The Washington times., 1928-10-23
GLEANINGS
SCREENINGS
81 AndreuD z. keLley-

Big Fight" reIeasirg his pro-
ducers from any contractural
obligations.
"The Big Fight" will be writ
ten down in theatrical history
the big failure. The ex-
champion and Estelle Taylor
were ontracted for at $4,000
weekly guarantee. of which
$500 was the fighter-actor's
portion. 1t ST mt four weeks in
New York and a few weeks on
the and definitely estab-
lished that it could not be made
a paying venture.
The Dempsey stage debacle is
another illustration of the fact
at sports champions must
bring .omething besides reputa-
ton if they are to attract
theatergoers. Babe Ruth was a
sorry bust as a motion picture
star and an indifferent success
in vaudeville. Bill Tilden ranks
with the greatest of tennis
champions and the poorest of
actors. Red Grange was sue
cess in pictures while his grid-
iron feats gave him newspaper
prominence, but has done moth
ing startling in Hollywood re-
Gently. Charlie Paddock, of the
flying feet, made one picture
based upon bis Olympic reputa-
tion. Since he Topped at AM
sterdam there is no evidence
that the picture mogufs take
his talents as a screen actor
very seriously. Gene Tunney
made "The Fighting Marine
and then Ito his credit) decided
John Gilbert was champion
he could never vanquish.
There was a belief among
rabid sports followers that the
Dempsey clientele was so de-
voted and huge the mere pres
ence of Jack upon the stage was
enough to attract long lines to
the box office. That theory now
appears to have been exploded.
Dempsey az a man-klller IN the
squared circle can pull them IN
at $40 a cushion. But Jack as
an actor-well, he just has to
deliver another brand of goods.
Apparently he couldn't fill the
order.
In informal discussions with
the men who select the supple
mentary screen attractions for
the first-run picture houses OF
the Capital, it has been called
to my attention again and again
that the movie critics invariably
neglect the short subjects in the
written attention given the
weekly programs.
ats a little bit discouraging
to spend hours in a projection
room pre-viewing short films in
order to get solidly entertaining
film embroidery for the feature,
and then have these supple
mentary films completely lg-
nored by the critics" is the gem
eral burden of the complaint.
The space limitations of the
average review of a picture pro-
gram compels type concentra-
ton on the feature screen at
traction and the stage show. 1t
any.
Who am | to saw that Kill
ing the Killer" at Loew's Palace
this week. is such an excep-
tional short picture that it
might well merit a featured
box in the paid advertisements!
Or If Nancy Astor makes a
gem of a speech for world peace
in the Fox Movietone, and the
advertisements ignore the merit
of this worthy feature, are the
critics to be blamed if they also
pass it over with some line to
the effect that Lady Aston was
heard in the Fox movietonef"
But why debate. Of course,
there is merit in the contention
of Messrs. Payette, Hartman,
Greenman, ct al. But there is
also merit in the suggestion that
if you have something you be-
lieve is exceptional, don't rely
too much on the other fellow to
tell the world about it.
Helen Lackaye, a native
WashingtOnian. joined the cast
of Revolt" last Friday and ap-
peared in the premiere at the
National Theater last night.
"Shannons of Broadway" can
celled the Belasco engagement
for next week and present ind1-
cations are for dark house.
Taylor Holmes, who did such
fine work in "The Great
Necker," weak play which ex-
pired after the Washington en-
gagement, has been signed to
co-star with Mary Young in
new drama by Arthur K. Sterne
called Emergency Love"
Leonard nan, efSLWhlle w ASH
ington and New York dramatic
critic, bursts forth as wise
cracking author in the Novem-
Der PhOtOplay.
Sears Taylor. former Wash
ington newspaper man, has been
delegated to 90 out ahead and
apprise the public of the APP
proach Of the Marilyn Miller
Jack Donahue-Z iegfeld show,
"Rosalie."
"Our Dancing Daughters"
came within 5000 of edualing