Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1930, Page 49

AMUS EMENTS. The Moving Picture cAlbum By Robert E. Sherwood. THE REVIVED FRONTIERS. YEAR ago an Austrian professor predicted to me that English ‘would soon become the universal language. He believed that na- tives of France, Germany, Fin- land, Uruguay and other countries ‘would abandon their own languages and | adopt English, in order that they might | be capable of understanding the sub- tleties of American talking pictures. That prophecy was made at a time when Al Jolson's voice was ringing around the world and when the Messrs. Warner were meeting with but scant | ‘eompetition in foreign markets. Now, however, the situation has vast- 1y changed, and the Herr Professor is in & position to realize that he was all wrong (and glad of it, too, no doubt). When English-speaking films are ex- hibited to French audiences they stamp | and screech and whistle through their teeth and announce that the shad- ows on the screen must either talk French or shut up. Audiences in Uru- guay and elsewhere presumably do like- wise. 3 | The various countries of Europe are | now making sound films of their own, | and Hollywood, reluctant to part with its dominant position, is eagerly trying to produce additional versions of its pro- ductions in French, German, Spanish and Esperanto. I recently saw three versions of an English-made film, run off one after |y another, and it was interesting to ob- serve how grotesquely different they could be. In form, all three were ex- actly alike: the costumes, the lighting, the direction, the arrangement of scenes and, of course, the story itself were the same in all three versions. But there ‘were different actors—English, French and German—rendering the dialogue in their own languages, and this changed incredibly the quality of each film. ‘The German version was much the best, the French was next best and the English the poorest. I might add that I speak no German and but little French—which should indicate that ap- preciation is in inverse ratio to com- Pprehension. One German talking picture, “The Blue Angel” is already internationally famous, and deservedly so. It is su- rbly played by Emil Jannings, who left Hollywood in disgust, and Marlene Dietrich, who has been imported thither by the enterprising Mr. Lasky. In “The Blue Angel” u};g. .Y'lnnl.l:u'lt again appears as a gullible, fatuous, lovable old fellow who is lured to dis- aster by a bad woman. It is the same role that he enacted so memorably in “Variety” and “The Way of All Flesh.” But this time he is better than ever, for the reason that he has so perfect an excuse for his downfall in the glorious person of Miss Dietrich. To date “The Blue Angel” represents Europe's only considerable achievement in pictures. Most of those that have been produeedtln France and Ger- 'dflyo! action, for the local directors have not as yet learned the lessons that have been so forcibly brought home to . A melodramatic exception | ence France, which is reminiscent of one of Lon Chaney's lurid offerings. I have seen several other French films, each of which seemed to contain as much dialogue as did “Strange In- terlude.” It was good dialogue, more natural and less stilted than the lines in most Hollywood talkers, but a good 75 ver cent of it could have been elimi- nated. In one respect do French films lead the world. That is in the highly im- portant matter of love scenes. Although spoken dialogue has killed most of the romance in productions of the Garbo- Gilbert school, it has made no differ- whatever when the language spoken happens to be French. There are some amorous passages between Marie Bell and Jean Murat in a picture called “The Night Is Ours” that are as pleasantly warm as anything that has been seen since the old “Flesh and the Devil” days. Certain American sound films still can cross the world’s frontiers with tri- umphant ease. These are Walt Dis- ney's incomparable animated cartoons “Mickey the Mouse” and “Silly Sym- phonies.” During the temporary ab- sence of Charlie Chaplin from public view I should say that “Mickey the Mouse” is the most popular movie star on earth. His every appearance is widely advertised and wildly acclaimed in cities, towns and hamlets all over e map. Read what the scholarly critic of the London Observer has to say about Mickey comedy elegantly entitled “Frol- icking Fish”: “Disney’s new _cartoon—rhythmic, fluid and formally beautifil—is as ex- citing & bit of cinema as anything that the screen has yet produced, and con- veys to the spectator a sense of vast- ness quite incompatible with its short footage through the unity of its feeling for fine form and its understanding of the cognate expressivs arts.” ‘The foregoing remarks are commend- ed to the attention of Walt Disney, to whom they will probably come as news. In the same review of “Frolicking Fish” the Observer's critic goes on to luk some pertinent questions, as fol- lows: “It is inevitable that we should ques. tion, after 10 minutes of such pure pe: sonal enjoyment, the value of the per- sonal actor to the modern screen. Is the figure of man essentially pho- tographic in terms of motion? Is he actually, and should he be, the cinema’s first and finest concern. Has he not rather stood in the way of development, blocking out from the cinema a com- bination of images in the rhythm of the abstract and the inanimate that would give the director's work a new and fuller meaning and set the screen margin as a deliberate framework for an ordered composition in time?” observation of amazing performances of “Mickey the Mouse” and of those supernaturally " | Laurel THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. o AUGUST 17, 1930—PART FOUR. PHOTOPLAYS AT WASHINGTON THEATERS THIS WEEK Sunday WEEK OF AUGUST 17 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday ey, Oarrol Nancy,_carrol Chester MorTis in in in “Devil's Holiday.” Vitaphone variety. “The Big House.” Vitaphone variety Vivienne _Sexal and Walter Pidgeon in “Bride of the Resl ment.” _Vitaphone. Chester Morris in “The Big House. vitaphone variety Betty Compson Belle Beninett in “Midnight Mystery Comedy. in “Recaptured Loy Comedy. Marion Davies n “The Floradora Girl. Comady. n 5612 Conn. Ave. Marion Davies ue to the ‘“The Floradora Girl.” Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Comeds. <l Bow_in ze: “True to the Navy " Mes riety Vitaphone variety Comedy. “Numbered Vitaphone va Comedy. Betty Compson in “Midnight Myster? * Comedy. Vitaphone variety mnfiu‘.e‘sem n “‘Golden Dy Vitaphone Joan Crawford Ave. Grand in “Our_Blushin 645 Pa. Ave. S.E. Brides. Nancy_carroll n “Devil's Holiday.” Vitavhone varieties. Joan Crawford Nancy_Carroll in “Devil's “oliday. * n “Golden Dawn.” Vitaphone varieties. Comed omedy. Tillian_Gish in Richard Arlen o “‘One_ Romantic s “The Border Legion " ight. ‘omedy. Vitaphone variets Jitaphone variety Carolina “Cohens and Kellys in Scotland.” in “Our_Blushing Brid “Cohens and Kellys Evelyn Brent in in’ Scotland. “Framed.” Tawrence Gray in “Children of Pleasure.” Helen Morgan in “Applaus Glenn Tryon and Jack Mulhall 1n Gertrude Astor s in ,, ‘The Fall Guy.” (1th & N.C. Ave. S.E. Cameo Mt._Rainfer, Md. Dark. Clara_Bow Navy.” 5. Clara Bow in in “True to the Navy.” “True to the Comedies. Comsdie Ruth Chatte Ralph Forbes in “A Lady of Scandal Comedy. Ruth Chatte an . Ralph Forbes in “A'Lady of Scandel.” ‘omedy. Louise Dresser Gary Cooper_in “The Man From Wyoming. Vitannone. Comeds. Central 425 9th St. N.W. Jonrad Nagel in “Numbered Men." Vitaphone variety Comedy. Gary Cooper in “The Man From Wyoming.” ._Comedy Siara Bow in “True to the Navy.” Vitaphone variety Comed: Tonrad Nagel in ‘Numbered Men." ‘Jitaphone ariety. Com " Marion Davies in “The Floradora Girl. Vitaphone varieties Clara Bow Tewis Stone and Catherine Dale Owen in “Strictly Uncon- T8 Bow in “True to the Navy.” Gary Cooper Fay ol Ken Maynard Louise Dresser and ,Basil Rathbone in in X “Parade of the This Mad Worid.” West.” n “True to the _ Navy." Jack Oakie in “The Social Lion. " medy. Ga. Ave. & Farragut__ Vitaphone variety " ventional. Gary Cooper in “The Man From Wyoming. Comedy. Jack_Oakie in “The Social Lion " omedy. Vitaphone varlets. ne Segal in “Bride of the Regi- ment.” 'y Cooper in “The Man From ¥yoming." <omedy. Comedy. vmn.ir'é Dix n “Shootin’ Straight.” Comedy. Sue Carol and Grant Withers o Richard Arlen and y Wray in “Border Legion.” Comedy. Dumbarton 1343 Wisconsin Ave. Richard Arien and Dous. Fairbanks, Jir., Fay Wray in Marie_Prevost’in “Border Legion.” ““The Party Girl." Comedy. Comedy. Chester Morris and ‘Wallage Beery “The Big House.” Comedy. Chester Morris and ‘Wallage Beery “The Big House. Comedy. George Sidney and harles Murray in Corner."” Cl Not scheduled. *Around the Co: Comedy. TLupe Veles and Jean Hersholt in “'Hell's Harbor.” Noveity reel. Fi Fairlawn Anacostia, D. C. Lupe Veler and Jean Hersholt in “Hell's Harbor.” Novelty reel. _Fable. Chi 5 gers in “Safety in Numbers." Comedy. Hippodlolne Marie Dressler 808 K St. N.W. Evelyn Brent In “Behind the Make- up. Comedy.~_Fable Marie Dressier and M Victor McLaglen in Fannie Brice in “Dn_the Level.” “Be_Yourself.” Our Gang comeds. Comedy. Sportlight L. Hamilton comedy. Richard Arien and Pay Wray in “The Border Leion.” omedies. Cellegians. Serial. Evelyn Brent in “Behind the Make- up. Comedy._Fable Buster Colller, ir., in “Royal Romance.” Comedy. h Byrd South~ Pol “With Byrd at the South~ Pole.” Collegians. Collegians. Comedy. ‘Comé Conrad Nazel in “Numbered Men." Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Home 13th & C Sts. Qonrad Nagel in, Numbered Men." Vitahone variety. Comedy. Marion Davies in “The Floradors i} Vitaphone variety Belle Bennett in “Recaptured Love " Comedy. Ma:ion Davies in “The _Floradora Girl Vitaphone variety. Gary Cooper in “The Man From ing.” Vlll’)vh':::.l néomd' Richard Dix “Shootin’ Straight.” Comedy. Dark. Laurel, Md. Chester Morris and er Morris and Belle Beanett n “Coursge.” Act." Gomeds. ‘Belle Bennett in ‘“‘Courage.” _Act. Comedy. Belle Baker n “Bong of Love.” Act._Comedy. " HOOt Gibson In ‘Mounted Stranger. Berial. Comedy. Charles King and Bes s my Leader Forma Shearer in “'The_Divorcee.” omedy. Fable. Norma Shearer in “"The_ Divorces.” Comedy. Fable. Kenneth McKenna n “Cameo Kizby." Comedies. flih Chatterton In “"The Laughing Lady.” ‘Comedy. toon. sie Love in “Chasing Rainbows.” 9th & E Sts. N.W. __Comedy. _Cartoon. Lyric Galthersburg, Md. Dark. Velma Banky in “Lady to Love.” Velma Banky in “Lady to Love.” “Lord Byron of “Lord Byron of Broadway." Broadway.” Ken Maynard in Ken Maynard in “Mountain Justice.” “Mountain Justice.” Georze O'Brien in “Rough Romance.” Princess 1119 H St. N.E. Will Rogers and Irene Rich_ in S0 This Is London." Mpnurice Chevaller, in *“The Big Pond." Wil Rogers and Trene Rich in Thi Eddie Dowline in So “Blaze o' Glory.” Ciiff_Edwards_and Owen Lee in “Lord Byron of _Broadway.” . Hoot Gibson in “Roaring Ranch.” Dark. Richmond Belle Benneit and John _Hollida; “Recaptured Love. Comedy. _Cartoon. Belle Bennett and olliday in, d_ Love.” rtoon. Ruth Chatterton and h Forbes Ralp) in “A Lady of Scandal.” medy. _Act. Ruth_Chatterton and ph Forbes in “A Lady of Scandal. Comedy. _Act. Clara Bow “True W‘finlle Ni Com, Pable. Alexandria, Vs. Savoy 3030 14th St. N.W. Xay Johnson 1n “This Mad World ** Vitaphone variety Comedy. Kay Johnson in “This Mad World " Vitaphone variety Comedy. Selle Bennett in “Recaptured Love Vitaphone variety. Comedy. Kenneth Mcienna in “Men Without ‘Women.” Comedy. Hoot Gibson 1 “Trailing Troubl Vitaphone variety Comedy. Takoma Takoma Park, D. C. Tichard Arlen in a1 rey’s Al Jolson fn “Light, of Westera “Mammy.” " Al Jolson 1n “Paramount on “Mammy.” de.” Para “Paramount on Parade.” Joan Crawford in “‘Our Blushing Bride Vitaphone variets. Tivoli 14th & Fark Rd. Joan Crawford i “'Our’ Blushing Brides. Vitaphone variety. Janet Gaynor in “Sunny Side UP.” Villlam Powell in “ghadow of the Law.” 7itaphone variety omedy. Janet Gaynor in “Sunny Side Up." Willlam Powell in “Bhadow of the Law." Vitaphone variety Comedy. York Conrad_Nagel in Ga. Ave. & Quebss VURRTS] Men.” Another Discovery. MOTION picture stories originally are spoken, not written. Putting them on paper is & comparatively minor phase of their creation, according to two of Hollywood's prominent writing graceful, though unidentifiable, crea- tures which prance through the “Silly Symphonies."” (Copyright. 1830) is “The Roofs of Paris” made in Art and the Movies. ILLIAN GISH once said, according to Donald Henderson Charles, that motion pictures never would be art as she understood it, because too many different arts, trades, professions and individuals are concerned in the making of a single film. Without going into the question of what is art, information is at hand which reveals that the art department at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio last year designed 1044 separate sets, ‘used 437,800 feet of drawing paper and drew 92 miles of penciled lines. Records of I Lloyd, who won the 1929 “art director's award” of the Acad- emy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci- ences, disclose further that the average number of sets in each film is 22, and that for each of the 22 sets an aver- age of 12 different drawings is re- quired. ‘The art director attends story con- ferences with writer, director and star. “We begin first with a work sheet in quarter-inch scale,” says Mr. Lloyd. 2 ‘we make individual sketches in inch scale, or smaller, and flmufi. for the most important details, full-size drawings are made. Each film an average of 245 detail sketches.” He, Lloyd, illustrated his words with full-size drawings of sections of beams required for “Madame Satan,” exact de- tail of show cases required for “Our ,” and pipes of an organ T of Seville,” “In addition,” he continued, “we have two men who do nothing but Mrs Barney in Holywooa. WASH.\'NGTON'S once colorful per- sonality, Alice P. Barney, is re- rted to have scored another success in ollywood, where her play, “Is Wrong Right?” received an ovation at the ‘Theater Mart Playhouse. Writing in her column in the Los Angeles Times, Katherine Von Blon says in reviewing it, “It moves with the spirit of comedy. It is brilliantly dialogued; the plot is dramatic, intensely human and the de- nouement unexpected.” Barney's new success concerns make small cardboard models of sets to be built, so director and players may better visualize coming action. Other men constantly are busy sketching im- portant preperties which must be accu- rate in make-up or period, because of their use in close-ups in important scenes. “Qur individual artists are left abso- lutely unfettered to create the sort of thing for which they are best suited,” says Mr. Cedric Gibbons. “However, in an enterprise as large as a picture studio things must travel in a direct line. This causes our division of labor among units, and the large expenditures of physical materials, paper, pencils, drawings, charcoal, etc., which are re- quired to keep flowing smothly a river of artistic achievement. “Art is as well served by efficient methods as any other lines of en- deavor,” is Mr. Gibbons’ conclusion. Mr. Gibbons' pet book discloses the following art efforts in a period of a few weeks: Interior of Weber and Fields' Music Hall, New York; control room of a Zeppelin; dormitory room, Spanish College; detective headquar- ters, Scotland Yard; stage, Academy of Music, New York, 1868; a cheap San Prancisco cafe; a Russian petty court in the days of the Czar; a ship's brig; shower room of a base ball team; a fashionable dog show; royalist soldiers, empire period in France; coal mine tunnel, and throne room, Austrian palace, before the war. What is art, anyway? Adopts New Color Processs. COLUMBIA PICTURES has discon- tinued the use of photocolor for its series of colored shorts and will substi- tute & new color process for all future releases where natural color is used. It | is claimed this process will facilitate the taking of films in their natural hues. R S SN New Chatterton Film. ** A NYBODY'S WOMAN" is the title chosen for “The Better Wife,” ac- cording to a recent announcement by Jesse L. Lasky. “Anybody's Woman” is the new picture for Ruth Chatterton and Clive Brook. It was adapted from a story by Gouverneur Morris, Dorothy Arzner directed it. Borrows From Vaudeville. APHNE POLLARD in “America or Bust,” a two-reel Pathe comedy | adapted from an Orpheum skit, “Every- body Welcome,” brings to the talking screen one of her greatest vaudeville successes. The diminutive Daphne is said to be at her funniest in tl tale of a little cockney determined to beat the Ameri- can immigration quota at all hazards. ETn“(ies Hit Scotch Actors. MRS. ALICE P. BARNEY, ‘Well known Washington playwright. the story of a young wife who falls out of love with a brutal husband only to become enamored of & charming youth, Sir Arthur Renard. In doing so, how- ever, she loses her 5-year-old child. No mere man's love is able to assuage her grief and—presto—the denouement, un- expected and dramatic. Among the first-nighters was Charles Chaplin, the comedian, who was en- thusiastic over the acting of Georgia Hale. now—and this news comes William Huntington—Mrs. Barney is drama which will be produced early in the Fall. A pos ipt adds, Nal Clifford Barney's new book, “The One Who Is Legion,” has just been re- leased in London. Chaney All Right Again. R!IPORT]NO a complete cure, Hollywood recently throat treatment. idwyn-Mayer studios Giia pext talkin on “Cheri Bibi, e myew‘;y sto Gaston Leroux, famous author busy completing another ( Lon haney returned to his home in| e after two weeks of | He will spend a brief vacation fisning in the high Sierras before returning to work at the Metro- Talkies have caused many actors in Scotland to be idle, and distress is ram- pant. A few actors with big names and well won reputations are still earning large incomes, but the rank and file are “at liberty.” Among them is an asthetic-featured waiter in a second- rate.restaurant, who two years ago was Teceiving $150 a week as the detective in a crime drama. Many others are seeking any kind of work in order to live until “the stage comes back.” - twis, avaes L FRANKIE JENKS JACK MEBRIDE s, TERRELL @id HANLE Y~ NAYNON'S BIRDS REICARD axd LA VINE assigne {sory they spend days discussing the teams. Grover Jones and William Slavens McNutt “talk out” the plots and situa- tions for their stories before touching a typewriter. George Marion, jr., and Percy Heath do likewise. Both teams are under contract to Paramount. Jones and McNutt have written ac- llonmmelocg:mu, including "Th: o Dangerous Paradise” an ‘)“B‘l‘u'nlnl Up.” When ed to a characters, the plot, situations and inci- dents. After the story really is formulated they write it down, Wi in news- paper fashion. McNutt is the reporter tm'-nln' out the “copy.” Jones acts as editor. Marion and Heath have written musi- cal productions rather than melodrama. Their method of work, however, is qum‘ similar. “Let’s Go Native,” featuring Jeanette MacDonald, Jack Oakie, James Hall and Skeets Gallagher, was their first ‘They worked it all out through many hours of oral discussion. Then Heath wrote the story in action form, while Marion concentrated upon the humorous dialogue. —_— “Bless You Sister.” CLARA BERANGER has been engaged by Columbia Pictures to make an adaptation of the famous Alice Brady stage play, “Bless You, Sister,” which will be brought to the screen under the title “The Miracle Woman,” with Bar- bara Stanwyck in the Alice Brady role. Miss Beranger has had a long and eventful career as a newspaper and short-story writer. Her work in pictures covers & period of years and a number of outstanding scripts, among them sce narios for “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, “Miss Lulu_Betts,” “Grumpy,” “The Forbidden Woma “Cralg’s Wife,” “Almost Human,” “The Little Adven- turess,” “The Idle Rich” and “This Mad Good for Dickens! 'R EAD Dickens if you would become a great comedian.” ‘That is the advice of Helen Carring- ton, who Las an important comedy role in Paramount’s production of “Queen High,” Schwab & Mandel's Broad- way success, “I do not claim to be a great come- dian, at least as yet,” says Miss Car- rington, “but I think I have benefited by evel’y',l’lh’\§I Dickens wrote, He has a sense of humor which quite often makes me want to roll on the floor with laughter. By remembering the mannerisms and peculiar psychologi- cal slants of his characters I have often been able to portray a part which at first seemed beyond me.” The authors are read in Hollywood, after all. Marion Davies in “"The Floradors 7} Vitaphone Conrad "Nagel in “Numbered Men." Comedy. arion Davies in *The Floradora rl. Vitaphone variety. Dougias Fairbanks, 7 in “The Way of AL en. % Vitahone. 'Comeds. Tillian_Gish Tn Richard Atien “One Romantic n 5 “The Border Legion." Vitaphone variety Comedy. My Heart,” a Fox JOHN McCORMACK, ¥Famous Irish tenor, with a carload of Erin's sunshine in a scene from “Song o’ Movietone creation. Magazine UDGES of the contest in search of the ideal “Miss Columbia” have nar- rowed the fleld from 15,000 contestants to two young women whose beauty and general qualifications for first honors are nearly equal. ‘The two lucky contestants are Miss Lesley Beth Storey, entered as “Miss ‘Tower Magazines,” and Miss Dorothy Dawes, entered as both of Brooklyn, N. Y., and winners of the individual contests staged by the magazines which named them. Thir- teen prominent magazines and many newspapers joined in sponsoring the contests. The winner, posed as “Miss Colum- bia,” will have her likeness used as the company’s trade-mark on' all films dis- tributed by Columbia. She will win also a trip to the company’s studios in Hollywe to be entertained by famous Columbia stars and directors, and she will be awarded a week's contract at a salary of $250. Individual w.nners in various contests conducted by 13 far magazines were Dorothy Brown, Des Moines, Iowa, Screen Romances; Jean Eckler, Wes Palm Beach, Fla, Motion Picture Mag- azine; Donna Barton, Tulsa, Okla., Mo- tion. Picture Classic; Dorothy Dawes, Brooklyn, N. Y., Film Fun; Vera Martin (Countess Vera de Muller), New York City, Screen Book; Bernice Maiwald, Laconia, N. H,, Moving Picture Stories; Lesley Beth Storey, Brooklyn, N. Y., Tower Group; Meta Diane Neuberg, n ai picture will be based g of “The CHARLES GING gTA NL et e g i se Tkussin reasons ER ROGERS EY ' IH RANK MORGAN iness and b wont mix evoir to— —Au CK LEIBERT n original organ orgy ON THE STAGE HERMAN TIMBERG Jwr, JStars ina DIZZY DAZE aoith BARBARA BLAIR SAMMY TIMBERG “Miss Film Fun,” | Beauties. Tuckahoe, N. Y., Photoplay; Mercedes Janet Rice, Banning, Ga. Screenland, and Alice’ Maxwell Thomas, Kansas City, Mo., Columbia’s home office entry. — e Bedtimers for Grown-Ups. DDIE BUZZELL, well known stage comedian, is making his West Coast debut at the Columbia studios in the comedy novelty, “Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups” Eddle Buzzell enacts the role of the radio broadcaster, and is sup- | ported by a large cast headed by Mil- | dred Harris. ‘The story is by Mr. Buzzell, and was written in collaboration with the news- paper humorist, John P. Medbury, of “Maybe I'm Wrong" fame. (*) Indicates Where Film Is Being Shown Today. District of Columbia EARLE—13th st. n.w. *METROPOLITAN—F st. n.w. AMBASSADOR—18th and Col. rd. n.w. APOLLO—624 H st. n.e. AVALON—Conn. ave. and McKinley AVENUE GRAND—645 Pa. ave. s.e. CENTRAL—Sth st. COLONY—Georgia ave. and Farragut EMPRESS—416 9th st. n.w. HOME—1230 C st. n. JESSE—3100 18th st. n.e. SAVOY—3030 14th st. n.w. *STANTON--515 C st. n.e. *SYLVAN—104 Rhode Island ave. TAKOMA—4th and Butternut Q';:‘r‘ylnnd and Virginia MA ND—Hagerstown, Md. ARCADE—Crisfield, Md. ARCADE—Hyattsville, Md. ASHTON—Clarendon, Va. AUDITOURIM—Onancock, Va. BERKELEY—Berkeley Springs, W. Va. CAPITAL—Cumberland, Md. CAPITOL—Winchester, Va. COMMUNITY—Ridgely, Md. "Hokum" in Fflms. “HOKUM has a legitimate place in entertainment, so long as it does not attempt to masquerade as reality,” says Frank Tuttle, Paramount director. “Some of the most delightful screen entertainmént is afforded by comedies and melodramas that deal frankly with unreal characters and exaggerated sit- uations,” says Tuttle. “For example, no one believes that any school teacher conducts classes by Ing_ ‘boo-poo- -doop’ songs. However, that didn't udiences from enjoying Helen Kane's school room sketch in ‘Para- mount on Parade. “It is only when an attempt is made to present ‘hokum’ as serious reality that it becomes objectionable. In such circumstances it is an affront to the intelligence of an audience.” ‘Tuttle says that this is an era of sincerity in the show business. “Serious subjects are dealt with in a; sincere, honest manner,” he declares. | “Light_subjects are treated in a light vein. There is much less pretense than there was a few years ago.” Eccentric Dance Recipe. 'CCENTRIC dances are more difficult than straight acrobatic routines, because to be really funny a performer must first perfect the “straight” steps and then burlesque them. So declares Nina Olivette, whose antics provide much of the comedy in Paramount’s production of the Schwab & Mandel te explains. “Such a system is impossi- bly difficult and the finished routine seidom gets a laugh. “My method is to learn an acrobatic dance—the syncopated clog, the Black Bottom, the Charleston or any of the others—and then, by relaxing all my muscles, try to give the appearance of falling apart while performing it. The effect always seems to be funny.” TFack OibiessnDesiger: ¥ his next plcture, not yet titled, it is said that Jack Oakie will have & story centering about a champion light~ weight boxer of the American Navy, who has been shanghaied aboard & for- eign warship. Paramount has even con- structed a battleship in its studio, re- gardless of the recent naval pact, for use in this picture. — | with more of the psychic long dor- AMUSEMEN TS. The Lily of Budapest. JOME of the stories that spring out of Hollywood during this wonder- ful machine age would hatch an egg it it were imperative that an egg be hatched abnormally. The movie doesn’t stop at anything needed to prepare the way for its onward march. This has become more apparent as time flies on. The latest evidence is its enlistment of the famous press agents who used to stir the public pulse and heart in the days when the legitimate theater had full sway. Those chaps could revivify the dead if they had a mind to. Here's one of the new type of storles, or rather the substance of it, because space forbids free quotation of th writer, one of those T. P. R. O. A's | doubtless so well known to the pro- fession. After preparing the mind with sug- gestions of predestination and free will, mant in the vacational atmosphere of a mind used to burn the midnight oil, he unloads a new kind of nostalgia. seems that Darryl Francis Zanuck, a director of the Warner Bros. studios, was urged by this nostalgia to visit again the haunts of his childhood. Succumbing to the impulse, he found himself in Budapest—joyous city and famous for its music no less than for its fairylike night life. And it was while wandering amid this life, a la Haroun Al Raschid, that Darryl met a lovely dancer and singer, the toast of the town, an exquisite dream of loveli- ness and exotic charm, whose facile familiarity with the soul of art and its elusive technique was utterly be- yond the ken of the vulgar mind. Yes, even though she had a name—Lottl Loder. But what's in a name? Darryl clinched her with a tempting contract; hurried her to glorious Amer- ica, the welcome goal of yearning souls doomed to be born abroad; uslfn Vina Delma, “the best-seller novelist,” to write an original story around her wonderful personality, setting its lo- cale in the center of war-worried Ger- many, linking its incidents with the American army of occupation at Co= blenz and centering in its love inter- est an American doughboy—think of it! They have called it “A Soldier's Plaything,” suggestive of heartache and abandonment. There are songs, such songs, in it, and Harry Langdon is the American doughboy. And then there are Jean Hersholt, Noah Beery, Frank Campeau and Mary Astaire—oh, lots of others who will help to point a moral and adorn the tale. And will the vulgar populace flock to see it when it comes along? Yea, ver ily. The little managers of the big theaters throughout the length and breadth of the land will be fairly packe ing 'em in, day and night—unless something goes wrong. This story is simply another illustra- mr; of painting the lily, or art for art's What About Mary? ITH the shutting of the studio doors the other day and the sus- pension of activities on the “Forever Yours” lot there was closed possibly a| chapter in the annals of the niotion| picture. For rumor has it that Mary Pickford, dissatisfled with the work on| this picture, is being tempted to actu- ally desert the industry which she has been 56 instrumental building up. ‘This is really an alarming situation, if such a rumor may be credited, and it is in no way helped by the fact that Douglas Fairbanks claims little interest in the talkies and may very likely give up screen work for & life of golf on the d and open fairways. ‘The withdrawal of two such spotlight celebrities will certainly not be apt to boost the fate of the talkies. Seem- ingly imperishable figureheads, Mary and Doug have done more to sow the seeds of American film popularity abroad than any other players. They have carried good will from one coun- try to another with an almost Lind- berghian finesse. They have become, furthermore, civic leaders, as well as actual leaders, in their particular fleld. Perhaps the tone of finality thad Pickford picture has been exa Perhaps the picture, as in '.henmum the Gloria Swanson film, “Quesn Kelly,” was merely constructed un- skillfully and scrapped, only to start over again on something else. Miss Pickford, again, may have preferred to work with somebody else, another actor or another director. In that case the gloom that seems to be hal over Hollywood would not be justified. But gloom there is, and that of no uncertain color. A hint that Miss Pick« ford has reached the opinion that, the first bloom of youth having from her cheeks, she is no anxious to face the camera is also Ing suggested. There should be no fears on that score. Since her popularity may be said to be certainly more than skin deep, and since actresses far ahead of her in years are reaping great and famous rewards, there is no doubt that there is a fertile field for Mary. ‘Whatever may be happening, one hopes that this cessation in activities is merely a passing fancy. Although her films in the past few years have | been few and far between, Miss Pick~ |ford will always be “Our Mary” and seemed to be apparent when produc- tion activities were suspended on the too young and gracious s personalif to beuke'heml! to the sticks and l-g hinterland. The Stronger Sex. WH!N Gertrude Ederle tore s hot lane through the choppy waters of the English Channel between France and England for a new record for that sport, says D. H. Clarke, one of Holly- wood’s literatl, comments were heard to the effect that perhaps, after all, the male is not the most durable of the species, and various arm chair observ- ers strained themsel! sufficlently to look up a bit of data here and there on the ability of {he female to stand up under punishment better than the male. Somewhere, it was written that the feminine body contains fewer nerves than the masculine body and, at least, is able to stand pain better. When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, having finished preparations for turning the book “Trader Horn.” into a film, an- nounced that one white actress, for the role of Nina T. would be taken along, with Director W. 8. Van Dyke and hi company, practically every ye lady ‘who was an actress, or who thought she was an actress, tried to get the billet. Van Dyke, after a sei of photo- graphic tests, decided that he would like Edwind Booth to play the part, but warned Miss Booth that it would in- volve a great personal risk, plenty of hardship, little of fun and a deal of work, with only a modicum of pleas- u re. That didn’t bother Miss Booth at all. | In khaki trousers, fiannel shirt and felt | taria she up and accepted the job. She spent six months in districts infested | | | i | i SYLVAN ™ &5 NANOY CARROLL. G STANTON mith 5t Founte Eat ntinuous from 3 PM. EL. B MARJORIE ‘WHITE in Warner iCE ELD MATRIMONIAL BED.” ‘v,ulmtl{m,/ WARNER BROS. gt 7 SIVER ANNIVERSARY OLLO TODAY _and RROLL €24 B Bt NE TOMORROW-_NANCY. 'DEVIL'S HOLIDA Conn. Ave. and MecKinley St. D. C. E WARNER BROS. aAarlE CREWE—Crewe, Vi EMPIRE—Pocomoke City, Md. EMPIRE—Saxis, Va. FIREMEN'S HALL—Willards, Md. GLOBE—Berlin, Md. IMPERIAL—Brunswick, Md. JEFFERSON—Brookneal, Va. LYRIC—Fishing Creek, Va. MARADA—St. Michaels, Md. MARYLAND—Kitzmiller, Md. MASONIC—Clifton Forge, Va. NEW-—Hancoclk, Md. NEW VIRGINIA—Harrisonburg, Va. ‘OPERA HOUSE, Leesburg, V: OPERA HOUSE-—Piedmont, PALACE—Frostburg, Md. PALACE—Hagerstown, Md. RAMONA—Westminster, Md. REPUBLIC THEATER—Annapolis, ROCKBRIDGE—Buena Vista, Va. STATE—Bethesda, Md. STATE—Westminster, M STRAND—Staunton, Va. WALLACE DALE-—T; WARRE! Merkopourt It Will Make You Blush A Little-ButAlso /NOW! Laugh A e TODAY and TOMORRO! ARIC DAVIES in “THE PLORADORA s Ol d 'r?uonww"“ JORN DAY s TXAWFORD i "OUR, sroshiNG a. Ave. & Farragut St TOMORROW. — JACK ECSocTAL TIONT Warner Bros’ o nE. DAY and TOMORROW-—CONRAD TAOEr 1 TNUABERED MEN." TODAY_and OAKIE_in h & Col R4, N.W. AY d _TOMORROW - FAY T?’% H _,lflo N in “THIS MAD ____WORLD. B -fi'{,o'u 4h & Park R4 NW. TOI d_TOMORROW . JOAN ORADAYW”‘"RD fn “OUR BLUSHING BRIDES. Br Ga. Ave. & Quebes St N.W. TODAY and !%omw—m'un NAGEL in "1 [BERED MEN." FAIRLAWN = HARBOR." CLARA BOW. “TRUE TO THE NAVY. ARG AND SOUND PiCTURES HIPPODROME ~_*caueqi" UGHT SHORT.” MARIE and LLY' MORAN. POLLY MORAN. RICHMOND 5% ord Yuceday “RECAPTURED LOVE," GO CAMEO Weston Elecisic Sound rrue T SHE NAVY, T'ClitRa BOW. with all sorts of insects and wild ani- hadn’t been papers began to carry was very ill as a result of her the jungles. As a matter is as successful as its her position as the only feminine ber of the cast won't hurt her any in her profession. Regardless of evemhh:g, however, those most familiar with the case fig- tire that she hi!lhl memberunl the stronger sex, which conclusivel that the stronger sex is unquufimw.- ably feminine. more dramari The Divorceé Cidded cAitractions), MGM REVUE SCREEN SNAPSHOTS