Evening Star Newspaper, October 7, 1935, Page 36

As England’s Merry King Outshines Anna Neagl in “Nell Gwyn” Local Notes. BY ROBERT B. ¢ I ET not poor Nellie starve,” sai dramatically speaking. poor picture “Nell Gwyn” currently at the Belasco. Hays and his boys could not resist the temptation to tack on a stupid prologue and epilogue to stress the bitter end of Nellie's wicked career, as & whole this historic tale of the actress who won a monarch’s heart and held it for years is pithy®- theater. “Nell Gwyn” Iis, however, and more fruitful in its conception | than in the interpretations given it by Anna Neagle and her colleagues— with the exception of Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who is a totally satisfac-| tory king. There is an overabundance | of swaggering, tossing of heads and | general high jinks, it seemed to us, and If British and dominions would defend their product on the gmundsi that it is historically accurate in| the spirit and conduct of the times, we think there is still an answer. To wit, no film attains its purpose, no matter how factually correct, if! it fails tc be convincing in depicting the people who lived in a certain era. While the dialogue, costumes and actions in “Nell Gwyn” doubtless looked fine on paper, translated into the behavior of players before the camera, they are occasionally ex- ceedingly artificial and inept. We repeat that Cedric Hardwicke's Charles is a complete exception to this rule. He is thoroughly credible as the amiable, fun-loving regent who scan- dalized his court by preferring a husky-voiced commoner to the finer ladies of the day, and who amused himself heartily by watching the rol- licking Nell make faces at the haughty Duchess of Portsmouth. The other performers, and Miss Neagle particularly, too closely re- semble the wags in a high school pageant when they attempt to get gay with the Merrie England stuff. That is rather a pity, because Miss Neagle shows rare charm and appeal in her quieter scenes, suggesting that she would have been far happier in a less sinewy role. Nevertheless she is a handsome ‘woman; she indicates she is a trouper by allowing herself to be socked in the eye with a ripe old fruit in one scene (can you imagine an American flicker queen submitting to such an indignity for anybody's story?) and we predict she will some day mean things at the box office in less hey- nonny-nonny characterizations. The Belasco also has short subjects on the program. * x % X THE remodeled Circle Theater, at 2105 Pennsylvania avenue, reopens tomorrow night with Marion Davies | in “Page Miss Glory.” The house was closed recently and done over in thorough, modern style. * X X X THE Pierce Hall Players are re- hearsing Ibsen's “The Wild Dyck” for their first presentation of the season. The play will open for a two-night run on October 23. George Farrington is directing. * ¥ X X DWINA WISE, wno last Spring played ingenue roles with the Na- tional Players, comes back to town in just two weeks to embark on her Broadway career at that same Na- tional. Miss Wise makes her profes- sional debut in the Max Gordon pro- duction of “Pride and Prejudice,” which has its premiere on E street Octcber 21. * ok X % HEN “Midsummer Night's Dream,” the Warner Bros.’ expedition into Shakespeare, opens in New York Wednesday, the premiere performance will be sponsored by the English- Speaking Union of the United States, which organization has purchased the entire capacity of the Hollywood Thea- ter, reselling the tickets as a benefit. This is the first time a motlon pic- ture has been actually sponsored by the union, a national organization devoted to better understanding be- tween the English-speaking nations, and H. M. Warner, president of the producing company, says it is “one of the greatest tributes that possibly could be paid to Max Reinhardt and his production of Shakespeare's com- richer ‘ “Midsummer Night's Dream” will have its Washington premiere Sun- day evening, October 27, at the Na- tional. * ok K TH!: boys in the National box office g are working overtime to fill the mail orders for seats to Katharine Cornell's “Romeo and Juliet.” Already the supply of $1 and $1.50 tickets has been exhausted. Miss Cornell and her company of 50 players leave New York today for Baltimore, where she will hold three strictly private dress rehearsals of “Romeo and Juliet” prior to opening her tour at the Lyric Theater there Thursday night. The play opsns at the Natlonal next Monday. * k X * ‘HE radio, stage and screen have contributed a wealth of talent to make “Broadway Melody of 1936,” M-G-M-'s successor to its highly suc- cessful “Broadway Melody,” which has been six years in the planning. Headed by Jack Benny, number one clown of the air waves, the cast is studded with such stars as Eleanor Powell, ace tap dancer just “discov- ered” by Hollywood; Robert Taylor, Una Merkel, June Knight, Nick Long, Jr.; Vilma and Buddy Ebsen, Robert Wildhack, “snore” specialist, who was one of the hits of “Life Begins at 8:40”; Frances Langford, Harry Stock- well and Sid Silvers. Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur COAL HUFNAGEL COAL CO. South Wash., Va.. at Va. Highlands 2,240 Lbs. to the Ton. Bvery Pound Delivered in Bass to our Bin—No Extra Charse Carrying %ns'r SEADES OF Per size) _$10.50 fi 25 A Hataost ere B us -Structu ‘Without Smoke, Sht or Gll No_Gas, o Low All mnm Grade Bituminous Coal Lamp and Fine Coa] 'll'l‘ mmnl . Showins Yoy Get ump | play. e, Who Has Title Role at the Belasco. PHILLIPS, JR. id Charles II on his death bed, and, Nellie has far from starved in the While Mr. will Freed have done the songs for “Broad- | way Melody of 1936,” Dave Gould directed the dance routines, Albertina Rasch has created an original ballet and Roy Del Ruth directed the film. It opens at the Palace Friday. * K K K AH‘ER seeing “Venus in Silk” launched at the National to- night, Steve Cochran will leave for Liverpool, Ohio, where Ethel Barry- more’s tour with “The Constant Wife,” which he is sponsoring, opens Thursday night. Miss Barrymore's tour will have touched upon 36 cities by Thanksgiving, going as far south as New Orleans and as far north as Minneapolis. From there she will pro- ceed to the Pacific Coast with the * k¥ % THE Drama Guild has decided to include “Lady Precious Stream,” by F. Hsing, Chinese drama which has been the talk of London for two seasons, in its schedule for the com- ing season, and now is negotiating with the publishers of the play for rights. Professional rights for “Lady Pre- cious Stream” have been purchased by Morris Gest, who intends to pro- duce it in New York this Winter with Anna May Wong in the leading role. GAYETY CHORUS USED IN ORIGINAL ROUTINES “Everything Goes” Has Clever Hunt Numbers—Bates and Featured Clowns. BURLESQUE isn't dead on its feet after all. “Everything Goes,” which yesterday came to the Gayety for one week, is a very entertaining indication that there are some people in the business with imagination and that the Independent Burlesque Asso- ciation is willing to pay cash on the| line for the use of that imagination. | It seems to have dawned on the people responsible for the burlesque diversions sent to Washington that the 14 or so chorus girls to whom they pay salaries can be used for some purpose other than to take up tlmel between comedy skits and specialty numbers, for in “Everything Goes” the | lassies of the line contribute a lion’s share of the entertalnment. (If that line-lion business is & pun it's unin- tended.) One of their numbers, in which the girls play a tune with bells of various tones, which are strapped to their walsts, is just about the most original | idea seen on the Gayety stage for| more than a year, at least. It's the | most clever of a number of clever chorus routines, which have been de- vised by one Lester Montgomery for “Everything Goes,” and all of which have a smart Broadway air about| them. The staging provided Mr. Montgomery's production numbers is | smart, too, topping anything Jimmy Lake has done so far this season. | Jimmy has gone in for more than his | usual simplicity this time and this, | combined with the fact that the scenic accoutrements used are bright | and new, makes for some highly effec- | tive settings. | The chorus girls, however, are not responsible for all of the entertain- | ment at the Gayety this week, for| “Everything Goes” has performers in all departments who rate near the top. The comedy is done by Clyde| Bates, Jack Hunt and Sammy Weston, with Conny Ryan and Jack Ryan doing the straight roles. Bates and Hunt do some of the scenes they've done before, but their boisterous, rough-and-ready delivery would sell any burlesque comedy skit. The best this time is a dizzy affair about the last days of Caesar, or something like that. Weston doesn’t permit any dull moments either. Minnie Mae Moore is the prima donna, and displays one of the finest voices in burlesque ip her delivery of “Old Man River” and several other numbers. Sunya “Smiles” Slane, very blond and attractive, and Vilmara, very brunette and just as attractive, | make the fans happy with their spe- cialties. There's a dance team, too, named Carman and Mario, who do some smooth numbers which should have been praised much earlier in this review. H M Swiss Set to Man Navy. A school for sallors has opened at Thun, Switzerland. They will special- ize in nmnz. BLANK BOOKS A Stocl: at Popular Prices Morrison Paper Co. Pa. Ave. NA. 2945 RERCNNAENERINANN I gg WEAK et EYES lmnded to at once. They [may lead to serious eve trouble, our graduate optom- etrists * examine your eyes now. Glasses are orescribed only when necessary, 1 “Lecse’ Glasses Gost No More Than the Ordinary Kind” . A. LEESE Optical Co 614 9th St. N.W. We Have the : RENENZREIENSETE] SEERENINENENERENINNNRREE, BURNERS by the Marketers of | BETHOLINE anp RICHFIELD SHERWOOD BROS.,, Inc. 172 Connoctiout Avenus, K. W. Phone DECATUR 4181 w.fll‘“ 877 ‘Walnut 7878 H Popular Stars in Shakespearean Film Olivia De Havilland is the lovely Hermia and Dick Powell her Lysander in the Warner Bros. produclion of “Midsummer Night’'s Dream,” which has its world premiere In New York on Wednesday night and comes here to the National in the week of October 28. Fans Lift MacMurray Toward Film Height New Star Bobs Up in S Hollywood and Para- mount Plans a New Vehicle for Him, BY MOLLIE OLLYWOOD, October pictures. their worth. built up while playing with estab-| lished favorites. Fred MacMurray Is the typical American youth whom you all knew in your ’'teens. He is the boy next door who played an important part in your first parties and romances. Coming from the New York stage, where he sang and played the saxo- phone in “Roberta,” he made his screen debut in “Men Without Names,” which was followed by “Car 99,” in which he was a uniformed officer of the law. Unimportant though he was in the| film, he made a hit with the fans and was promoted to “The Gilded Lily, =l with Claudette Colbert as the lead. ‘This was followed by “Alice Adams,” in which he played opposite Katharine Hepburn, and in which he managed to “click.” The future looms big for Fred Mac- Murray. He has just finished “Hands Across the Table,” with Carole Lom- bard; is now making “The Bride Comes Home,” opposite Claudette Col- bert, while Walter Wanger fights for his work in two films about to be made. When this dispute is settled, Para- mount, his home studio, plans to star Fred in & Royal Canadian Mounted Police mystery. It will be five months at least before this reaches the cam- era, but it is sure to be a success if the past is any criterion. For just as sure as the Royal Mounted never fails get its man, the pictures or plays written about AN AMALZING LAUNDRY *Everything Washed & Ironed RETURNED READY FOR USE 0 POUNDS FOR le A completely finished laundry service at a price every family can afford. All flat work and wearing apparel washed, ironed and finished by hand, returned pound. *The only exception at each extra. MERRICK. 7—Every now and then a new star bobs up on the Hollywood horizon who surprises even the men who make Clark Gable was one of these fan-made stars whom the | theater audiences recognized long before the producers dreamed of | At present, it looks as if Fred MacMurray would be the newest motion picture player to achieve the goal of stardom. all due to the fan following he has?: And thnt organization never fail to get| the:r audiences. | So the future looks quite rosy for Fred MacMurray. \ What's happening to the present- | day musicals? Are they to go the way | of past musical fllms, or will they | survive and become a part of tomor- | row's entertainment? | It's hard to beat such pictures as Fred Astaire is making and it's difi- | cult to top “Broadway Rhythm of | 1926,” with Eleanor Powell dancing her way to fame. Perhaps a variety of musical '.alent is the best answer to what will please theater audiences throughout the | country. At least Warner brothers | evidently believe this, as they have SPECIAL!! DRAWN FROM | CUSTOMERS REPAIRED SHOES) Tues. Grand Central Valet 1342 New York Ave. BARGAIN ready to use, for only 12c per the price—men’s shirts are 7c CALL MRS. HUNT COL. 7020 —up to 8 p.m. tonight or any time tomorrow and let her tell you all the EXTRA features of DUPONT’S ECON- OMY FINISHED FAMILY SERVICE. F* DUPONT LAUNDRY Albert R. Mackenzie, Pres. 2535 Sherman Ave. Hugh Mackenzie, Sec.-Treas. Col. 7020 MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1935 Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. R-K-0-Keith’s—“Diamond Jim,” at 11:15 a.m, 1:21, 3:27, 5:33, 7:39 and 9:45 pm. Loew’s Fox— “O'Shaughnessy’s Boy,” at 10:45 am. 1:25, 4:20, 7:15 and 10 pm. Stage shows at 12:20, 3:15, 6:10 and 8:55 p.m. Earle—“Special Agent,” at 11 am, 1:25, 4:10, 7:05 and 9:50 p.m. Stage shows at 12:35, 3:20, 6:15 and § p.m. Metropolitan—*“She Married Her Boss,” at 11 a.m,, 1:05, 3:10, 5:15, 7:25 | and 9:30 p.m. Palace—“Call of the Wild,” at 11:25 am, 1:30, 3:30, 5:35, 7:35 and 9:35 pm. Belasco—“Nell Gwyn,” at 12:18, 3:18, 4:18, 6:18, 8:18 and 10:18 p.m. Columbia—*‘Steamboat Round the Bend,” at 11:55 a.m., 1:55, 3:55, 5:55, 7:55 and 9:55 p.m. Ambassador—“Special Agent,” 6:15, 8 and 9:50 p.m. Tivoli—“Anna Karenina,” 3:50, 5:40, 7:35 and 9:30 p.m. —_—- FAN DANCER ARRESTED Joyce Baker Complains That Po- lice Are Too Attentive. LOS ANGELES, October 7 (#)— Joyce Baker, fan dancer, thinks the Los Angeles police are altogether too attentive. She was arrested at a cabaret two weeks ago and again Saturday at an- other restaurant before the first charges against her came to trial. “With 40 fan dancers in town and all of them dancing with less clothes than I wear,” Joyce complained, “I can't see why the police keep picking on me. I had just bought a new set of fans for $85 and they were con- fiscated. That's two sets of my fans the police now are holding as evi- dence.” She was released on $250 bail. S S BORAH TO BROADCAST ‘at at 2, Senator to Discuss U. 8. Role in! ‘War Tonight. | NEW YORK, October 7 (#).—Sena- tor William E. Borah of Idaho, taking as his topic “The United States and the Present War Crisis,” will discuss America’s position in the Italo- | Ethiopian situation in a broadcast | from his home in Boise via WJZ- | N. B. C. at 10 p.m. (Eastern standard time) today. | i certainly chosen a wide range of music to present in “Stars Over Broadway,” their newest singing film. Composers for this picture include Franz Schubert, Guiseppi Verdi, Fred- eric von Flotow and Warren and Dubin. Scattered among this talent | will be some real hill-billy songs sung by a “Novelty Family,” consisting of a proud father and his four sons. | Jean Muir, the studio discovers, | was once a choir member. Therefore | Genealogies . . . Caretully ar, tivel she will sing Schubert’s immortal | “Ava Maria.” (Copyright. 1935. by the North American Newspaper Alliance. Inc.) DOCTORS LAW YERS HOMES BARBER SHOPS BEAUTY PARLORS COCKTAIL and RECEPTION ROOMS OFFICES Spanish Leather Chairs at a Sensational Low Price! Choice of 4 colors Stainless “Lac-Lite” walnut finish frames. Full web sag seats, sll‘ed .nd ’C’e"d corner block. Large shaped arms,complete genuine brass nail studding. Extra heavy front and back legs. Choice of red, green blue and Coral Spanish Leather covers. OPEN TONIGHT TILL 9:30 P.M. FREE PARKING IN REAR OF STORE OPEN A BUDGET ACCOUNT 821 SEVENTH ST AMUSEMENTS. B—16 AMUSEMENTS THE EVE G STAR, WASHINGTO D. C2 ) ) 3 Cedric Hardwicke Stars AM'USEMEN’I'S. | G F@X WALLACE JA(KIE HAUGH ISSYS BOY 8?"0 ‘/N‘inzmt AND OTHER CRAND AGCTS! LAMPKIN oViRTuRE F-AT M TH ME. 5001 in P'!icfl lMHUl OODFREV AREH WDONAW' | Loco “4ERE S 10 ROMANCE it RING HART ENEVIEUE TOBIN & MME mw&u.u‘u’fl GE ) “BROADWAY MELODY OF i936* TOON -&muinuv iLEANUKFOWE'l 3 5070 53¢ mx,! = ALL FESTIVAL OF GREATER Si NOW SHOWING GEORGE | i I)AVIS‘r BREIII' Productionm A Worsss Brss Pioms o oN sTAC | EL BRENDEL *- 25¢T01 P M. \ “Special Agent” Can Mso Be Seen Today / \ AR METROPOLITAN ¥ | IT'S STILLHERE! | {CLAUDETTE R BROS. Constitution Hall—Season 1935-36 EVENING SERIES, 8:30 . m.—Met bon, Hacketi an. y Pon: L. Bauer and Spalding. 24 SUNDAY SERIES, 4 p. m.—Hel- fetz, Cossack Chorus. Josef Hofmann. Guen Moore, Nelson Fddy. lekets _(five_concerts). 82 I 5k B B0 s netading oy, National Thester: La ARGENTIN Spain's greatest dancer, $1.10 to $2.33; 30058 RALLET. $1.10 4o $3.30 Mrs. Dorsey’s Concert Bureas (Droop’s Musie Store). Tel. SURETY BONDS rorms of Ins J. Blaise de Sibour & INSURANCE BROKERS 1300 Eve St NAtL 4633 N.W AMU SEVKE\ TS. 55» o 5235 (ine. tax) URENCE SCHW. ) P"-nh the Gdy. New Musieal Play VENUS IN SILK By Laurence Schwab end Lester O'Keefe. Music by Robert 3toiz, CAST AND ENSEMBLE OF 100 e e e e NEXT MON.—SEATS THURS. KATHARINE CORNELL = ROMEO ... JULIET with Florence Reed—Rainh Richardson M-mn Evans—Charles Waldron ail Orders mow—Nichts. Sat. Mat.e MRS, Wea Mats st fi KEITH/S! " A Washington Institution He made the gay nineties gayer! EDWARD ARNOLD as“DIAMOND JIN" ® Speciol odded Attroction DIONNE QUlNTUPLETS __—__ ACADEMY ©f Perfict Sound Photoviay L ) ful E. Lawre; JAMES THE_DARING YOU Alio CHARLES STA RICE CRIVED™ ! ASHTON oSt SRR ¢ CAROLINA __"PEOPLE WILL TAL 1ith an THE (NEW) CIRCLE #1937t & DUMBAI;TON 13 Hi Wiscol n CLARK (;ABLE v S T GARG é;h He‘lunn F and G cousti WILLIAM POWELL an Y [ Illl!ll!d 1 Georzia Ave. xl;u Sering. Md. STANTON r.;fl? 's'i.'f.fa s'z’u'f.fi-m oo BERTY rvmxss Y OF THE BEES and MAE CLARK m MAN. “The Mn Theater” STATE 6970 Wis. Ave. Beiheoda, M. Open at 5:45 P.M_—Show at 6:00 PM, LAST TIMES TODAY—TOMORROW BAER-LOUIS FIGHT FILM. at_6:00. 9:30 P Also EDMUND LOWE in “BLACK SHEEP.” ___Shown at 6: " 4th and Butternut Sts, No_Parkine Troubles C_FIELDS in “Man on 1 Flying Tra Trapeze.” - ' [HIPPODROME ¥ o oo Today.. Tomorrow. Wednesday 3 MARION DAVIES in “PAGE MISS GLORY.” CAMEO MT. IA N IIZB. MD. JANET GAYNOR in “Farmer Takes a Wife.” ‘S |ARCADE ®XATESyos. o g | Gable, Harlow, Beery in “CHINA SEAS.” RICHMOND #tsxavpmin v GRETA GARBO in “ANNA KARENINA.” AMBASSADOR ki & SPE SIDNEY , Directio R Col E __WALLACE BEERY. CHI‘H SEAS ” AVALO ve. & McKinley .. Clev. 2600 MARION DAV]E S PA GLORY," GLORY.” " silly Svmphony, AVENUE GRAND 2% [t 475 DING WARNER BROS. THEATERS COLONY MARION DAY C St Lineol 10266 PAT O'BRIEN and JAMES CAGNEY, “THE IRISH IN US"_Comedy SAVOY ™™ Gliuhnia’dboa™ srrz\v'vrm TRACY in “DANTE -nvou ] 14th e r[m‘u—nfi‘. atinee, 200 Mal o, GRE‘T\ GAREO. FREDRIC 'MARCH, A KAREN reel. JESSE THEATER "% &35 “THE 39 STEPS,” ROBERT DONAT l\nd MADELAINE CARROLL._Musical ( y. SYLVAN “The Keeper of the Bees,” EETK‘\' FURNESS, PALM TH]EATER e “STAR OF MIDNIGHT.” \MLL!A‘\{ POWELL and GINGER . Musical Comed. Tsi .na R z <] 5l ] 5 Z 8 21 ) BERNHEIMER’S | | Ball Room Classes. Tues. and Thu! ‘&hlul |Iu! l'ncludlnl thc Plecolino, . Pra Sp: R Vate lessons by lg.l hildren's ela: ey ss month” Phone Natlonat 3110 NARO LOCKFORD Featured Dancer “FOLLIES BERGERE.” PARIS Announces the openifg of his Dancing Studio Adagio— THE JACK ROLLINS STUDIOS Announce s speeial beginners’ class I nd exereises, starting 10 Lessons for $5 Enrollment taken up to Oct. 1% Also evening classes In stralght tap for beginngrs or advanced pupils. 1611 Conn. Ave. Decatur 5770 *§