Evening Star Newspaper, July 23, 1937, Page 30

AMUSEMENTS. “The Road Back,’ at Keith’s, Is Forceful Drama of War Universal Adaptation of Remarque Novel Softens Tone of Original But Speaks Still With Deep Eloquence. BY JAY CARMODY. T8 GLOOM deliberately lightened for a wider audience, “The Road Back,” grim novel of a shell-shocked world, has become a motion picture that speaks with eloquence against the craven cruelty of war and its aftermath, ‘The picture, upon which Universal lavished talent, time and money, opened last night at Keith’s before a notable audience composed of leaders in the official, diplomatic and social life of the National Capital. Those familiar with the novel of Erich Maria Remarque will recall tha he wrote this study of the armys® —MF— return with g strident bitterness that at times approached hysteria. Univer- sa] in transmuting it into a picture, with R. C. Sheriff scripting the work and James Whale directing it, modu- lated the tone of the original by inject- ing a strong element of comedy. The vastly larger public it will have as a photodrama probably will not mind the change in the slightest. Essentially, in spite of the relief of laughter, “The Road Back” narrates a dark story of soldiers trying to find their way back to sanity when peace suddenly leaves them with no more killing to be done. Remarque chose to tell it in terms of varied individuals, the sensitive dreamer, the good- natured fat boy who came to man- hood with a dripping bayonet in his hand, the hard-bitten middle-aged poltroon, all individuals bathed in blood -who wanted only cleanliness again. ® % % X 'HERE are many fine moments in Universal's account of the soldiers’ sad return. One of them is that which occurs when the armistice becomes effective, the shells stop screaming and men come up out of the earth and stand erect again in the bewildering silence and light. Here the picture finds a moment of superlative elo- quence. Then begins the journey over the road back. The difficulty of the trip is implied from the start when it is evident that the efficient machine which transported the men to the front has broken down. They are left to find the way back alone, even the officers leaving them to their own be- wildered devices. When it has no killer'’s jobs for them to fill, society is through with them. That is an- other moment of which Universal and Remarque made equally much—and much that is significant. Back home, when they finally arrive, they are met in the streets with the disorder of revolution; in their homes with pleas that they describe the hor- rors they have witnessed and have only an anguished desire to forget. ‘There is no place for them to rest, no work to do, little food to eat. There iz no understanding for them, no in- telligent sympathy; none of the ma- terial nor spiritual things they need. * ok X idealistic Ernst finds himself grown away from his family, more 80 from his flancee. Young Lud- | dis Gable’s Calls wig, certain of but one thing, that he will find escape into sanity again in his love for Lucy, returns to find her the mistress of a porcine munitions profiteer. Willy, the fat boy who should have been able to adjust him- self most readily of all, also is lost. Even the simple Tjaden, who needs only a butcher shop and a faded, elderly blond, has a difficult time finding them. In the trial scene, the picture fol- lows the book most literally in its mood of unrelieved tragedy, although even here some liberty has been taken with the text. It is a deeply moving sequence in which his trench-day friends take up the battle for Lud- wig's life after he has killed the mu- nitions maker who spoiled his dream of happy love. They have packed this moment with as much power as the screen can attain and there is no comedy to relieve the emotional effect of it. If the picture had nothing else to recommend it, the handling of its varied elements at this point would make it worth while. It does have other commendable fea- tures, however, in spite of that seem- ingly undue stress upon comedy. One is photography that is extremely effec- tive, especially battlefield sequences, and the revolution-torn streets of “home.” * x ok ox JOHN KING as Ernst heads a cast that is almost large enough to con- stitute an army. He is its most effec- tive member, his performance scaled nicely to the character of Remarque’s hero. |Andy Devine as Willy and Slim Somereville have the comedy burden to carry, and do it well enough for those who are not so familiar with the book as to be irritated by an overdose of laughter being injected into the story. We were unimpressed with young Barbara Read, who seems thrown out where life is far too deep for her in the role of Lucy. Maurice Murphy, who plays Ludwig, hardly seems justi- fied in having fallen so in love with her as to shoot the munitions man. Murphy lends conviction to his role in other respects, however. On the whole, if the film speaks with a softer tone than Remarque used, it speaks none the less with con- viction on the awfulness of war's after- math upon the soldiers who did not e. to Carole Run Gantlet of Ears Twice a Day Conversations Between Idaho and Hollywood Lost as Phone Operators Listen In. BY SHEILAH GRAHAM. Lombard every morning and H OLLYWOOD, July 23 (N.AN.A).—Clark Gable telephones Carole evening from his hunting retreat in Pocatello, Idaho, but they can't hear a word they say because every operator from there to here listens in to get the love lowdown . . . If and when Margaret Sullavan gets tired of playing with her new baby daugh- ter, she will star in the movie edition of “Roadshow,” B for Hal Roach by Marc Connelly. Helen Vinson has a sensible ar- rangement with Husband Fred Perry, ‘whereby they dis- regard every story of dining with this or that per- son while Fred is away on tennis tours . . . Sophie ‘Tucker is letting her hair go dark for the new mother-type role she plays in “Molly, Bless Her.” “But you’ will still see the natural gold peeping through,” says the im- aginative Sophie. ; So Errol Flynn is trying to get to Bpain again. We hope he has better Juck this time. Incidentally, Ernest ‘Hemingway, recently in Hollywood with his picture of the Spanish war, told me that he invited Erroi to the ‘war zone on the occasion of the head- line rumor that the actor had been killed in action. “I told him I could take him right to the front, with actual fighting, guns ‘n’ everything. Errol said, ‘fine,’ he’'d like to come, but he immediately left for Valencia,” stated Hemingway. Even the story of the falling plaster has been shattered by the author of “Death in the Afternoon.” The bump on Flynn's forehead occurred, as far as can be ascertained, by banging his head while trying to get a better view of some beautiful senoritas. Ah well, another illusion broken! According to Merle Oberon, her ro- mances with David Niven and Brian Aherne were arranged by Jock Law- renoe, publicity genius for Sam Gold- wyn. Which proves what this writer has always contended—stars are too prone to believe their own press agents . . . Bill Powell is still heart- broken over Jean Harlow’s death and it will be a long time before that old quizzing smile or his normal health returns . . . Madeleine Carroll, who recently completed her role in “The Prisoner of Zends,” leaves with her husband, Philip Astley, July 28 on the Queen Mary for a two months’ yacht- ing trip in European waters. On her return she will break her contract PICNIC! SEASID} Sheilah Graham. In¢ W M XA Motor Lines now being scripted with Walter Wanger to sign with David O. Selmick. The latest bulletin from the “Gone With the Wind” news front . . . Paul- ette Goddard had a fair chance of playing Scarlett until she demanded $100,000, plus $150,000 for another { film to follow up. Director George | Cukor considered this price too high | for an actress who has only appeared twice before the screen—as a show girl in & Sam Goldwyn musical and opposite Charlie Chaplin in the silent “Modern Times.” When informed of this, Paulette penned a dignified let- ter, relinquishing her desire for the role. I think she has made & mis- take. The, production is being de- layed for two important reasons—to find suitable leading players, and tc give the public a chance to forget the sharp facets of the story so that the changes necessary for a success- ful screening will be acceptable to the readers of the book. A South African admirer sent a fan letter to the worid's biggest box dfice draw demanding church mem- bership in what he thought was Shir- ley’s temple. Which reminds me of a story told by Mark Sandrich, a fellow Dassenger on the Queen Mary. He visited a cinema about 30 miles from London where they were showing “Stowaway”—*“and all the kids in the neighborhood brought pots of geran- lums to the foot of the acreen in homage to Shirley.” A sweet story » + . Talking about children, this columnist wonders whether Preddie Bartholomew will appreciate his sunt's frequent litigation efforts in his be- half, when he grows up to find his fortune has seeped into the hands of the lawyers , . . And yet another Infant story. Two film moppets were discussing the age of a well-known child emoter. “My dear,” said one, “she’s 9 if she’s a day!” (Copyright, 1937, by the North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) . Irishman Is 109. Dominick Maloney, Ireland’s old- est man, celebrated his 109th birth- day at his home in Ballaghadereen, Irish Free State. THE PAINTERS CHOICE ' _THE EVENIN G _STAR, WASHINGTON, D.-.C., FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1937. Teamed in New Newspaper Cinema Frances Farmer and Fred MacMurray appear together for the first time in the leading roles in “Exclusive,” Paramount film devoted to the newspaper business, which comes to the Earle Theater a week from today. Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. Capitol—"Saratog: Jean Harlow's last picture, at 11 a.m., 1:40, 4:25, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m. Stage shows at 12:50, 3:35; 6:20 and 9 pm. Keith’s—“The Road Back,” war Germany, at 11:30 am, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Earle—"Midnight Madonna,” a mother fights for the right to keep her child, at 11:15 am, 1:35 4:20, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m. Stage shows at 12:30, 3:20, 6:20 and 9:05 p.m. Palace—"Easy Living,” cheerful and light-hearted comedy for the fun of laughing, at 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:40 and 10:10 p.m. Metropolitan— The Singing Ma- rine,” Dick Powell's latest musical, at 11:10 am, 1:15, 3:20, 5:25, 7:35 and 9:45 pm. Columbia—"The Emperor's Candle- sticks,” espionage, adventure and ro- mance, at 11:15 a.m., 1:20, 3:25, 5:30, 7:40 and 9:45 p.m. Rialto—"Elephant Boy,” film trans- lation 0f another Kipling story, for children and everybody elephant- minded, at 11:50 a.m., 1:50, 3:50, 5:45, 7:50 and 9:55 p.m. Little—“Anna Karenina,” a Garbo hit revived, at 11:25 a.m., 1:30, 3:40, 5:45, 7:50 and 9:55 p.m. Trans-Lux—News and shorts. Show runs 1 hour and 15 minutes, con- tinuous from 10 am. until midnight. Ambassador—“Parnell,” the screen post- 1:30, Tang o'the Sea_ | | nS Tine ght attempts heroic biography, at 5, 7:10 and 9:25 pm. Penn—"Make Way for Tomorrow,” stirring drama of the conflict between youth and age, at 2:15, 4:05, 5:55, 7:40 and 9:25 pm. Sheridan—"Trader Horn," the popu- lar jungle adventure fllm is back again, at 2:20, 4:40, 7:05 and 9:30 p.m. Tivoli—"Now and Forever,” a Shir- ley Temple favorite returned, at 2, :50, 5:45, 7:40 and 9:35 p.m. Uptown—"Fifty Roads to Town, comedy in the modern manner, at 2, 3:55, 5:45, 7:40 and 9:40 p.m. Bring Your Lunch and Friends to Mago-Vista est Bathing and C: asvociation and clean every Sat. Eve. 9-12 ne intexicants. Trail: Thru Ann Balte. B Jones corner, turn and follow THEATRE PARKING 6P.M.TO 35 c 1AM. Bet. 13th & 14th CAPITAL GARAGE 753" 4 “ M. A. LEESE OPTICAL C0. > 614 9th ST. N.W. Sundy Bach Triel S. S. POTOMAC goes to COLONIAL BEACH Lv. 9 o.m—Back in Washington 7:30 p.m. 140-mile water trip — Salt Water 8wimming—Free Danc- ng — Meals — Refreshments, Trips Every Sunday. Adults $1.25—Children 65¢ % Visit WAKEFIELD Birthplace of Washinsten Steamer-Bus connections at Colonial Beach Sun- day.” Plenty of time for sight- Ro €rip _Colenial Beach to Wakefield, $1.00. MOONLIGHT Cruises Nightly, 8:45 3. cruise. Pres dancing to nie “Jarboe's “Night- bhawks'—the swing band of Washington. Dinins §0¢ Toom. Beer garden.... Sun. end Hol., 78¢c © Free Porking ot Wherf © POTOMAC RIVER LINE Th & Water Sts. S.W NAr. 7722 TODAYY.... yew soar N NAVE TO BE CRAZY TO UKE T oo B it helps? «.. If you've got long hair or a blue nose . . . don't bother to see this picture « « . because .it was made only for those inherently cheery souls who want 1o live .. for the sheer joy of laughing! GLEN ECHO [STREET CAR. 40 MIN MOTOR. 20 [MIN.. MASS. AVE. OR CONDUIT RD. 1 a C</1 0°C c’A am t DANCING. BEFORE TAKING A VACATION Learn the new steps from Ethel M. Fistere, formerly with Arthur Murray. Peggy Kelly School of The Dance o, 1018 18th St. N.W. ST. 9888 “4 School With a National Reputation.” (Over 40.090 Pupils in U. 8.) Don Martini Studios Those who dance interestingly mever meed worry about their popularity. waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba, top. Ten Patient, Talented Teachers Beginners = Advanced Private Lessons Air-Conditioned! Low Rates! 1811 H St. NW. Nat. 3767 ““Don_Martini_conducts this dranch.” MILLAND all Disney “m cream of combined umllifl’“"",..\ufi" fea- ne A 4 ‘l:‘v: ;nq\h enteriainmen’ Ki “The Couatiy Cousin™ . “Flowers and Trees" “Theee Little Pigs” “Torfcise and the Hare™ Gene Ford Ends Hunt For Talent Players for “Going Native” Will Be Named Soon. ENE FORD appears to have sat himself down like a lit- tle trooper and worked his eyes and ears off last night and Wednesday. Now comes news that he has interviewed and audi- tioned nearly 300 would-be perform- ers in this year’s “Going Native” revue on those two nights and has called off the talent test slated for tonight. Monday or Tuesday of next week the names of the local artists who have won places in the cast of the revue will be announced and the boys and girls will get to work soon after on rehearsals. Over this week end Mr. Ford is going to hie himself away to some place of seclusion and sit and think —eand think and think. When he emerges from his seclusion and his pondering he expects to know which people he's going to use and hopes to have an idea or two anent the plot, theme or direction the 1937 “Go- ing Native” show is going to take. And he probably will return to town with & whole raft of lyrics and melo- dies humming around in the back of his head, urging him to get himself to & piano. From the same outpost of informa- tion, a spy hidden behind a pile of unusued draperies backstage at the Capitol, comes news of Red Skelton. News that today he starts the third week of this second engagement as master of ceremonies a{ the theater; that the third week will be the last this time; that Red has contracts that won't permit him to stay longer. The show he masters the ceremonies of (or however you saay it) starting today will have Gus Van, Control THEATRE m""tu (LTS NEWS—MARCH OF . TIME—CARTOON - - ws SHORT SUBJECTS COMING - STARTS MONDAY, JULY %8 “IN MIZZOURA"” Res. Seats R3¢, at BOX OFFICE or MRS. DORSEY'S in DROOPS, NA. 7151 Special Engagement of “SARATOGA" completed by MGM in re- sponse to thousands of zequests. From Anita Loos' exciting story. One of the season's outstanding en. tertainments! <EAN HARLO! etro-Goldwyn-Mayer JRDGs Lienel BARRYMORE FRANK MORGAN . ra on stage GUS VAN Formetly of Van & Schenck 16 GAE FOSTER GIRLS BOB JOE CARTER& HOLMES DOROTHY CROOKER Held cver Jrd week Red SKELTON AMUSEME Dancer' Dorothy Crooker, the Gse TFoster Girls and other people. It appears as though United States Table Tennis Champions Ruth Hughes Asrons and Viktor Barna, headlining the new Earle stage show, are in for same serious competition tonight. The local champion, Elias Schuman of 1900 Fourteenth street, has promised to be in the audience at the 9 o'clock show, prepared to step right up when Miss Aarons and Mr. Barna invite competition. “Elephant Boy” has returned the Rialto to the ranks of first-run houses in that well-known blaze of glory. Youth whe bad ekipped with death . . say fare- well to the Westrn Froat and came back to —WHAT? A Million Dollar Baby . . . Pawn In A Battle Of Love And Greed! A Paramount Picture with WARREN WILLIAM MADY CORRELL KITTY CLANCY (New Child Star Sensation) NTS Last SBunday and Monday the 8. R. O. sign was dusted off four different times and all the Rialto’s records, un- der the present management, have gone the sad way of all broken rec- ords. . . . Next Tuesday'’s Summer Festival at the Sylvan Theater will be presented by Theodore Bekefi and his dance group. Bekefl is a former member of the Imperial Russian Bal- let. . . . The “Pyramus and Thisbe” interlude of Shakespeare's “A Mid- summer Night's Dream” will be pre- sented at the Arts Club next Thurs- day night az a preview to the produc- tion of the play by the Washington Players at the Sylvan Theater in August. 15th E— atG aLwavs comroRTARLY COO% NOW PLAYING...! ERICH REMARQUE'S GREATER THAN “ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT." JACK OAKIE @ FRANCES FARMER @ CAREY GRANT and EDWARD ARNOLD . on stage World's Table Tenms Champions RUTH HUGHES AARONS VIKTOR_BARNA ENRICO AND NOVELLO FORSYTHE-SEAMON & FARRELL TOMMY_TRENT Extra Added Attraction THE CONDOS BROTHERS - Featured Dancers of “Wake Up And Live” In His Gaye Warner Bros With BORIS KARLOFF. J. WAR! “HATS OFF,” REN HULL, With MAE CLARKE and JOHN PAYNE. Don't Miss This Rootin'Tootin Musical ! DICK POWEL st Most Tuneful Role METROPOLITAN it NE. one Line 3378 ROBERT MONTGOMERY and ROSA- LIND RUSSELL in “NIGHT MUST FALL." _Also_Cartoon. LINA enna. Matinees T Th CLAUDETIE COLBERT . ang AS. T MET HIM IN PARIS." MELVY! N CALVERT ™% i Cleveland 2345 DUMBARTON "% = DVORAK. NIGHT COUNT." FAIRLAWN ERROL FLYRN f nd_Cc sin_Ave, foned. LITEL in -MID- omedy. Matinee, 2:00 P.M. HARRY CAREY. EDWINA BOOTH in 'TRADFR _HORN.” _Short L frone et 28i] one Met. “SBLIM." with PAT O'BRIEN. HENRY FONDA. _Also_Shorts. ER." Featiire at b:1b. 3227 M St. N.W. LITTLE o ned’ Last Two Days. GRETA GARBO and FREDRIC MARCH in Sunday. Spencer Tracy in A YOUNG and TYRONNE FE METROPOLE. MOOR! MAKE_WAY FOR TOMORROW. PRINCESS 1119 H_St. Double Featu CONSTANCE, WORTH_in_ BA MIRIAM HOPKINS in CHINA PAS- SAVOY TIM McCOY in SHERIDAN & & ARE NOT GOD! SECO St % Continuous_From 68 P.M. “ONE-WAY PASSAGE,” WILLIAM POWELL. KAY FRANCIS. “AMBASSADOR BILL,” WILL ROGERS. orgia Ave. WARNER BROS. THEATERS [ Matinee, PM. Air-Conditioned. CAROLE LOMBARD. GARY COOPER and SHIRLEY TEMPLE in "“NOW AND FOREVER." Also STANTON 82,5 G 8t Finest Sound E Continyous From 5:30 s, N.E. uipmen ] M. uble Feature. “MAN OF THE PEOPLE,” E RICE. With JOSEPH CALLEIA. FLORENC] CONRAD NAGEL. MARTA_ LA BARR “With Pleasure, Madame. STATE-BETHESDA %08.%: CECILIA PARKER i “GIRL LOVES BOY.” WM. BOYD in “TRAIL DUST.” CARTOON, NEWS, SERIAL. Ave. Bethesds, Md. ANN_SOTHERN in ROAD8 TO TOWN. in Place Col. 4818 ’ JAMES DUNN. PATRICIA_EL] 180 GVEVUS MAKES " TRO gz ort. HIPPODROME Ki K near fth Double PFeature ite H Steps_Ou CAMEO E WALLACE ““GOOD OLD SOAK.” and Butternut Sta. TAKOMA “& s Frocoies NORMA 8 . “ROMEO AND JULIET.” 1t K] Rogers in “Tne Wildcatter. ARLINGTON, VA. lson Bivd. mlnéo l'NONDA Ol CERT O BRE OF THE ORINGO. 2 | JESSE THEATER '*&.% 7™ WIN RAY M SYLV. “‘l’hg Gave ARCAT)‘E HYATTSVILLE, MD. Today. “They Gave Him a Today-tam. VA y Kelly, “Pick ALEXANDRIA. VA. ‘oday-Tom. ED JOE PENNER and HARRIET HILLIARD in “NEW FACES OF 1937.” Space—80n Cars. Air-Conditioned LO APCimedTane With Ritz Bros l""Our Gasrill ; 358 S, e, ony. e .