The Washington times., 1928-05-12

She had, II Seemeu, WlCHcSsSu
the wednesday night performance
OF the Robert Emmett Sherwood
ancient drama as portrayed on
the Poll stage. In her buster
moments it is this charming
playgoer's task to train the mind
of certain juveniles, and these
hopefuls she accompanied to the
Jane COwl play. In other words
It was her party.
/ gently inquired by what dis.
criminative process she had
picked out this particular drama
for the entertainment of her
youthful guests. Because" she
replied, II knew nothing about it
and assumed from its title and
with such an actress as Jane
Cowl / was going to see a period
play with picturesque Roman
costumes and the like. A classic
like Walter Hampden puts on, IL
you know what mean"
Thus informed, 1t was possible
to picture her embarrassment
when the virile Hannibal was
observed in the business of sue
cumbing completely to the rather
indicate suggestions or, II you
will, the blunt proposals OF the
amorous Amytis. This. you may
be sure. is no moment for chill
dren.
Since 1.-THE Road to Rome" will
in fortnight become cherished
memory in theatrical history--a
production that has travelled the
full route of dividend collecting
cities--a stray protest at this time
would be as belated as it would
probably be futile. 1t was in Jan.
uary, 1925 that THE Road to
Rome" first lifted the curtain on
these pagan happenings. The Bel
asco in this city witnessed the pre-
miere and IL there was sharp dis
sension over the proprieties, such
escaped this observer, Since tncn
volumes have been written about
the Sherwood play, most OF 1t conn-
mandatory. 1t is a barbaric satire
on the futility of war. adult IN
dialogue. pointed and a bit brazen
in romantic tinsels. loaded with
logic, but clever, deucedly clever.
These things have been said so
MANY times and the Sherwood eff.
fort dissected and discussed in so
many forms 1t is unfortunate that.
those Of delicate sensibilities are
still being misled.
And so the matter OF a protest
was tabled.
When the Warner Brothers pic
ture, '"Tenderloin, is unreeled at
the Metropolitan today Washing
ton film patrons will have their
first glimpse OF the modern talk
ing movie. Dolores Costello and
Conrad Nagel, among others of the
hitherto silent actors, will be found
speaking appropriate lines to fit
the emotions they are portraying
and the action upon the screen.
The innovation will be interesting
and must not be judged too
harshly. for 1t marks the first at
tempt by Vitaphone to produce
talking drama for the screen.
In the dim days of the past.
when | first became a wild.eyed
movie addict, favorite haunt for
entertainment dissipation was the
Theater Comiquc. in Boston. This
imposing auditorium OF some 500
seats was the first to introduce to
the Hub the novelty of having two
actors behind the movie screen
who spoke out loud the words
which the characters on the
screen were evidently saying.
The audible couple were, indeed,
versatile. for they played all
variety Of characters, from cradle
tots to venerable graybeards. Not
even a small mob scene stumped
these Thespians. To me they were
marvellous. None applauded more
vigorously when they came before
the movie screen to take a bow
after acting in the darkened house
the stirring two-reel drama that
shivered through to a clutching
climax. Those were the early days
of the gigantic industry repre-.
scented by Hollywood.
A few years later came the
Edison attempt to SVnchrOniZe