Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1930, Page 62

AMUSEMENTS. NDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 17, 1930—PART FOU.t. Flashes From the Screen I‘iem m}:llCommegt of the Photoplay By C. E. Nelson. "NROM some quarters come complaints of a shortage of | Part capable actresses and actors on the movie coast, but, Jooking Westward from this Cap- ital of the Nation—and after con- sidering the photoplay fare which has been served to Washington theatergoers — it appears that there are plenty of excellent play- ers, and that the whole trouble comes from a lack of creative ability on the part of the pro- ducers. One_is often moved to wonder regarding the fate of a player such as George Bancroft, when considering individual cases. This Bancroft made an unde- niable hit in-his first starring ve- hicle. This, according to all evi- dence, was too much for the pro- ducers. Immediately, they de- cided that George, ‘“having knocked ‘em out of their seats” with a gang picture, was a “gang actor.” Hurry calls were sent to the scenario department, and while the movie critics of the country were hailing the player who had made a hit overnight, preparations were started for a dozen more gang stories, with Bancroft to star. So, George became a movie gangster—and this fact has about finished his business. Whenever one thought of Bancroft, or saw his name on the boardings, one thought, naturally, of machine guns, molls, dope rings, pistol flashes in the dark. George was a marked man. The other day they gave him a new sort of pic- ture, and the fans could not dis- associate him from sawed-off shotguns. But this is just & little illustra- tion of how things are conducted in the producers' offices of Holly- wood. a star makes a hit with a certain type of picture, all the other producers jump upon their scenario departments, and we are flooded with pictures that are very much alike. Wallace Beery is an actor who has been rather lucky in this respect. . His character roles have given him a chance for a varied assortment of parts, and he has never beer really starred. Victor McLaglen was shoved into he-man roles—always the sgme of picture—although, when the talkies came in, it was covered - that ‘his ‘voice did not suit his appearance and charac- ters. As a silent star, he was hard to beat. Harold Lloyd makes an- other comedy, but, to all intents and gurposu, it is as much like his other ones as peas in a pod. And Lloyd would get more lau if he confined himself to the old- time pantomime. - As far as the work of the play- ers is concerned, one may mention & number of outstanding perform- ances. For instance, Beery and Dressler in “Min and Bill,” and Beery in “The Big House,” Nancy Carroll and Frederick Marsh in “Laughter,” Richard Cromwell and H B. Walthall in the new version of “Tol'able David,” Heler ‘Twelvetrees in “Her Man.” Other work which is expected to please Dictrich Gary Gooper and Adoiphe ef 5 and Adolphe Menjou in “Moroceo” and June Anita Page in “Wi Again, looking Westward, it seems that the players have a much higher batting average than the producers. * * x ¥ Rumors are flying thick and fast arvund the e front, but Tone most startling one ~ reports that Greta Garbo is seriously considering retirement from the photoplay world and a removal of her household w really a fact. It is @ rumor which concerns all of us. Here in Wash- ington, we-might try Gnd have the ment. refuse her permission 2o leave the country. She cannot be allowed to go! thn Tnl connection of the stage and 2 ‘screen at the present time is of the future. Quoting him in art: “I do not believe in the over- night sensations. The trend of roduction is toward fewer and tter pictures. With films now in more direct competition with the stage, higher quality dialogue and direction are necessary. I think my plan for the develop- ment of younger players is a 'move in the right direction,. and I am going to try it out.” * k% X “Hell's Angels,” which is said to have broken all records in its pro- duction cost, now claims another record. According to m London, the Prince of Wales viewed the picture—and then hewent back to the theater and saw it @ second time. 0Of course, one is allowed to meke his own interpretation to this. Maybe the heir to the British throne fell asleep during the first showing and was determined to see the picture at all cost! * % % Short Flashes. IN his starring vehicle for Fox, El Brendel will play two roles. Clara Bow’s new picture carries the title of “No Limit.” Players added to the cast within the past few days are Frank Hagney, Maurice Black and Mischa Auer. The Nord Film Co. of Brussels| is producing a picture dealing| with the part played by Belgium in the World War. The film will be called “Le Carilon de la Lib- erte,” and it deals mainly with the resistance of the Belgian army when the Germans invaded the country. The new Richard Barthelmess York during the latter part of this month. The star is prepar- ing to start another picture in Hollywood within a few days. First National is producing the French version of “An Aviator in Spite of Himself” before starting the English. Dpuglas Fairbanks, jr., who speaks French, is playing the herd role in both versions. Mitzi Green and Leon Errol head the cast of “Mr. and Mrs. Haddock Abroad.” Lilyan Tashman has a prominent role. The Paramount company has signed Lowell Thomas for a series of travel talks—and, of course, the talks are accompanied by pic- tures. An order forbidding any of its players from appearing in talking pictures based upon plays in its repertory, has been issued by thip Comedie Francaise of Paris. The decree has been criticized on the ground that it deprives many of the French people of the oppor- tunity of seeing good plays and noted thespians. In many sections of the coun- try motion picture theaters re- port various plans for aiding the unemployed. The entire film in- dustry is co-operating with Col. Arthur Woods, head of the Emer- gency Committee. It may be the approach of the holidays, or something else again, but we do not know just where we get off with the theater an- nouncements. First, the Metro- politan announced the Otis Skin- ner picture, “Kismet,” for this week. Then, at the last minute, the schedule was changed, “Moth- er’s Cry” coming in, together with word that the two. ay plan was being discontinued. * The Met has regular F street showings at pop- ular prices from now on. The Columbia, after some hesitation, goes on with a second week of the picture, “The Lash,” opens in New | T" Harold Lloyd picture, “Feet First.” | ®x7arday, Cyril .| THERE'S always & heredfter in- the movie palaces, 1t at Tt perinte T AR T O called “the new week.” “in songs, Wwise cracks and patter,” antics that have made Winnle one of the bright-light attractions of the resefit day. The alking screen, Wwhich for the time will be pushed to the background in the house of its friends, will pre- .A :mn tn“‘Dl\'orce n lends,” Warner-Vitaphone pmduct%on, lnnl:-"hm:l Lew Cody, James Hall and Natalle Moorhead will be featured. also starting next &% the Columbia, Maude's “Grumpy” will be the screen attraction. It is said to‘ represent the farewell of the distin- guished British actor to both the stage and the screen, for Paramount had to coax him out of his retirement to ™R the Pox—p e Fox—Fox's Fox, Jeanette MacDonaid Wil be. phe. xeceen star in “Oh, For a Man!” in_which desperate plight Miss MacDonald will ve d De: Winnle Lightner. the glorious Jeanette will be seen as a temperamental opera singer, she ought not to have much difficulty in finding what she wants, and, as a secret on the side, it may be mentioned that she receives a visit from a burglar— but it won't do to say more. Whether the uncertainty of life in general has reached the ta{klnl picture realm or it is simply that the press agents are too busy with their Christ- mas shopping, the prospects of the hereafter in the other theaters have not been reported for publication at this time. Rare Race Climax. 'WELVE expert horsemen on thor- oughbred jumpers compete in an English cross-country steeplechase in “Along Came Youth,” Charles Rogers' new Paramount picture. race was run over rugged coun- try in the Sherwood Forest area, 40 miles north of Hollywood. Among the obstacles in the three-mile grind were a four-foot stone wall with a 12-foot water jump on the other side, a hedge, a fallen oak tree and a snake fence. Rogers participated in the race, riding & 5-year-old thoroughbred that holds a Pacific Coast record with a 30-foot triple bar jump. n order to capture the full thrill of the steeplechase, several camera ‘“set- ups” were made. Four cameras re- corded star and followed horses and riders away from the flag-bedecked pa- vilion into the woods. Other “set-ups” were made at each of the obstacles and at other points along the course. The big thrill came at the wall and water jump when Rogers’ mount ap- proached the barrier almost neck-and- neck with another horse. The animals fell after making the leap. giving their riders hard tumbles. Neither mounts nor horsemen were hurt, however. Five cameras caught this breath-taking bit. Laughter and Adventure. JN winning success as a playwright, Owen Davis says he has followed the simple rule of giving the public what it wants. “Love of laughter and craving for adventure are inherent in every normal human being,” Davis believes. In his plays he has striven to satisfy those universal longings. The result is & rec- ord of nearly 100 successes. His early plays were melodramas, in which the adventure element predomi- nated. Then he turned One of his m h};nd 1s being g now & talking picture by Paramount under the title “Only Saps Work,” with Leon Errol, Richard Arlen, Mary Brian and Stuart Erwin in the featured cast. Davis' first play was written in 1898 and for 32 years he has held a h place among American dramatic t- ers. In 1923 his “Icebound” won the Pulitzer prize. ANY of America's ablest men have sacrificed much, spent much, and even drafted their friends to reinforce personal efforts to get into Congress. And many have done & great deal more than all these, only to find the doors closed against them after an apparently successful election. Such is the fate of the beroic in a democracy. intensely interesting to the out- sider. For instance,.if a new play has a run of three weeks on Broad- way, or in the vicinity of the Great White Way, it can be sold to the movie producers for a sum of $50,000. If it fails to make the snde of a 21 days’ run, its value rops considerably in the eyes of the screen searchers. Therefore, some of the new plays are being farced with. three-week runs, re- gardless of the fact that they are mnot paying for the electric lights in front of the playhouses. When a play sells for the above-men® tioned $50,000, all hands of the New York theater, from producer and writer down to the stage hands, {et a share of the pro- ceeds. It is good work. But the movie producers are not sllowing anything to get away grom them. They are buying good and bad plays. In some cases, bad plays can be made over in the | studio’s scenario department. In other cases, good plays must be made over to fit the movie tech- nique. Among the new plays that are expected to have screen ver- sions are “The Man in Posses- sion,” which has been bought for Willlam Haines; ‘“Torch Song” and “On the Spot,” a gang story. ‘The good State of Oklahoma—many still think it is only a Territory—has produced a cowboy, however, who, avoiding all the pitfalls that fate has laid like traps on & golf course to snare the would-be Senator or Representative in Congress, nevertheless, without the expenditure of a dollar, or doing & doubtful deed, or drafting friendly ad- mizdrs, or doing any of the habitual things attributed to the average candi- date for high leg.lative honors, has Just quietly and exclusively appropri- ated the title of America’s Congressman at large and no one has ever dared to dispute him. This mysterious man, knowing that this was popularly known as “lame-duck time” in Washington, when the Ameri- can Congress, with but three short months ahead, would be strai every nerve to provide the wherewith for the operation of a troubled Nation, while not forgetting the dear old partles, which always come first with every American gnm::t of & lyge. did not come himself. , indeed! e stayed away, body and soul, but—you wouldn't guess in a year what he did instead! Mr. Will Rogers, the wild Indian of Oklahoma—and, of course, the to attract attention to him..l get into the turmofl without even a cent of mileage to help him. He made & talking motion picture, fliching its specifications from the late Frank Ba- One of the real Broadway suc-|g,’ cesses of the season, “Elizabeth the Queen,” has been looked over and turned down as unsuitable for the screen. o ow % The Amos ’'n’ Andy picture, “Check and Double Check,” 1s hav- 4ng a remarkable career, according ledger books of the exhibitors. with a proverbial bang, as an_immediate suc- tended runs were canceled, in many o, ter known as Lightnin’, t it to the Fox Theater, hoping raw his more serious colleagues away from their national duty, Now, this character, Lightnin'—in this talkin picture, of course—although lov: | snstances. An excuse given is that “the ture failed to impress” after is some “Congressman at Large.” picture. And some folks are saying that this is the real cause of the depression that is said to envelop our fair land. ‘There’s no tellin’ how long this pic- ture will remain at the Fox. 8o if you are at all interested in national affairs and why some Congressmen are happy, whether m'Y ought to be or not, it might be well to drop into the Fox at the earliest opportunity. A BEAUTY OF ARABIA Loretta Young in the role of Marsinah in the Otis Skinner pleture, “Kismet.” “Art and Mrs. Bottle.” 'OLLOWING “Twelfth Night” comes the word through an Assoclated Press correspondent ihat Jane Cowl has brought a most modern and witty rtory theater. It is Mrs. Bottle,” written by that artful Britisher, Benn W. Levy. The playwright in his comedy preaches the moral that Art (with a capital A) is not the best policy. He amusingly proves his theory in as fan- tastic a plot as ever took place in a normal home. Mrs, Bottle, played smoothly by Miss Cowl, is married to a drain engineer, & sort of settled and dull fellow, but de- pendable. She deserts him for the arms of an artist, who is undependa- ble. He also is fickle, and boasts a few “IT'S A WISE CHILD,” Dec. 29. AURENCE E. JOHNSON'S successful comedy, “It's a Wise Child,” opens an engagement of one week at the Na- tional Theater Monday night, Decem- ber 29. ‘The production comes here under the assertive banner of David Belasco, Hence a - well trained and responsive cast and convincing stage appointments may be anticipated. The texture of the plece has been heralded as light and irresistibly amus- ing. The story is bullt around a minor incident in the dally lives of a njce American family which has unexpect and humorous complications. Among the chief intes ters are Minor Watson, 3 lan Porte, Joseph Bm::rd, Sidney r Hall, . | Mildred Lowell and Olga Kralow other popular players. “It's & Wise Chil ing record of a season’s run on way. DRINKWATER'S “BIRD IN HAND.” TH! Professional Players announce to their many local subscribers and the theatergoing public in general that with the coming of New Year. week they will present at the Shubert-Be- Iasco Theater John Drinkwater's de- lightful comedy, “Bird in Hand.” This play was not originally listed among the attractions sponsored by the Professional Players, but in keeping with their efforts to present noteworthy American and European successes it has recently been included. Nothing, it is claimed, cleaner, finer nor more splen- didly acted will be seen here in many a day. ‘The original lish cast assembled for the New Yorl g{mnhflm will hnn‘n:hz play to Washington. John Drinkwater’s ability as a play- wright was firmly established in this country with the presentation several years ago of his “Abraham Lincoln” and later “Robert E. Lee.” These re- markable dramatic studies of two of d” has the stimulat- | the life, | ever offered in burlesque. other shortcom! that make Mrs. suit of & Russian After 20 years Mrs. Bottle returns to find that Art still is raising ruckus with her . Her son is studying paint- ing, but studying his model even more seriously. Her daughter is about to wed the very artist who took her away in the first place. 5 She persuades her son that his father’s business will ve & more faithful mistress than his model. And she persuades her daughter that the hice young fellow from next door is the right man for her. e cl the artist from her door- steps, then quietly moves back home with her engineer. America’s revered historic found great favor in this country. “Street Scene” Promised. EARLY in the New Year, Willlam®A. Brady is sending to the Shubert- Belasco Theater the Pulitser prize play of 1929, Elmer Rice's “Street Scene.” This plece has only recently taken to the road after 600 performances in New York, while in London, strange as it may seem, for the Britisher does not always lend & sympathetic ear to many of our typically American dramatic ventures, it is reported as drawing rec- o . “Street Scene” is & finely written, in- tensely moving play that strikes hard and insistently at the truth, the stark re:m; of life. The author his t usual and conventional em; .ol & single cen has taken In an entire group. So life- like do the characters become that there is a sense almost of eavesdrop- ping, of peering into other people's lives, to behold life as it is—not as it might or should be. ‘The single set throughout the play is the exterior of & cheap “walk-up” tene- ment; the characters are the inmates of the flats and those whote business brings them to this gaunt, brownstone building: then Elmer Rice rips away the front of the building just as he lays bare the soul of his characters and re- veals the dally struggle for existence which goes on among the tenants of each flat, who needs must call this sor- did environment “home.” “PEEK-A-BO0.” ‘*TIEEK-A-BOO” will be the attrac- tion at the Gayety Theater next week. rnturlnf‘ high eclass burlesque and vaudeville, This is announced as one of the fast- est and most entertaining productions Special num- bers have been arranged with the pur- of giving the chorus fine - unities, and a° complete new ou of scenery and costumes has been provided fro; opening flash to the grand m%nn fou. gxr.:’pl;"m and Mae wn are feal ayers, supported by-ckmcutdpflulfiu. and a tal- ented group of choristers. il s Another Play-Writing Briton. - PmlOOAT INFLUENCE” was written by Neil Grant, a British Journalist who has written & number of plays, mostly comedies. Mr. Grant is a graduate of Edinburgh University and of Brasenose College Oxford. Among his plays, previous to “Petticoat Influence,” are “Possessions,” “Thy Name Is Woman” and “Getting er Married.” “Petticoat Influence” was produced at St. Martin'’s Theater in London June 3, oy g v 3 yes, - :am’s famous little comedienne, is TOMORROW :30, _Orch., $3; Mex.. $2.00 to $1.50; Bal.. $1.50 and $1; GaL. 600 ELASC MOMT. LEE AND J. J. ANUBERT . - Glad She's Fat. | E" sifice she passed the 200-pound mark, Trixie Friganza, famous com- edienine, it is said, has had all her clothes made to her exclusive measure- ments. And the same can be said for ‘Trixie's humor. Time was when Miss Frigansa was the sylphlike girls of musical . A Kansas girl, whose father was a rallroad man, Trixie first sought fame in small Middle West vaudeville houses. tarred ‘Canary Cottage ing Vine,” “Weak Sisters” and various musical comedies and plays. Last sea- son she headed John Murray Ander- son’s “Almanac.” ‘Then the screen claimed her with the famous “Bag O Trix." Film patrons *ree and B and Easy.” But somewhere in that long and tinguished career, to cumulate weight, which to millions o fwomen is one of life’s trage. dies. But not so to a joyous nature 1ike Trixie's, for she began by “kidding” herself about her weight. And audi- dis- ac- ences liked it. They delighted in it, and Trixie Friganza became more popular than e ver. In a world of fat women trying to ri lw'wmm 18 t‘!leul 5 5’;: woman striving grow fatter! joked about it, sang about it, boasted of it and today the theatrical world salutes Trixie as one of the grapd per- sonalities of the American stage, Hidden Under'a Career. DO you have any hidden talents? Marion Davies is said to be a whiz at embroidery. Would you ever guess that? Greta Garbo whistles like a bird and makes' up her own songs; John Miljan breeés goldfish; William Haines can bend his thumbs back to his knuc- kles, and Norma Shearer (you'll die) is & champlon rope skipper. But there are others, Buster Keaton raises lilles and knows them by their first names; Grace Moore is a demon with a salad bowl; Lawrence Tibbett can imitate Al Jolson, and Joan Craw- ford is a hook-rug Lewis Stone i at old clocks and door knobs; Wallace is swell with the skillét and a mess trout; Robert Mon! ery designs fur- niture, and Nagel is a great And 'so it goes—every genius of the screen has & hidden accomplishment, | buried by & busy career. e < e O Sits in Her Own Lap. UTH CHATTERTON talks to her- self, pats her own back plcture, Rigl rtrayal of a tr first, it is claimed, in the history of sound pictures. Single-handed Miss Chatterton man- t’eethemluornmom-'ltlhe of 18 and then of 40, and that of her daughter. In the mother role Miss Chatterton, with gray hair, talks to and caresses Miss Chatterton with blonde hair/ In one shot, as the mother, she e ofloflnr Miss Chatterton the unique portunity of talking back to herself answering all hef own questions. op- and Einstein Theory Applied. TH!Y'VI invented a new camera “angle” to bring out beauty’s curve! William Eglinton, head of Radio Ple- tures’ camera department, declares the studio is now giving a practical work- ing test to a lens attachment that will give a new appearance altogether to curved surfaces and tend to create the 1llusion of depth, or a third dimension, on_the screen. The first tests of the new “angle” lens“were on the ‘“curves” of some of Radio’s stock girls-—formerly chorus girls—Betty Becklaw, Lita Chevret and Valma Valentine. The test is now being made under practical producing conditions with an extra camera during the filming of Louis Brock's latest “ - JANET RICHARDS Erery Masdey Meraiog ot 10,45 Questions of the Hour National and International Afairs Miss Clara W. McQuown THE WASHINGTON CLUB Assembly Room Entrance. 1010 17th St. ry Friday, 11 AM. [ntle ‘Admission, ide ALFRED O’SHEA NAL TENOR Kecompaniss O’Shea is an artist, skilled in making the most of a brautiful voice—N. Y. World, MAYFLOWER HOTEL Sunday, December 14, :30 P.M. ncnn—q‘g!u flffl_ou':'l Sale at “The Singing Horsemen of the Steppes™ DON COSSACK RUSSIAN MALE CHORUS OF 36 e regarded as 3 Miss 8g¢ | Townsend of the Washington AMUSEMENTS. Washington'’s Players What Various Dramatic Organizations Are Doing “THE STING OF DEBORAH,"~=Friday. DRAMATIC event of some ime Hall Players, in Plerce Church, Sixteenth and Friday and Sat ‘This. play, under the April” was sug Lels Compton Fuller, ing in the April! as dpvelopod.‘g, ofifi“ Fuller, It is a tale lmlxfil . hovel twist, with such wit and charm, brilliant dramatic interest, that is enmmnflem." bl e frst This play, now being given Washington hearing, nnflu it the character of Deborah Minturn, foremost artist of her day—a flashing, fascinat- ing woman of many moods, but al eat. She is a woman who had er the urge to paint, the will to suc- ceed, to such an extent ll.t; to morality,” the iven to return to matically re-encoun family, A cording to X memnm'":xm-m.mh-h be far above the average amateur formance and on par with many Broadway 3 The cast will be headed by Mme. Dimitriu (Patricia Poe a8 De- bo:ah, the artist. . 'S talent is well known to audiences. She studied at the Amer. ic: A of Drama! Club and the 3 Paul Alexander, Ji has had i the Mrs. M te G. W. U. TROUBADOURS—Thursday. Carony promised Sical _extra Gracious, Godfrey,” to be seen for the first on any stage Ilh-.“-' at McKinley Audif e —— G.W.U. TROI{BADOURS tad T 8. NE. December 11, 12 & 13, 8:30 P.M. ol 180 i A ls' & Uncensored Moving Pictures of Russia Dr. Isadore Ludin of Brookings Institution, Lecturer Arimer aedvy tar 3030 ght—at 8:30 DANCE RECITAL GARDINER Formerly of Paviows Ballet WARDMAN PARK THEATER __Seats—$%, $1.50, $1—at Theater Third American Tour BEASON 193%0-831 GERMAN GRAND OPERA N5, m, ‘Goottordsommornng’ T e 1% m, « v o o “Don Juse” NATIONAL s T e e e e honrt, TRE" 0 e 3, NOTE—DOORS CLOSE AT 8§15 ‘The Misses ROSE and OTTILIE SUTRO TWO PIANO RECITALS Postponed Date o be announced later. et The Pamous Italian Conducter TOSCANINI Orshostra of N, TUESDAY, AFT. Dlm e 95, Bl Tl a et s A OPENING MONDAY AND THE THEATRE GUILD, INC, Presents (The Second Production of 2. loe'nd ‘Washington Subseription 0 HELEN HAYES -IN- PETTICOAT INFLUENCE A NEW COMEDY. By NEIL GRANT HENRY STEPHENSON A New Play of American Lite INTHEMEANTIME By Claire and Paul Sifton Staged by Philip Mosiler Settings by Woodmen Thompeon with this excellent past: Glenn Anders Linda Watkins Josephine Hull Jack La Rue Frederick Perry Harold Vermilysa Harriet MacGibbon Francis Pierlot Maud Allen Robert Strange and many others PN BALTIMORE CRITICS PROCLAIM “IN THE MEANTIME” ANOTHER THEATRE GUILD SUCCESS!!! i3 “LIGHTNIN'* LOUISE DRESSER—HELEN COHAN J. M. KERRIGAN—JOEL McCREA SHARON LYNN—REX BELL ON STAGE FANCHOR & NARCO'S MILLER GRACE GEORGE b | o T kT b, g | TORAY night to_January bert JOHN