Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08
FLASHES
FROM THE
BY c. E. NELSON.
w WASHINGTON has long been
A a favori,e city for the
" VI managers who seek To-
cation TO try out their

cation to try out their
new plays, aud Washington audiences
have held their seats through many
long. dreary brains,orm on the
stage. On the other hand, these
same NaShng;onians have been
given the privilege of wistnessing
openings of productions which have
been hailed with delight from one
end OF the land to the other. 1t
now remains for the Capital City
tn provide proving ground for the
newest photoplayS. and the plan is
given a good start by the showing
OF Sadie Thompson" this week. The
audiences at the theater exhibiting
this much discussed picture will see
the world premiere, The palaces and
cathedrals of Broadway. the Moor
ISL castles and open-air gardens OF
Los Angeles have not seen Miss
Gloria Swanson throw a wicked
parasol i'll the screen version on
rather well known stage play.
* SIS
THERE is much TO be said re-
l. garding Sadie Thompson and
q
for some time 10 come among the
lovers of the photoplay, The pic
turization script passed over rocky
roads before it finally reached COM
plction. 1t was first in the hands
OF the Fox organization. Then it
was passed over to the Universal
outfit, and finally it went TO the
studios OF United Artists. where
Rauol Walsh agreed to direct and
make himself especially prominent
by filing the role OF Scret. O'Hara
The cast was assembled. with Gloria
Swanson in the lead. and work
started.
The Loves of Sunya," Gloria's
recent vehicle was what is known
III staeeCom as a flop" From
box-office standpoint. il did not pay
for the celluloid used in the manu-
facture OF the film. And there was
bit OF doubt about the stars TAX
ing up such role as that of the
hard-boiled Sadie.
However. all's right with the
world. Miss Swanson has role
in Sadie Thompson" which unques-
tionably places her in the forefront
of the photoplav stars today. 1t
was the writer's good fortune to at
tend pre-showing OF the film last
Wednesday. and he has cast aside
all doubt concerning the ability OF
the star. This picture alone would
give Miss Swanson high place in
the photoplay world; whether she
ever makes another or not. she has
accomplished enough wonders to
win the hearts of The. fans. It's
good picture.
Unusual difficulties were con-
~ fronted in the filns1g of Sadie
Thompson" In the first place. il
was not considered appropriate that
the picture should be given the title
OF Rain In fact, it was distinctly
understood that such a title would
not be used. The story was origi-
nally written by the English author,
w. Somerset Maugham, as Sadie
Thompson" then turned into the
stage play as Rain" So, back to
the old title went the producers-and
the screen version comes. not from |
the play Rain" but from the origi- |
raj story, Sadie Thompson"
Then, one OF the principal char
scters of both story and play was
a missionary. Something had 10 be |
done at this point. so the missionary |
was turned into professional re-
former. and such he is irr the pic
ture. Lionel Barrymore plays the |
part, and at certain points in the |
picture. one is almost OF the opin-
ion that he steals the show" Crifi- |
cisn might be made that he "ovcr-
acts" his part, but he is portraying
a character which is orer-acted in
the life. Barrymore hits the bulls
eye.
And, be it distinctly understood,
this is not Rain" in picture form:
il is Sadie Thompson" But dur
ing the entire picture. the rain falls
dismally al Page Pago And such
rain.
CHARLES ROGERS, whose popu-
~ larity, ii is said, was vastly in
creased by his appearance opposite
Mary Pickford in my Best Cir"
has been signed to play opposite
Marian Nixon in Cream OF the
Earth" The picture goes into pro
duction soon at the Universal
studios.
TOUR million feet OF motion pic |
J. ture film! Enough OF the inch |
wide eeliuioid 10 stretch for miles |
and miles, and yet this is only part |
Of Washingtof's supply. The writer |
tiers" Of United Artists. and there |
he saw those millions and millions
81 feet 81 thrills. close-ups and beat
tiful fade-outs. 1t was a place where
the average movie fan would realize
the dream Of lifetime, ior there
was a projection room and three
frepr0of vaults completely filed
with enough picture 10 make one
dream on forever, And 10 think OF
tie heartaches, the patbos. the hair
breadth stunts ard the oscuIatofy
demonstration in those three fire.
proof vaults
However. this is only a part OF
the Washington supply; the other
e%TGaHKES Oh tffS Ihy uas@ tnsH
share Of metal cans stacked up in
freproof vaults. Washington is an
important distribution point not only
for the city. but for the nearby
States, and il is safe 10 say that
there are enough pictures fali neatly
canned on hand TO keep the Capital
City aud yiejnity supplied for long
tine 10 come,
- ~
0kE Of the newest jmportati0Ds
~ Of the American photopiay pro-
areeEs wisi not attempt his first PIC
sf4ss far ste Fax Ga the latter