Evening Star Newspaper, September 25, 1936, Page 14

£ A—14 AM USEMENTS. Francis Lederer Lends ¢ Aid to Peace Activity Young Actor, Hailed on Continent and in|. New York, Possessed of Diversity of Talents. ) BY E. de 8. MELCHER. RANCIS LEDERER, whom you may see today at the Oapitol American Wife” is a scholar, s linguist and & philosopher as we! actor. On the Continent he was known as the cmtmnxuta.r.:m England when he played in “The Cat and the PFiddle” he was lndlnNevaklwanmh' test matinee idol of his day. i Now in Hollywood those who know¢ him well will tell you that he is s idifferent Lederer—an older, wiser «s-erhlp- even nicer Lederer. Having {amassed oconsiderable fame and Jortune, he is bullding s new life. and basing it not on the experiences .of the past, but on hopes and wishes #or the future. And since these do “not resemble the hectic turbulences 'of yesterday, since they eschew ‘wordliness and the pomp and circum- stances which he has already known, At is easy to see that his place in pictures will not necessarily depend on his continuing to be a matinee Adol, but on being an actor of wit, \Jpersonality and versatility and one 2who can do well anything that he -llkes to do. * k% % MR LEDERER is considerably 1 handSomer oft the screen than He is on. He carries himself like the athlete that he is. In his private gymnasium which is just a step from Mis Italian living room he has a “work- aut” each morning before he goes to the studio or to his office. Although he slems fo be slight of build, his shoulders ate broad and few of the boys who have 3 be slight of build, his shoulders ars foad and few of the boys who have E to do battle with him in pictures e cared to indulge in such a fisticuft lventure again. One of the things that has hurt Mim most in his lifetime was the death of his brother in the war. Prom that moment on there sprang into his heart & deadly hatred of all things that/ pertain to bloodshed and Wattle, and from that time on, too, pang that longing to see all such ings done away with. # Looking about him at the age of 16, Be-said to himself that if men could fight wars, they could also stop wars. While he had no idea how he could @0 about fostering such an experi- ment, since he was busy training him- @elf in the best achools of acting, he frankly longed for the day when he gpuld stop long enough to imprint his i@eals in the minds of others and fight the good fight against war with his mind and soul. 5 * % % % ONE day a few years ago he ai- tended a meeting of students and professors at a large university. Ar-| we guments concerning what was right and wrong with the world came thick and fast, and when suddenly Led@rer fumped up and voiced his opinions as | o how to fight war without war, he Was cheered for a full 10 minutes. From that moment on things seemed to come his way. One of the | important professors who had been present, surprised that a young, hand- | some aetor should have such ideals | with a staff of workers for which he is entirely responsible. Next door to the “Francis Lederer Production Co.” these rooms and workers are devoted to the cause for which he is ardently striv- ing. On the walls hang maps and small posters which show how the path of peace is progressing. Today, perhaps, they look a little limp—but they are there anyway. And day by day, while war clouds loom in even greater numbers across the skies the mail of those who believe in just the opposite pours in with amazing regu- larity. *x k% SUCH & man seems somehow slightly out of gear with the mythical Hol- lywood that lingers in most people’s minds. His house s handsomely equipped with stacks of books that reach to the ceiling, religious subjects predominate throughout the furnish- ings and even in his office on Holly- wood boulevard he has hung priceless tapestries and oil paintings which are & handsome tribute to his good taste. Some people take exception to the fact that he doesn’t drink or smoke. Some people resent his taking such good care of himself. S8ome people re- sent his continental ways (although most ladies have never shied at his kissing their hands) and others claim that his “charm” is something that is too easily turned on and off. The fact of the matter is that Le- derer is still a shy young man who cares more for the wofld than he does for himself and who is so earnestly mixed up with things which may be beyond him that he has little time to worry about what people think. Most people when they know him | like gnim. But his friends in Holly- are not legion. They include, however, such loyal people as Anita Loos, Joan Crawford, Margo and Jerry Asher. Among¢these he can read the Italian books of which he is so fond, | sing his small songs and preach his personal hopes, without fear. There is, too, much about him that there is in his latest picture. He would | give his shirt to be a cowboy. 'rhel truth of the matter is that at this very ; minute he is building himself & ranch. “POWER! :ALTERNATELY STRONG AND WEAK Little Theater Really Has Some- thing, Though, in Revival of Chaplin’s “Immigrant.” Wm a performance that is half genius and the other half dis- tinctly at home between two slices of rye bread, a touch of mustard in- cluded, Conrad Veidt returned to town yesterday in “Power,” the pic- famed novel about an able Jewish fellow whose rise to power leads most | directly and bitterly to the grave. However significant the filming of this important literary opus, the bill at the Little Theater this week is principally notable for its revival of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Immigrant,” in which the divine Charlus dem- onstrates that his whimsy and at least & fair portion of his gags defy time and the river. “Power” commanded some atten- tion for its sincerity of production, its abundance of overacting, the timeliness of its theme (persecution of the Jews and the consequent rise to authority of one of their number who is not afraid to face the world on its own terms, deal deftly in eynicism and gold) when it appeared many months ago at the Belasco. Revived at this point, the picture Tetains its faults in full, finds no especial strength in the renewal of its virtues. Gerald Du Maurier, Cedric Hardwicke, Frank Vosper and the handsome Benita Hume are in the supporting cast, all relatively trivial adjuncts to Mr. Veidt's Slternately brilliant and stupid in- terpretation of the central character. < As for “The Immigrant,” he should #gain emigrate into every home, there to refresh the memory of those Who imagine that anyone other than Chaplin could have produced or Scted in a cinema that would survive 8 score of years with even passing ectiveness, surmount the change m silent films to talkies, im- fnortalize a certain v.ype of comic §tage business—R. B. F,, Jr. i s s Plans Coronation. } ©Organizing public functions for the gonnnon of King Edward has been igned to the Duke of Norfoik. 114 IllfiSt NW. It will pay you to see SHERWOOD before you ' buy SHERWOOD OILBURNER ‘| its dramatic season October 26, 27 | James Otis Porter, William S. Hepner, turization of Lion Feuchtwanger’s ARTS CLUB PLAY CHOSEN “No More Frontier” to Be Made Opener for Season. 'NO MORE FRONTIER,” by Talbot Jennings, has been chosen by the Arts Club of Washington to open and 28. The drama, 8 modern American play i & prologue and three acts, is being directed by Denis I. Connell. The cast includes Maurice Jarvis, Col. Charles J. Perris, Edward E. Muth, Charles Gilman, Paul Alex- ander, Walter S. Studdiford, Murray Sheehan, Edwin H. Etz, J. Martin Scranage, Ralph Fowler, Ben Smart, James Hicks, Roy F. Bartschy, John Cavanaugh, Leo Cavanaugh, Joan Archer, Pauline Stanley, Wilma Flood, Dorothy C. Winchcole and Clara Hep- ner. Hugo Inden is designing the sets and Maud Howell Smith was in charge of casting. Where and When —_— Current Thester Attractions and Time of Showing. Loew’s * Capitol — “My American Wife,” at 10:45 a.m., 1:35, 4:25, 7:10 and 10 pm. Stage shows at 12:34, 3:25, 6:15 and 9 p.m. Palace—“The Great Ziegfeld,” at| 11:20 a.m. 40, 6 and 9:20 p.m. , 3:20, 5:20, 7:35 and R-K-O Keith’'s—"Swing Time,” at 11:32 am, 1:32, 3:32, 5:32, 7:32 and 9:32 pm. Warners' Earle. — “The Texas Rangers,” at 10:45 a.m. 1:30, 4:20, 7:10 and 10:10 pm. Stage shows at 12:40, 3:30, 6:20 and 9:10 p.m. M litan — “Anthony Adverse,” &t 9:30 and 11:50 a.m., 2:15, 4:45, 7:10 and §:30 p.m. Belasco—"Friday, the 13th” at 12:08, 2:07, 4:01, 6, 8 and 9:55 pm. Little—"Power,” at 11 am. 1:08, 3:16, 5:24, 7:32'and 9:40 pm. Ambassador—"Piccadilly - Jim,” 6, .7:50 and 9:15 p.m. Tivoll—“Girls’ Dormitory,” at 2 40, | 4:25, 6:15, 8 and 9:50 p.m. at Soze GOING AS xnrfku's , ‘wnnx . THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, FRIDAY, . SEPTEMBER 25, . 1936. Jean Parker and Fred MacMurray play the central roles in “Texas Rangers,” film story of the bringing of law and order to Tezas, which opened today at Warners’ Earle Day Tuttle Is to Direct Civic Group Enthusiastic About Prospects of New Theater. DAY TUTTLE. R. DAY TUTTLE stands in & M fair way foward being an in- fluence for the better on the local drama scene. Introduced to part of the local drama press at a luncheon yesterday, the di- rector brought here by the new Wash- ington Civic Theater turned out to be an interested and interesting chap, who knows his theater and who is enthusiastlc over the new group’s prospects He confined most of his luncheon talk yesterday, however, to a discussion of earthquakes and the -Lobero The- ater, in Santa Barbara; talk of plays, Ppeople and motion pictures, and re- served any lengthy comment on the local project until things get going. At the time he had only seen some JESSIE MA]THIEWS EDMUND GWEN) ‘FRIDAY the TH A WASHINGT INSTITUTION ALWAYS COMFORTADLY COOL # 35¢ Opening 'Hi $:30 P.M. TAIRE GINGER L2l d Ilcf'll WITH lufll‘l “ll SONG HITS “mEiEe n»lu@ » stoRGES :mnu . me stong J-'u.n-e-g 35 of the people with whom he was to work, paraded before him the night before in readings. About some of these he was enthusiastic, and he ex- pected to find a lot more talent by the time he had seen the 60 or 70 more local players due to try out last night for roles in the group's first play, “Caesar and Cleopatra.” Tuttle came here because he feels the fleld is wide open for some creative work in the theater, what with the town having been devoid of any real civic drama efforts. He is a graduate of the Yale Drama School and recently has been busy as director and man- ager of one of the best-known of the Summer theaters, the Westchester Play House, at Mount Kisco, N. Y., and the Ridgeway Theater, at White Plains, N. Y. He is reputedly responsible for aid- ing along the road to theatrical suc- cess a number of famous folk, among them Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith and Vincent Price, who have worked with him &t Summer theaters. Tuttle brought to Washington with him another Yale Drama School grad- uate, William Girvan, to, act as tech- nical director for the Civic Theater. —H M. ——— “ADVERSE” FILM STAYS Begins Second Metropolitar Week #' “and Third in City. * i ANTHONY ADVERSE,” the War- ner Bros. picturization of Hervey Allen’s best-selling novel, remsins at the Metropolitan for a second week, l:d:tlnl its third week in Washington y. Fredric March plays the title role in Roller Skating Silver Spring Armory Season Opening To-nite Every Nite, 8 to 11 P.M. Except Thursday, 10-12 P.M. New Floor—Popular Music The Noted Stage, Screen And Radio Shr In Person DONATELLA BROS. AND CARMEN JEAN, JAX & JO THE FIVE DEGUCHIS llll!l lll& MASTERPIECE ‘heater. “Anthony Adverse” and his support- ing cast includes Olivia de Havilland, Anita Louise, Claude Rains, Edmund Gwenn, Donald Woods, Billy Mauch and hundreds of others. ‘The picture was directed by Mervyn Le Roy and Erich Wolfgang Korngold composed the musical score. LAST TIMES TODAY AND TOMORROW AT 2:30, 8:30 - - 5 ws | ](ul ;14“ S\\Q\\V\ rected inel; Settings by J. .‘d'llnl“' [GAYETY BURLESK STARTING THIS SUNDAY MATINEE (CHEESE AND SBACKERS) EXTRA Annln ATEATURES M'LLE VERNE. 3 Sensation DEVLIN, lll, 'A AN AND cOTR 25¢ to 1P M swsTODAY RONAMCE, COMEDY, ADVENTURE AND THRHLS . . . The “Coversd Wagon" and “Cimarron” of the New Season. A Patamount Saga of the Loe Star State FRED MacMURRAY JACK OAKIE JEAN PARKER LLOYD NOLAN Next Attraction KAY FRANCS “Give Me Your eart” 37BIG WEEK ASHNGTON 1S TALKING ABOVT... ANTHONY AIIVEIISI 4 hune Allen With FREDRIC HIRGII -METROPOI.ITAN AMUSEMENTS. A New Kind of Romance + « « of the:Count who went Cowboy to win the gal' he loved! AMERICAN WIFE .. FRANCIS lEDEIIER The No. 1 man of enter- tainment brings you his NO. 1 SHOW OF ALL DANCE BAND TE‘D MACK FRED STONE III.I.IE BURKE '-'l'huo Youman Bros. Fritzi Robbins Lightning Three Sid Raymond Frances White 3 Virginia Hams Swing String Five and Washington'’s Own Winner on the Major's ACADEMY © g gregs ppvoos E. Lawrence Phill} l' ‘l'hulre Iellflffll GRACE Cg:gon“uiul‘ e KD"(‘) OUT." “TOUGH GUY," with J:% COOPER. GEORGE __'THE BORDER PATROLM. cARouNA llll lll N. ‘Q:N. S.E BLO! i mmaofl and _ JOAN ln “BULLETS OR BALLOTS.” 2105_Penna Ave. N.W. Free Parking, 2000 K St. 1119 H St N.E. York Air Conditioned WALLACE mu"v'r’h Pe.‘l_;‘u'}' BIG HOUSE.? BUDDY ROGERS in “DANCE BAND.* Y d Also_“13_HOURS BY FRED I‘.I:HU‘RRAY and JOAN l!!‘ll'l'f STANTON SR g% nti L 5 0 P inuous Prom MADI CARROLL % BRENT in “THE CASE AGAIN!'I‘ Am. BILL BOYD in “GO-GET: "EM_HAINES." STATE-BETHESDA 223 di- BORIS KARLOFF in “INVISIBLE RAY.” BOBBY BREEN in “LET'S SING AGAIN.” ~ FALLS CHURCH, VA. _ LEE in Shcx oakie in CAMEQ MT- RAINIER. MD. Today Jean Harlow, Pranchot Tone. ARCADE ™ATifgiys- o Lionel Barrymore in “Devil Doll Cot T M ANS _in “PICCADILLY JIM.” Mickey Mouse. KW’ sor “flfi‘fiflm MICKEY BMOIISI‘ BHoAuh\W orin 9:30 a.m.'/y, 0900 Pon. | LACE ' Pt e e == ewe |PEGGY KELLY SCHOOL{ : W% LRI