Evening Star Newspaper, January 25, 1931, Page 48

Flashes From the Screen News and Comrr;cnt of the Photoplfly By C. E HERE is news _in Moviedom! Big news! Battles of the competitors have resolved themselves into raiding arties. Men and women are be- ng kidnaped, or trapped by the sight of gold—great bags of gold! One of the Warner Brothers jumps upon his trusty steed, after grabbing his bag of gold; he dashes over the Hollywood land- scape, jumps his horse over the barred gate of the Paramount studio, dangles his money bag be- fore the eyes of a star! Then. amid the clash of steel and th Jjingle of cash, the star is hipno- tized! He or she cannot take the eye from the money bag! The victim follows the raider; and back in the Warner studio an- other chalk mark signifies defeat of a competjtor! The raiders are abroad in Holly- | wood. Already, Ruth Chatterton | and William Powell have been captured, and the attention of the chief of staff, Will Hays, has been called to the matter. The West| Coast reports that the entire pro-| duction center is in “a state of| tension, the like of which has not | been witnessed around fhe studios in many years.” The whole trouble comes about through the fact that Warner Brothers and Paramount have crossed swords, and open warfare | has turned into a series of raids upon the stars. There has been, during the past few years, a sort of “gentleman’s agreement” in this matter of stars’ contracts.| That is, one production company | was not supposed to angle for an- | other’s star unless that particular | star had signified his or her in- tention of severing connection with the old outfit. But some . Nelson. film was being exhibited. At the second showing, durlng the after- noon, the customers left in groups, were loud in their denunciation, and many of them demanded their entrance fee. Others lnd‘dres:sed T tive patrons, informing }t)h‘e)r’npecabout the cture. The city'a\:rltlu favored the film. As a-result of the Fublw dua%proval. | however, the film was withdrawn after showing for a single day. In other cities, this same picture has | met with success—so, how are the producers and exhibitors to judge | the public likes and dislikes? | * o ox ok | NJUSICAL pictures have not en- tirely been cast aside for the | coming year. Maurice Chevalier, |one of the big money-makers of | the movie world, is coming back {in a new one, “The Smiling Lieu- tenant,” which, it is claimed, will be one of the biggest of its kind. Ernst Lubitsch will direct, and two stars, Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins, have been signed to play opposite the Frenchman. Music for the production will be supplied by the Viennese com- poser, Oscar Straus, who, with Clifford Grey, lyricist, is now at work on the criginal play. Cheva- lier is now en route from London. The future of the musical screen production remains in doubt, but several of the groducers are taking large-sized chances on putting over hits during the coming year. However, it is safe to predict that the music will be cut to a mini- mum. JUBILEES, festivals and anniver- saries are almost everyday af- fairs in the theater world, and now comes Carl Laemmle with the announcement that February will be his silver jubilee in the * ok ok X companies have been more lucky than others, or some companies| have been able to sign a larger number of stars. So, Warner (Brothers and Paramount, not be- Ing on the best of terms, have is- | sued a declaration of war. The brothers started raiding the star| camp of the enemy. Up to the| present date they have captured | Chatterton and Powell, and they | have only started to fight. | It is natural in a case of this| sort to call for the aid of Mr. Hays, | who is supposed to settle all dif-| ferences rstween the producing| but Will is in a quan- A o action can be taken,’ he says, ‘against Warner Broth- ers for caking Chatterton and Powell 1rom Paramount, because no formal agreement exists be- tween members of.the Producers’ Association, . Of course, there was this informal understanding, and heretofore §§ has been understood that the producers were working together: the usual business thics.” “There is not a word in he Hays re ations. conterning “star stealing,” according to word from the Warner Brothers studio, and it has 1 indicated that the carried to great lengths. ; The real reason for the battle between ‘l&o.tvo com] nnéees i:‘ :nid to go g e theater situa- um{ ther{“ lflve been bitter struggles betwéen Paramount and Warner Brothers in strategic spots over theater competition during the past few months, and this warfare has finally reached the production units themselves. 1t is announced that Ruth Chat. terton will not leave the Pat: : %um until Septem- ber 1, 1931, en her contract ex- pires. 'The Warner Brothers are lanning toflve her special pub- and the; icity, has signed a five-year contract. » % % ¥ ANCYI‘HER bit of news concerns | that sterling screen actor, Emil Jannings. The big German is coming back to America to make pictures, and he has signed a new contract with Paramount. When the talking pictures finally | i; found their place in the amuse- ment world, Jannings decided that his knowledge of the English language was not’ Sufficient for his participation. Therefore, he went back to his homeland, carry- ing an agreement to star in some of the German talkies. He was sorely missed in this country, but he turned out to be a magnet for German theater audiences. Then came that “Blue Angel” and the cry for Jannings to come back to Hollywood. He is scheduled to arrive within the next few months, and his first talking picture will be “The Man I Killed,” written by Maurice Rostand. Phillips Holmes has been selected for the leading juvenile role, and the picture will be directed by Ernst Lubitsch. ¥ x % % 'HE City of Cleveland, Ohio, is starting, next month, the showing of motion pictures in the city hall. This new venture i being watched with considerable interest, and the picture pro ducers are delighted that a mu- nicipality should take such inter- est in a movement of this kind. According to the city’s announced policy, only the so-called “epic” pictures, which usually do not fare overly well in the regular thea- ters, but for which a special audience exists, will be exhibited. ‘The producers claim the .move “adds another pillar of prestige to the civic appreciation of -the screen’s value.” Anyway, Cleve- land is the originator of the idea, and other cities and towns will watch the venture. There has been no announcement of the first picture to be exhibited by the city. B * 'HE audience reaction to mo- tion pictures has been a study for the producers and exhibitors for many years—and the more they study, the more perplexing the problem becomes. “Ingagi,” the animal picture, was a big in a Portland. Me. theater. It was closelv followed by the nro- duction “Outward Bound,” which was exhibited in Washington re- cently. The latter picture did nof satisfy the audience. upset the patrons to such an ex- tent that many of them either walked out or, at the end of the show, demanded _their back at the box office. Dissatisfaction with “Outward Bound” was noticed during the first %w}wn comments A 14 ble and 'many the theater 'y announce that she | s | In fact, it | money |, . motion picture business. Laemmle ‘is really one of the pioneers of the industry. His first Washington exchange was located on Ninth street at Pennsylvania avenue, and it was opened 21 years ago. The first manager was P. Oletsky, who is now with the Gold Medal film exchange. The present manager of the local ex- change is Charles P. Lester, who has been with Universal for the past 11 years. * ¥ * X Short Flashes. LONDON reports that the Shaw play, “How He Lied to Her Husband,” has_turned out to be the playwright’'s work to be screened, and the producers are disappointed over the picture’s re- ception by the public. The play was filmed by a British com‘xmy and given its premiere exhibition in London a few days ago. The husband-and-wife combi- nations are ular around the Paramount stern studio. For instance, Jack Kirkland, husband of Nancy Carroll, is helping adapt her own picture; Miriam Hopkins, wife of Austin Parker, will be féa- tured in “Week End,” written by the latter; Norman Foster recent- ly appeared opposite Claudette Colbert in “Young Man of Man- hattan,” and Claire Eldridge, wife of Frederic March, is now considered for a prominent role in a new picture. Bebe Daniels is being starred in “All Women,” and others who have been selected for the cast are Una Merkel, Ricardo Cortez, Dud- ley Digges, Thelma Todd, Otto Matieson and Walter Long. Dclores Costello will signalize her return to the screen in a pic- ture called “We Three,” taken -from an unproduced play by Edith Fitzgerald and ert Riskin, | First National is_producing. | The Warner Brothers picture, “The Public Enemy,” is said to break all records in speaking arts. Forty-two characters talk fore the microphone. seats at the opening of Charlie Chaplin’s picture, “City Lights,” in New York, will cost $10. The film is scheduled to have its remiere at the George M. Cohan | Theater February 6. Other seat | prices go down to $2. In his new contract with War- ner Brothers, Doug Fairbanks, jr., he qualifies as a writer, production | director, art director and costume | designer. Elissa Landi will be introduced to the public with a picture called “Bedy and Soul,” a production of the Fox studio. Just six months ago Conchita Montenegro arrived in Hollywood {from Spain. She was unable to |speak a word of English. .Last week she was assigned to play the feminine lead in the Metro-Gold- | wyn-Mayer English dialogue pic- | ture, “Never the Twain Shall | Meet.” Robert Ellictt will play the role | previously mlwed to Hale Hamil- |ton in “All Woman,” the next | starring_picture for Bebe Danlels. The Fox company announces that it is spending $8,000,000 during the next four years for stories. That amount of money should turn up some wonderful material. This “Millie” picture certainly has an outstarding cast. Among the players are Helen Twelvetrees, Lilyan Tashman, Robert Ames, Joan Blondell, John Halliday, James Hall, Edmund Breese, Car- melita Geraghty, Otis Harlan, Frank McHugh and Ray Hallor. The Robert Sherwood play, “Waterloo Bridge,” will be pro- duced by the Universal Co. And now Jugoslavia has bann | “All Quiet on the Western Front. Beauties go in bunches in some cf the new pictures. Mar Churchill, irginia Che and Marion Byron have prominent pnru" in “Girls Demand Excite- ment”; Loretta Young, Joyce Compton and Joan Marsh are in Three Girls Lost,” while the feminine attraction of “Not Exactly Gentlemen” consists of Fay Wray, Joyce Compton and t| Loutse Huntingten, Pathe announces “Lost Love” |as the title of the new Constance | Bennett picture. % DANCING. - ROF. & MRS 1127 1 9. dancing at 9 (orchestra) - sons by appointment. Met. dl“."llvl.l.“’l‘la, Miss Ellen Waller _ Dancing Master M a movie flop. This is the first of | 92y It is announced that the best| not only agrees to be an actor, but | lous erite | bot THE SUNBAY STAR, WASHL T | Tap Dancing—Slippery, Floor DOING a jazz tap dance lnrfi‘h-heel shoes and a tight-skirted stylish ensemble is something like swimming in to | Davies. |_In the opcning scenes for “The Bachelor Father,” her new .Metro- | Goldwyn-Mayer picture based on the Bejasco play, “The Divorcee,” and now lat Loew's Palace, Miss Davies was {called upon to do a vigorous tap dance on a poliched ball room floor, modishly attired in a fashionable traveling en- semble. The first attempt almost brought dis- aster to the vivacious comedienne, the high, narrow heels catching and trip- ping her, and the light, smooth soles making the footing like a skating rink. A property man, however, solved the problem. He taped the bottom of Miss Davies' shoes with adhesive tape, which gave her a secure footing on the slip- pery floor, but she had to do the best she could with the tight skirts. In “The Bachelor Father” her ludic- ttempts at becoming the “grand the various love airs in which omes involved and the absurd situations in which she places the gmmpy baronet are sald to make the Im a constant round of hilarity. | a strait-jacket, according Marion Datlioa 40fshaRals: **()THER MEN'S WOMEN," the ro- mance of railroad life, Warner Bros. Earle, brings to mind instance of the trials in real life bind members of the great fraternity of the men of the steel highway. An aged yardman was pensioned off, against his will, and against his pro- testations that he was still as able to work as any of the “young fellers.” He was no longer on the books as an em- ploye, but one after another refused to tell him. His home was in the coun- try miles from the yards, but near enough to the tracks to sce the trains pass, end here he kept guard untl the end, pulling out his watch, that “kept better time than any other watch in the world"—to remark “37 is on time” or “McCaflrey’s not on schedule.” A delegation of his buddies called to tell him what a lucky guy he was to be able to spend his time in his garden while they had to be up and off before daylight. But they soon discovered they were Job's. comforters—and yet they tried to comfort old John Brick— knowing what was in his heart and just how they themselves would feel under the same circumstances. “‘Other Men’s Women" is really a true picture of railroad life. —— Laughing Jobs. ’I‘HE easiest job ever offered extra players in Hollywood came to a group of 200, used in “Chuck” Riesner's new Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer picture, “Reducing,” the Marie Dressler and Polly Moran picture now at Loew's Co- lumbia. Usually the Jot of the extra is not easy. In pictures such as “The Great Meadow,” period of 1776, he had to be fitted to costumes, wear wigs and put on an elaborate make-up which takes a long time to prepare. In Cecil B. DeMille’s “Madam Satan” scores of ex- tras made jumps in parachutes from a falling Zeppelin. In John Gilbert's “Way for a Sailor,” being soaked to the skin \X‘I”I ;nlnstorm was just part of the fork. “Reducing,” however, the extras didn't have to put on make-up or queer clothes. Ordered to “come just as you are,” all they had to do to earn their money was to walk around a bit and laugh at the antics of Marie Dressler and Polly Moran. Just think of getting paid for that! Plays the Lead I HELEN TWELVETREES, . One of the popular yoing screen stars, who has been awarded the starring role of the new picture, “Millie.” Man of Strange Contrasts. ILLIAM POWELL is one of the few men one meets who carries dig- nity in spite of his nick-name, “Bill.” Although always well dressed, meticu- ind neat, he is extremely conserva- tive and abhors the idea of being “natty.” Though he is a brilliant con- versationalist, he revolts at being called a master of repartee. While he always gives the impression of having just stepped out of a band box, he takes keen delight in roughing it on a mountain outing. He plays the title role in “Ladles’ Man,” yet prefers masculine company. He is not socially inclined, and goes to but few dinners and parties. ‘While enjoying the finer things of life, such as art, music, literature and drama, he spends many of his free ours playing tennis or yachting, and despite his extensive stage experience he never makes “personal appearances.” ‘While he stoutly insists on the right type of stories for himself and works with the writcrs on his pictures, he is thoroughly unselfish in his parts, often urging important scenes for other actors and aiding all inexperienced players. He lives quietly with his father and mother, and his two great friends are Ronald Colman and Richard Barthel- mess, and takes great delight in work- ing in pictures, yet he eagerly looks forward to the day when he can retire to a home on the Riviera. Boug}n Somet}\ing. MARY DUNCAN, the screen flash, and a Cornell girl, so it is said, went to buy a house and compromised by purchasing & pair of Pomeranian pups! At'ending the auction of a resi- dence in Hollywood, Miss Duncan care- fully inspected the house and decided not to bid, but found herself strongly attracted to a brace of tiny pooches be- longing to the owner and named, re- spectively Ping and Pong, and she ught them instead. JOHN CHARLES THOMAS Baritone, Chicago Opera Constitution t. Eve., Feb. 7, 8:30 R Ry il Arts Club Bal Boheme “On the Moon” The WILLARD Monday, Feb. 2nd Meyer Davis Music Fancy Dress Required Tiekets, Including Supper, 85 Ab Arts Clubi A, A, A 3 TON, - D. C., JANUARY 25, SOPRANO D BARITONE MEET Maria Jeritza and Lawrence ‘Tibbett chatting in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, Hollywood, while the baritone was singing his way through his new pic- ture, “The Southerner.” FOX—"The Blue Angel.” ‘“THE BLUE ANGEL,” now at the Fox Theater, has for its stars the famous Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich, the German actress. The rise to stardom of Marlene Dietrich is one of the sensa- tions of the history of motion pictures. And as Marlene Dietrich is said to score in this pic- so does Emil Jannings, for here he talks —and in English. This for the first time in his film cereer. His portrayal of a pro- fessor of English in a German boys’ high school, it is agreed, will rank with many of his other screen suc- cesses. The picture was directed by Josef von Sternberg, one of Paramount’s most capable directors, who went to Germany to make this picture for the German Producing Co., UFA. He also directed “Morocco,” the Hollywood success in which Miss Dietrich played the fem- inine lead. “The Blue Angel” is a picture, it is sald, to be best described as “soul- searching drama that will be talked about long after its last tense scene fades from the screen.” On the stage the Fanchon & Marco Idea is built around the beautiful melo- dies of America’s own composer, Victor Herbert. The cast includes Buddy Howe, Walter Powell, the Electric Duo, the Victor Herbert Trio and the Emest Belcher Dancers. Bob West offers a song fest at the organ, and the Fox Music Masters, under Brusiloff, with the Fox Movietone News and a short comedy, will complete the program, Marlene Deitrich. RIALTO—"The Birth of a Nation.” AN interesting event took place when “The Birth of a Nation,” which in sound effect form i§ now being shown at the Rialjo Theater, was-ready for its premiere on Broadway, Now York City. It was in the form of a reunion of David W. Griffith and nine members of the original cast which flimed “The Birth of a Nation” 16 years ago. Mr. Griffith was host and the occasion of the strange gathering of film celebrities of a bygone day was to celebrate the rebirth of this famous masterpiece into sound and music. Mr. Griffith told of his hardships in financing the great production, in which 18,000 people and 3,000 horses took part, and which had been witnessed since by 55,000,000 people in every State and country on earth. Mr. Griffith paid a high tribute to Henry B. Walthall, whom he called the greatest juvenile star_ever discovered by the camera. The producer introduced the follow- ing members of the historic cast: Mae Marsh, the little sister; Mary Alden, the mulatto girl;- Donald Crisp, Gen! Grant; Henry B. Walthall, the little colonel; Spottiswood Altken, Col. Cam: ercn; Joseph Henabery, Abraham Lin- | coln; Walter Lang, Gus, the colored soldier; Ralph Lewis, the elder stone- man, and Tom Wilson, who played many colored roles. The only absentee of the star mem- bers of the original cast were Lillian Gish, who is playing on the stage in New York, and Wallace Reed and | George Seigman, now dead. R-K-O KEITH'S—"“The Gang Buster.” WITH Jack Oakie’s wisecracks per- meating the action, the patrons of R-K-O Keith's theater are being re- galed with “The Gang Buster,” a smart crack at American gangdom in which the contagious comic of “Sap From Syracuse” and “The Social Lion” lets loose innumerable laughs. “The Gang Buster” turns big city racketeering into a joyous jamboree of laugh moments, and swirls the big-guns of the underworld around a pretty little romance that manages to nim its way out of a series of breath-taking action scenes. Jean Arthur is the sweetheart of “America's Joy-Friend” in “The Gang Buster” and William Boyd, re- cently seen with Gary Cooper in “The Spoilers,” George Bancroft in “Derelict” in the chief menace role and Prancis MacDonald, the suave, likable villain of many successful hits, in another menace part, are features of the cast. i In “The Gang Buster,” Oakie is in- troduced as a cock-sure small town in- surance agent transferred to a large city because of his boasted ability to “get business” His insurance selling is hanticapped, however, by the activities of the gangsters who put all his clients “on the spot.” Bewildered, Oakie stumbles into _a hotbed of gangdom, GRACE ORE Metropolitan Opera Cq Tues. Al Wilsen-G Bu- PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY OF NEW YORK JAN. 27, 4:30 CONSEPTION BERNARDINO M/ ARI, Condueting S L s ) e 10 iane Maj S ANDERSON FEB. 8, 4:30 RIS 50. $1.00, 75c. Soe, at T. 1330 G in' Hom A, 901 B, "MINNEAPOLIS FEB. 12, 4:30 AR E:E"' gt % & | | | | | rescues a pretty girl from the clutches of the villains, saves her father from a vindictive racketeer, and, in general, cleans up on romance, prosperity, and most of all, laughs. A. Edward Sutherland, who intro- duced Oakie to the American moving picture public, directed “The Gang Buster" from an original story by Percy Heath, well known screen writer. The story is set entirely in the heart of a large city and the amusing action is intensified by the hustle and bustle of downtown ‘crowds. PALACE—"The Bachelor Father.” ‘LOEW officlals were unanimous in their choice of the production to finish the Loew January Festival of outstanding hits in Loew theaters throughout America. The choice Marion Davies' latest picture, “The Bachelor Father,” the current feature at_the Palace theater. Miss Davies is seen in this produc- tion as one of three children whose father had three wives. All goes well until the popular Marion is chosen as the one to remain with the father and share his great wealth. Many in- triguing situations follow with the ver- satile young lady always coming out on top until the swift climax that finds every one at their wits end. The locale of the picture is near London and many thrilling scenes includes a sequence of an airplane crashing in the t.reetopc) with Miss Davies at the controls. _ Among the more prominent members of the cast are C. Aubrey Smith, Ralph Forbes, Quinn Williams, Ray Millard and David Torrence. On the Palace stage this week is an- other Loew vaudeville unit headed by Harry Rose. Many well known Loew acts are featured in this bill to balance a program designed to please every one. EARLE—“Other Men’s Women.” YOUTH. galety, romance, laughter and no end of jazz and whoopee are romised in the stage and screen enter- inment at Warner Bros.' Earle Thea- ter this week. ‘The show brings to the screen “Other Men’s Women,"™ the first romance of railroad lifé and thrills ever made for the talking screen. A gala whoopee stage show is headed by the inimitable comedienne Lillian Shaw. “Other Men’s Women” is a story of a man who falls in love with the wife of his pal and the disastrous conse- quences that follow. Grant Withers is seen as a ne'er-do-well railroader, who reforms as a result of his love for Lilly, the wife of his best friend. Mary Astor as Lilly returns this secret love, and the resulting complications are said to move to a tremendous climax. Regis Toomey appears as the husband-friend. Others in the cast include James Cag: ney, Joan Blondell, J. Farwell Ma Donald and Fred Kohler. Lillian Shaw, who ranks among the foremost of dialect comediennes, will offer a round of characterizations, in- and edy is offered by “Pop” Cameron and his gang, a family of farceurs. The ntics of the younger son and his battles vith his dad are said to be replete with laughter. Music and youth is supplied by “The Fourteen Brick Tops,” “America's greatest girl jazz band,” with Bobbie Grice. Vox and Walters, the “king and queen of ventriloquism,” will continue the festivities with their novel skit, “Coral Gables.” Maxine Doyle, the “thank-you” girl, as mistress of cere- monies, the Earle Orchestra under Fred Clarke, short subjects and the Earle News will complete & fine pro- gram. COLUMBIA—Dressler-Moran in “Reducing.” MAR[E DRESSLER and Polly Moran are to be seen at Loew’s Columbia Theater this week in “Reducing,” their second co-starring comedy. From all reports this picture duplicates the suc- NATI $1.50, 82, $2.50. Sat. Mat., 81 ONA Phones Natl. 0501 and Natl. 0502, Nights, $1, 2, $2.50, $3, $3.50. Wed. Mat., 81, 1931—PART . FOOR. Heeds Advice of Fans. ] NANCY CARROLL reads every fan letter she recelves. That -she is influenced by this cor- ce is best illustrated by her determination to follow the advice of the hundreds of writers who have urged | het’ to dontinue making only dramatic pictures, The Nancy Carroll of the “sweetie” and “honey” days is still present in such productions as “The Devil's Holi- day” and “Laughter,” although she is a much more sophisticated Nancy, & character obviously matured. In “Stolen Heaven,” which is flow in production at the New York studio, she gives yet another type of performance. The latter characterization is a combi- nation of frivolous, cheery young girl who ostensibly is having a good time with life and yet makes one feel that an intensely dramatic personality is hiding away beneath this exterior. It is this kind of person Nancy has decided is most suited to her acting self. And it is exactly this that so many hundreds of letter writers have urged upon her. pLANS for what promises to be New ‘York's most ambitious single motion picture production are being made for “The Smiling Lieutenant,” Maurice Chevalier’s next, which will go into pro- duction in Febr! at the Paramount New York studio. Claudette Colbert and Mirlam Hopkins will play opposite Chevaller. The latter 1l be given ample musical opportunities, due to the fact that Oscar Straus, famous Vien- nese composer, and Clifford Grey, lyri- cist, are now at work on the original music for this production. Ernest ajda and Samson Raphaelson are writing the ultra-modern story and dia- logue. Ernst Lubitsch will direct. “The Man I Killed." 'MIL JANNINGS, one of the finest actors_on the screen, has been signed by Paramount, and will come to this country to appear shortly in a pic- ture called “The Man I Killed,” from the play by Maurice Rostand. The film will be made at the Paramount New York studio under the direction of Ernst Lubitsch, under whom Jannings achieved some of his most notable tri- umphs, beginning with “Passion.” In the cast also will be Phillips Holmes. RAYMOND GUION, Star of “Young Sinners,” at the Shubert Belasco during the week of February 1. cess of their earlier laugh feature,! | “Caught Short.” The ipal scenes are lrgl in a beauty parlor, which gave Director Charles Riesner all sorts of opportunities to get laughs out of the attempts of obese ladies to get thin and under-weight ladies to add a few 1t 1s said that electrical reducing and exercising machines, permanent wavers, mud baths, steam rooms and a variety of other beauty appliances all play their. in making this comedy of the funniest produced at the Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Advance ushers give assurance also that the picture has its share of dramatic moments, built about the double romances of Anita Page and Willlam Blakewell and Sally Elkers and Willlam Collier, jr. The cast is further augmented by Lucien Littlefleld, who lends his inim- itable comedy talents to the of Miss Dressler’s mail-carrier hi d. METROPOLITAN—“Little Caesar.” JFOR the first time in the history of Washington a picture that has played one theater immediatel, into another for continuous exhibition. The picture is “Little Caesar,” the Pirst National and Vitaphone sensation of the underworld, which concluded its run Friday at Warner Bros.’ Earle and will be shown now at Warner Bros.” Metro- politan. “Little Caesar,” adapted from W. R. Burnett's novel of similar title, is said to be based upon the actual life of an underworld king. Edward G. Robinson appears as Little Caesar, a sinister, ruthless character, who literally lifts himself to the heights, only to fall afoul of the law when he intimidates the sweetheart of his best friend. Douglas Fairbanks, jr., appears as the pal, who wishes to break away from the “mob,” while Glenda Farrell is the girl that dooms the racketeer. Other players in- clude William Collier, jr.; Sidney Black- mer, Ralph Ince, George Stone and Stanley Fields. The usual short subjects and the Graham McNamee newsreel complete the entertainment. MONDAY NIGHT AND WEEK MOST IMPORTANT MUSICAL OF SEASON DIRECTLY PRIOR TO N. Y. PREMIERE!! LAURENCE SCHWAB and FRANK MANDEL ‘Desert Song,” *“New Moon,” te., introduce il A NEW MUSIC, AL COMEDY BY FIELDS, RODGERS AND HART. With a Cast of Broadway Favorites including: JACK WHITING JOHN SHEEHAN INEZ COURTNEY HY JEANNE AUBERT HARRIETTE LAKE RAOUL DeTISNE, DOROTHY DARE, VERA MARSH, AL DOWNING THREE FORMAN SISTERS TERRY CARROLL SUE MOO! v CHEER LEADERS QUARTETTE BRUCE ALICE BURRAGE AND A CHARMING ENSEMBLE OF YOUTH AND BEAUTY ALFRED GOODMAN'’S ORCHESTRA Production Under the Direction of BOBBY CONNOLLY. NEWMA SEEING EUROPE TODAY .7 ELr TRAVELTALKS MOTION PICTURES { COLORED VIEWS IMPRESSIONS OF 1930 ITALY o'z 3 o 5. VESPTARE, R SR AMUSEMENTS. Coming Attractions EAT WAVE,” the first play by Roland Pertwee, British dramatist, novelist and ac- tor, to reach America since his “Interference,” will have its American premiere at the National T ‘Theater in Wash- ;x&on the week of ruary hll The company {s already in rehearsal under the direction of Lieut. Col. Stanley Bell with Basil Rathbone in the Jeading role. Strat- ford Productions, Inc., will sponsor Mr. Rathbone’s ap- pearance in the new Pertwee play. Mr. Rathbone's role, his s>cond this season in Washing. ton, will be that of Hugh Dawitry, un- dertaken by Herbert Marshall in the London luction of the play which Pertwee adapted from a novel by Denise Robins. Prominent in the supporting cast will be Henry Daniel as George Marsh and Selena Royle as his wife, Philippa. Other im- €« it | portant characters include Irene Marsh, a sister, who will be played by Betty Lawford, daughter of Ernest Lawford and recently in the supporting company of George Arliss: Dr. Muir by Lionel Page; James Weysmith by Hugh Buck- ler, and Nicholas Fayne by MacKenzie ‘Ward. Others in the company will in- clude Enid Raphael, Frank Henderson, Arthur Stenning, Wana Singh, X. Andrew Fernando, Fred K. Chandra- sakera and Willlam Cooray. Col. Bell, wno is directing the pro- duction of “Heat Wave” and who has a distinguished record as stage designer and director in London, is best known in this country through his association with Gilbert Miller in designing produc- tons the last two seasons and in direct- ing the “Journey’s End” companies ex- cept those directed by James Whale. JANE COWL COMING. ANE COWL'S appearance, the weck of February 16 at the Shubert- Belasco Theater, in “Twelfth Night” will give Washington audiences an op- portunity to see how delightful this | charming old-world comedy can be made when touched with the fairy wand of fantasy. It would be absurd, of course, to think that one might im- g‘rlove the text of Shakespeare's plays, t it must be remembered that when this master craftsman wrote for the theater of his day, success depended almost entirely upon the beauty and musical rhythm of the lines. 'There ‘were no scenery, no costuming, no light- lng effects in fact, none of the embel- lishments that enhance a uction of today. For centuries, too, the old school of actors and directors religiously ad- hered to the traditions handed down from their predecessors. But times have changed. Today the mechanics of the theater have put new life into old scripts and those few brave souls who have ventured an up-to-date Shakespearean production have been well rewarded for their efforts. Several seasons ago Miss Cowl gave a beautiful Juliet, and this season she has invested her Viola, in “Twelfth Night,” with such exquisite charm that enthusiastic plaudits have been meted out to her from all sides. ‘The second production of Miss Cowl's repertoire season is “Art and Mrs. Bot- tle,” a sparkling new comedy from the pen of the young English author, Benn W. Levy, who also has another New York success to his credit in “Mrs. Moonlight.,” not to mention his adapta- tion of “ ." from the French of Marcel Pagnol. It hes been said that in the role of Mrs. Bottle Miss Cowl rivals her superb performance in “The Road to Rome.” “SETH PARKER,” February 16, (QNE of radio’s outstanding personall- ties, “Seth Parker,” the rural phi- w: ‘who put ':m:um. uo..’nn gll! map, ‘Washington for the fifst time on February 16 to star in a performance at Constitution Hall for :}l! benefit of the Central Union Mis- jon. Just what arrangements are ' be! made for this program, in which Homug Rodeheaver, widely known leader, also is to eppear, have not been di- AUTO vu'ged, for the Central Unioh Mission is leaving Seth Parker to’devise his own irt in it. The fact that he is coming here in person should be sufficient to attract his host of adnrirers who listen in on his Sunday evening programs throughout the year. Away trom the microphone, “Seth” is Phillips H. Lord, whose versatility is manifested also as “Uncle Abe,” the quaint New England storekeeper. But Itmls “k "Shei.thlrk?r" thlt Mr. Lord will make his first personal appearance in Washington, e “LEGS AND LAUGHTER.” NEXT week's attraction at the Gay- ety Theater has the alliterative title of “Legs and Laughter,” and its pur- veyors claim it has 1,000 laughs and many other merits. Among its performers are Eddie Dale, master of Dutch comedy; Angeles Lec and the Three Upstarts, acrobatic and tap dancers, all featured. Others in- clude George Leon, Lou Costello, Harry C. Van, Mary Ryan, Hazel Deving and Pearl .. The scenes are “Hades” end “Ship,” a realistic balloon ascen- sion. b P}\otoplays Commg. JANE'I‘ GAYNOR and Charles Farrell will be the stars of “The Man Who Came Back,” a Fox picture which turned them away at the Roxey ‘Theater, New York, and which will be the offering at the local Fox Theater, starting Friday of this week. “The Great Mea- dow,” starring John Mack Brown and Eleanor Board- man, has been booked by Loew's Palace to follow the picture of the current week, its first showing oc- curring . Saturday of this week. Greta Garbo's latest picture, “In- spiration,” will fol- low the Dressler-Moran picture, “Re- ducing,” at Loew's Columbia on Sat- urday. Warner's Earle Theater announces Barbara Stanwyck in “Illicit” as its pic- ture to follow the current attraction and also announces that Benny Rubin, noted stage and screen dialect come- dian, will appear in person at the Earle commencing Saturday in a comedy skit entitled “Reverse English.” Janet Gaynor. CELEBRATED COLORED Constitution Hall. Sat. Seats Wilson rs. e's ‘s 13th and G. Diss 610k JANET RICHARDS History in the Making Every Monday morning at 10:45 Masonic Temple, 13th St. and N. Y. Ave. Admission 75¢ and 1 s DR. SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY, Coaductor Constitution Hall. Tues. Aft., Feb. 8, 4.30 Seats, Mrs. Greene's Concert Hurea: *'Droop's. 1300 G st. Dist. ¢4dk Questions of the Hour National and International Affairs Miss Clara W. McQuown THE WASHINGTON CLUB Assembly Room Entrance, 1010 17th St. Every Fi i1 AM. i mflfly e GAYETY-BURLESK SLIDING BILLY WATSON (HIMSELF) and HIS BIG SHOW TENOR, Jan 31, 8:30 SHOW Open Taday 3 to 10:30 P.M. And All This Week— 10:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. Washington BELASCO MGMT. LEE and J. J. SHUBERT gi% Auditorium MATINEES 2:50 Thurs. 50c to $2.00. At Sat. S0 to At 2:30 DURING THE ENTIRE WEEK BE(:‘;. MONDAY THE ACTOR MANAGERS, INC., Present RACER In Origiual Character Sketches, Including New Ones, 6 Changes of Program Mon. and Tues.—Opening & Bazaar (new), A Dalmation Peasant, Three Women and Mr. Clifford (new), in & Church in Italy. NEXT WEEK--BE! MON., FEB. Ini Mats %% You’ll Want to Hug Them or Spank Them—Bat You’'ll Adore Them MESSRS. SHUBERT Present YOUNG ORI IGINA! AND_ CAST, L N. Y. PRODUCTION INCLUDING DOROTHY APPLEBY RAYMOND GUION JOHN HARRINGTON Nights—$2.50, $2, 8§ T t r. and Sat. 1 50, Mai. ON. FEB. 16TH—Mail TUES..