Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23

play is being criticized, and
4 the latest blast appears in
the columns of the London
Observer. Lady Oxford and Asquith,
sometimes known as the Irrepres-
sible Margot," takes up her pen to
complain of the grammar employed
in the movie captions-and her COM
plant is justihable American critics
of the films have. during the past few
years, made numerous complaints
along the same line, but they have
been unable to accomplish a great
deal Perhaps the words of Lady
Oxford may find readers among the
producers OF this country. She
says:
Interested as | am-for personal
and public reasons-;n the future of
the cinema, | would like to make one
suggestion. | think the literary style
OF the information given leaves much
TO be desired. Not being a linguist,
/ do not know if this criticism ap-
plies equally to foreign films; it is
impossible that in Russia, Germany,
Austria or France the captions are
less vulgarly written, but some of
, the English and much of the Ameri-
can writing printed on the screen
to enlighten US upon the course
of the narrative lacks both grammar
and distinction. The silly and rub
bishy words often spoil the effect
of the moving and perfect photog-
raphy, and when one hears OF the
millions spent upon some OF the films
one wonders if they could not econo-
mize on the costumes and spend more
upon the captions"
One of the particular films Lady
Oxford mentioned as having insult
able captions was "Ben-Hur. which
she also stated was poignant and
wonderful film"
IN the face of capacity houses, Har-
~ NJ. Crandall. who founded and
is directing the Crandall theaterS of
Washington for the Stanley Co. of
America, announces that "presenta-
tons have been discontinued at the
Metropolitan and return is made
to the fo'm er policy of that house
of presenting feature pictures.
There are many who will agree with
Mr.. Crandall in his belief that the
f. great attraction of the photoplay
theater is the picture itself, and that
any rival to that picture is a threat
on the same program. There is
much food for thought in this step
by Mr.. Crandall
THE National Indorsers of Photo
l. plays. through their monthly
magazine. list the following pictures
as worth remembering: Were
in the Navy Now" The Whole
Towns taking The Marriage
Clause" Exit Smiling" 'The Cana
dian The Eagle of the Sea-" Her
Man Of War;" THE Blue Eagle" and
Kosher Kitty Kelly" Pictures listed
for churches, schools and community
entertainments are: The Return
of Peter Grimm" Alaskan Adven-
lures" Were in the Navy Now" y
Dorothy. Vernon of Haddon Hail.
"Pollyanna" and when Knighthood
Was in Flower"
The Indorsers is a society which
was organized IN Indianapolis II
years ago by Mrs David Ross, and
it was developed into a national
movement with 100000 members.
FROM Paris comes the report that
l. the former Crown Prince of Ger
many has signed a contract to star
in a motion picture which will be
titled The Prince of Wieringen.'
The production it is said, will be
made under the auspices of an Amer
lean company, and Willie will be paid
a fee of 100000 marks. Work will
start at Wieringen, Holland, Janu-
airy 70.
The picture will not be exhibited
in this country on the same bill with
THE Great Parade"
X X X
1UCLE SAM has become quite a
" movie exhibitor since the World
War. and his box Office is now draw
ing $4,000 each month. This infor-
nation was recently given the House
appropriations committee by AdJt
Gen. R. c. Davis during the consid-
Grafton of the Army appropriation
bill. The United States Army oper-
ates los theaters, many of them
started by welfare societies during
the war. After hostilities ceased the
theaters were practically abandoned
but were revived by Gen. Davis in
1922.
The theaters are located at the
various Army posts, and the service
is entirely self-supporting. Some OF
the larger posts, like San Antonio
and Fort Benning. have so great
an income that they support the
theaters in outlying posts.