Evening Star Newspaper, December 24, 1936, Page 6

‘A—6 AMD:LM];.\AS. Bobby Breen’s New Fil ,:»?Offers Songs and Tears fiixture Neatly Interlarded With Laughter ” ' Which Seems Destined to Give Picture Wide Appeal. BY JAY CARMODY. HEY have dressed up one of the best of the old stories Breen to Keith's screen in his newest film, “Rainbow to On It is the dressing, however, and not the story that counts. as one of the finest colored mammies that has been done since the Civil War. R-K-O Radio, which made “Rainbow On The River,” has been extremely generous with the Breen boy's spec-< ialty, his singing. He sings every few feet of the film and his songs vary from the “Ave Maria,” through negro spirituals, all the way to & number that swing bands will be tooting for weeks—maybe even months. The fa- Johi hoir lends its | mous Hall Johnson choir lent | the d abilities of i vdgal aid to Bobby upon occasion. At andther time, it is a talented boys' choir. MThere is more than an excuse for | the ~youngster to use his splendid vaiok in the story with which he has bgen provided in his second picture. Into it has been fused the familiar ingredients of an orphan brought up by his mother’s old colored mammy; a,lad who is destined for, and even- tyally lands in, the cold, palatial home of his paternal grandmother. * % x x TH:I things that happen before the © thing is unscrambled are pecu- larly designed to put lumps in your throat and tears on your lashes. They slways have been so designed. They hhve worked out 50 on all occasions. This one is no exception. You are cénstantly being pushed up to the edge of tears only to have your at- téntion diverted by a gesture or a gtimace that keeps you from making what is called “an idioi” of yourself. In the motion picture field the DEANNA DURBIN, 14-year-old singing star, makes her movie debut in “Three Smart Girls,” which comes to R-K-O Keith’s Thea- ter next month, giving Wash- ington a chance to hear the voice which is said to be destined for ‘opera in two years. Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. Nationai—"“Boy Meets Gir],” at 8:30 pm. Earle—“Polo Joe,” at 11:05 am., 1:35, 4:25, 7:15 and 9:55 pm. Stage shows at 12:45, 3:35, 6:25 and 9:05 p.m. Capitol — “Charlie Chan at the Opera,” at 11 am., 1:40, 4:25, 7:15 and 9:55 p.m. Stage shows at 12:50, 3:30, 6:20 and 9:05 p.m. Palace—"Born to Dance,” at 11:50 1:52, 4:14, 6:36 and 9:08 p.m, e of Edward VIIL” at 12:47, 3:09, 5:31 and 8:03 p.m, “Girl on the Front Page.” at 10:25 p.m. pm. Columbia—"Rose Bowl,” at 11:5§ .m., 1:85, 3:55, 5:55, 7:35 and 9:55 p.m. Metropolitan — “Theodora Goes Wild,” at 11 am., 1:05, 3:15, 5:20, ¥:30 and 9:40 pm. Rialto—"If I Had a Million,” at 3, 8:54, 5:48, 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. Little—"Rendezvous, Tivoli—“My Man Godfrey,” at 32, 8:55, 5:50, 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. Uptown—"“A Woman Rebels,” at 3, 8:50, 5:45, 7:35 and 9:30 p.m. Howard—“Isle of Pury,” at 13:30, 8:50, 7:05 and 10:10 pm. Stage shows Bt 2:30, 5:50 and 9:10 p.m. Rome to Have Tunnel. Plans are taking shape in Rome 1 is slowly dissolved in her feeling for recipe produces that happiest of all results, sure-fire box office. “Rainbow On The River” has been that else- where. It undoubtedly will be at Keith's alsa. No great burden is placed upon “Rainbow On The River.” He was endowed with a wistful look and s heavenly voice and they are ample for the requirements of the part as- signed to him. The picture is handsomely done as to other characterizations. May Rob- son plays an irascible dowager who the waif that fate and & wayward son eventually deposit on her marble doorstep. One always knows that Miss Robeon (Mrs. Ainsworth) is going to turn out a fine, warm-hearted old lady. Accordingly one always keeps an open mind when she is being most sharp-tongued toward the boy who looks and sings like an angel. Charles Butterworth is cast as a butler. He also has a heart of gold, which is constantly evident in that deadpan voice which Butterworth alone has completely mastered. It is not the richest part in Butterworth's rich career, but he plays it with seem- ingly as much relish as if it were Hamlet, It is the hallmark of his acting. % x % J_OUISE BEAVERS as the ecolored mammy is going to make s lot of new friends before “Rainbow on the River” goes back to the wlrehuuu..l She does an artistic job of keeping & sentimental role just nicely sac- Others in the piece are the reliable Alan Mowbray, Benita Hume, Henry O'Neill, Stymie Beard and Lillian Yarbo. There is still one more, | Marilyn Knowiden. She is the nasty | brat of a cousin who spends all her |time making the orphan miserable. She gets special mention because when her disappointed mother slaps her it nearly brings down the house. It's an old trick and that it works so well in “Rainbow on the River” is pretty good evidence that the film is going to be popular. The Dionne quintuplets. looking & lot better than they did in color just 8 few weeks ago, are back on the same screen. For 400 feet of Pathe film "they go through & Christmas routine with Dr. Dafoe and their nurses. They open packages of toys, climb into bed, thump & piano, smile and otherwise act like the most re- markable babies in the world. The most remarkable five babies, of course. On the whole, with Bobby Breen, the Dionnes, and an animated Christ- mas cartoon, it is & happy Yuletidy bill which Keith's is offering for the next eight days. The fragrandi if ber camelias intons- cated bis, sonses....., Victor Moore and Dick Powell are the two male players principally involved in the goings-on of “Gold Diqger: of 1937,” new edition of the annual Warner musical, which opens to- morrow at the Earle Theater. CHAPLIN PLANS FILM IN CORONATION SCENES English Company Envoy Also Hopes to Draw Many Stars to London for Pageant. B9 the Associated Press. HOLLYWOOD, Calif., December 24 —Charlie Chaplin has told friends he may make at least part of his next movie, starring Paulette Goddard, in England next Spring—drawn there by the coronation ceremonies for King George VI. And Stephen Pallos, visiting gen- eral manager of Alexander Korda's English film company, expressed hope yesterday the coronation would help him persuade other Hollywood nota- bies to go to England. England is eager to employ Holly- wood stars, Pallos said, but he asserted “great harm” had been done to British pictures in the past by what he termed the “racket” of selling Hollywood has-beens to unknowing | - English producers as real attractions. GAYETY BURLESK NOW PLAYING “BOOTS BURNS” THE “TEXAS® TORNADO MAXINE BREAZEL LE THAT “GAL" FROM RICHMOND E FUNNY CLOWNS Vo TKEITH'S A WAsMINGTON INsTiTUTION BOBBY BREED ‘RAINBOW = RIVER Y 000s0n o emantes orTEmenTE o Coming . LILY PONS o THAT CIRL FROM PARIS AND McNALLY—DEVINE—&—PENNY LAWRENCE TIBBETT in & mew romantie musieal comedy —Zirst Washingion ing— UNDER YOUR SPELL —LAST TIMKS TODAY— IF 1 HAD A MILLION March to Quit Films For Stage With Wife|= Movie Actor Happy 'i‘hat Florence Eldridge Can Once More Return to Footlights, Where She Was Famous. BY SHEILAH GRAHAM. OLLYWOOD, December 3¢ (N.A.N.A.).—Por eight years, Forence Eldridge March, s well-known stage actress in her own rigat, has then two years at ‘Twentieth Cen- tury Fox. Now we are going to ap- pear together 3 again on Brogd- Way — and Tm Shielsh Graham, delighted—more for her sake than for mine.” ‘The most Ykely play in which the pair will be teamed is “Falling Angel” March to enact the role of Lord Byron—his wife, Caroline Lamb, one of the many ladies admired by the poet. Miss Eldridge, in New York for the past month, began her stage come-back in “Days to Come,” un- fortunately s failure. She—and the March adopted children, Penelope, 4, and Anthony, 2—will be joined Christmas day by the actor, following completion of the technicolor picture, “A Star Is Born,” for Selsnick Inter- national. Love-Making Best. According to March, the best part of acting with one’s wife is the en- | forced love-making. “You can put 50 much more aban- home. Look at the Lunts (Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne). Their love scenes |are the best in the theater. Watching them do their stuff it is difficult to ATIONAL . Nites, 85 to 32.75. Mat Sat., 850 te $2.20 (ine. tax). ‘A GROIEE ABSOTT PRODUCTION: m-&&mum« Next Week Beg. Mon. Seats Selling AMERICAN PREMIERE of LONDON STAGE SICESS B.AMEYER Pecasels @ new drema by g ELENA Staged by JOHN MAYDEN }}z.{,:[,c.l,cumao- Nites. 85¢ te $1.75. Mats Wed. snd Sat. S5e to $3.30_(ime. tax), haunted by the bugaboo attached to & film actor'’s return to the theater in spite of Katheryn Hepburn's classical flop in “The Lake” a coupe of seasons “T think it is true she is not as popu- Wwith movie-goers as she was before Lake'—but it has nothing to do with the play. She made her best fiims before—‘The Bill of Divorcement’ and ‘Litile Women.' Recently the stories haven't been as good. (March and Hepburn co-starred in “Mary of Scot- land,” & not. over-successful film.) “I can't understand why fiim stars are afraid to return to the stage,” con- tinued March. “Look at the success scored by Margaret Sullavan (in ‘Stage Door’), Leslie Howard (with the ex- ception of ‘Hamlet,’ Howard's frequent stage comebacks have been highly suc- cessful), and Charles Laughton. Herb- ert Marahall, who nearly did “Tovarich’ in New York, is another actor who could and should return to the theater at frequent intervals. “I don’t think it's the fear of being a flop that keeps legitimate actors in Hollywood—it's the dough and the pleasantness of life here. They want to make as much as they can before it’s over. Actually, it is possible to make more on the stage, when com- bined with radio work, than in Holly- wood. Helen Hayes told me she earns much more now than she did here. The State of California gets most of one's film earnings. Take some one making four pictures a year at $200,000 a picture. On the last picture he gets only $17,000 for himself, while his agent, working on a 10 per cent basis, earns $20,000.” It March makes good on the stage he will not abandon his picture work— which should be good news for movie producers and fans. (Copyright, 1936, by the North American Newspaper Alliance, Ine.) oot ek Ly OFP WHITE HOUSE LASCO.:2% TRIPLE CHRISTMAS PRESENT Last Times Yodoy Chaliapin as “DON QuIXOTE" “THE LIFE OF EDWA don into the scenes—and practice at | NEw y Show -“12 EVE mipwieyt 11:30 p M.~ N, Sm:::: LAST DAY=)0E £ BROWN in “POLO JOE™ TONORROW MARTHA RAYE In Peremount's C-—h' “HIDEAWAY GIRL v Rebert ReSS COMNINGS ) NEW YEAR'S EVE MIBN Tharsday, Bec. 315t — 11:30 P. Sl Iy Cns e o “Snat k™ Seals 40c Crush me in your arms until the breath is gone [Fack ¢ REAL HOLIDAY TRER @LH...N1TH A COMPLETELY W...STAR-STUDDED REVUE Y IN PERSON ALLEE CONNECTICUT YANKEES @[«4_/ the second concoction of his Judy.Starr % Cyril Smith The Bernards and The Duvals « Joe laonil Swing Kids Quu.lflto Loews COLUMBIA 7 /124, ACADEMY ©f Ferfect 2 sth E Lawrence Phillips' Tn Continuous_From, 4 “GHOST TOWN. GOLD: INGSTO! . RAY “C] and MAX TERHUNE. “SP) with __JAMES STEWART and WENDY BARRIE ASHTON o.FAEE5R0R" ! GENERAL DIED AT DAWN. ped % RENDEZVOUS PRINCESS c Double WORTH in_“WE WENT L P T rais W ST “The General Died at Dawn,” GARY COOPER. MADELEINE CARROLL. STANTON .5 itin, wE D _Kl)wus Prom FRIDAY G “LADI IN Matinees From Dec. 35 2:00 PM. 624 H St. N.E. Phone Linc. 3378 JANET GAYNOR. SIMONE SIMON. LORETTA YOUNG and CON- STANCE BENNETT in “LADIES IN AVALO Conn, Ave. TEMPLE in “DIMPLES “¢ Theater Thoroughly Redecorated Throughout and Equipped With New Chairs_and Other Improve- ments for Your Comfort. Eai d Inspect the “Ne __Avalon.” _ © PR AVENUE GRAND & fr At Matinee, 2:00 P.M. "CAWMA MAIL" with DICK STUART ERWIN and AR _in "PIGSKIN PARADE from my body!” She had known many kinds of love, but bis kisses filled her with longings shehad never felt before «..The glamorous Garbo—hand- some Robert Taylor—together in a love story that will awakea your innermost emotions with éfi.‘. its soul-seabbing drama! IWLE with LIONEL BARRYMORE ‘ELIZABETH ALLAN ¢ JESSIE RALPH - HENRY DANIELL LENORE ULRIC . LAURA HOPE CREWS A Matro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture, based on play and novel “Ls Dame sux Camelias” (Lady of the Camelias) by Alexandre Dumas Directed by George Cukor nue S.E. Bet Sts. Li. 2179 M. AR arch_of Ty SAVOY ', {for an underground railway. It is to be completed in time for an interna- tional exhibition five years hence. 8pecial care will be taken to guard the bore against the effects of earth- quakes. LOANS 70 years of buying, selling and lendingondiamonds, jewelry, etc. Libora) Loans at Lowest Possible Rates CASH FOR OLD GOLD 1275 RN Alexan: Va. Established 1866 WARNER BROS, THEATERS D7 JANE WITHERS in “CAN THIS BE DIXIE?” MICKEY in “THRU THE MIRROR.” Cartoon and News Events. Matinee Xmas, 2:00 P.M. Continuous. PUS NN VA __and DENNIS MOO 5 14th St. TIVOLY " 5% 1800 oaroLE "TOMBARD POW! “DEVIL IS A SISSY.” lected rt _Subject Tomorrow. Continuons From o ide of the Oharles Bickford in es. Closed_Tonight to Allow Em to hh!"(.m "o.'" llm Tomorrow—oon Jane Withers in layees o ristim e e e oheeet mflrm—mnnum 6 to 11 !,.. Carrillo_in_"Gav_Desperade,” DANCING. Leroy H. Thayer -Walts—Rhumbe Fox-Trot—T¢ ‘ongo—" poise. Seia m&% danon %fld‘ 131 Gomncotiont Ave. - Ma. 4131 MAE DA N g, B mWo?o‘it children’ . 3. "l.w. 'Natl, 341, AI:%M A _swing steps. i HURRY—LAST DAY! “BORN TO DANCE” e 17 VAN ' e R L Ave. NW. “THE GENERAL DIED | & STARTS FRIIIAY—Loew_’s PALACE IBI!NHEIHER'S Tonight to Allow Bmployesa to Enioy a8 Bve at H R i ’