Evening Star Newspaper, September 16, 1929, Page 24

The Week’s Attractions in Local Theqf’er.é Reviews of New Photoplays and Stage Productions Lovers of really clever dftedctél\t?e al !wfl‘!fi turne o films w “The UNhOlY find a most worthy s successor to the recent “Argyle Cise” in “The Unholy Night,” featured at the Palace this week. Again psychology is the chief factor in solving a most u‘rlgl\ine mystery. Again the settings are palatial, being this time'in the home of an English lord, and the misty veil of a London fog adds still another colorful quality to the setting for “The Unholy Night.” ‘The title of this picture is inclined to be misleading and is far from apt, although, in a gcneral sense, it might be applied. Certainly there are some unholy forces indicated as ective in creating the grim situation in which the 10 surviving officers of a British regiment find themselves on the night in which th> mysterious deaths of sev= eral others are to be cleared up. The vhich the photo- entitled, *“The .” Ben Hecht is the Barrymore, whose cplendid production of “Madame X" was seen in Washingtcn recently, shows equal skill in directing this de- tective tale. It is entirely a sound picture and the voices all are well modulated and suited to screen re- » production. Many times very attrac- 7 tive groupings of the characters giving * artistic pictures, apparently without any pre-arranged plan, are achieved. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” is excel- lently done in a natural and convinc- ing fashion. Roland Young, the leading man in many smart society comedies seen on the stage here in previous seasons, is admirably cast as the young lord in ‘whose home the entire action_takes place. Dorothy Sebastian and Natilie w~idorehead are the decorative ladies of the cast. Ernest Torrence gives an excellent characterization as a doctor and all the others are well cast. It would be unfair to give the plot here. It can only be hinted that, for a while, it locks as though Van Dine's famous multiple murder mysteries were 10 be completely outdistanced in num- bers in Mr. Hecht's story. The results are logical and pleasantly surprising. It is certainly one of the best fllms of this type ever exhibited in Washington. On the stage Al Evans presents his “Synccpators” in the usual miniature vaudeville stunts and he wins quite a decided applause personally for his piano ramblings. News reels and the customary shori reels and orchestral and organ selections complete the bill. | RIALTO S and enjoyable syn- “cy Love.” College Love.” 1 ronized picture n which the Rialto Theater presents George Lewis, star of so many short collegiate films, in a feature-length story of school life. A'clean and wholesome tale of campus life is always appealing and a delightful change from the usual crime and war | films and the like so frequently pro- duced. Thus, “College Love,” one of the best to date, is certain of finding a leading place in the week's array of photoplay attractions. Caldwell, the good old alma mater, is all afire with the return of the vet- eran collegians and the advent of the | freshies. Lewis, as Bob Wilson, idol of the school, member of the famous foot ball team and an all-round good scout, is the target for Flash's (Eddie Phillips) gibes and sneers. Eddie plays the part of the pampered lad, who, because of his wealth, secures a certain following. He determines to win first place in the school, on the team and with the girl, by foul means if not by fair. Dorothy Gulliver is the girl. “College Love” has quite a plot which never seems to lose its attraction. A gridiron contest between Caldwell and Stanton is scheduled as the big ath- letic event of the season. The players are sent to quarters early the night be- fore the game and the coach starts in- spection. The captain, Flash, in his ‘usual arrogant manner, steps out on a regular party, and Wilson, thinking him necessary in the great game, forfeits his own chance to play to save his enemy. Of course, in the end Flash confesses to the cad he has been and Wilson is called. The last three minutes of the game find him walking off with the honors for himself and victory for the school. Pat Rooney and his family offer a splendid short skit, entitled “The Love ‘Tree,” and Oswald comic supplements. ‘The Evening Star-Universal News Reel is wide in scope and interesting in detalil, touching upon a varied array of current items, from a fashion revue of gowns of long ago to close-ups of the latest German naval training ships. ‘The Rialto orchestra completes the pro- « gram with a medley of appropriate col- lege tunes. 'EARLE “Fast Life.”” PALACE original siory up based “College Love” is a thoroughly refreshing To conjecture what an 111 fate may have befallen this worthy “talkie,” “Fast 1 Life,” the very plot of which seems unquestionably to tend + toward hackneyed, melodramatic senti- , mentalities, is of enough import to note, through contrast, the rather com- mendable results of the finished effort. ‘There is here all the claptrap mechanics indulged in so freely heretofore by the less worthy films of the same make-up, from the wild party to its consequent, just-must-be tragedy; the usual jail scene with its apparently inevitable colored singer of spirituals, and the ser- mon on the doomed, law-defying youth of today. Yet, here, this is all kept within the reasonable limits of intel- ligent plausibility. To say that this picture is remarkably restrained while being dramatic is to give it, at once, its due and its highest recommendation. See it, but remember that its natural sophistication would hardly be appre- ciated by the children. It is good adult entertainment, which incidentally is current on Broadway with only two per- formances daily and undoubtedly at top prices. Credit for its success should be awarded to its director, John Francis Dillon of the Pirst National staff, and to the consistently splendid work of the cast headed by those three engag- ing youngsters, Loretta Young, Chester Morris and Douglas Fairbanks, jr. Well selected added attractions en- hance the feature by balancing it nicely. Danlel Breeskin, the popular maestro of the Earle Orchestra, offers “Memories of Scotland and Ireland” as the sec- ond in a series of international over- tures, featuring “Annie Laurie” and “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms,” sung by the tenor, Willlam Raymond. Two _Vitaphone shorts with Mel Klee as the “Prince of Wails” in blackface, joking and crooning, and another clever “Mickey the Mouse” cartoon, “The Karnival Kid,” together with a refreshingly different Evening Star-Universal News Reel, all help to make this a worth while bill. Janet Gaynor appears in F Oox her first talking picture, «4 Devils” “Four Devils” at the Fox ‘Theater this week, although . Washingtonians have already had the opportunity to hear her in “Lucky Star.” The picture was directed by P. W. Murnau, as was “Sunrise.” ~ “Feur Devils” was made before “Lucky Star” ‘was filmed. The “Four Devils” are a quartet of acrobats whose aerial feats are the out- standing performance in a Parisian . circus. Having been brought up to- gether by a kind-hearted old clown who rescued -them from the brutality of a trainer, the ties of friendship between the four are closely knit. Marian and . Charles are very happy in their love for each other until a countess comes to the circus and determines to amuse Therself at the expense of Charles’ honor and Marian’s happiness. Although weak in plot, splendid direction, good acting and photographic effects have combined to produce a work which h'JLds the interest from g..to end. Miss Gaynor, Nancy Drexel, Charles Morton and Barry Norton play _the Four Devils, and J. Farrell Macdonald gives & faithful interpretation of ‘the ' ? ""HE EVENING 'STAR; WASHINGTON, fided to his care during the rebellion by an officer whose friendship he h‘dm. e Through the majority of the picture ; she does u:;nhlra'“ :u:b:ure. and ‘:h’: as a thread on which to string & num- | Jean Arthur convincingly plays only at es realizes tha ber of songs. of the young woman who, under | some attempt on her part must be ‘There are several good with ic influence ‘of Dr. Manchu; de- | made if her life is to be saved. makes | livers a blood-spotted dragon as notice to each man the Chinese to kill. L o yed - . P. 3 e ton, with Miss Arthur, fi love interest, and their protestations ot love, while of secondary interest, suggest a sincerity more appealing than heard in most talking pictures. What comedy relief there is shows up in the be- wildered actions of William Austin, who a m 3 ich depicts the last six hours of Joan's life, her trial lad| death. 'flxw lack of l:o;y‘ and essential support leaves mos! the work to Mile. Falconett!, and she handles it admirably. Not beautiful h she has no stirring scenes, no make-up, no beautiful clothes and no nulkh& backgrounds to help her over lcult parts. lays the f secref f| The close-ups are a serles of faces B fommer” British ‘shicens marked fof | photographed from all sides and angles, death. with a tendency to “shoot” from below. It s to be expected that the picture | Others in the cast who act well but borders on the melodramatic at mo- |are completely overshadowed by Mile. ments, but for the most part it is con- | Falconetti are Stlvain, M. Schutz, Ravet, vincing, and Oland’s fine c 3 haracteriza- | Andre Berly and Antonin Artaud. t.al:u m-?l the picture excellent enter- | _The story of Poe's “The Fall of the inmen! Hl?uu o(phl’lhel;'u Iscliukt lmlfifl 'elrg Vincent Lopez's “On the Air” tops | photography. ick angl an the secondary entertainment, featuring | kaleidoscopic effects can best be de- the entertainer in three piano solos, A |scribed by its written prologue, “too synchronized short subject, “The Holly- | complicated for the average mind. wood Review,” with Lloyd Hamilton of- | Other short ”mbjel':u include idden ficiating; - & Metro-Movietone sound | Death Traps,” UFA’s microscopic search comedy, “Unaccustomed As We Are”— |into certain motives of nature; a slap- slap-stick, but with plenty of laughs— | stick comedy, “That Night,” with Max second week at the Columbis Theater, L e “";‘;{:‘g'_c:'::;:;u‘; music, which s in keeping with the Oland's m;""m ::nmmtdyugfi'o{ 'nlfi medley of popular numbers as an over- | Program. Ay RIL TR - ¥ It SR T “The Mysterious Dr. Py | (. CaY Songs” is a ular rather th: Manchu” his subtle ations al artistic one, o Do otion seuime smooth manner Aol a certain fascina- | LITTLE e st e 1‘“““5'1 Y e cal excess emotions is good | tion. “Passion of portrayal of Joan "y femininit; business, This vehicle is of the estab | The story has its foundation in the | yolnh Bron of Arc by Ml Fal-| Kutles. Which it presents, al- lished Jolson brand, dished out, how- | Boxer rebellion. Dr. Manchu'’s little son conetti in “The Passion | though Max Fields, known to the pa.. ever, with a lavish sentimentalify that |is killed by a British shell, and he, de- makes the star's previcus efforts seem | termined to atone for the death “to the restrained, using the “father-son-love” | third generation,” seeks through suc- theme in much’ the same manner as|ceeding years to kill each man whom in “The Singing Fool.” circumstance caused to have a part in “Say It With Songs” is, in fact, an |firing the gun that caused his child’s emotional exaggeration of the preceding | death. His chief instrument in his cam- picture; the stock situation of paign of hateds an English girl, con- tally Pal,” and shouts the: nu in. 'a - manner -that peps up & rather sirupy affair. Again Httle Davey Lee turns the trick and speakes his lines with devastating effect’ on ' the audfence's emotions. Marion Nixon's work . is cod, and one or two of her moments with Jolson are the high spots, tically, of the picture. Owing 'f“u::h length o(btm 1entmie & newsree! e 0] subsidiary, al- though’ -mtirnusrundv:‘u’lfl;n: for nexflt week's plcture is a treal itself an Gold Diggers old clown. Mary Duncan applies her vamping tactics with a heavy hand as the designing countess. ‘The first of the Fanchon and Marco revues, “Sweethearts,” holds the stage for the current weck, featuring Mme. Iki, Japanese prima donna; Tilyon and Rogers, acrobats; the Abner twins, vio- linists;: Dorothy and Harry Dixon, comedians and dancers extraordinary, and Nat Nazarro, who dances and leads the orchestra. \ ‘The stage performance ends with a brilliant and colorful finale in which the “sweethearts” of ages, includ- ing Mother Eve, Cleopatra, Mme. But- terfly, Du Barry and others, parade be- fore us. If the Fanchon and Marco “ideas” are all equal to this particular unit, there is no doubt corfeerning thet. future popularity with Fox Theater au- diences. Fox Movietone News offers speeches by Willlam B. Shearer and by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and other events of current interest. SMETROPOLITAN “Say It w forecasts & hit in “The of Broadway.” Few film stas have C 'OLUMBIA ronted’ from the ipysterious Fu tAIKing pictures in Manchu.” an artistic sense so mual;n s u:urner Oland, whose impersonal of mys- terious Dr. Fu Manchu in the Para- mount talking adaptation of a Sax Rohmer story is being screened for the The suc- cess of “Kuddling Kuties,” a show which is intend- ed to take its name from Differing _greatly from the accepted version is of Joan of Arc” playing the second week at the Little Theater. The modern conception seems to be that of a beautiful girl in shining armor, mounted on a white charger, but the characterization by Mile. Falconetti is that of a peasant girl who seems oblivious of the action around her. trons as “a wise-cracking comedian,” and “Sugar” Schaad-are its resplend- ent principals, is holding forth this week at the Gayety, and its audiences of yesterday are thoroughly convinced that it is & real show, or they would not have been quite so enthusiastic about its offering ‘ i you laugh, ui’l‘hm“fi a veneer that drapes tof the Mutual Circuli | the shows are being . . We Hit the Bull’s-eye When We Bought These Tweed, Wool Crepe and Novelty Floor Sale! 0 O lllil!lll!lifllllllIIIIII|IIIlIIIIHIIlIlIIIIIlIIlHI|I|H|III!I|H|III|I!IllIlIlllIIIlllllllflIIH!IIMIIIIHHHIIIIHIIIIIIWWIIHIIMIIHIMM% Jacket Suits and Dresses 1It’s a bull’s-eye sale because we have secured for you what is most demanded for early Autumn days . . . Jacket suits and frocks. Two and three piece styles with pert tuck-in blouses and well placed trim features. The frocks of satin and crepe show the descending skirt line and the ascending line of the waist. - In Gren- ada brown, French beige, Arabian night blue and Vintage. All hit the bull’s-eye of Fashion with unerring accuracy in this timely sale. Sizes 16 1o 50. rHrecar Co. F. Street-at Seventh First of all, let it be clearl; - stood it is a burlesque show m’-‘fingr‘a:t the term means. There are wise~ cracks, many of them, and they make whether you ought to or not. service of the French ministry of justice and famous as an anth; t, was maker, | found slain in his officef today, . After a_preliminary investigat police ex-f. r pressed the belief M. FBayle was the ‘wild 3 victim of a madman. y ing, stuff” and tends to bea re e pols, of coine "alve 20 S0 in Sonneclion wih, i vof. o sy Linzer, a good dancer: Anna Fink, who ice Famed as Bertillon Successor. — is both clever and lively; Fred Ba: September 16 (#).—Henri| An anclent Dane’s tether stick was e 5 7 { i \ Imr Hecat C 2 [ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!IIIIIlI|I||||I|I||l|||l||IIII!IIIHIIIlI||||ll|CIIIlflflllluflflmnfllflfllflflfiflmflflflllfllllH|mlllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllIIIlIHl|IlllI||IINHIIlINI|i|I|I|I|I|l|I|l'hlIIHIIIHII[IIIIIIIIIIII 1.15 to *1.50 1.00 Good stockings for this price. An oppor- Chiffon, with soles and tops interlined with lisle « . » or if a sturdier hose is required . . . medium censored to pre- identification and measukement of the HENRI BAYLE SLAIN. B s vaciirs the science of identifying| paintings and rron, | P. Sammy Smith and Al Snyder, who' Bayle, of the identification 'recently found near Drujncoo, Ireland. “F Street at Seventh” \ FULL FASHIONED tune time to put in a supply for school or for weight of smooth silk with mercerized soles* them for the feminine audience. human body, made import@ant discoveries L Bt 1nclumn|!nla!fifi Head of French Identification Berv- | yorks of art by the ‘method, e IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIHIIIIIHIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIiIlIII!IIIIIIIIHIIlfll|IlHmllll|||IflfilIIMIIHH1I||IlllllllflliflflllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIHIHllll!lllll"llllflIIHIIHIIIIIIIIIIIHIH ° ° Silk Hosiery Winter wear. Full fashioned, all of them. and garter welts. A large selection of shades . . . (Main Floor, The Hecht Oe) ® O $3.00 Suede and Kid Pull-on Gloves, $2&;35 A glance at Miss Sophisticate (at/left) will convince you of her smartness. Hef slim fin- gers are incased in smooth gloves, the pull-on sort. We have them in the desired shades for Fall. (Msin Floor, The Hecht Co.) $3.50 Crepe de CRine Blousette, $2.9 Mies “S” is “quite in the know” i She is wearing a blousette . . . very jnew. many uses. In white or eggshell, all| tabs and scallops. For suit or frock . . . it makes old frocks new. (Main Floor, The Hecht Co.) $3.00 Imported Gloria Umbrellas, #1.95 Awfully nice looking . . . with the simulated amber handle and smart matching cord. The fabric ‘‘gloria” is silk-like texture . . . wears beautifully and is finished with a woven border. In many cheerful shades, besides the indispensable black (Main Floor, The Hecht On.) ® L e $4.00 and $5.00 (1«{{( & Silk Lingerie, 2.9 ) A wonderfully smooth quality, agr‘éfib]e to the touch. Gowns, dance sets, chepiise and French pants . . . some tailored or tilh deft touches of embroidery and hemsli!chi‘{lg. Pas- tel shades. Sizes 34 to 40. i (Matn Floor, Yh Hecht Co.) ° } \ Rayon Undies, sl.‘pfl Tailored modes. Dance sets, go“’ns, che- mise, French pants and bloomers. Practical for general wear. In a good selection of pastel shades. Sizes 34 to 42. (Main Floor, The Hecht Co.) :uummnmlmmnnm|||nnmuu’||nm|1|mmm|umm1m|mnmmmunuluflnmmmmmun|um|||nm|m||||||||||||umnumunumumnulfilmmuuumlmm 000000000 e b