Evening Star Newspaper, June 20, 1935, Page 36

AMUSEMENTS. “Becky Sharp” Is the First Real Test With Color Film Miriam Hopkins Stars in Vehicle Which Is Expected to Revolutionize Picture Indus- try—But Experts Have Work Ahead. BY E. de S. virtue of its color, its opened last night at R-K-0 enthusiastic audience. It will & day, while people make up their “ Bzcxy SHARP” is an interesting and importan filnf* like “color” or not. MELCEER. and its direction. !g eith’s before a large and Probably stay there many inds as to whether they acting Frankly, it seems to us that while certain facial tones are not yet up to the mark that on the whole “color” is almost all the way around the corner—that technicolor and Mr. Whitney and Robert Edmund Jones and Mr. Kalmus and Director Mamoulian have made something of which they may be proud—and that in & few months color films will be as natural and normal a process as was that moment when Al Jolson opened up his jaws and howled “Mammy,” eround the corner, At the moment “color” is perhaps too much of a stunt in the films to be entirely comfortable. People can't go on wearing such colorful clothes, for instance, as they do in “Becky Sharp.” The average code of living does mot call for such bright blues and reds, and unless we mistake ourselves tech- nicolor still has something of a battle shead to get itself down to the humbler twentieth century. Nevertheless, the success of these blues and reds and occasional greens and yellows is obvious in this first full-length color film—and the va- rious shadings and contrasts, the high lights and the low lights and the way in which the major characters are out- lined is something that is not only extremely effective, but sometimes quite startling besides. * ¥ % VEN if, however, you are not yet prepared to be attuned to color, if you feel that black and white is still good enough for your favorite movie star, don’t stay away from “Becky Sharp.” Mirlam Hopkins’ perform- ance alone is worth a visit. She re- wveals & new film quality, a sureness and an archness which she has never had before—and so far as coloring is concerned, if the color camera doesn’t lie, she has everything that any artist eould wish. Miss Hopkins’ Becky Sharp is| something to write home about. She creates fiction’s most popular green- eyed temptress with more charm and wit than she has ever given to any- thing before. Director Mamoulian has tied no strings to her whatsoever. He has let her go ahead on her own sweet way with a clear consclence and only Mr. Thackeray and possibly shades of Mrs. Fiske to guide her. The result is Miss Hopkins' best | work up to date—as also & Becky Sharp with whom you can find little fault. Although perhaps in that well- remembered scene where Rawdon Crawley walks in on Becky's little tete-a-tete with the Marquis of Steyne, you feel that the climax is| not quite so great as it should be; slthough the play from which this was taken never had the sweep and the irony and the satire that one gensed in the pages of the book; al- though some of the best characters gre necessarily done away with—the Alm is a faithful and intelligently produced duplicate of its stage ances- tor—and one which every little girl end boy and mother and father and bachelor and spinster will want to see. * Kk ok WHILE of course, the picture is built around Becky's little finger, giving her the spotlight for 99 per cent of the way, the producers have mot pinched on the other actors. Well-known figures of the stage and screen parade across the camera’s | path, including Billie Burke as Lady Bareacres, William Faversham as the Duke of Wellington, Alison Skipworth ®s Miss Crawley and Nigel Bruce as good old fat Joseph Sedley. Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. Earle—“Oil for the Lamps of China,” at 11 am, 1:40, 4:25, 7:05 and 9:45 pm. Stage shows at 12:55, 3:40, 6:20 and 9 pm. Loew’s Fox—“Under the Pampas Moon,” at 10:45 am., 1:25, 4:10, 7 and 9:50 pm. Stage shows at 12:45, 8:30, 6:20 and 9:10 p.m. R-K-O Keith’s—“Becky Sharp,” at 11:3¢ am., 1:17, 3, 4:43, 6:26, 8:09 mnd 9:52 pm. Metropolitan—“Air Hawks,” at 11:30 am, 1:35, 3:40, 5:40, 7:40 and 9:45 pm. Palace—“Doubting Thomas,” at 11:15 am, 1:20, 3:25, 5:35, 7:40 and 9:45 pm. Columbia—“Goin’ to Town,” at 11:15 am,, 1:05, 2:50, 4:40, 6:25, 8:15 wnd 10 pm. Tivoli—Let 'Em Have It,” at 2, 8:55, 5:50, 7:45 and 9:45 p.m. Ambassador—“Cardinal Richelieu,” at 6:15, 8 and 9:50 p.m. * Howard—"G Men,” at 11:30, 1:50, €:10, 6:30 and 8:50 p.m, Stage shows et 1, 3:20, 5:40, 8 and 10:20 p.m. Gayety—“Sex Madness,” continuous {(for men only). Rockville Roadside, Pike—“After Dark,” at 8:30 pm. .nd drabber tints of the |th | wicke is particularly excellent in this | role—Rawdon Crawley and George VACATION in ONE DAY on the Steamer CHAPEL POINT TRIPS lmmn nd ’dlmdail Lv. SAT, wut B A w Adults, 750; Children. 500 Wods., Adults, S0c; Children, 250 COLONIAL BEACH Satus DANCING. vSUMME,R RATES NOW IN EFFECT L s EROY H. THAYER 1226 Conmectiont Ave, Met. 4131, gmving that “sound” was almost all the way ‘Then from nowhere in particular up pop faces that you haven’t seen in a moon's age—Pauline Garon, George Hassell, Doris Lloyd and such like— and added to that there are outstand- ing performances by Sir Cedric Hard- wicke (the bishop in “Les Miserables”), Alan Mowbray and G. P. Huntley, jr. These three form the great triumvirate of Becky's life—playing as they do the Marquis of Steye—and Mr. Hard- Osborne. 5 A good many of these people fade a little in the excitement of color, interesting direction and Miss Hop- kins. They do, however, add zest to an exceptionally interesting “Becky Sharp” and one that could stand on its own two feet even if the producers had forgotten to bring out their paint~ boxes. TRIANGLE PLAYERS IN DRAMA OF LONDON Y. M. C. A. Group Presents Je- rome’s “Passing of the Third Floor Back.” “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” Jerome K. Jerome's moving drama of & London lodging house, its | occupants and a stranger, has become a virtual institution in the contempo- rary theater and as such rises above a mere odd-moment concern of a group of thespians. The understand- ing efforts of the Triangle Players of the Y. M. C. A. last evening at the Foundry M. E. Church were, there- fore, gratifying. Charles C. Gillman played the Stranger in a sincere and effortless | ¢o.octo manner, which served to minimize an occasional stumble. Mr. Gillman's treatment of this substantial charac- terization left very little to be desired. After she proceeded to forget all about a Cockney accent, Joan Mitchell did a satisfactory job as the maid, just out of industrial school, or “jail,” as her employer more bluntly puts it. Shirley Rowe executed a plausible metamorphosis in the role of Mrs. Sharpe, landlady who knows her racket quite well. In fact, the effect upon the tenants of the Stranger was well handled in every instance. The pompous Maj. Tompkins did some impressive throat-clearing in the per- son of Richard Boulger, while Mrs. Tompkins was somewhat weak as of- fered by Anna Martin. James Lampe, playing the artist, proved that he had absorbed some of the precepts enun- clated by his teacher, Sue Gardner, and Henry Haviland merits a bouquet for his yersion of Jape Samuels, Joosh gentleman of business. Miss Kate and Mrs. Percival De Hooley of tide uncertain lorgnette, two of the boarders, were adequately per- formed by Louise Foust and Kathleen Carson, respectively, not to forget Faith Howeil’s pleasing Vivian, Pred- erick Cole’'s bit as Joey Wright, the former’s unwelcome suitor, and the effusive elan of Dixie Diket, who ren- dered Harry Lacrom, entertainer. “The Passing of the Third Floor Back” was presented under the direction of the aforementioned Charles C. Gill- man. C. A M Many Indians in Alaska. ® There are as many Indians as whites in Alaska. On Stage * The Supreme Orchestra Most Imitated Masical Stylist in America &HIS ORCHESTRA With a Group of Entertaners SKINNAY ENNIS BOB ALLEN SAXY DOWELL- MAXINE GREY JERRY MANN LAST | DAY ° CHING & MITZI MAYFAR THE EVENING BTAR, WASHINGTON, D. O , THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1935. Popular Players Here Tomorrow in the New Week’s Films Franchot Tone and Joan Crawford (at left), who appear with Robert Montgomery in M-G-M's “No More Ladies,” opening at the Palace to- MOITOW. Earle. Kay Francis (at right), the star of “Stranded,” AMUSEMENTS. CHANGING GANGSTER FACES IS DESCRIBED Surgeon Tells in Federal Court of Operations on Dillinger and Van Meter. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, June 20.—Dr. Wilhelm Loeser described from the witness stand in Federal court yesterday the plastic operatiors he had performed on Homer Van Meter and John Dil- linger—face-masking surgery that cost the outlaws $10,000, but failed to fool the officers who shot them to death. ‘The former convict-surgeon ap- peared as & key witness in the trial of Lawyer Louis Piquett on charges of harboring the late Van Meter. Admitting he had served a term in the Leavenworth Penitentiary, Dr. ‘| Loeser said he had appealed to Piquett coming to the Miss Sullavan Tells How She Learned to Like Films At First Hard to Handle Because of Pref- erence for Stage, She Learns Her Place by Rejecting Flattery for Reason. (Margaret Sullavan, known as a temperamental personality in Holly- wood, substitutes for Mollie Merrick and gives you her side of the story.) BY MARGARET SULLAVAN. of persons in Hollywood, H and consequemly are hard OLLYWOOD, June 20 (N.A. N.A.).—There are but two types I have been reliably informed: Those who are submissive as lambs, the elect class, and then, the other extreme, those who protect their own in- to handle. It has taken me two years to realize fully that I am, by popular consent, a full-fledged member of this second group—a person resumably difficult to fit into the well-cut grooves of the fllm usiness. Now, I don't know whether to ac-| cept this classification as a tribute or | as a slam, and frankly I don't care.| My personal philosophy is to enjoy | whatever comes my way, which is an easy way to soften most difficulties. | If you are handed a lemon by some | one, rejoice and make lemonade out | of it. And so T don't take my reputation | seriously, although I realize that per- | | haps I do belong to the difficult class. In Hollywood, a person who objects quite strenuously to personal ballyhoo is definitely on the outer fringe of | society. I should like to explain this situa- | tion of mine for the benefit of those | who don't know me well. When I| first came to Hollywood two years HOLLYWOOD ARCHERY SKILL GAHI (if_you mention this ad.) Valuable Prizes Awarded ADMISSION FREE_ALWAYS COOL ILVER SPRING HOTEL Tulsu‘“ao &L-W@. MIRIAM HOPKINS "/BECKY SHARP™ | All in the wondrous NEW TECHNICOLOR ago, I told the studio employing me | that I didn't think I could seriously enjoy a film career. Encouragement Offered. “Oh, don't talk that way,” said an | executive. “You're going to fall in love | with Hollywood. Think of your great | future here and the great fortune you can build in a few years’ work. Think of that.” Well, I thought of that, and the more I thought, the less I liked the prospect. . After all, I have enough | money of my own to make the pros- | pect of more a bothersome maitter, | and, as far as a career in the movies was concerned, I was uninterested. I had the stage point of view toward Hollywood, and I could see no fame greater than one earned before the footlights. However I seemed to dislike picture work, the studio put me to work and “Only Yesterday” was the result. escaped to London, avoid seeing the picture that way, but it followed me, so I went to see it— and, to my astonishment, liked it. tures and slightly altered my con- art. But I couldn’t change my per- sonal attitude. 1 suppose I was found hard to handle because I wouldn't do some of the things that are expected of motion picture actresses. I wouldn't reveal | my personal ambitions or change my inches of newspaper space. I wouldn't of which I was totally neither would I endorse shaving lo- tions for men, or which I need not contribute one cent | of my own money. Detests “Yes” People. And 50 I became a difficult person, one who had to be handled with gloves, and “yessed.” As a matter of “THE MYSTERY OF -WIN DROOD” and “WHEN A MAN'S wl 0953, CIRCLE 3% Fae g ¥ 2o JEANETTE MacDONALD. JON EDDY in NAUGHT" MARIETTA.” _News. DUMBARTON 1143, %%a:2.,% RICHAR.D ARLEN and VI(‘I‘OR McLAGLEN in “UNDER PRES- " _News and Comedy. FAIRLAWN A NACOSTIA B C, JOLSON INTO_YOUR DANC! | PRINCESS Bouble Peature CLARK GABLE. CON! NNETT. AFTER omc% HOURE L STARRETT in “SONS OF STEEL.” SECO nti mWARclg On%%.éflrlg)"ll'l amn M ‘The Whole Town’s Ta.lklng Comedy. _News. STANTON 6th an She thought she was too proud to fight for her man . . . but she leayned differently KAY FRANCIS In Warnes Bros Drama Sthanded GEORGE BRENT PATRICIA ELLIS GiL FOR LAWPS OF ' BWeto 1P M. TOMORROW They say meon things 1o each other aftor 23 yoors of morried bliss ... “bmhulnnflllufl-y T Conty anm.us“ CIVREET T STEEL 0 2 raons oF Stow STEVENS in STATE oov0 Wis. "vc. ethesds, . VICTOR McLAGLEN in “Captam Hates the Sea.” 7:00 and 0:45 PM. ‘ANNA NEAGLE in “RUNAWAY QUEEN.” TAKOMA K Near 9th HIPPODROME -5, George_Arliss, “Cardinal Richelieu. HYATTSVILLE. MD. Today-Tomorrow nd Bing Crosby in ARCADE W. C. Fields __"Miss RICHMOND ‘Go! Direction of SIDNEY LUST ALEXANDRI (Tods: OF . B SLNE ‘NAUGHTY MARIE’ITA y AVALON &=z A & MK ley 8t. N. Show Starts 6:1 JEAN HARLOW, wm!.un Fowerz, l'el"tl AVENUE GRAN A0 GEORGE ARLISS - '.umnm. ‘RICHELIED " mmuy CENTRAL #ione Buet" o84 e Met. 2841.° rn CONRAD NAGEL NE NEW. 2 = = STEFFL DYNA in YORK NIGHT.” £ | coLony ; | " ul}"’%“mnog'flkfl OP )ITDN'!OHT . NE. UNA MERKEL In «yfitfl REW TORE ISHT "cnumo ‘YES- mnu' v.rmy Twou 14th IL..G Park Rd. N.W. nl. JESSETHFATER ¢ “G ME JAMES CAGNEY and ANI! DVORAK. Our _Gang SYLVAN 13t and B. 1. Ave, NW. “Go Into Your Dance.” Pm THEATER %" mmwnlm 1| hoping I could | This changed my opinion of pic- | viction that the stage was the only|cere and their conversation isn't al- place for the expression of the acting | ways technical, just the buffoonery of | habits of mind for the sake of a few | lend my name to controversial subjects | express myself as Margaret Sullavan, ignorant, | not as a picture star. or start charities for‘ !lct I detest “yes” men and women | more than anything I know, and I am afraid I have been rather harsh on | such well-intentioned, but misguided, | souls. When it was announced that the | company of “So Red the Rose,” my | next film, would make most of the picture on location out near Toluca | Lake, Mr. Vidor, the director, hastened |to assure me that I would have a bungalow for myself and would not be quartered with the studio crew. | “But I want to stay with the crew | and supporting cast,” I told him, “I would be bored to death in a six-room cottage. Besides I enjoy the crews of {film companies. Their humor is sin- men and women at play.” Most of the “trouble” I have had in Hollywood started because a few people could not get it through their heads that I objected strenuously to being pampered or “yessed.” I want to be treated as & reasoning human | being, old enough to know what is right or wrong for herself. I want to So I am, or was, a difficult person to handle, (Copyright. 1035. by the North T ewsbaner ALlance. Tae) merieen Pottery Art Ancient. for financial aid last Spring. The usrw FRIDAY 'I’lul ON ANY MOTION PICTURE §TAGE.. attorney arranged for the operations,} he testified, and hoth Dillinger and Van Meter went under the knife at 8 ‘West Side home. “I changed the contour of s large scar on Van Meter's head. I altered his nose and mouth and his fingertips, the same as I did Dillinger’s,” he said. NEW THEATER GROUP PRESENTS WAITING FOR LEFTY Clifford Odets’ Sensational Hit SHOWS FOR Adult Men Living Models NER BAXTER 4 UNDER THE PAMPAS MOO . HENRY ARMETTA In Person.... sud otbcrs IN PERSON, i r.Al.uim o‘.‘é’.l.’%'.‘l‘.")""‘ LR B e 5o mNNy LEE LARRY. RICH s "RICH MOMENTS™ swidk & THREE LEES RECTOR. avcd CHERI JANE SHIRLEE,RUTH FORSTELL DOREEN ’ awd LARRY RICH, Jr. SCREEN... 7 Zectler. 2 Clhitile.. a comedy of mysteries.’% *PAT" PATERSON- THOMAS BECK STEPIN FETCHIT A Fox Ricture based gn f cl Ccre X COLUMBIA [ e, er* Charlie Chan® eated by EARL DERR BIGGERS F AT 127H . METRO COLDWYN-MAVER PICTURS with LIONEL BARRYMORE JtANARTNUR-C?ESYElNORNS %1530 ZLuznas 4TH AND NEW 155U Pottery was made in China as early as 2600 B. C. He says there’ll be NO MORE LADIES CHARLIE RUGGLES AND EDNA MAY OLIVER SNICKER IN THEIR SLEEVES AT THE IDEA OF THESE GAY PEOPLE GETTING SERIOUS 120535 * *MARCH of TIME* Temptation is great for people like that...They really do love each other, but an extra drink or a missed train ‘'WHILE FRANCHOT TONE WAITS HOPEFULLY