Evening Star Newspaper, November 25, 1929, Page 24

The Week’s Attractions in Local Theaters Reviews of New Photoplays and Stage Productions After the serious busi- ness that took them to France ended with the Armistice, a musical- comedy atmosphere enveloped the far- flung billets of the A. E. F. from the Rhone to the Gironde. The men in olive drab were all dressed up with nowhere to go and nothing of any consequence to do. So there was end- less singing, horse-play, fantastic and unreal adventure and comic grumbling and growling. This is what Lawrence Stallings and Gladys Unger haye tried to portray in | the dialogue of “Marianne,” at the Pal- ace this week, with Marion Davies | in the leading role. | ‘There are certain orthodox and prob- | ably inescapable elements in & po: Armistice story—that is, one al finds the love incident between the | lovely daughter of the land and the sturdy crusader from overseas, the gruff old bear of a general in an em- barassing situation, and the humorous, maliceless boorishness of the comedy soldiers. Lawrence Stallings knows this atmosphere and the dialogue has not a few touches of reality that will re- call old times to those who spent the Winter and Spring of 1919 domiciled in haylofts, picking cooties off their shirts, attempting mere or less inno- cent affairs with the mademoiseiles | and the frauleins. and various other | activities upon which it is perhaps best to leave the veil of forgetfulness | unlifted. “Marianne” is the post-Armistice story without many variations, except for the fact that the soldiers take advan- tage of every opportunity to sing their PALACE *“Marianne” terrible, and the coach sends in a sub- stitute. Then, with Sanford 10 points to the bad, Patsy learns what the trouble is and writes Marty a note, tell- him that, box or no box, she loves him. With thrce minutes left to play, Marty goes back into the game and forward pfleesdhl.s way to the two touchdowns n L which pep up the picture, but, every- thing considered, “The Forward Pass” seems to presage the end of the vogue of campus movies. 4. The Evening Star newsreel, with good | views of the McCrory store explosion, and Horace Heidt and his Californians in jazz numbers complete the enter- tainment. s & Two facile manipula- RIALTO tions of the small values “Skinner of comedy, on the parts Steps Out” of Glenn Tryon and Merna Kennedy, give “Skinner Steps Out,” at the Rialto this week, an appeal it could scarcely have in less sk hands. “Bill” and “Honey” Skinner, social | and business climbers with young am- bitions, are rendered telling by a canny appreciation of what is funny just on the windward side of farce. A shade more gusto and Mr. Tryon would have been merely an antic; a shade less and he would have been unduly timorous. Laurels, too, to William J. Craft, who directed. The story is an old one of Henry Irving Dodge's, known in print as “Skinner's Dress Suit.” The dress suit in the case happens to give young Skin- ner an entree to a charity bazaar pro- moted by the barons and baronesses of finance, from which he emerges with some observations which he considers will be valuable to his boss in an im- pending merger. So thoroughly, how- ever, does he misstep that his well- meant advice turns to acid against him. | Skinner is revealad es & prime bungler whose ,enthusiasm exceeds his discre- _tion. All, however, turns out cheerfully, and the $35-a-week clerk bazomes a $5,000-a-year executive. His wife smiles through the tears and said “I knew you could do it.” Skinner says, “So did I.” ‘The supporting cast is good, and the crescendo and diminuendo of incidents which make up the spory are well cal- culated by the direct. A talking comedy, “Cold Shivers,” furnished early audiences with plenty of laughing matter, it seems, though its hackneyed theme of adventure in a gnost-ridden mansion is wearied stuff. Benny Rubin’s song-and-dance skit is clever, and Tom Waring's singing of “Here We Are,” another feature which pleased many. The Evening Star-Uni- versal newsreel is copiously supplied with titbits from here and there this week, mixing life's comic and serious ingredients with good taste. F.C.O. RKO-KEITH _ When John Boles oA o sings there is little Rio BRI doubt that a pic- ture will be a suc- cess. When Bebe Danlels plays the leading feminine rle cash customers storm the box office. But when John Boles sings and Bebe Daniels plays the leading feminine role in the same pic- ture—that is something else again. And “Rio Rita” is staying over a¥ R-K-O- Keith for a third week. Who is not familiar with the story of “Rio Rita?” 1If you have forgotten the details there is the elusive Kinkajou, the handsame leader of the Texas the Far East, glorious Rio Rita her- self and many, many beautiful girls in the bacl d. All these are mixed generously with catchy music, splendid comedy lines and everymlntl that goes toward making a successful musical play for the screen. The picture is rather long—not too long, of course, so other features which sentiments, as is necessary in the me- chanism of a musical comedy. Back from the front, an American outfit settles down to wait for transportation home in a French village back of the lines which has felt to the utmost the tragedy of the late war. As was to have been expected, one of the soldiers falls in love with a high- spirited French gi:1 who supporting four orphans, and she finds her heart turning toward the chap in olive drab. She remains true, however, to the memory of her old love, who finally comes back, blinded. And the Ameri- cans march away while, shaking with emotion, she stands by his side. But he suspects there is something wrong, finally gets the whole story from Marianne, refuses to allow her to sacra- fice herself for him, and at the end she joins her “American” in his own land. The picture is, on the whole, an ac- ceptable addition to the lighter war preductions that are coming into their own as irritating memories of realities fade in tje minds of the veterans. T. H. 3 TAN _Harold METROPOLITAN ,Herold Harold Lloyd in ing made “Welcome Danger” his, latest picture en- tirely in silence before he became con- vinced of the permanent virtue of dia- logue and sound, now offers “Welcome Danger,” at the Metropolitan this week, as his testimonial to the worthiness of talking pictures. It eost him heavily | to re-make the work, and he was one of the last to give in, but he did so finally without reservation. The result, happily, is such as to delight his old clients and surely to win him new ones. “Welcome Danger,” though a long plcture, moves at such a clip that. it ‘was even by the first Sunday showing drawing standees in great number. ‘Word of a success of this caliber spreads quickly; information in advance of its coming has for several weeks tantalized the enthusiasm of those who like their cinema gay. The realization now satis- fles every promise, even the tinctured outbursts of the publicity deacons. ‘With a voice, light and almost diffi- dent in timbre, that fits his be-spec- tacled image, Lloyd has packed “Wel-| come Danger” with every device of | pantomime, gag and giddy tomfoolery | in his kit. The real triumph is that| the dialogue does not slow down the | tempo of action. Quite to the con- trary, the yelling and howling and | boisterous wit (occasionally from a black screen and in & completely darl ened theater) are fitted as admirably | to the plot as the best screechie tailors in the game can manage. ‘This plot: it is about & young botanist engaged by the San Francisco police unravel a dope and murder tangle Chinatown. He is the son of a former grand old man of the force and, botanist or not, the responsibility is upon him to fulfill the traditions of a chip off the | old block. Through lucky accident, a! mad tenacity of pu . a melee of calamities and spooky adventures, the lad eventually nails the wreich wha is behind all the mischief. A romance is tied in. of course, furnishing an ap-| propriaie thread of love through the | whole fracas. It is all a vein of rich | gold for Lloyd—a talkie debut of gen- uine brilliance. A Paramount newsreel and music spliced into odd moments bolster up the Metropolitan’s _running time, but from e, the R. 8, V, P. onward it is Harold's 3 F. 0. 0. “Sunny Side Up,” when an- nounced as a Fox attraction, was not billed as a musical pic- ture, but now that it is in its second weck, and a large part of the theater-going public of the Capi- tal is singing and whistling “I'm a Dreamer,” “Pinking Petals,” “Turn on the Heat” and “A Talking Picture of You,” this rgiewer is inclined to place | 1t among tHe musical hits of the season. | Of course, there is a story, with Janet | Gayncr and Charles Farreil playing the leading roles, but we can pass this with little attention. Janet is a Cinderella of the slums; Charles is immensely wealthy and the pet of Southampton. There is| an incident of love at first sight, and all that sort of thing. And the final fade- out is constructed along. the lines of all model movies, with an echo of wedding bells in the distance, a clutch, a sigh and the real troubles just starting. It must be that the sound pictures are running longer than usual, for this week's stage show, “Rhythm,” is cut short. But the production is well up to the standard of the Fanchon & Marco ideas. George Lyons, a harpist, per- forms, and there are two pairs of danc- ers. Master Fisher offers his usual piano stunt, and the Georgia Lane dancing girls add a colorful bit. The house or- chestra is featured, and the Movietone News gives flashes with noise. C. E. N. EARLE |, A implies, “The For-. ward Pass” FOX its name the screen this week at the Earle, offers plenty of fool ball, but not a great deal more. It is a First National talking picture, the cast headed by Douglas Fairbanks, jr, and Loretta Young. The possibilities of the college pic- ture, which depends almost entirely on the hero ecoring the deciding touch- down just as the final whistle blows, appear to have been preity well ex- hausted. This, at least, was the im- fon gained from the apparent re- n of the balcony audience at the Ecrle Saturday afternoon. Most of them had evidently seen foot ball games before; and when Quarterback Marty, in the person of young Fairbanks, goes into the big game of the year and for- ward passes old Sanford fo two touch- downs and victory in the last three minutes of play, he gets the “razz- berry,” although his efforts possibly were deserving of something better. The picture is built around Marty and Loretta Young as Patsy, the college vamp. Marty, who has never been in love, decides to give up foot ball after being banged around in a few hard ames. losing his star, the éoach goes to Patsy and promises her a box on the 50-yard | line if she can persuade Marty to come | back to the team. Patsy trims her “The Forward Pass,” on | Seeing that he is in danger of | Three Bedrooms, Liv- ing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Reception Hall There are some bright comedy spots | Do THE EVENING unnlg appear on photoplay programs eliminated. “CA E N. COLUMBIA Itis doubttal tnat “The Taming speare’s has been of the Shrew” more liberally o adapted to the talents of various actors and actresses than “The Taming of the Shrew,” which, in modern talking picture form, has entered its second week at the Columbia Theater. g ‘The fact that it has been held beyond its first week attests a more-than- ordinary interest in the picture and doubtless the popular combination of the name of Shakespeare with those of Fairbanks and Mary Pickford is a tor of great importance in sell- ing the work. Among those who have already seen the film, one meets both hampions and scoffers of a Shake- ! speare as gustily slapstick as it offers. It is noteworthy that many of the reat figures of the English and Amer- can stages, such as David Garrick, Sir Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, Forbes Robertson, Beerbohm ‘Tree, Edwin Booth, John Drew and Ada Rehan, have slashed and twisted “The Taming of the Shrew” with such impunity that it has been, at times, almost unrecog- nizable. Coquelin was among the most audacious of the “adapters”; Garrick omitted the whole first act, and even renamed the play. James Lecey called his version “Sauny the Scot” and gave Petruchio a Scotch servant in place of Grumio, ‘Those who feel, therefore, that Mr. Fairbanks and Miss Pickford, abetted by Sam Taylor, the adapter and direc- tor, a former gag man for Harold Lloyd, have unwarrantably popularized Shakespeare's comedy (even bringing in the custard pie moti{) may find some extenuation in the fact that, as one commentator has noted, “the business of pepping up Shakespeare is an old English industry * * * and has been the constant and happy practice of the greatest English actors until quite re- cent times.” Caveat emptor, then, to the skeptics, nevertheless it's entertain- ment is worth an hour of even a fastidious person's time. Shakespeare, STAR, WASHINGTON A To_ one familiar with LITTLE umd,™s visit to the “The Last Little Theater may pro- Perform- vide an enlightening ex- ance” cursion. “The Last Performance” is well titled, speaking in the critical lingo of & past era. A few titles too many, though; and likewise there is a repetition of a very ancient fault of the silent screen. obvious the characters are not speaking the lines just previously attributed to them in the titles. 4 The picture has as its plot a sword act gn which something goes amiss and the nk's occupant is killed. Not quite so simple as that, of course. The victim is a disgruntled suitor of the | girl in the act, so his rival, also a mem- ber of the troupe, is accused and tried. The master magician, who loves the girl better than any one else, but who is too old to be counted in the field, comes to the rescue with a confession and sub- sequently a suicide, dramatically staged before the judge's bench. Conrad Veidt plays a rather stereo- typed role with considerable originality and finesse, as the master magician. Mary Philbin, who has changed a great deal in these few years—but generally for the better—is the girl. Direction of Paul Fejos is chiefly notable for the photographic angles he executes, though in many cases it is overdone. These are the kaleidoscopic effects first introduced in the German films of some years back. Several short subjects complete the program. J.N. P. GA\'ET\' Impresario James Lake, of the Gayety Theater, “Wine, Wos offers burlesque patrons en and Song” this week a bauble call- Song” whith ed “Wine, Women and pleased early viewers greatly. The festivities are ied by wit rather than beauty, for Harry Evanson, in a nut characterization, gathers in the plaudits so often reserved for the mncing, dancing, singing leading o8, Not that prima donnas are missing. Friendliness Afternoon tea is such a friendly affair. Your acquaintance becomes your friend over a cup of Rangers; the two funny fellows from | and two Baths. facing on Columbia Road with Southern, Eastern and Western Exposures. Elec- trical Refrigeration. Reasonable Rental THE ARGONNE 16th & Columbia Rd. Hourly Express Motor Coaches 6:45 A. M., then 8:00 A, M. to 8:00 P. M :30, 11:30 P. M. and 12: Midnight. one BT . round ST i d (Ol ] | 7 Motor Coaches Daily to PHILADELPHIA - 83350 _ n;::d 8gso Connecting at Philrdelphia H for Atlantic City | NEW YORK ! one §350 _ round | w88 v 2900 ! For timetables and information Telepnen —Meiropolitan 1512 | Ticket Offce and Waiting Room UNION BUS DEPOT 1336 New York Ave , NW. 1 (Also stop at Hotel Willard) MITTEN TO (People’s Rapid Owned by Pen Philadelphia | 'Y COUGHING One swallow of Thoxine is teed to -t:s guaran! coughing. Quicker, bettera: :Iu-nm . than anything you e ever used, or your money back. sails and goes after him with such * viger that Cupid's'work is easy. Marty rejeins the team, and prospecis for the | Just, before the | big geme are bright. Fzme starts, however, he discovers how Tatey got that box, His playing \ 5., 60c., $1.00. All druggists. 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Recent changes in the United States | foreign service include the transfer of Lawrence Higgins, Massachusetts, third secretary, from Mexico City to Pan- ama; Arthur Garrels, Missouri, consul general, from Melbourne, Australia, to Toklo, Japan; Benjamin R. Riggs, second secretary, from the State De- partment to Ottawa, Canada; Roger C. Tredwell, Indiana, consul general, from lass, jr., D. C, vice consul, from Chihuahua to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; Willlam Bing- ham, jr.,, Connecticut, vice consul, from Kobe to Tokio; Grahama H. Kemper, Kentucky, consul, from Tokio to Yoko- hama; Carl Birkeland, Illinois, vice consul, from Copenhagen to Warsaw, and Earl W. Eaton, Illinois, vice con- sul, from Guaymas to Chihuahua, Mexico. Charles F. Payne, Virginia, vice con- | sul at Colon, Panama, has resigned from the service and George N, Ifft, Idaho, consul at Ghent, will be retired for age January 26. s T L S, Comfort is placed before smartness in g:\(cldtfi’lunlble women's shoes in Eng- T ) DR. 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