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THE WASHINGTON POST:* - lt;DECEMBER ' 1924.AT THE LOCALTTHEATERtClever Comedy at Poll'sBuilt on Flimsy MaterialPaul Kelly, in Unique Role, Gives Character to Play Produced by Kilbourn Gordon, a Washingtonian. Unusual Situations Are Many.F. S. Merlin and Brian Marlow, authors of And Then What?” went far afield for a peg upon which to hang their stoVy. y Yet, with all its fiimainess, they managed to put enough clothes on the skelton to make the comedy interesting. In itself, this is the handwork of genius. tIn a nut-shell, this is the theme over whioh there is so much ado— about nothing. A young lady, upon the advice of a physician, takes unto herself a lover. He happens to be a passing tramp—a nondescript character, a cross between a Jack London and a Harry Kemp He spent the night at her fashionable home—among the pines—and the next morning explanations are in order. Simply that and nothing more.Getting away to a had start, the play takes hold immediately upon the appearance of Papl Kelly, one of our younger actors who has his best days before him. He may be remembered for his work in Whispering Wires.” Playing opposite him is Florence Eldridgo.who does rather well by a difficult role.And Then What is comedy, -rnre and simple; not always so ure, and never quite simple; but ’omedy nonetheless. In taking the mrdles, it depends largely upon he work of Edward Van Sloan, who has a part to his liking—aItociety cake-eater, as they have 'n the classics.Clever lines, unusual situations, and Incidents that p,re absolutely illy ail go into what might be called a hodge-pdHge. The authors have clung closely to the rule of drama which calls fro unity of Mae—and hte action moves a-pace, albiet it gets nowhere save establishing the fact that a marriage a ’a crte hlt;b taken .pie's.As hte doctor who started all the trouble, by advising his patientlo take up the Interesting study of man, Moffat Johnston registers well. Dorothy Peterson is one of he prettiest maids seen inAu play in eons.And Then What” will never set ‘he world afire. It is produced by a former Washington newspaperman and playwright—K. Bosser Gordon.—John J. Daly.METROPOLITANSandra, the motion picture^ offering at the Metropolitan this week, despite the fact that it drags noticeably at times, is good entertainment. Unusual interest is always manifested in the screen appearance of * Barbara La Marr. When, however, as in her present vehicle, the vamp de luxe has the handsome Bert Lytell for a leading man, to say nothing of a decidedly colorful story, there is little left to be desired.The story, which is somewhat marred by many obvious situations', 13 one of sheer romance and concerns a beautiful woman of dual personality who forsakes her hus-CENTRALA double-feature bill is offered at Crandall’s Central theater the first two days of the week. The foremost attraction is Exhibitors' Film Exchanges release of Fight for Honor,” in which the stellar roles are portrayed by Eva Novak and William Fairbanks. The companion offering is Larry Seamoa's two-reel comedy, Kid Speed, in which he assumes the role of race driver in a high-powered car and smashes every known record for asininity. Added short reels and pipe organ accompaniment and solo intervals by Mrs. Libbey and Mrs. Thompson complete the program. iFight for Honor” is a fast-action drama in which Mr, Fairbanks. i again demonstrates his disregardband and h*™®V* ® ^ for personal hazards. Miss Novakpursuit of romance and adventure. She visits Monte Carlo, Deauville and Paris, and becomes the fad wherever she goes. However, she suffers disillusionment and finds that husband and home are best, after all.Miss La Marr is cast in the roleof Sandra Waring, who is both Rusty, a home-loving wife, and Sandra, a siren who craves romance and adventure. Bert Lytell as David Waring, an architect, and the husband of Sandra, gives a satisfactory and convincing performance. Both he and Miss La Marr,is a charming heroine ^nd contributes generously to the dramatic power, susperfs^ and thrills developed in the photoplay.Mr. Semon again has discarded his trick make-up that was his trade-mark for years and appears straight. The effectiveness of his work, thereby, is greatly increased.LOEWS PALACEThe Garden of Weeds,” fea-however, are Inclined to pose too tured at the Palace theater this much, and on account of this the week, adapted from the stagff suc-picture loses in effectiveness. The ce8g by Leon Gordon and Dorisr rrures the ,iie ot agan Wallace and Helen Gardner. } Broadway chorus girl in . an in-Idge Conley is featured in a com- tensely dramatic plot. ^ edy, What a Night!” which is Betty Compson, under the direc-falriy amusing. Of specia n eres tion of james cruzergives a veryis a delightful rendititoa by sympathetic performance in thechestra, under the direction of Dan ^ Qf tfae chorug gir, whtf i3 oniel Breeskin, of an overture, the verge of success, when it is hercinianna, which ii^ludes selections fortune__or misfortune — to he*rom !«ha j nnUalflT’ The sicsled out by a rich wastrel for his and Madame Butterfly. The ,ategt playthlllg.Pathe News completes the program.LOEW’S COLUMBIAIt is quite inconceivable that the same pen which gave to the world that masterpiece of war fiction “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” could have written such a spineless love lyric as Argentine Love,” now showing at Loew’s Columbia theater. Evcsp the directing genius ofAllan Dwan could not save Y. Blasco Ibanez’s second specially written story for the cinema from a flatness and sterility inherent in the plot. Ibanez should know his Ar-gentlne pampas better.Bebe Daniels, in th«C stellar role, does well with the tools given her, and she is ably supported by Ricardo Cortez, a dashing young silver sheet star, who is fast displacing our old, young friend Rudy Valentino In the affections of flapper America. Cortez is a love artist of no«mean dimensions. James Rennie, the young Irish husband of Dorothy Gish, is effective as the American lover of Miss Daniels{ but his acting leaves the impression of his being a bit unsympathetic with the part in which he is cast. One of the very best characterizations is that of Julia Hurley as the old nurse.If one enjoys beautiful photography, Argentine Love” will please the eye. The settings are elaborate and a large company of capable artists are cast.A healthy and laughable Imperial comedy, with Mr. Moran as the funny man, adds zip and snap to Loew’s Columbia program. An International news reel and Mr, Brusilof’s usual high-class orchestral contribution complete the bill.Itockliffe Fellowes is as convincing as the New York waster, whose palatial home is ironically 'called by its owner “The Garden of Weeds, because ^f the parasites that flock there, loving the master less and his wine more. His desire for the pretty ehorus girl, “Avho did not have time to play, starts theplot moving, while her surrender to temptation and subsequent marriage to a young business man of the highest integrity brings it to the Inevitable dramatic climax, the past looms, overshadowing her happiness.Warner Baxter is strong in his portrayal of the husband, Douglas Crawfora. William Austin, Archie Duffey, Charles Ogle' and Lylyun Tasman each do their share in giving admirable support to the stars.The feature is supplemented by an entertaining Mack Sennett comedy, Off His Trolley, being the story of street ears and true love that never run smooth. Ralph Graves provokes continued mirth in thd'stellar role. ^A Fox educational feature and Pathe News reel complete the screen program.Mr. Gannon offers a delightfula igroup of popular'airs rendered by the Palace Symphonic orchestra.RIALTOAMBASSADORThe Mysteries of Old Chinatown, one of the most amusing and most cleverly executed of Paul Terry’s remarkable film contortions of the old Aesop Fables, comprises the supplementary comedy feature of the bill for the first tbree days of the current week at Crandall's Ambassador theater. Other contributory attractions include a new news reel and thp pipe organ accompaniments and solo interludes rendered by Otto F. Beck, the Capital's foremost concert organist.The chief feature of the bill to be continued through Tuesday is First National’s picturizatlon of Pearl Doles Beil's novel of Sandra, with Barbara La Marr and Bert Lytell in the stellar roles. AKEITH’SA smartly etched picture of the Sadie Thompson of Jeanne Eagels in “Rain, done by the sparkling and resourceful Ann Greenway, is the pinnacle of the, Keith bill this week. It is a satirical transcription of the play in terms of musical comedy. We do not mean to acclaim Miss Greenway a rival of Elsie Janls or Cissie Loftus, but she manipulates a vivid piece of mimicry against a background of burlesque, crisply and cleverly.Neville Flees on, the composed, is M-iss Green way's partner in the sketch, whioh in its entirety is called “Samples, and which covers a big stretch of melodic territory in a short space. It is a compact bit of amiable satire.A tabloid Broadway revue is The Fables of 1926, which transfers to vaudeville not merely the spirit but also the actuality (as Andre Chariot and George White have doubtless noticed) of much that 1b current on the big lane. The pickings from Chariot* are unusually good. The Fables” have pretty girls, swift-moving sketches, neatly contrived dances, and colorful scenery; a high standard is set and for the most part maintained. Jack Henry, Edy the Maye, Mildred Bnrns and Bob Sargent are the principals in tl*e extravaganza, which ranges from a brilliant dancing confection called Toyland to pointed dramatic cartoons called Unbelievable Episodes and The Bird ofTruth.”Alan Co ogam and Mary Casey do a fully standardized sketch in Bidding Her Good Night, and yet contrive to do it much better than most of their contemporaries. Its comedy is one of the high spots on the bill, bat it never wanders very far from the beaten path,Sylvia Froos’ “Vest Pocket Edition of Jazz” incarnates the very latest wrinkles in syncopation and is a swirl of tunes. Frank Deoe projects his conception of 1924 humor and the Corradinis’ animals present what is undoubtedly the fastest circus act In vaudeville. Ferry Corwey, the musical clown, and the three Adones, equilibrists, complete this week’s offering, along with the customary reel features.¥■BURTON HOLMESTIVOLIa-Welcome Stranger,” adaptecfrom the famous stage success o -the same title by Aaron Hoffmanis the chief feature of the bill bein^.presented at Crandall’s Tivoli theater the first two days of this week.The cast selected to portray theleading roles to the camera version of this interesting comedy drama reads like, the “Who’s Who’ of Hollywood. Bore Davidson enacts the role of the kindly Jew, who settles in a small town filled with racial prejudice and is the stranger of the title. Others in the cast who contribute notably to the success of/ an excellent picture are Florence Vidor, Virginia Brown Fair’d, Noah Beery, Lloyd Hughes, Robert Edeson, William „V. Mong, Otig Harian, Fred J. Butler ‘and Pat Hartigan.Isadore Solomon is advised, bitterly, by the leaders of the small town of Valley Falls, in New England, to be on his way as they want' none of his kind in town. Clem Beemis, hotel keeper, however, is a compassionate soul and shelters both Solomon and Mary Clark, who reaches the village the same evening. The purchase of a waterfall project by Solomon and Beeinls, in the name of Mary, creates the situations from which a deftly buiided dramatic structure is reared.The screen adaptation of the play was made by James Young, who also directed, and Willard Mack, noted actor-playwright. The titles are by Katherine Hilliker, who titled Passion.'’A great deal of cross-eyed fun is lent the Tivoli’s first bill for the new week by Ben Turpin in the stellar role of A Reel Virginian.’’ Seldom has the Turpin penchant for clever travesty been given a more agreeable outlet than in this hysterical bit of tomfoolery. Another added attraction is the animated song-reel, Companions,” a new release i» Irving Berlin’s Sing ’em Again series.Pipe organ accompaniment and solo interludes by Robert Rodwell and Arthur T. Pease round out theWii.ITHE GAYETYWhat a flood of delightful memories for those who have been there, and what keen anticipation of pleasure for those who still hope to visit it, are conjured up by that little phrase Along the Riviera.” The next best thing to an actual trip is lo travel as an imaginary tourist under the guidance of Burton Holmes, traveler and lecturer, and last night two solid hours of splendid enjoyment were passed by those who placed themselves under the spell of this artist.Not only is Burton Holmes a pastmaster in the art of photography, but he understands thoroughly how to group and arrangeHearty laughter was drawn from the audience at the Gayety last night by Manny King, star comedian of Fred Clark’s “Let’s Go” production.Solonk,” as king is familiarly known, is a big favorite here. His versatility has a lot to do with this popularity. In between the clowning, King sandwiches a little serious effort in the form of a violin solo. 'Master Joseph, a 14-year-old youngster of this eity, received an ovation after singing Sally. He had to give four encores. Helen Flynn, a graceful and versatile dancer, also made a hit.Let’s Go,” burlesques almost everything, from Shakespeare’s Othello” to the Apache dance.GBaThe winsome Mary Philbin, long remembered for her excellent work in The Merry Go Round, adds another success to her list in The Gaiety Girl, the featured photoplay at the ^Rialto this week.It is a story of the London musichalls; a story of an ancient, noble family now somewnal in decadence; a story ot love Miss Philbin takes the part of’Irene Tudor, the heroine. She is supported by William Haines as Owen St John, the hero, and Joseph Dowling, as the poverty-stricken Earl of Pencarreg.The plot concerns the romance of Irene and Owen, Of course, there's the villain who steps in and actually I marries Irene, she thipkmg Owen dead, but he is killed on his wedding night and everything ends joyfully. The plot has a hdSJt of transporting one f£om rural England to London, and thence to Central Africa, without allowing a moment for a pause.Blanche Mehaffey and Glenn Tryon are featured in a Hal Roach comedy, The Goofy Age.Tomasini and Guarneri, Victor artists, are held over another week and offer two exceptional numbers, “Lullaby and the duet from “La Forza del Destfno.”An Out-of-the-Inkwell cartoon.his views so as to lead one gradual- _ly to the point where his expert eye, Tj|e c£0nis is much b‘Sr'than“the has pictured and framed the gems average and the settings areof his collection.The Riviera, which for long years has been tbe Mecca of the idle rich, is a paradise of flowers, blue sky and still bluer Mediterranean, Which easily lent itself to the charm of his art.The Riviera, that wonderful azure coast, places before thetraveler a constant succession of beautiful pictures from which ijt is difficult, if not altogether impossible to select that which stands out above all others. There were journeys by motor along La Grande Corniche, perhaps the finest road in ail Europe, and views taken in Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Bordighera and ending, all too soon, in San Remo, with its glimpses of the Italian Riviera.En route, Burton Holmes seemed never to miss anything that was specially beautiful in this land of enchanting beauty, and these still views were invariably received with exclamations of delight by the appreciative tourists, who, by the way, have been considerably augmented in numbers since the series began. There was a sigh of regret as the old Italian city of San Remo disappeared from the screen and Mr. Holmes announced that next week he would take his fellow travelers into Czechoslovakia.numerous and well conceived.CTB11ftftliTHE M TV ]Saving“SWittTHE STRANDreview of this offering will be found in connection with tbe Metropolitan I A Trip to Mars,” International theater where it was also accorded first Washington presentations yeB-The headliner at the Strand theater for this week is an exceptionally good musical comedy skit, “Back Stage, Clay Crouch, comedian, furnishes laughs in rapid succession. His supporters, the Berg sisters and Paul Murdock, dance in a way that wins applause.The added attraction is Lew and Joe Caites, two boys who clog with marked ability and add some comedy with success. Nancy Decker is a demure little miss who puts over some song hits.The De Vries Troupe, four European aerial gymnasts, give “theaudience several thrills. May McKay and her two sisters in “Three Likable Lassies complete the vaudeville with Scottish songs, jokes and dances.The picture, “Restless Wives, 'features Doris Kenyon and James Rennie. They are supported by Montagu Love, Edmund Breese, Burr McIntosh, Edna May Olivet and Donald Bruce.The story deals with the problem of misunderstanding between husband and wife. The husband, engrossed in business affairs, fails to give his wife the attention she desires. She fl^ds companionship with a man who has Induced her father to handle an oil stock scheme. While she is trying to obtain a divorce from her husband the bottom dropOne of the hundre( Claus, North Pole, reaand some lectrikbring’ them, wont yoi - ears next Xmas.79He’ll be too disillusi next year, too.And 25e a week mis given to a little boy ]Sc deposited todour next year’s (And pay for gifts iEven Amount CIu25c a week ..............506 a week .........$1.00 a week.............$2,00 a week.............$5.00 a week..........___$10100 a week............$20.0# a week............{* 'Plus 3% Interestout of the oil scheme. Her friends lose everything and her lather commits suicide. ^The picture ends 'with husband and wife reunited.Soviet Prison life Told.ter day.Conditions under which the p#» litical prisoners of soviet Russia lift and the treatment accorded them waa described Is the Playhouse last night by Henry G. Alsberg, formerly connected with the LondonBanking IS:3iSaviiJf.E.Cor. 5OpposiiiNewsreel, Newspapt r Fdn, and a! Herald and The Nation. He re- C H R I S T M A presentation by tbe Rialto orches- cently returned from-a trip to Rus-1Cktra complete the bill.fiia*r
Newspaper Details
Washington Post
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Mon, Dec 15, 1924
Page 2
Full Page
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Rotten T.
USA 19 Jun 2020
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