spring. with| organ accompaniment played by Chailes gailc and M-G-M and Fox Movietone | ews. EARLE—“Redskin.” It is not likely that Richard Dix will disappoint any of his fans—aad he seems to hold their loyalties with con- sistent strength—in his latest picture, “Redskin,” which is showing at the Earle this week. The film is partially made in colors and has music and sound effects throughout. ‘The present work is a companion plece to “The Vanishing American,” in which Dix managed to characterize the Indian with rather convincing ac- curacy. As in the earlier film, the story content of “The Redskin” i neither too impressive nor too logical, but the film, by any standard, may be | judged an attractive one regardless. The natural-color photography, re- vealing the wonderful Navajo and Pueblo hues, justifies itself entirely in those sequences where it is used, if one does not quibble with the ultra-blue sky. There is a theme song which some may find appealing. A Vitaphone comedy feature, pre- senting a Mr. Burton (if memory serves) as its central—its only—figure, is a very amusing bit of nonsense. COLUMBIA—“The Doctor’s Secret.” ‘When the sound picture can bring such stars as Ruth Chatterton, capa- ble and trained in the art of the spoken word and with a real genius for the technique of the stage, then in a sense it justifies its existence. For after months of flounderings around with the sound device in which our screen stars have talked or squeaked “The Doctor's Secret” brings a finished and genuine artist of the legitimate drama to carry most of the spoken lines and prove that a lot of the trouble in past has been not so much with :Lhe “talkies” as with the talker. | “The Doctor's Secret,” adapted from | Barrie’s “Half an Hou is however, far from perfect in itself. The movies have drawn the thing out interminably to fill the feature length and a number of the early sequences have little excuse other than stalling for time. Also the play in itself while excellent drama is highly improbable, built entirely on: co- incident and affording powerful and sustained suspense at the cost of evi- dent theatricality. It is however, Barrie at his more brilliant moments; the humor is most sardonic and the Barriesque whimsy if present at.all, is subdued and non-irritating. Miss Chatterton plays the role that Maude Adams made famous, and does it with a keen appreciation of its drama. Her performance is briiltant; mrhl“i’m::d a m})lex Igurmfllm. sophisticated pathetic, and courageous. art that asserts its villlany by ic laugh which registers like a cackle, H. B. Warner, long a stage favorite, overacts a bit. Unfortunely, h of excellent quality Featuring Main 8663 Importing Furrier o 1 Neck- S. We Invite Your Charge Account e | A THREE DAYS' COUGH IS YOUR DANGER SIGNAL Coughs from colds may lead to se. vious trouble. You can stop them now with Creomulsion, an emulsified | creosote that is pl nt to take. 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Money refunded if mot ree lieved after taking according to direce tions. Aek your druggi: tisement. does not adapt ftself well to the ‘talkies.” John Loder with a delightful English accent blurred in spots by poor repro duction, is cast as the ill-fated “other man” of the plece and have done excellently if he had soft-pedalled the Glyn technique. The part of the doctor who stumbles into the secret around which all the suspense revolves in impressively done by Robert Edeson. Ethel Wales and Alfred Noy play the deadly guests that seem to infest so many English dinner parties, and Nanci Price speaks her Barriesque lines with a remarkable talent for all her 10 years or so. There is an elaborate movietorie revue led by Jack Pepper, long & local master of ceremonies, and including a number of Broadway stars, followed by & less successful sound feature presenting Jan Garber and his band, in which, how- :lver. there is an element of unconscious umor. The usual list of subsidiaries includes two news reels and a comedy that puts across old gags in a novel manner. PRESIDENT—Birth of a Race.” ‘With single sceis that are almost classic in their comgosition (scenes that would make wort] r:&rodu:uom of art in still form) and h a handling of mob sequences that approaches the best the screen has known, “The Birth of a Race” showing currently at the President Theater, offers & substantial bid for patronage among those who can tear themselves away from the mawkish and cloying average film for a long- | enough time to witness what might be - | termed a “non-fiction” picture, “The Birth of a Race” does not bear the stamp of one of the big Hollywood companies, nor are its directors and actors well known to the average picture-goer. The Renco Co. is its pro- ducer; John W. Noble, at one time a director with Paramount and Famous Players, directed; the scenario writers were George Frederick Wheeler, who acted in the film; John W. Noble, the director, and Rudolph De Cordova, brother of Pedro De Cordova. It was made in Hollywood, Fla d New Jersey. ‘The film was made b>fore America’s entry into the World War as peace propaganda and is reminiscent of most of the recent big films with a “passion” theme: “Quo Vadis,” “Ben-Hur,” “The ‘Ten Commandments” and “The King of Kings.” In the dev:vlggmenz of its larger theme, the gro of an ideal of bro- therly love and peace down through the ages, “The Birth of a Race” goes back to the creation of the world ac- cording to Genesis, the coming of Adam and Eve, the story of Noah and the Ark, the history of Moses from the time of his discovery by Pharaoh’s daughter to the delivery of the Ten Commandments, the story of Christ in His first teachings to the crucifixion, the discovery of America by Columbus, details of Revolutionary times and the signing of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, Abraham Lincoln's death, the World War and its conclusion in final peace. Considering the theme, “The Birth of a Race” is remarkably free from false sentimentality. There is some- thing very literal about its pictured incidents. ' Its gravest fault is that it is not actually universal; it is unforgiv- ably partisan to the American destiny. Question of the taste of such treat- ment of the theme does not, however, detract from the picture’s solid worth as entertainment. Such scenes as the consignment of the infant Moses to the bosom of the Nile by his frantic mother. the faces of Christ's listeners, Christ before Pilate, the “Ecce Homo" scene, where Pilate delivers Christ to the mob; the crucifixion, the landing of Colum- bus, Lincoln's death, will all remain in the spectator’s mind long after he has left the theater. It is a picture very much worth seeing. LITTLE THEATER—Behind the Ger- man Lines. ‘The UFA production, “Behind the German Lines,” has been held over at the Little Theater this week. It is the German official pictorial story of the World War from the Teutonic point of view. There are many interesting characters in the flim story, including the former Kaiser of Germany, Gen. von Hindenburg, Admiral von Tri- pitz, along with Marshal Joffre, Lloyd George, Marshall Foch and President ‘Woodrow Wilson. The picture is a re- cital of things as they were behind th German battle line 1143 Conn. Avenue NOW showing smartly fashioned spring modes, personally select- ed by Miss Young dur- ing her recent visit to New York — hats that are charmingly distinc- tive in every line—yet, conservatively priced. PICTURED ABOVE — Agnes model in black Paris-meme braid, most effectively trimmed with Chartreuse ribbon. Closed All Day Today OU can come in again tomorrow and select Life- time Furniture at the remarkable price reductions. The low sale prices will remain in force all this week. Assortments of Lifetime Furniture are now at a new peak. 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