The Washington times., 1928-10-08
BELLAMY GIRL
TN ABSORBING
STAGE STORY
Rv. ANnREW r. KELLEY

Mother Knows best, INST
sound picture from the Fox
studios, is notable because it
graduates Madge Bellamy from
the step-in and negligee type of
screen drama 10 a role where her
acting talents and not her neither
limbs are featured.
AS one who has worshipped at
the Bellamy shrine since the days
of her dream girl in Dear
Brutus" with William Gillette,
this reviewer has been patient
through such inanities as
Bertha, the Sewing Machine
Girl" and other frothy cinemas
Atressing the little stars physical
chargs. She has beautiful speak
ing voice and the ability to carry
through an intelligently conceived
Characterization Her latest pit
ture, now at the Fox Theater,
blossoms the first real opportun-
ity to put her substantial wares
on display.
Edna Ferber wrote the fiction
story. Mother Knows Best
The rumor will not down that
the author had Elsie Janis, peer
of all stage mimics. in mind when
she charted her plot. The Janis
maternal influence has been a
tradition in the theater although
there is Elsie Janis own by line
story TO refute any suspicion that
her mothers devotion curbed any
romantic emotions. Miss Jams
is unmarried because she prefers
20 be-.
The story one witnesses on the
Fox screen is entirely absorbing.
AS child playing in the streets.
Sally Quail evinced a talent for
initiating stage folks even to
sidewalk strutting a la Eddie Foy.
Her mother, noting this gift. seeks
TO encourage and develop it.
In the wordy battles with small
time managers it is mother who
carries the burden. In the fight
for better dressing rooms, featured
billing, bigger figures in the con-
tract, always mama is on the
front line. Sally's career becomes
an obsession.
nance enters the life of her
precious offspring, Mrs. Quail
Kills it by a devastating look that
squelches SalIie's bashful beau.
But Bert is a persistent sutton
and snubs and insults and pa
entail artifice fail to shake his
affection. Eventually IN o h
learns her chronic devotion is akin
to maternal seIfishness and Bert
wins the headliner and averts n
tragic ending for a great stage
career.
It seemed to me that Madge
Bellamy brought to this wistful
child of the stage an enthusiasm
and capacity which made Sally
most convincing. To attempt Sir
Harry ~uder. Al Jolson and
Anna Held via the movietone in
dicates at once a voice confidence
that is justified in the results as
boxes. Madge got a little of the
Lauder tongue rolling burr. some
of the mammyesque Jolson and
enough of the Anna Held 90 la la
to make her limitations among the
most enjoyable sequences of the
picture
/ have yet to see Louise Dresser
give commonplace screen per-
Torrance. In Mother Knows
Pest" she is superb. The effect
Sf her emotional work is married
somewhat by ineffective sound
Whisperings TO in
eicate taut nerves and stress be-
rome trifle oyersobby and fail
81 results accordingly But the
r. ult appears TO be in the me-
e.lanics of sounds. Barry Norton
Is a very ordinary juvenile as
Sally's sutton and needs "a haircut
among other things. Playwright
Eugene Walter, who wrote the
screen dialogue. fitted the doctor
Of the story with professional
words and the actor Cunpr3-
endowed the role with
an NJ. ID. realism and a. fine voice.
This picture can be honestly rec
commended as away above the
average.
The Fox orchestra with Leon
Brusiloff conducting is heard in
Echoes of the Metropolitan. ON
the stage Rubinoff eccentric. mas
ter of the violin. tricked up
''Hallelujah" for smashing hand.
Ellora Hoffman veteran of Win
ter Garden musicals, is heard to
advantage IN two selections which
test the range of a beautiful
voice. The Fox Movietone news,
with many interesting shots. com
pletes a solidly entertaining pro
gram