Evening Star Newspaper, January 7, 1937, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS Critics Select “Mr. Deeds” As Best Film of the Year New York Reviewers on Comedy, With S Place Their Approval ocial Drama a Close Second; Huston Leading Actor. BY JAY CARMODY. €« R. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN” was the best motion picture of 1936. That is what the New York critics have declared, and they are men and women of discernment. If they say Gary Cooper's comedy for Columbia deserves the accolade, why disagree? Their Pronouncement is good material for a Thursday lead and it spares one the pecessity of making his own “best” selection. “Mr. Deeds,” as it got to be known affectionately as it spread laughter and gathered well-earned dollars, 1s & choice which leaves little room for quarreling. It got America's vote in the form of erowds that wore out carpets in the foyers and sent the girls in box offices to sleep, still counting change. That, of course, merely made it a commer- eial success. (“Merely,” used in this sense, is not necessarily a prelude to the authorship of a proletarian novel. It implies that pictures can be com- ! mercial successes in spite of artistic | defects.) The critics chose “Mr, Deeds” as an artistic affair before it began to burn up cash registers and their bestowal of the most recent medal completes the cycle of approval. Everybody, it seems, just loved it. Most of all, producer and exhibitors. “Mr. Deeds” struck a fresh note in wotion picture technique. To use its opwn word, it was pixilated; even to the extent of inserting that definitive expression into thousands of vocabu- faries. It was nonsensical in the finest vence of “nonsensical.” It was com- edy at its frothiest best; the kind which, if it did not shake the world, shook millions of citizens into a new | awareness of the meaning of hilarious. It was funny and it was fun. So the New York critics cannot be | ealled nasty names for having selected | it as their best film of 1936. * ok ok X N THEIR vote on the best picture of last year, as they see best pictures, the Broadway critics were not unani- mous in their sentiment that Holly- wood is at its best when it is most light-hearted. Runners-up to “Mr. Deeds” in the vote were two pictures which, by implication, dripped acid on the ways and works of mankind. They were “Fury,” with its terrifying reve- fation of mobs and their motivation, and “Winterset,” which gave the mo- tion picture public its first taste of the lashing bitterness of Maxwell Ander- son. This testament of faith in Holly- wood’s courage in making pictures of the type of “Fury” and “Winterset” may encourage further ventures in the same direction. It is an end devoutly to be wished. Devoutly wished, at| feast, by that growing group which | would like to see Hollywood extend its | ghallenge to the stage’s assumed prior #ight to the social drama. * ok X % 'HE legitimate stage can find one considerable cause for satisfaction n the decisions of the Gotham movie eritics’ jury. Its members could not get beyond Walter Huston's “Dods- worth” when it came to selecting the outstanding male screen performance ©f the year. Drawn to Hollywood to play his famous stage role, Huston's work outshone that of the best of those more accustomed to film tech- nique. Cooper, playing his most suc- eessful role in the prize-winning “Mr. Deeds,” was not even close in the vot- tng. He was considered, as were Spen- eer Tracy, Charles Laughton, Hugh ¢ |1t was casual consideration they all got when the ballots were counted. * %k * x HEN the darkness into which the Belasco again has been plunged ‘:hll! be lifted, any number of things ‘mly have happened in the light of the present buzzing reports. One ru- | mor has it that it will be & legitimate house, another that it will combine stage and screen shows, & third that it will be the second house in & new Washington chain, and a fourth that some one would like to see how bur- lesque would go there. The safest guess would appear to be that, with all the stories of its future in the air, |1t is bound to be something other than | enduringly dark. The bidding is too keen for that. LI HEN Pittsburgh rama appraisers, professional and nonprofessional, added their “noes” to Washington's estimates of “The Two Mrs. Carrolls,” | B. A. Meyer, the producer, gave up. | He is closing the show at the end of lits run in the Smoky City this week. | For how long, it is not being said. Mr. Meyer is convinced the show needs rewriting. Whether the shutdown will be for the duration of the re- write job, or forever, will not be known until the new script is ready. ‘The play, in case you did not know it, is not the same one that ran for & year in London. It was completely revamped for the American presenta- tion. That should end a great deal of speculation as to just how it managed to last 12 months abroad only to die in less than two weeks in its native land. % CARTER BARRON, Sam Galanty and Rudy Berger had their heads together yesterday in the former's office, planning a big year for the Variety Club. Mr. Gallanty still wore his hospital pallor, but insisted it | didn’t mean a thing . . . Artists work |sand. A couple who express their gmlus in that odd material are com- | ing to Warner Bros.' Earle on Friday. | They are Powell and Nedra. The.act is called “Mystic Mosaics.” | another week at R-K-O Keith's . . . | It's Lily Pons’ latest, you know. “The Plough and the Stars” will move in {when and if the customers get enough of the tiny French singing star. 9 Via Unien LEAVING TOWN? ¥z: STORE YOUR CAR in the Heated CONTINENTAL GARAGE Attached to Hotel Continentel Entrance on NEAR UNION n‘u‘loN Guard Against Theft, Parking Bans and Freezing Weather Telephone Met. 4642 meAR LE TOM:)Y;?OW 2', HOURS Of Never A Dull Moment F And on the Stage or Radio-Stage & Screen Star Musical Riot- Laughs-Lyri Love-Lunatics! SING ME 10VE SONG Warner Bros.— Cosmopolitan Production with A Cast of 100% Comics JAMES MELTON PATRICIA ELLIS HUGH HERBERT cs MURRAY MAMA THAT MAN’S HERE With A Cast of Comucs OSWALD IORIGINAL “OH YEAH” MAN MARLYN STUART Estre Added Attration ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ-BAND Qxiginators of SV{ing Musie A ASU PITTS ALLEN JENKINS POWELL & NEDRA CHUCK & CHUCKLES 25¢ to 1 P. M. Last ey o GOU'S COUNTRY & THE WOMAN On Stage LITTLE JACK LITTLE = NERBERT MUNDIN % <WORRON TIGER woMAN! « .+« Who Ruled The Jungle But Lost Her Heart To A White Man....! Dorofltq .[.amour The Screen’s Newest Discovery Who Will Win Your Heart When You See Hern ... . "The J PRI UNGLE NCESS® in every medium these days, including | “That | Girl From Paris” hangs around for THE 'EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DEANNA DURBIN PROVES YOu DON'T HAVE TO HAVE YEARS OF TRAINING TO SING SWEETLY , IN==- STHREE SMART GIRLs COMING TO R-K-0 kLflHS 1 . A REVIVAL AT THE“LITTLE/ “Tiere's MARLENE DIETRICH , THERE'S CHARLES BOYER AND THERE, ARE DESERT SCENES IN COLOR IN ‘GARDEN OF ALLAHY SCHEDULED FOR- LOEW'S CAPITOW, CLAUDETYE COLBERT AND -- CLARK GABLE STILL HAVE THE WALL OF JERICHO IN MIT HAPPENENED ONE NIGHT” | TO BE REVIVED AT THE RIALTO. YTHESE THREE” , THE -FILM ADAPTED FROM\THE CHIL- DREN'S HOUR”, HAS MERLE OBERON AND MIRIAM HOPKINS, Ruggles’ New Lead. CHARLIE RUGGLES has been given | the role of miserly newspaper au- | ditor in Paramount’s “Tightwad,” Paul Gallico's magazine story of lhl same name. Music Treat . . Ovations Given by BY ALICE EVERSMAN, N THE series of eight chamber mu- sic programs being.given at the artists, under the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Foundation, the Musical Art Quartet gave the first of two scheduled Paul Bernard, violins; Louis Kievman, viola, and Marie Roemaet-Rosanoff, cellist, and in two numbers was as- ‘The capacity of the hall was so taxed that additional chairs were placed in the corridor outside. The tion and the artists were given a real ovation at the conclusion of. each ren- dition. After the introduction of the Packed Hall at Con- gress Library. l Library of Congress by different quartet groups and assisting for it, last evening. The quartet is composed of Sascha Jacobsen and sisted by Frank Sheridan, pianist, and William Hymanson, violist. program of three Mozart numbers was listened to with keenest atten- players in the “Quartet in D, K. V. 575," the “Sonata in E Flat, K. V. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1937 sonority of deep color unusually ex- pressive. In point of finely turned phrases, of unity of idea and of blend- ing tones the artists far exceeded their performance of the first number, the “Quartet in D.” The upbullding of sentiment to the serene freedom of the final movement is the finest specimen of all chamber musie writing and the players sensed it with deep sympathy and polished their performance ac- cordingly. ‘The quartet was less rich in smoothe ness of delivery and in fineness of ef- fect. The tonal quality of the instru- mentalists had not warmed up suff- ciently nor were they as practiced in bringing out the delicate variety that is the fascinating work in interpreting Mozart. Splendid masters of their in- In the Public's Interest wE are not the largest publishi ing estnbllshment in Washington, nor the oldest. ing and print- In fact, we've just started, but we have everything that it takes to give you a good print- ing job, regardless of the specifications. We have set out to build a reputation for friendly service in the public’s interest, and invite your inquiries accordingly. The Friendship Press Edward B. McLean, Jr., Pres. PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS MAGAZINES LETTERHEADS PAMPHLETS BOOKLETS 1065 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. Wllats be Pradsed FOR THIS GIANT OF ENTERTAINMENT! Phone WEst 1643 Crificl acclaim the new, more beavtiful, more glamorous Marlene Dietrich, vibrant in the radiance of technicolor, and Charles Boyer, unanimously hoiled for the greatest perfor- mance of his career. Together ..motion picture history| SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL presents Marlene DIETRICH Charles BOYER GARDEN OF ALLAH IN TECHNICOLOR Predveed by DAVID O SPLINICK Prom fhe book by ROBERT MICHENS AMUSEMENTS. struments as are the four artists, the ensemble was not as inspiring as in the quintet, although the more exact- ‘cello part was well underlined by Mme, Roemaet-Rosanoff, With Prank Sheridan at the piano NowKEITH'S LILY PONS GENE RAYMOMD o JACK OAKIE ‘THAT GIRL s~ PARIS' S New Seag Mits + 1,000 New Langhe —« Hoort Trouble Sot to Muvie COMING _ . BARBARA STANWYCK PRESTON FOSTER in Sean O'Casey’s “PLOUGH and the STARS” with ABBEY PLAYERS of DUBLIN RIALT NINTH 8T, North of G NA. 0095 Also—“The Plow That Broke the HILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA EUGENE ORMANDY. C san. 12,8:45_ ....3.'-'-'.'..': T Rachmanmofl i GAYETY BURLESK NOW PLAYING | PEANUTS (MINIATURE) BOHN WHAT “DA” HEY GIRLS WITH FERBER AND MARVIN BILLY ARLING and the Female Ci Dorethy Ahearn and Evely ATIONAL "% Eves., 85¢ to $2.75. Mat. Sa 85¢ e $2.20, (Ime. Tax. IIIAI SHUMLIN Presents Most Discussed Play of the _Generation. CIIll.DRENC k HOUR wuwifum ORIQINAL CAST 08 WEEXS Il NEW YORK Next Week Saats Selling Prier To New York DENNIS HELEN ERNEST KING GLEASON Tll.IEX n Fraas Lebar's New FREDERIKA Staged and Directed by HASSARD SHORT Ameriean Adsptation by Edward Elisen Chereography by Chester Hale Settines by Watson Barratt FERSON! 1In l-llvlnflh Reeital $1.65, $2.20. Mrs, Dorser's, lw; L] Five BIG Shows TODAY! .. .LAST DAY for the BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT in Years! Doers Open 8:45 2. m. Firet Show Starts 9 o’Clock ) Y-- can arrive as late as 11 . tonight and COMPLETE SHOW NURRY--LAST DAY! to see WILLIAM POWELL MYRNA LOY “AFTER THE THIN MAN” and the huge STAGE Revue “FOLIE PARISIENNE” Loew’s CAPITOL Youth and Romance on a Grand Spree «..with the world's funniest comics! MARSHA HUNT ELEANORE WHITNEY BEN BLUE JOHNNY DOWNS , 51 ELEANOR POWELL JAMES STEWART-VIRGINIA BRUCE 2!# YO 8130 .. NIGHTS 25¢C & 40 lllN' FAIRLAWN lJ ]'e': lnd Comedy ANACOSTIA, D. ‘LIBI JEAN HARLOW ot Bet eem ¥ and G tlel. wm‘Gmd EYNNT FONTANNE in “TH UARDSMAN.” PRINCBS 1119 H St. N.E. 1t uvm TWICE." n SECO Niiver Sorine. Mo l'l“ ub\ll Pmm »um BAR- W&gflw TA m COOPER ~ and STANTON .8 Caunnunu o ] w!:-n‘ B %fi,‘ - STATE-] B{-:RE'I'I-IESTRA “:-’;‘w‘;n';;’ o “STAR FOR A NIGHT.” GEORGE RAFT in ‘YOURS ron THE ASKING.’ WARNER snbs. msu‘sks AMBASSADO : JOAN CRAWFORD and AR ABLE i LOVE ON THE RUN.? AI’OLLO -..‘1...‘. sl 3 JOHNNY WEISMU REEN oS OLLIVAN | ETT | AVENUE GRAND THE ISLE OF FUR) GARET _ LIN TP HHEY DSA JOGART and DONALD V\OODG __March of Tim Bet. Saunee. 2100 P M. oA CROSBY a Birested by RICHA Relegsed thre UN I OLRILAWSK) D ARTISTS with RAY MILLAND * LYNNE OVERMAN® RCH. ) LE A Paramount Picture SEE a raging tiger attack an un. armed man right before your eyes. SEE the breath-taking assault of thousands of wild apes on a prims itive native village. SEE the great enemies of the jungle—tiger and panther — meet in mortal combat. M RU TAKOMA | “ iy b “CAIN AND MABEL.” AT EIGHT,” 9:04 P.M. Return Engagement by Popular Demand, WALLACE BEERY and MARIE DRESSLER. CLAIRE TREVOR in “Song and Dance Man.” Puss... - ON THE STAGE | Thewonsss . The nepis- S ALICE PUPPETS GREATEST NOVELT umm/AL smtnmmsns... 10 MACICAL SCENES / SiD MARION‘-'“ Sit « STAFFORD & LOUISE 2N TWO DAVEYS in “JUGGLING WITH fl‘cw;‘ c A P I To L 'mn SYLVAN ¥ ? “PIGSKIN PARADE,” STUART FRWIN. PATSY KELLY. PALM THEATER 5T ¥ LA% IN LOVE,” AR B e ) ARCADE '!-&’Z',!%E?.E.'m"."' Johnny Weismuller ND Auxm ariie Ru ever Knows® !!L.’fi:‘sflm L