Evening Star Newspaper, May 4, 1930, Page 61

« passed with the circus being|A . of the MUSEMENTS." F ldshes From the Sdeen By C. E. Nelson." RKINGS of censorship rules and laws are strange in their relationship to the motion pictures, and many of them are entirely beyond all understanding. With the ab- sence of national laws in the mat- ter, States, counties, municipali- ties and communities have passed their own censorship laws, thereby creating a great deal of con- fusion, especially among the pro- ducers and exhibitors. In the old days, before the sound pictures, the cutting of a film was a simple matter. The manager of a theater often acted as censor for his en- tertainment. After viewing a pic- ture in the seclusion of his own projection room, he was able to grasp a pair of scissors and elim- inate such parts as he considered unfit for his particular portion of the great public. The same the- ater manager often resorted to the same scissors when a film ran too long, and he wanted to shorten his enterteinment. Now, howevéer, the theater man- ager must exhibit a film as he re- ceives it from the can. The com- ing of sound makes the cutting process a delicate matter, to say the least. Cuts must be made by the producer. All this tends to- ward making the censorship prob- fem a big one, for the rules and laws are different all over the country. A picture which might be entirely suitable for Washing- ton might not be able to pass in enother nearby city. A film which might be accepted by a com- munity board of censorship might gun against the rocks in another ommunity just a few miles dis- nt. One of the most stringent boards of censorship in the coun- try works in Chicago and environs. fThe picture “Alibi,” with a crime plat, passed most of the censor- ship boards, but it was banned in the City of Wind. Not only were the exhibitors ordered to take it from the screens, but films and apparatus were confiscated. All this took the matter to the Su- reme Court of Illinois, and the tter body handed down a ruling this week. The men high in the State’s law affairs declare that Chicago is well within her rights in censoring and banning certain pictures, but the move to confis- cate films and apparatus is in- wvalid. * k ok % % b TAND in the morning’s mail comes a list of pictures espe- eially approved by the National Board of Review of Motion Pic- tures. Here are the titles: “Alias French Gertie,” “The Benson Mur- der Case.” “Captain of the Guard,” “Crazy That Way,” “Divorcee,” “He Knew Women,” “Ladies Love Brutes,” “Ladies of Leisure,” “Mammy,” “The Man from Blank- | leys,” “Der Meistersinger” (im- ported from Germany), “Melody of Hearts,” “A Notorious Affair,” “One Embarrassing Night,” “Para- mount on Parade” “Prince -of Diamonds” and “What a Man.” * ¥ W * (NE of the verysgreat sorrows +~ of we fellows who have never succeeded in growing up is the assing . of the old-time circus. ere was a tinsel grandeur to the tent show, a sort of lure and appeal which seems to have laced on a businesslike basis. ot the least of the attractions old-timeé show was the “slinging of English” by the pub- licity promoters, who were then known as press agents. ~Those chaps, in planning their news- paper and billboard stunts, were ra.st masters of the adjective, hrowing it here, there and every- where. Now, in this day of mergers and Pplacing of a mantle of dignity @around the tent shows, the old- fashioned press agent seemed to have gone to the Never Never Land. Imagine my surprise when I discovered, this week, that the old circus press agent was still slive, still on’ the job and turning obut his excellent copy for the reading public. He has simply *gone movie,” signed a long-term tontract, bought a snakewood walking stick and donned white spats. Here is an example of his newest work, written especially for the movie-consuming public: “Twin Meteors of the Air ‘In- ®orpolate’ for the mightiest all- time attraction. The breathless magic of radio and the God-given genius of Man have wrought in Amos and Andy the Grandest Phenomenon in the Sweep of All Bhow Ages — Unexampled — Fan- tastic. One of the most superb mand amazing manifestations of This Roaring, Rocking Century. {Amos and Andy spring in glamor- ous life in their first motion pic- ture, ‘Check and Double Check.’ Like Flaming Torches, they blaze Heaven high, lighting the way for Countless Millions to the joy of Honest Laughter and the Boon of Hope and Courage—and destined to shake the foundations of the Show Business. Unseen Forces dwelling in the hearts of millions, Titan Spirits charging down the Pathways of the Sky, whose Sim- ple Philosophy compressed each night into 15 minutes of broad- casting has changed the Dinner Hour of America, turned a Con- tinent upside down and flashed its benediction to an eager world be- yond the seas. And, now, from out their boundless Empire of the Air, they take form before your eyes, in the subway or at the crossroads, in pillared halls where the Spellbinder storms or in nar- row streets where newsboys wise- crack. America speaks the lan- guage of Amos and Andy, the big- gest attraction in_the World— Sealed, Signed and Delivered.” And the picture may be a flop! * * ok k ‘HE Paramount organization f§ grasping the foreign language problem in a manner which may do much toward its solution. An- nouncement ‘was made this week that the company would film for- eign-language pictures in Europe, making all pictures in the coun- tries where they are to be ex- hibited. It is planned to extend the foreign-picture program to 60 each year, and these will be made in a half-dozen languages, with casts composed entirely of the nationals of a country for which each production is being made. Thus, when a Swedish. picture’ is scheduled, an entire Swedish cast will be used. This plan does away with “the Americanization of the world’s screen,” for each country will be served with special pictures. Paramount also announces that a certain number of foreign lan- guage films will be made in the Hollywood studio, but they will be for a special purpose. * K kK : THE Buster Keaton comedy “Free and Easy” has bad mo- ments and good moments, which is to be expected in a pantomime artist who is making an effort to keep up with the times by going into the talkies. Some of the early silent efforts of this come- dian were excellent pictures, and it is quite probable that he will later find a place among the sound stars. Harold Lloyd has been successful; why not Buster Keaton? “Ingagi,” starring some gorillas, has created more conversation in the movie circles of Washington than any other picture to date. ‘Whether you prefer that sort of thing or not, you must admit that it has created more of a sénsation than John Boles in “Captain of the Guard” or Al Jolson in “Mammy.” The Little Theater’s sensation, “Damaged Souls”—one week for women only and another week for men only—has received its share of attention and all sorts of com- ment. The principal portion of the entertainment seems to cen- ter about a lecture, and not on the feature picture. * * ¥ X % Short Flashes. REVOLUTIONARY seating ar- rangement for American theaters will be introduced in the first chain of film theaters scien- tifically designed for sound pic- tures now being built in New York and other cities by S. S. Moss. The lower-priced seats will be on the orchestra floor and the - higher- priced ones will be in the balcony. The first of the new theaters is being constructed at Eighth ave- nue and Twenty-third street, and its interior will be built after the manner of a gigantic horn. Alice White is starting work on a new picture, “The Widow From Chicago,” and Neil Hamilton has the leading male role. Walter Huston has the lead in First National’s production, “The Bad Man.” Others in the cast are Dorothy Revier, Sidney Blackmer, O. P. Heggie, James Rennie and Marion Byron. The Canadian censors deleted a part referring to the Prince of Wales from “The Show of Shows.” Irene Dunn, singing star of the stage, has been signed by Radio Pictures. She appears in “Babes in Toyland” and “Heart of the Rockies.” PR SST Sings Temple Scene. GXOVANNI MARTINELLI siggs the temple scene from act 4 of “Aida” in the latest of his Vitaphone Varieties just completed. The Metropolitan tenor has proven to be Vitaphone’s most pop- ular opera star, this being the tenth of his Vitaphone Varieties. In a Bourskaya, also of the Metropolitan Opera Co., sings with Martinelli. DIVORCEE Swith CHESTE R MORRIS CONRAD NAGEL ROBERT MONTGOMERY CHer sin"was, no, meater than kis —= SHE WAS A WOMAN Zn a woman follow: e ADDED ATTRACTION LAUREL&HAR VN AN MG-M TALKING COMEDY, “MEN O’ WAR" NOW PLAYING ooonrs g’u o | SUNDAY THE SUNDAY STAR, ' WASHINGTON, B3 C MAY 4, 1930—PART FO PHOTOPLAYS AT WASHINGTON THEATERS THIS WEEK WEEK OF MAY 4 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 'd_Atien 1n Richard Atlen in et of raseera Ambassador “Lisnty of we 18th & Columbls R4 Comedy. Richard Arlen in “Lights of Western L Stars.” a Texas Vitaphone variety. ary Brian in “Mar- Willlam Golller, jr.. I T Playstound.” The Melody Man. Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Vitaphone Comed: Apollo Ladieg of Lelsure.” 624 B St NE. ‘artoon. Vitaphone variety. e —arbara Stanwyck Tn Bavha: Helen Morgan in rtoon. “Road House Nights.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Helen Morgan in “Road House Nights.” Comedy. “William Powell in “The Benson v“v“'. T Case. Comedy. _Vitaphone. variety. Mary Bria “Only " the William Powell il he Benson Mur- ave. Vitaphone variety. Comedy. B ler Case. Comedy. _Vitaphone. Aval n Nancy Car *Honey."” 8612_Conn. Ave. Vitaphone varlety. George Arliss in “The Green God- 85 Comedy. Nancy_Carroll n “Honey." Vitaphone variets. George Ariiss in “The Green God- dess.” Comedy. Vilma, Banky n “A Lady to Love.” Vitaphone variety. Eveln Brent in ghtly Scarlet.” ht hone variety. Comea: George Sidney and Charles Murray in “The Cohens and Kel- * lys in Scotland.’’ Ave. Grand 645 Penna. Ave. S.E. George Sidney and Charles Murray in “The Cohen lys _in_Sc William Haines in “The Girl Said No.” Vitaphone variety. William Haines Naney_Carroll n “The Girl Said No." Vitaphone variety. ““Honey. Vitaphone variety. vi edy. Nancy_Carroll Tipe Velez i in “Tiger Rose.” Comedy. Vitaphone variety. Cameo Mt Rainier, Md. Dark. a: William Pewell in “Benson Aurder Cage” News. Comedier. Willlam Powell in o Murder News. Comedies Lenare, iric in “South Sea Rose.’ Vitaphone act. Comedy. Comieds. Sidney in nd Kellys nd.” in a Serial. Comeuy. Fharon Taon and ank Richardeor “Let's GO Places™ Carolina 105_11th_st. s Sharor Lynn and Frank Richar Greta Garbo and Mary Eaton an Charles Bickford n “Anna_Christie.” merican AMUSEMENTS. ONE of the many reasons why the National Players have struck deep into the theater-going hearts of Wash- , whose weekly ity's ibly lone legitimate playhouse have been modest but most effective. Miss Gresham has jugl:d her roles nicely, roles that have been as varied as the architecture along Pennsylvania avenue. Last week, in fact, dis- played a range of restrained and unre strained emotions tiat might be ex- pected of only the most astute devotee of the histrionic muse. All of which should not come as & surprise. The name of G m, a though perhaps not so well known, has an ancestral theatrical tree that has been budding quite as long as'the Bar- rymores and the Drews. It is further- Harry Green and Mary_Brian Helen Twelvetrees in : n “The_ Kibitzer." “Grand Parade. Toretta Youn: Grant Withers in* cond Floor Mys- tery.”_Vita. Comeds. Central 425 9th St N.W. o) tery." Toretta Youns Grant Withers in ““The nd _ Floor Mys- *_Vita._Comedy. John, Boles n “Bong of the West."” Comedy. John_Boles Norma Talmadse in in “Sorg of the West.” Comedy. “New York Nights.” Vitaphone variety. Charles King and Be: ve in “Chasing Rainbows." Cartoon. Richard Dix in “Lovin’ the Ladies.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. ‘Helen Morgan “Applause.” Comedy Circle 2105 Pa. Ave. N.W. “Helen Morgan Gaty Cooper and Mary Brian ie Brave.” “Only_the Comedy. ’y_Carroll. Green and Hal Skelly and Vilma Banky and dw. Fay Wray in ¢ Make- D RO Ay “A Lady to Love." 2. Frank Fay and Armida in “Under Colony Ga. Ave. & Farragut Winnle Lightner in “She Couldn't Say 0. Vitaphone variety. n “A Lady to Love. Vitaphone varlety. Toretta Youns and Mary Brian Grant Withers in “The in nd _ Floor, Mys- “Only_the Brave.” tery.” Comedy. e. Gary Cooper snd Mary, Brian “Only the Brave."” Dumbarton 1343 Wisconsin Ave. Gary Cooper and Mary_Brian n “Only the Brave.”” Evelyn Brent Nell” Hamiiton ™ in . “Darkened Rooms.” Ggnrad Nasel and Vita. Comeds. Ruth Chatterton and _ Eyelyn Brent and ~SHEhu>" Beatiel Comedy. Greta, Garbo “Anna_Christle.” Comedy. Fairlawn Greta_Garbo “Anna Christie.” Comedy. Fay Wray and Comedy Rudy Vallee in e Vagabond +The, emepo Comedy Ciive B e 1 “Tite Leughias Lads.” * News. Geotee, O'Brien oot Gibsen “Salute.” “Courting Wild Cats.” Comedy. Anscostis. D. C. o Glenn Tryon 1n Family Dgss Ao Cartoon! Richard Barthelmess Richard Bartheimess “Son of the Godt Comedy. “Son of the Geds.” Comedy. Pauline Billie Duve In onnny “Painted Angel. Comedy. Cartoon. Ataike and Arthur in “HMen Without Women. Ath & G Sis. S.E. Hippodrome TKenneth McKenna in “Men Without Women.” Comedy. _Act. Kenneth McKenna in “Men Without Women.” Comedy. _Act. Lenore U1 ic in “Bouth Sea Rose.” Zomedy. Lenore Ulric in “South Sea Rose.” medy. Cartoon! James Kirkwood and Mary Brian in “Black Waters." Vitaphone_act. ey, "Nows. %08 K St. N.W. Home Ith&CSis. NE. John, Boles n “Song of the West.” Vitaphone variety. ‘Chiaties Murray and Sidney in "The Cohens and Kellys in Scotland.”_Vitaphone. John Boles n “Bong of the West.” Vitaphone variety. orge Arliss in - Fhe “Green God- dess.” Comedy. Charles Murray and Geprae Sidney in ~The ‘ohens and Kellys in Scotland.”_Vitaphone Naricy, Carroll n “Honey." Comedy. Ingomar BGE Alexandria, Va. Laurel Dark. Laurel. Md. Ch Charles King &nd harle ‘Begsie Love in "chas?x'a‘: Rainbows. . Q ‘Chasing Rai R§ comedy . Gang comeds. _Bob Custer in "O'Malley Rides Alone.” Comedy. _Serial. Helen Crawford in “Should a Girl Marry?" Comedy. Cartoon. Betty Compson in “Bkin o Betty Compson 1o “Skin Deep.” Act Act. New: ~Bob Steelo in “Western Honor.” Gomedy. Cartoon. “Canyop of Missing en. rial. Comedy. Glenn Tr orne Rennedy in Mhioadway Vitaphone sct. Glenn Tryon and Merna Kennedy in “‘Broadwas Vitaphone act. Comedy. ‘Winnie Light “ahe Og'u!hn":"!-‘; Winnie Lightner i TR SRS n Act. Act. _Ser Beria). Basil Rathbone in “Bishop Murder Act. _Comedy. Love in ‘Basil Rathbone in “Blishop Murder s Comedy. William Powell “Behind the Make-up.” Act. Western feature. “Hunting Tigers in Serial Vitaphone " set. dia. Comedy. ‘News. _Cartoon. Ramon Novarro i, Devil May Care.” Ramon Novarro in William Haines in “Devil May Care.” = ‘Navy Biues.” Tils Lee_and Loreusyoine Charles Bickford in “Hell's Heroes.” Ken Maynard in Josephine Dunn in BBls rime.” “Senor Americano.” Our_Gang_comedy. 19 B St. NE. Richmond Alexandria. ¥s. Savoy Dark. iiie Dove In wxier Erivate Life.” Vitaphone variety. t. N.W. Comedy. “The Girl William Haines in . Willlam Haines T Said No.’ “The Girl Said No."” Vitaphone act. Vitaphone act. Comedy. Comedy. Fion Davies 1 - M %0 Bamb Vitaphone act, " artoon. Laura La eds: News. ews. Teatrice Joy 1n Billie Dove 1n “A Most Tmmoral Lads.” : “Her Private Life.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Comedy. "~ Richard Barthelmess “Son of the Gods.”" Fable. TLeatrice Joy 1n “A Most Tmmoral Lady.” Comedy. Ken Maynard in Rin Tin Tin_in “Lucky Larkin." “Man Hunter. ‘Vitaphone- variety, Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Comedy. 2030 _14th State Dark. Rudy Vailee and Eddle Cantor in ~Glorifsing_the American_Girl.” Rudy Vallee and Eddie Cantor in “Glorifying the American_Girl. Oaki vt in “Hit the Deck.” Jack Oaki Jack ol W ol in “Hit the Deck." Harry Green and Neil Hamilton c“"ldn Nagel “ghip Prom n “The Kibitser _: Fethesds, M. onks Takoma B ‘Tako! rk, D. C. Frank Fay an Armida in “Under Te: Tivoli et aT 5 14th_and Park B4. Vitaphone. Comedy. Warner Baxter and Edmund Lowe Jack Oakie in e Deck.” n “In Old_Arizona.” “Hit the Warner Baxter and Edmund Lowe n “In Old_Arizons." Lenore Ulric in “South Sea Rose.” Shanghai.” Richard Arlen in Lefiare Ulric in, ~ “Danwerous P A ot ‘sen Rose.r ien Mavhard I, “Lawless Legion.” William Powell in “The Benson Mur- Case.” er Vitaphone variety. ank Fay_end Armida in Under . exas Moon. ‘Vitaphone. _Comedy. William Powell in “The Benson Mur- n er “Ladies of Leisure.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Bnnnn‘nnn"& i-rfin‘innmx in “Ladies of Leisure.” Comedy. Comedsy. Comedy. George Arliss in York The green God: . Ave. & Quevee COMING SOON. spirit of competition has brought to Washington this week & ‘won- derful collection of screen productions, 5o good in fact that it has been difficult in some quarters to say what really may follow next week. Loew's Palace, however, is the first in the field to announce a production constructed around the recent stock market crash, and therefore announces that its feature, starting next Saturday, will bear the title of Eddie Cantor's famous_ book, “Caught Short,” with Marie Dressler and Polly Moran cast in the leading roles as comedy stars and Anita Page providing the pulchritude. At Loew's Columbia it is expected “The Divorcee” will be held over for another week. P ‘The Fox Theater, true to form, an- nounces that “The Golden Calf,” star- ring El Brendel and Marjorie White, supported by Sue Carol, Jack Mulhall, Richard Keene, Paul Page and Walter Catlett, will usher in the new week next Saturday. Warner's Earle announces for the week starting Friday of this week a beautiful and thrilling First National- Vitaphot roduction, “Song of the Flame,” a love story of the Russian Revolution, entirely in Technicolor, with Bernice Claire and Alexander Gray, & new team of singing lovers, as the stars. The advance notices say that it is alive with action and thrills and resplendent with romantic beauty. Its great song, of course, “Song of the Flame,” is glorified in the production. “Hold Everything,” titis week'’s feature at the Warner Metropolitan, a Vita- phone comedy of the prize ring, featur- ing Winnie Lightner and Joe E. Brown, and..including the French fighter. Georges Carpentier; Sally O'Neil and Bert Roach in the cast, is scheduled for a second week, starting also next Friday. Shifts Her Art. “‘T)AINTY MARIE” (Meeker), who has gloried in the billing of the Keith, the Orpheum and the R-K-O cir- cuits as_“The International Physical Culture Beauty,” and who has the dis- tinction of having appeared in musical comedy with Blanche Ring, has an- nounced her retirement from the stage preparatory to inaugurating her mis- sion in life of rejuvenating wilted and distorted forms by the rolling method. Marle, although now 48—“and does not look a day over 22"— is said to be still a beautiful woman and gifted with the secret, by her own process, of de- veloping real beauty in the feminine form divine that has never known such beauty, or, having once enjoyed it, has felt the marks of time, or d ), O whatever else may tend to destroy the ethereal, tempered with a modern dash, in fragile humanity. And she declares she can do it “without any physical dis- ity dhe p ‘YOUNG A Tliss in Nancy Carroll Georse Atlisy T e “The Green s dess.” “Honey." Comedy. Vitaphone variety. William Powsll T “The Benson Mur- der Case. ‘Vitaphone variety. Naricy, Carroll “Honey." Vitaphone variety. KATHLEEN ROBINSON, ‘Who has a leading role in “Abie’s Irish Rose,” scheduled for another Washing- ton production at Poli’s beginning to- night. This play has been a record breaker in American theaters for five and a half years. PARAMOUNT . PICTUR 6~ “#ADDEO ATTRACTION CHARLIE CHASE MG M Talking Gmedy CRAZY FEETS ON-THE STAGE TEDDY ALV T LOEW'S AT BOARD’ USTIN Gas THE “IRISH ROSE” COMES BACK s = B NIN ture screen in— Powell Tn ~ John Boles An. fam ell in T Buse " wgons of'the West A “Sons of e fest.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. ; Man Behind the Fun. 'VWITH the opening of Glen Echo Park Leonard Benjamin Schloss is to be found again at the helm of its man- agement, which position he has held more than faithfully for 20 years. Mr. Schloss' career, prior to taking over the reins at Glen Echo, has been most varied. He has been an usher at the Bush Theater, San Francisco; he has becn a press representative and at one time was associated with an “Uncle Tom” show, starring Peter Jackson, the pugilist. He was business manager for John L. Sullivan when the latter made his farewell tour, and followed this uj by migrating to Cape Town, Sout! Africa, to start his outdoor career. Upon his return from there he assisted in the building of Dreamland, Coney Island, after which in 1911 he came to ‘Washington to start his immensely suc- cessful Glen Echo. Mr. Schless is ized as one of the leading amusement park operators of the country and is second vice presi- dent of the National Association of Amusement Parks. In addition to this, he has interests in various other parks, such as coasters, old mills and circle swings, but devotes all of his time really to the operation of Glen Echo, which he considers one of the finest parks in the country. Merges With Films. ARTHUR HAMMERSTEIN, stage and screen producer and for 30 years a factor in the American theater, will desert the stage for motion picture pro- duction next Spring, after presenting “The Bird of Paradise” and “Madeline” on the New York stage in the interim. ‘The high cost of producing musical in relation to the revenue they ring, together with the opportunity afforded by talking pictures to reach wider audiences, was mentioned by Mr. {| Hammerstein as part of the motivation for his decision. He ntends to be active not only in the making of films, but in the pre-release showings of them at ad- vanced prices, he said. Commuting be- tween Hollywood and New York, and division of his time and interests be- tween - the * two media, does not work toward finest results for either, Mr. 4 Hammerstein said, in declaring his in- tention to complete his stage program l.'lrl‘ndl then -devote himself exclusively to | films. The management of the Rialto T heater is proud to be among the first in America to bring a new era of entertainment to the moving pic- “KING OF JAZZ” ffered in 8 Amazing Parts, With a Love Story in Each Sequence! Hear John Boles Sing “Monterey” and “Song of Dawn.” You never heard John Boles sing like this! Hear Jeannette Loff in “Bench in the Park” and “My Bridal Veil” and see this blond beauty in these melting love scenes. heart- It Will All Thrill You as You've Never Been Thrilled Before! HEAR and SEE this whole wonderful ear-filling, eye-dazzling spectacle with PAUL WHITEMAN and BAND Playing Musical Backgrounds You’ll Never Forget! more _interlinked through marriage with those bulwarks of the stage, the . Apart from that, Miss Gresh- am’s grandfather, John T. Ford, built and managed Ford's Theater in Wash- | One of Our Stock Glories. ington and also controlled Ford's Opers House in Baltimore. Her mother was & member of Augustin Daly’s famous stock company, apd it is said that there she firest met her hansband, Her- bert Gresham, who had come over from England with Henry E. Dixie. Four of Miss Gresham’s uncles are theatrically inclined, as is her brother, Harry, who recently played in “Penny Arcade” in, New York. In “Jerry” last week Miss Gresham had & part that she fitted like a glove. As a neo-bride, ruthlessly engaged to & man for 20 years, she had a chance to “emote” from the sublime to the ridicu- lous. In either capacity she is always a character, never herself. Remember her in "Brothefn" h“ the :;ea:,r'lll;.“ e screaming for her “man?” , don't, and that means that you missed the National that week, be sure to keep a weather eye peeled for this cultivated actress, whose artistic _contributions have been one of the delights of the stock company's season. The Moving Picture cAlbum By Robert E. Sherwood. HAT lovely lady, Lilllan Gish, has semerged from the silences, her debut on what used to be known as the “lpflkl:’ mg: being synchronized ith T first venture into talking picturés. Her appearance_in Jed Harris’ production o? “Uncle Vanya” is hailed as an im- ressive “return to the stage.” This, @ way, is true, for some 17 years ago the extremely youthful Gish sisters did flutter inconspicuousiy in the back- ound of a Belasco fantasy, “The Good ittle Devil” in the foreground of which was Mary Pickford. No more attention was paid to Lillian Gish at that time than was paid to Charlie Chaplin when, through the influence of his brother Sid, he was permitted to substitute for a stricken performer in a vlud‘;v;uleflllclt, “A Night in a Lon- don Music Hall.” It remained for David Wark Grifith to detect and develop the infinite beau- ty and grace and power that lurked in lflis frail maiden, and to establish her as one of the few artists of the ilent screen. That eloquent silence was pe- culiarly appropriate to the tight-lipped Miss Gish, who could speak volumes with an unfinished gesture. ‘When the sound era. arrived, it seemed certain that she must needs recede into the lunar mists from which she had come. She herself issued statements to the effect that only under violent pro- test wauld she ever consent to address & microphone. ‘Those who are fortunate enough to witness her performance in “Uncle Vanya” will be convinced that such ap- rehensions were groundless. Seen and eard in the hars] ht of Broadway, she is still Lillian Gish, fraj lovely, nishingly int it. Those, however, who see her in her first talking picture, variously known as “The Swan” and “One itic Night,” will wish either that the movie- Miss Gish had made good her threat never to have dealings with these noise machines. For in this dismal offering she fllgllyl all the adroitness of a high school girl, sing-songing her way with _pathetic determination through her first part. So while Lilllan Gish achieves re- sounding triumph on the stage, she flounders woefully on the screen. An explanation of this con- tradiction is not hard to find. “Un- cle Vanya” Miss Gish has true lnes to speak and true emotions to feel, and is benefited further by th rb_direc- tion of Jed Harris. In Swan”- “One Romantic Night” she is afficted with impossible lines, phony emotions and utterly inept direction. That she is so bad in ti picture is not her fault, although it is unquestionably her tough luck. Her calamitous talking vehicle is de- rived from Molnar’s play, “The Swan,” but the derivation process has been as complicated and as far-fetched as the new title, “One Romantic Night,” would indicate. The characters have been re- vised and with them the motives and the dialogue has been pepped up to an appalling extent. 's “The Swi has become Moln: ‘One Romantic Night” just as Mol- WARNER BROS When These Twe Get Together WINNIE LIGHTNER JOE E. BROWN “Hold Everythii Has L‘-::y’:h"::» WARNER BROS. NOwW PLAYING Another Great Out- door Talking Ro- mance Like the “Virginian” ZANE GREY'S THE LIGHT OF STERN ST, 4 Paramount Plcture with RICHARD ARLEN MARY BRIAN HARRY GREEN (A Jowish Cowder) " became “His Wonder~ ‘Which sug:u that the posed version of jom” will probably be Heaven.” nar'’s “Ol ful Night.” title of the 5 Molnar’ “His Night in Paramount Changes Name. pARAMOUNT PUBLIX CORPORA- TION is the new official title of Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation. The change has become effective, fol- lowing ratification at the recent meeting April 15, of the stockholders. to whom the new title was recommended by the board of directors. e e Y Mt. Rainler, Md. - Ci Tomorro; d ‘Tuesday. MURDER CASE, with WM. ‘WOMEN." All—fl:fl-'cxl:lfin o RICHMOND % e DUMBARTON Dssasd's MARY BRIAN in “ONLY THE BRAVE.” Comedy. “POST MORTEMS." "W p;'flngr FROM CAROLINA A LET CES.” with N L . Talki) PRINCESS. %550 The, Northeast Home Sound 1 n%uo:‘fv'o‘firm m UBEVIL MaAT TODAY and TOMORI o TR A SARY. STARS." “Warner Bros.” i wEAT B, TODAY and TOMORROW — NANCY CARROLL in_"HONEY. L o st st D asaw - TQDAY and TOMORROW-— YOUNG rnd GRANT n “SECOND FLOOR MY L é'(')'i'é Ny Ga. Ave. & Farrarut o TR wd R ISR OTGRDER A __TEXAS MOO! fiafih‘"“ 100 © s NE TR, 1o IR SR .Q'AVO.;:;MI & Col. R4 N.W, "HER_PRIVATE LIFE’ “1us & Park mA. NW. TODAY and TOMORROW_FRANK Pt o ArAADA in UNDER & TEXAS MOON." VORE 6o ave. & Quebes 3t: m.w. FAIRLAWN ZS2E0°T05 & “ANNA CHRISTIE.' TAROMA izt SSTTEte A Talkle Every Day Vis R. C. A. Otto_Beck at the an. “HIT THE DECK” (%) Indicates Where Film Is Being Shown Today. District of Columbia *THE METROPOLITAN—F st. n.w. +*AMBASSADOR—18th and Col. rd. n.w. *AVALON—Conn. a Kinley *AVENUE GRAND-—§45 Pa. ave. s.e. NTRAL—Sth