Evening Star Newspaper, October 10, 1935, Page 46

_C-38 AMUSEMENTS. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D.°C. SHAKESPEARE MAKES FILM HISTORY “Midsummer nght’ Dream” Opening Is Gala Event. | go to Victor Jorv, | at times. BY ROBERT B. PHILLIPS, JR. Bpecia) Dispatch to The Star. EW YORK, October 10.—The most talked-of film in cinema | N history made its debut here last night at the Hollywood | Theater before an ermine-swathed and top-hatted audience which, some- what like a majority of the perform- | ers connected with it, seemed slightly awed and self-conscious in the pres- ence of an epochal event. Perhaps no picture in the annals of Hollywood has evoked so much com- ment before its premier, stirred so much controversy and won such an- ticipatory praise as Max Reinhardt's production of “Midsummer Night's Dream.” Last night the eager hun- dreds who braved an $11 top tariff found what they had hoped for—an unforgettable spectatcle, a Shake- spearean production that could be discussed for hours without exhaust- ing its conversational possibilities, and & fanciful, fantastic reel of celluloid which unquestionably will pave the way for a new and important cycle in the cinema. Whatever may be saild of Warner Bros.’ “Midsummer Night's Dream,” we doubt that any critic will be more perceptive or conclusive than the re- mark made by Dr. A. S. W. Rosen- ‘bach, the famed bibliophile and presi- dent of the Shakespeare Society of America. Said he: “To me it is the ‘Midsummer Night's Dream’ of Shake- spear’s imagination.” And that it is, precisely. Not a literal translation of the text to the screen, not a Holly- wood “adaptation” vaguely related to the plot structure of Shakespeare’s play, but a visionary, capricious in- terpretation of the bard's work in terms of the camera. Shakespeare tossed off “Midsummer Night” in six days. It was intended as a sort of masque for a wedding fete, and the characters in masques are notoriously “typed.” Intended to be symbolic, they seldom possess in- dividuality. Yet the English master, who could not write abcut a monu- ment without bringing it to life, im- parted a semblance of character to every figure in his story. Nevertheless, like most Shake- spearean dramas, it boagts nothing exceptional in plots. The really sig- nificant element is the chimerical whimsy, the dream of elfin sprites who people the woods, dance by the light of the moon and for amusement meddle in the affairs of foolish mor- tals. Shakespeare embodied his vision of that mythical world in passages of sublime poetry. Reinhardt, in turn, has sought to give living form to the creatures and scenes the bard sug- gested in words. He has used sight and sound, light and shadow, the limitless facility of the camera, to, attune Shakespeare to modern masses, who, accustomed to a different pace in dialogue and a different taste in spectacle, might easily have lost in- | terest in the elaborate language of the original. To the votaries of Shakespeare, who | worship him more as a peerless poet, | a master of warm, living language than as a story teller, any conversions and deletions may seem brutal or senseless. They may not be content to feed their appetites for poesy on the few brief passages magnificently spoken by Victor Jory as King Oberon, to snatch an occasional portion of Puck’s many eongs or a bit of Lysan- der's sweet, romantic fol de rol. In the interests of dramatic effec- tiveness, these practices seem to us entirely defensible. Equipped with a medium that could render fantasy alluring and comprehensible to pres- ent-day filmgoers, Reinhardt had no choice but to compromise with an original which probably would have bored them. His method may be aca- demilally heretical, but it was and is good theater. Three major sectors constitute “Midsummer Night.” They are the romantic interlude, peopled with | Theseus and Hippolyta, the amorous swains Lysander and Demetrius and their lady-loves, Hermia and Helena; the imaginative extravaganza, in which Titania and Oberon, Queen and King of the Fairies, and Puck, the spirit of mischief, are the moving spirits, and that incomparable, low comedy play-within-a-play offered by Bottom, Quince, Snug and their pals. The skein of these three dramatic threads is neatly drawn and interlaced, but they are essentially antipathetic. Therefore their histrionic merits may properly be considered separately. Beginning with the famous “very tragical mirth” of Pyramus and Thisbe, we find Frank McHugh cast as Quince, Dewey Robinson as Snug, James Cag- neys as Bottom, Joe E. Brown as Flute and Hugh Herbert as Snout. With the exception of Mr. Brown, all of these skilled and seasoned performers are stilted in their first appearances, obviously subdued by the knowledge that they are playing Shakespeare and that they are supposed to drop their habitual screen mannerisms and create fresh,strue characterizations. Mr. Brown escapes that awkwardness because his initial moments are chiefly pantomime. Consequently he is not bothered by tightening of the larnyx or the other symptoms which assail his fellows very much as if they were appearing in a grade school recital. By the time they reach the rehearsal scene in the woods, al Ithese gentle- men have warmed to the work. They KEITH/S!-¢ A Washington Institution He made the gay nineties gayer! EDWARD ARNOLD as“DIAMOND JIN” JEAN ARTHUR _BINNIE BARNES ERIC BLORE ® Spacial odded Atiraction DIONNE QUINTUPLETS “Goin’ on Two" . “The most exciting and inspiring spectac) screen has ever known ! ANNA NEAGLE.. CEDRIC MAIDWle[ GAYETY BURLESK NOW PLAYING A Sunburst of Loveliness “SUNYA (Smiles) SLANE” The Form Divine With BATES and HUNT When “Midsummer Night's Dream,” the new Max Reinhardt-Warner Bros. fllm, made its debut on Broad- way last night James Cagney, shown above, appeared in the role of Bottom, while Anita Louise played the young Queen Titania. tion. The film comes to the National the week of October 28. | begin to be funny, and it is truly only a start, for the final presentation of “Pyramus and Thisbe” at the mar- riage revels is splended farce. We have never seen Shakespearean comedy more hilariously performed nor s. Brow, Cagney, Herbert and Robinson in finer fettle. | In'the sylvan sequences all honors whose reading of King Oberon is statel shrewd and poetical. Anita Louise’s miming of Titania glows with a sylphine ¢harm At others her voice is pain- ful, shrill and out of character. The kindest thing that can be said fcr‘ Mickey Rooney's Puck is that he was | miscast. The part belonged to an older, wiser child. Young Master Roorey attempted to make Robin Gocdfellow a sort of miniature Tar- zan, full of animal shrieks and gig- gles, thereby contriving, as the press book unwittingly said, “to do all sorts of things to annoy everybody.” Wraithlike and beautiful, rich in conceit and rhapsody, the ballet scenes of the fantasia are a living tribute to | the art of photography and, we sus- | pect, to the perspicacity of William | Dieterle, the assisting director, who | must have schooled the inexperienced Dr. Reinhardt in camera lore. Here the Mencelssohn musiggl score, which Eric Korngold adapted to fit 80 min- | utes of the pictorial action, attains its greatest effectiveness. Likewise the substitution of pantomime for words, of vision for description, is most bril- | liantly justified. Instead of talking about climbing heavenward on the moonbeams, Titania's cohorts actually | ascend in gracile procession. The | minions of night literally drive the | moon rays out of the woods. And in these actions lie the epitomy of | Reinhardt’s approach to his problem. | Of the players in the basic love | story only one achieves real dlstlnc-] tion. That is Olivia de Havilland, ! | week on the Howard stage. | Chuck Richards. | with Sybil Jason, new child star, is the screen attraction. whose Hermia is a gentle, yet lively, personation. The others, Ian Hunter, Verree Teasdale, Ross Alexander, Dick Powell and Jean Muir, are, however, | handsome and well spoken. Their | mimicry 1s more sagacious than the plot the Bard invented for them and\ when they, too, recover from their awe of a classic, they are pleasing to behold. | BLUE RHYTHM BAND COMING 'HE Mills Blue Rhythm Band, one of the most popular of Harlem's | 5 orchestras, arrives tomorrow for & Dynamic Lucky Millinder is the leader of the group, and Pianist Edgar Hayes is featured. The cast of 45 in the Howard stage show is headed by Sally Gooding and “Little Big Shot” ‘There will be the usual midnight show Saturday. ight st 8:20 ATIONAL ENCE SCHWA lell(- Gay. New Hnlicbl Play VENUS (N SILK By Laurence Schwab and Lester Oleete, Music by Robert Stolz CAST AND ENSEMBLE O Mon. at 8:15 Seats Today KATHARINE CORNELL w ROMEO ... JULIET FLORENCE REED RALPH RICHARDSON MAURICE EVANS CHAELES WALDRON e, 8 Sat. Mat., $1.10-i Nllh ed. Mat., $1.10-$2.75. \ N, ///// FALL FESTIVAL GREATER SHOWS HERE -COME the MIDDIES! ....Bands Playing.... Guns , Roaring...... Flags Flying in this 21-Gun Musical Salute to Romance!, .. DICK RUBY POVIHI. KEEI.ER * P“* Prod. — A First Nat1 Hit Fllmed at Annapolis LEWIS STONE ROSS ALEXANDER Johnny ARLEDGE - Dick FORAN and Entire Body of Annapolis Qfldshlpmcn * * Last Day - “SPECIAL AGENT" Stage -EL BRENDEL \ | WITHOUT REGRET SCANDAL! IUIDIII BLACKMAIL} PAUL CAVANAGH KENT TAYLOR « FRANCES DRAKE ® AL SILECTED SHORTS o METRODOI.ITAN mm o TwEPMDEE e ' They are included in one of the largest casts ever assembled in Hollywood for a single produc- Symbolic Colors. “The early Christian artist gave sym- bolic meaning to the different colors. Red was intended to typify love; blue, | truth; green, hope; white, purity. in- nocence and faith; yellow, sometimes sunlight, marriage and religious faith, | occasionally jealousy and deceit. AC ADEMY of Perfect snlnl Fhotonlay Continuous. From 4.3 TMADGE ih E_FIGHTING_ PILOT. CLAUDETTE COLBERT, cHAmm BOYER. PMVATI WORLDS."” AASKRD. MARCH in “ANNA KARENINA CAROLINA &2 c"‘%‘o.& fm T8O CARRILLO in_* -uv. r-nn- Ave. (N’EW)’ CIRCLE 23037t ovss Mat. Tuesday. Thursday, Saturday. Sunday. CLARK GABLE. JEAN HARL()W WALLACE < BEERY in "CHINA SEAY.” Pathe News. DUMBARTON 134 Siseei e LARO. MICHAEL DALMATOFF in “ONCE IN A BLUE MOON."" _News and_Comedy. FAIRLAWN ANACOSTIA, D. C. KAY JOHNSON in “VILLAGE TALE " 9th Between F and G Acousticon Equipped E-COR! LAy COLBERT. 5. Soorts Reel Wi Our Gani 1 to 6. 15¢ and 20c: and “Flying Hunt 10 to 1. 15¢, all Seat iter 6. 1 PRINCESS sned bl o sune 1THE DARING YOUNG MAN. - .TvDrrH ALLEN and REGIS TOOMEY in KLe8d Roas ™ 8244 Georgia Ave, Mfl. SECO Silver Spring y Sontinuous From -0 E_EVAI “AGE OF INDISA(DDGRETION W Comedz Pathe News. STANTON u0ih 320 0 8tz NE. Sound _Equipment Gontinuous From 5:30 P WALLACE FORD mur' Wll. Au.. Bethesda, Md. how at 6:00 P AND THIND BNGAGEM "NAUGHTY MARIE’I'I‘A > NELSON EDDY. JEANETTE MacDONALD. IT AGAIN! “ANNAPOLIS FAREWELL.” HIPPODROME * ™ ° ‘Today-Tomorrow-Saturday Gable, Harlow, Beery in “CHINA SEAS.” CAMEQ T, =roues wo.™ MARION DAVIES in “PAGE MISS GLORY.” ARCADE HYATTSVILLE, MD, ‘Today-Tomorrow CAGNEY and O’BRIEN, “IRISH IN US.” RICHMON‘D ALBXANDIIA VA ‘Today-Tomor. Gable, Harlow, Beery in “CHINA SEAS.” AMBASSADOR T o e ADAMS Blndreel ln AL[CI APOLLO 621 H 8. 1 Ni.—' E R SPiCe ¥ AV ALON_C:K:_';%EIM" GEORGE RAFT and ALICE FAYE in EVERY NIGHT AT EIGHT. Direction of Sidney Lust MARY, CAl I pARLS" m BPRING SAVOY oy WARNER BROS. 'l'HEATI:'.RS SHALL in_"ACCENT ON Y YORK fih.‘y'c'w"&t IDA LUPING AYLOR 1n T IR Comedy: JI-'.SSE THEATER b T 8ts. NE YOUNG.~ Comedy. ~ PALM THEATER ] “COLLEGE SCANDAL,” ) BERNHEIMER’S THURSDAY “GREAT WALTZ” TO HAVE NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT Musical Production Is Touring After Two Seasons at Radio City. GREAT WALTZ,” Max Gor- don’s musical production which had a phenomenal two seasons’ run at the Center Theater, Radio City, in Rockefeller Center, New York, comes to the National Theater on Monday, November 11, for a week’s engage- ment. Probably “The Great Waltz” is the most heroic Tour in the history of ‘the theater. For months a staff of me- chanics have been studying stages throughout the country, figuring each inch of space in an effort to find a way to fit the huge scenic equipment into the space the various theaters afforded them. The stage at the National Theater is exceptionally large and so al- though “The Great Waltz” will fit on it something like the proverbial glove, there will nevertheless be room enough for the entire production. Several technicians will precede the company to Washington to make whatever alteration that may be re- quired for the proper presentation of this greatly heralded production. The tour of “The Great Waltz" began at the Boston Opera House on Thursday, October 3, where it scored such a hit that an additional week had to be added to the engagement. The Metropolitan Opera House, Phila- delphia, follow, and then Washing- ton. Other cities on the itinerary are .Boy, OCTOBER 10, 1935. Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. -K-O-Keith’s—“Dijarhond Jim,” at 11:15 am, 1:21, 3:27, 5:33. 7:39 and 9:45 pm. Loew’s Fox—“O'Shaughnessy’s at 11 am.,, 1:40, 4:30, 7:20 and 10 pm. Stage shows at 12:45, 3:35, 6:35 and 9:05 p.m. arle—"“Special Ageni,” at 11 am,, 1:25, 4:10, 7:05 and 9:50 p.m. Stage shows at 12:35, 3:20, 6:15 and 9 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 11:75 am, 1:30, 3:30, 5:35 7:35 and 9:35 p.m. Belasco—“Nell Gwyn,” at 12:18, 2:18, 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, Pittsburgh, Detroit, St. Louis, cinnati and Chicago. The company of a hundred and forty, is headed, as it was in New York, by Guy Robertson, Lee Whitney, Marie Burke, Ralph Mengelssen and Solly Ward. Cin- 12 Left-Foot Shoes Stolen. WILMINGTON, Del. (#).—Some- body stole 12 sample shoes from the automobile of Charles Chipley of Bal- ;Amm‘e, taking only those for the left oot. ~ DEAN JAGGEK LARRY "BUSTER' CRABBE EDWARD ELLIZ AMUSEMENTS." BRITISH NAVY IN FILM THI British Navy not only is mak- ing today's news headlines, but it is the headlining star in the British film that will follow “Nell Gwyn"” into the Belasco. “Born for Glory,” starring Barry Mackay and John Mills, the| next arrival, is the thrillng saga of modern England’s mighty power—her fleet. For the first time the Britsh Admi- ralty cb-operated in the making of a | picture. Barry Mackay wiil be re- membered for his fine role in “Ever- green.” In “Born for Glory,” he has his firsi starring role. CHILD COURSE OFFERED Studio of Theater Arts Announces Its Winter Schedule. SPECIAL children’s course in dra= maties will probably be included in the Winter schedule of the Studio of Theater Arts, it is announced by Constance Connor Brown, director of the school. ‘The Winter term will get under way this week, with classes scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 15. The studio will again have its headquarters at 1731 K street, and will produce | its plays in Wardman Park Theater. FRIDAY ! The pick of Washington pfu Jthe pick of Broadway aud"ALL THE LITTLE GODFREYS' NELL KELLY .AOADWAV 5 DANCING COMEDIENNE RAY WIZARD OF THE SAZOPHONE o fimflfll | twtt AMES ACDONALD A musical romance that bri new glory to the screen ! SCREEN ngs MARTINI OF RADIO AND OPERA GENEVIEVE TOBIN /- SCHUMANN-HEINK ANITA LOUISE « MAR{A GAMBARELLI REGINALD DENNY «++.ALL IN M-G-M’S MAMMOTH MUSICAL | - BROA Dl NELO} ) ')4/1/9/ Goldwyn Mayer Picture with JACK BENNY (Vesd Rodio's “Number One” Comedian ) ELEANOR POWELL (Your new singing, dancing JOY) ® 20 1H CENTURY OX PICTURE ® ROBERT TAYLOR (The Screen’s New Romantic Sensation ) UNA MERKEL, FRANCES LANGFORD, SID SILVERS, BUDDY EBSEN, JUNE KNIGHT, VILMA EBSEN, HARRY STOCKWELL, NICK LONG, J. STARTS FRIDAY