Evening star., 1928-12-31


Jrney, the clerk of the court and a
Jertain stubborn juror whose dissent
ing vote hangs things up for 36 hours.
Added attractions include a Synchro-
nized Aesops Fable, Stage Struck" :"
which produces some startling effects as
the animals voice their thoughts a Fox
news reel and Pathe Review.
PALACE-"West of Zanzibar"
West of Zanzibar" this latest of Lon
CLANCY films, affords the star at once
the double opportunity of returning to
the role of cripple and of depicting
further the drastic but futile efforts of
the man who can't win" He brings a
drama heavy, almost to the breaking
point, with ceaseless morbidity, but the
artistry of the star is so consistently in
evidence that one is not palled by the
WeightineSS of the piece With deft and
forceful strokes, CLANCY places every
ounce of power into his superb
Characterization, and the remarkable
part OF it is that he endows the fiend
that he plays with sympathetic qualities.
Lionel Barrymore, a recognized star
in his own right; Warner Baxter, ex-
hibiting some restrained acting, and
Mary Nolan, who reaches heights of
emotional dramaturgy, form the main
stays of an excellent supporting cast.
Tod Browning, the director, Succumbed
to the temptation of applying tricks for
effects, it is true, but he managed to
turn out picture that is nothing if not
effective. His handling of the mob
scenes is especially worthy of COM
mendation The film is synchronized
(no dialogue, however, and the insistent
beating of the tom-toms adds i'm
meaSurably to the total effect.
"The Magic Rug" John Murray
Anderson production, is offered as the
stage presentation, featuring Wesley
Eddy and the Palace Syncopators. It
is unquestionably one of the best foot
light shows to be seen here for many
weeks. It is new. fresh, beautifully
mounteI and boasting of talented
cast. Emile and Romaine, adagio
dances, who deserve unStinted praise
for heir artistic and finished work;
Gorlon and King, two young men tap
dar GERS, easily near the top in their
line; Harry Johnson. a tenor, whose
singing is we'll controlled and pleasing;
the Foster Girls in rhythmic unison, and
that team of Burns and KiSsen. singing
comedians, who will have their little
joke to somebody's embarrassment and
the audiences enjoyment, "a give a
professional touch to their efforts that
is highly appreciated. Eddy, together
with trumpeter, banjoiSt and trom-
bone player from his band, add pleas
ing bit of melody in a speciality number.
The subsidiaries are furnished by the
orchestra, under the baton of Harry
Borjes, in the prelude Carnivale," in
keeping with the spirit of the season;
Charles Gaige at the console; prologue
to the feature picture, THE Dance of
the jungle Spirits" interpreted by an
unknown girl; film showing Tony
Sarg's marionettes depicting scenes
M-G-M (silent) and Fox Movietone
newsreels, the latter bringing the in
imitable DR.. Rockwell in some hilarious
quackery.
FOX-"Red Wine"
The Fox Theater presents holiday
aspect with two beautifully decorated
Christmas trees brilliantly lighted dur
ing the orchestration of melodies of
Chopin, and on the stage the dainty
FoxetteS appear in Swaying bell-like
costumes, wishing the patrons happy
New Year.
The feature picture, "Red Wine"
starring Conrad Nagel, who has made
a record in f1lmdom this year, gives him
the role of Charles Davis, steady
successful young business man, so
methodical that watches may be set by
his appearance and so conventional and
satisfied with his home life and beauti-
full wife (June Collyer) that he has no
eyes for attractive girls and is uncon-
Scious of their wiles. However, the
tempter, bon vivant friend dropping
into the Office one day, opens his eyes to
the pulchritude of the Stenographer
and suggests whoopee party at the
Club EXotique, chiding him with being
a dull and prosaic old fossil, and re-
minding him that he is young but once.
These suggestions bear fruit in a visit
to the barber and to the haberdaShery,
and the resulting sporty individual,
minus mustache, looks many years
younger and little resembles the former
staid business man. The whoopee party
proves all and more than Davis antici-
pated. In his sleep his mind wanders
through phantasy of dreams, and
when he regainS consciousness he has
a haZy idea of having made love to
number of girls, becomes conscience
stricken and feels unworthy of his
trusting wife. Later in the day the wife
suggests that they celebrate their an
made resvations, mad his cup of
misery is full He endures the ordeal
and suffers anguish until assured by his
friends that his conduct on the previous
night had not been as bad as he
imagined. The Synchronized music ac-
companying the picture, arranged by S.
L. Rothafei, better known to the radio
audience as Roxy, included "Ain't She
Sweet" Girl of My Dreams" "Japa-
nese Sandman" and others suited to
each change in the picture.
The stage presents selected jewels
from Broadway successes, introduced
by Lawrence Downey, master of cere-
monies. Nancy Decker of Ziegfeld's
"Follies" trips out shyly, takes Law
renee by the hand and sings II Want
of the Moscow Theater initiates a
wi1irling top; Gomez and Winona of the
FollieS Bergere perform symphony of
beauty, color and motion in the adagio
number; the blond Neil sisters of
Scandals sing Gentlemen Prefer
Blonds" to the tune of a funeral dirge;
Leo Prince of "Vanities" plays Lilac
Time" and "Stars and Stripes Forever"
on his Scintillating accordion, and Theo
Pennington sings a special number ac-
companied by the orchestra. The revue
ends with a Xylophone concert.
BY means of the Fox Movietone one
hears the roaring and rumbling of a
volcano in action, harsh voices of Japa-
nese thespians in a native stage play
and Gene Tunney presenting cup to
the British marines from the American
Marines. A Mack Sennett comedy and
short reels close the bill.
COLUMBIA-"A Woman of Affairs"
Michael Arlen's sensational story,
"The Green Hat" thinly disguised by
a few plot changes and new set of
names, Is done for the movies In re-
markably fine manner in THE Woman
of Affairs
With the Garbo- Gilbert team in their