davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
GREAT GABBO'
IS NOVEL
FEATURE

When James Cruze, one OF
Hollywood's best directors, de-
cided upon THE Great Gaboo"
for his first picture as an indie
pendent producer. it was
stressed that the central char
acter of the photoplay was
role which would require q
super actor. Eric Won Stroheim
was finally induced to accept
the assignment.
From such a combination of
talent the regular moviegoer
was led to expect great things.
AS it unreeled on the Keith
screen Saturday, it impressed
me that Director Cruze some
where In the process Of produc-
ton of the Ben Hecht story
had lost his enthusiasm for the
narrative and had determined
to Guido his rival directors in
the utilization of color and
magnificence for backStage
scenes. The net result is, a
weakly told fiction Of a
pompous and conceited ventrilo-
quist, jerkily projected as a
screen tale because Of the neces-
Sary distractions provided while
scores of dancing chorus girls
present their prancing routines.
To be sure, the footlight
scenes are beautiful and cx-
pertly staged. but they dilute
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

have q cast containing such
names as Ruth Chatterton,
Give Brook, William Powell,
Laura Hope Crews. and Mary
] Nolan on its roster. These
players take Charming Sim
ners" and make of it something
which has distinction and bril-
lance. something in line with
the best traditions of light
comedy. 1t has not been
butchered to make movie
holiday. There has been an
honest effort to catch the spirit
of the play, to retain the es-
sense of Somerset Vaughan.
And so far. as the players are
concerned, the effort has been
entirely successful.
In q technical sense we be-
Iieve that Charming Sinners"
represents a definite advance
over The Last Of Mrs. Chey-
ney" and The Lady Lies" But
much ground yet remains to be
gained, and in the minds of
many producers, perhaps. will
lie the question of whether the
ground is worth gaining. espe-
cially in view of the fact that
much of the material of such
sophisticated comedies will re
main cavaire to the general
movie public.
The lover of good screen act
ing, the bargain hunter seeking
'all star" casts, cannot afford
to miss Charming Sinners.
however. Nor are we unmind-
full Of the fact that the obvious
Criticisms Of tho piece have
time and time again been Of
fered to the American public
with satisfactory returns to the
box office. A. M. ].
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
When The Feature
Is Shown On Screen

FOX Charles Farrell and
Mary Duncan in "The River"
At 1855 q. M, 2:4O, 4:43, 7:55,
and 9:58 p. m.
METROPOLITAN - Charm,
Sinners" with William Powell
and Ruth Chatterton. At IL
a. M, 12:48, 2:36, 4:26, 6:l4,
8:04. and 9:55 p. m.
EARLE Dorothy Mackaill in
THE Love Racket" At 1l:4O
a. M, 1850. $3.50, 5:45, 7::5O, and
1855 p. m.
COLUMBIA - King Vidor's
"Hallelujah." At ii a. M, 1:O5,
3:12. SIT. T:24. and 1881 p. m.
RTALTO-"Red Hot Rhythm. "
At HAS a: M. 3:45, 5:45, T:45,
and GAS p. m.
PALACE-"The Locked Door"
with Rod LaRoque. At IL M,
2:40, $40. TAO, and 10 p. m.
R-K-O-KEITH'S-"The Great
Gabbo." with Eric Won, Stroheim.
At ll:12 q. m. 1:18. l1S. 6:12,
tbs, and S:lS p. m.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

the strength of the Hecht char
acterization and disSipate what
starts out to be a great story
idea. THE Great Gabbo' is
conceived as a vaudeville ven
triloquists who is the essence of
egotiSrn and cruel in his self
Importance. Only through his
painted dummy does he ever
voice words that indicate he
has a heart or sympathetic
feeling for his fellow actors,
and particularly for his pretty
assistant, Mary.
When his booriShneSS be-
comes unbearable, Mary leaves
him and ekeS GU a living as a
Song-and-dance artist. "Fri,e
Great Gabbo" and his wooden
Otto go on to great things and
soon are the stars of the big
Manhattan Follies. Mary and
her dancing partner have also
found work, with the same show.
A two years separation has con-
WINGED Gabbo he is in love with
Mary and he attempts to tell
her through manipulating the
strings of Otto. The reaWaken-
ed romance comes too late for
Mary has married her partner.
When The Great Gabbo" real
ICES the girl Is lost to him, the
shock unbalances his mind, and
the story ends with the ventrilo-
quiSt wandering out Of the
theater, staring idiot.
Mr.. Won Stroheim'S propen-
sity for hogging the camera is
still manifest. While the char
acter Of Gabbo has few appeal
J ing sides, IL is the less cOnvinc-
ing because the ventriloqulal
featS are manifeStly counterfeit.
Betty Compson was the Mary
and supremely satisfying even
though it was evident that she
was not the expertly competent
adagio dancer called for in
the tech1icolor scenes.
AS embroidery for the feature
the Keith screen shows jungle
Drums" a short travelogue in.
color illustrating some graphic
and exciting shots of trapping
the lion in the heart of the
jungle. It is an excellent sub
Sidiary reel.
ANDREW r. KELLEY.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
IS
BRILLIANT AS
CONDUCTOR

Ethel LeginSka, known on
every continent as pianist and
composer, brought new Joy to
washington music.lovers when
she appeared at Constitution
Hall. Saturday night, as direc-
tor of her Boston Women's
Symphony Orchestra.
Leginska In her third artistic
capacity is equally triumphant.
The power Of her as she stood,
characteristically dressed In q
tailored black velvet dress. wav-
ing 8 magnetic baton before the
band Of talented musicians.
IN the conducting Of mum
Der, be it one Of her own, as the
delightful sOld King Cole, or
the works Of century renowned
masters, LeginSka knows what
she wants. The electric force
Of her, the virility Of her move
ments even as they change from
great dramatic heights to those
delicate or pianissiHno direc.
lions, are felt by her audience
asdzeenly as by the orchestra.
AS with GabrilowitScf, q
Leginska concert rather de-
mands a piano solo. In the
presentation Of LISTS Hun
garian Fantasy" the celebrated
musician rendered the piano
solo and directed as well. Above
the ensemble harmony, a ster-
ling melody rang out, a maze of
intricate, scales and chords flow
ing in golden beauty Of tonal
color.
Those who were fortunately
seated in observing distance Of
LeginSka'S flying fingers, may
have suddenly realized, even as
I, that In the enchantment of
her artistry, the orchestral con-
tribution to the opus was en-
tirely lost. When LeginSka plays
the piano there Is no dividing
Of attentionLeginska Is alb
Solute master of the moment,
Schubert's lovely Unfinished
Symphony" Les PreludeS," a
symphonic poem by List. and
the overture to Wagner's Mas
tersingers of NuremL. g." were
other numbers on the program
rendered in memorable fashion.
MADELINE ENSIGN.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

fully hers. Then comes the
man who really loves her and
she decides to forget the past
and fulfill the glorious dream Of
the future.
Fate DEGREES that she serve
on a jury in Judgment Of a wo-
man, who killed the perfidious
man Of her past. This turn of
the play, known on the stage
as THE Woman on the Jury.
permits a moment Of excellent
dramatization. In q desperate
effort to save the woman on the
stand, the heroine convinces her
colleagues against their locked
verdict Of guilty, by bravely re-
vealing the hidden secret Of her
past.
There are those who still
cling to the Dorothy of flip
pant characterizations through
which she established her star
dom. It Is unfair to say she
did not handle this new role
well. She is sincere In every
action. She holds you by the
very intenseneSs of her own
feeling.
1t is Just that as a come
dienne she is unrivaled. while
there are too many superb
dramatic actresses in the field.
Sidney Blackmer, wellknown
legitimate actor supports Miss
Mackaill. Edmund Burns makes
an impressive deceiver. Alice
Day, the woman for whom
Dorothy makes the great sacri-
flee is colorless of voice and
action. noticeable matter,
since the rest of the cast gave
a splendid performance.
Blanche Sweet, is featured in
a short film entitled Always
Faithful" Harry Gribbon and
Andy Clyde are teamed in THE
New Halfback," a good comedy.
Milton Davis gives a novelty
organ number, which with the
newsreel and an orchestral
selection complete the program.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
N EW MUTUAL
SHOW AT
GAYETY

Pretty Babies" a produc-
ton embodying the best fea-
lures of burlesuue, opened the
week at the Gayety Theater
yesterday afternoon to a
capacity house. A new conner
to the Mutual Circuit, it shows
the way to many of the older
attractions.
Viola Spaeth sang in excellent
voice and danced well. Frank
Murphy won gales of laughter
in his character humor. Hazel
Walker flashed her graceful
limbs while Harry LIE Vine,
Jimmie Walters. Doris De Loris,
Fannie McAvoy, Don and Oar.
line, Eddie Butler and Howard
Harrison came through with
splendid offerings in their diff
ferent lines. A chorus of pretty
girls provided action and color
in several ensembles.
Manager Lake has booked an
entirely new company of white
and black jazz entertainers to
hold forth in another midnight
matinee and frolic next Thurs
day night at 1880 o'clock.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
Four Old Timers Are
On Current Bill
AT Fox

n isn't only the young ones
that dance, sing and entertain,
as patrons of the Fox this week.
are discovering.
In Fanchon and Marcos
idea In contrasts will be found
the "Old- Timers" The troupers
are Roy Francis, Madge Irwin,
Dad Pettis-he's 81, but you'd
never know Inlay Well, Joe
Conner, Frankie Ryder and
George Harrison.
Each of these old-timers has
played many engagements on
the stage, most Of them in
their earlier days, and each of
them has motion pictures to
their credit.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
M AyGHAM'S
COMEDY In A
TALKIE

There seems to be a sharply
defined limit as to what the
screen, even buttressed with
dialogue, can do in the realm
Of light comedy. There have
already been a number of ex-
cellent examples Of this sophis-
ticated dramatic style done in
the talkies, and they, retain
everything in the process Of
adaptation save the one quality
which is their saving grace
their sparkle. their whip Of
epigram, their opaleScence.
BY any rule Of reason or
dramatic precedent the parlor
comedies Of Somerset Vaughan
ought to make the best kind Of
material for the audible screen.
Charming Sinners" which is
at the Metropolitan this week,
is a transcript of one of these
comedies, and it is splendidly
produced and splendidly acted.
Whatever its fault, it is clear
that they lie either in the play
itself or in the adaptation
thereof. Or perhaps there is
something in the very nature
of the screen itself, or the pub
lie to which it has been psy-
chologically adjusted, which de-
tracts somewhat from the effect
of pieces whose primary APP
peal is to the intellect.
1T is an event these days to
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

It was a treacherous venture
from q commercial standpoint
making such a folklore movie
pay-and we are told that Mr..
Vidor spent three years trying
to convince Metro-G oldwyn-
Mayer of its feasibility, event
ually clinching his argument
by agreeing to take no recon-.
pense for his directorial SER
vices, and bearing besides, a
portion Of the production ex.
penSe. So we have "Hallelu.
jah" at Loew's Columbia Thea
ter, which Is about as far
South as this feature will be
exhibited.
Problems of casting Mr.. Vidor
solved by extended research in
the Harlem black belt where
he assembled a group Of actors
who never had appeared pro-
fessionally before the camera
and were utter strangers to
the microphone. That he was
able to take this undeveloped
talent and mold 1t effectively
into q cast capable Of interpret
ing with sensitive feeling the
characteristic traits of a highly
emotional race is a tribute to
his powers of instruction. For
"Hallelujah" Is a well-acted
talking picture.
The story takes for It's hero
a commonplace cotton picker,
Ezekiel. He sets out for the
city to sell the seasons crop
and. having realized the money,
falls into temptation in the
form Of craps game and a
tempting maiden. His carous-
ing ends diSastrouSly and the
repentant Ezekiel eventually be.
comes an itinerant evangelist.
His powers of persuasion flower
in the old-fashioned REVEALS,
where his people are Swayed
into emotional hysteria by his
vigorous. II unpublished, theology.
His spiritual labors are inter-
rupted by the return Of Chick,
old flame Of the cabaret. He
backSlideS and for wreaking
vengeance on an ancient enemy
goes to prison. The tragic
chapters end with probation
and his return to nanny and
the cotton field.
"Hallelujah," for me, touched
its peak in these colorful and
altogether moving moments
when mass grief was exempli.
fled in the moaning and spon.
taneouS suppliciationS of a
sorrowful people. whose prayers
found expression in the rhyth-
mic negro Spirituals. These
scenes have been strikingly
grouped and photographed by
Director Vidor, who may have
drawn some inspiration from
the similar tableau in "Porgy. .
When Ezekiel becomes q
prophet with a mission, some
realistic and colorful atmos
pheric sequences reveal the re-
vival flock stimulated by the
pleadings of this gaunt, sincere
preacher, into impetuous, shout
ing and hySterical seekers Of
the truth. The revival climax
in the river baptism, stirred
some of the Saturday audience
to mirth, though to me the di.
rector's fealty to tradition and
custom with due regard for
reverence was evident.
Daniel Haynes with a boom
ing musical voice was the ..Zeke"
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
DOT MACKAILL
INTENTIONAL
PICTURE

Again the nobleness of wo-
man lends q forceful basis for
a tale Of modern love. It all
depends upon your viewpoint
whether you will like Dorothy
Mackailps starring vehicle, THE
Love Racket" now playing at
the Earle Theater.
A series Of dramatic scenes
carry this production over oc-
cagional weak spots to a power
full climax and q satisfactory
finale.
It is the story Of a young
girl, tricked by a handsome
philanderer. out Of the ashes
Of disilluSion and hopelesSnesS,
she rises to the heights right
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
TIN PAN ALLEY
GLORIFIED
In FL MS

This week the Rialto offers
another Pathe hit called Red
Hot Rhythm" which is q must
cal comedy with delightful dia-
logue and technicolor sequences.
featuring the clever, crooked
and comic characters that
represent New York's famous
Tin Pan Alley.
The story, built on romance
and rhythm, concerns a lazy
ladies man. who runs q publish
ing company that is paid to
print snappy songs. A charm
ing star. who designs a copy
right on his tickle heart, tries
to show him the error of his
weak ways and lead him to
success. Just as she is making
plans to put over her hero's
song, q designing beauty comes
upon the scene, posing as an
angel The ensuing battle Of
wits between the lgring bru-
nette and mercenary blonde, re-
suits in q thrilling scramble of
suspense, drama and mirth.
The hero finally comes to his
senses and a snappy knockout
paves the way for a happy fade
out.
"A deluxe cabaret, boasting q
bevy Of beautiful chorus girls,
furnishes some glamorous dance
numbers, the outstanding hit
being Red Hot Rhythm" pre-
scented in seething colors, with
dazzling dancers following the
deliriouS rhythm, while q Sa-
tanic man sings the words with
q frenzy. that works himself,
the dancers and the audience
up to the high heat Of the har-
inony.
Alan Hale, as the conceited
Romeo, is humorously human:
Kathryn Crawford, as the caba-
ret singer, an example of sweet
charm, and Josephine Dunn
makes a vivacious and versatile
lady Villain
There are several witty minor
roles, the funniest of which Of
fers an original song rendered
by a weepy widow, THE NIGHT
That Elmer Died."
The pleasing program con-
cludes with an amusing college
comedy, an entertaining Uni
verSal newsreel and one Of
Grantland Rice's Sportlights.
ALICE x.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

and presented a characterize.
ton which won a sincere SYM
pathetic response. Nina Mae
Mckinney is the "Chick" and
barring brief moments of over.
acting by violent gesture, was
generally effective. The
NANNY" was played by Fanny
Belle DeKnight and offerad an
excellent portrait Of a human
figure. The incidental atmos-
pheric music is provided by the
Dixie Jubilee singers whose
spirituals are sung with feeling.
The incidental program at
the Columbia includes Station
BUNK a short satire on the
radio which stars George Price,
a Hearst Metrotone newsreel
and a medley overture by the
Columbia Orchestra, directed
by Calude Burrows. n
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
FARRELL STARS
In FEATURE
AT FOX

what 1.-THE River" this
weeks enticement to the Fox
Theater, needs is a theme song.
For, obviously, the only excuse
nowadays for a silent Cor semi
silent) motion picture, with
such q title, is to teach q lesson
or point q moral. And theme
song is simply essential to do so.
This dull reviewer mad come
to believe that the only theme
left was 1.-The show must go on"
and journeyed to the Fox hope
full of seeing life compared to
a river that keeps flowing along
to the sea and has whirlpools
and undertowS, etc.
In 1.-THE River" our hero,
Allen John, q backwoods boy,
builds himself a boat to sail to
the Big City He doesn't get
very far on his journey when
he is detained by the shallow
water and a pretty face. This
is the first woman Allen John
has ever seen, for his poor
mother died when he was only
a tot. This woman has Seen
Life and she is Through With
Men. She wants to live alone
by the river and tells Allen
John to- be on his way. The
boy makes several futile at
tempts to catch a train to the
city and finally resigns him.
self to the pleasant task OF
looking after the Woman of
the World. Being a handsome
fellow (Charles FarrelD, he
finally wins her heart by the
river, plunges into the river to
save her from the whirlpool,
and then sails down the river
with her to the sea.
The woman MARY Duncan)
gives an exhibition of some
high-class vamping to get her
man. Attired most Of the time
in flimsy negligee which she
had brought to her log cabin
from Paris and Monte Carlo,
1t Is no wonder that she sets
this backwoods boy afire.
Toward the close of this
Fox picture, directed by Frank
Borzage and fresh from q run
at a 50 house in New York,
one is aroused from a state
of somnolence by the voices Of
the principal characters and,
10 and behold, we have a talkie
and, as the boat sails down
the river, one can hear the
swish OF the water and the
Grooming voices OF the two
lovers. Beautiful!
The .highlight of the stage
presentation this week is the
group of old.timerS headed by
Henry Ford's famous fiddler.
Ranging in age from so to 81
they have all the energy and
pep of the Sunkist beauties
who precede them on the bin
with the breakaway" and
other modern steps. One old
timer does some acr0DaClc danc~
ing that compares with the
best one sees on the stage
anywhere.
Mel Klee. q blackface comic.
acts as the master of cere-
monies, and introduces one
John Irving Fisher. who does
a piano number in excellent
style. Klee has a flock of good
stories. Serge and Robert Tenn
off, dancers from the Folies
Bergere, Nan Blackstone. Gypsy
Byrne, Bud and Eleanore Cole
and Buddy Emmett complete
the program with entertaining
specialties. The Fanchon and
Marco idea this week Is to show
how the girls keep their figures.
Fox Movietone has an anus
ing scene showing children reg
iStering their wishes with
Santa.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
PALACE SHOW
CLICKS ALL
AROUND

LOew'S Palace is this week
presenting one of the most de-
lightful entertainments of the
season, featuring an excellent
picture and q charming stage
production.
The Locked Door," an adap-
tation from Claiming Pollock's
success, The Sign on the
Door" is a United Artists sound
film. Rod LaRocque heads an
exceptionally wellchoSen cast,
which includes Barbara Stan
wyck, Betty Bronson, William
Boyd, Of stage fame; ZaSu
Pitts and Mack Swain.
The story concerns q young
girl. secretary to a wealthy
man, who goes out for the eve
ming with her employers son.
He takes her to a diSreputabIe
rum ship, which Is raided, and
the couple is there involved in
an unpleasant situation. Later
the girl marries a man whom
she adores. but when the earlier
lover, Devereau by name, comes
to their home as a sutton to
her youthful sister-in-law, the.
wife determines to sacrifice her
own happiness, II necessary, to
save the girls reputation. A
tense and dramatic scene,
rather unexpectedly and cleverIy
unfolded, brings the whole sit
uation to a gripping and salts
flying close.
LaRocque is close to perfect
in his nonchaiant portrayal of
the AdoniS who finds his enter
tainment in each new girls
attractiveneSS. His voice is
particularly well modulated and
expressive. So well does he
handle the. role that his au-
dience is sympathetic. disguised,
amused, infuriated as he wills,
in this Characterization which
Is both appealing and repellent.
Barbara StanwycK and Betty
Bronson are chic and charming
as the feminine contingent.
A goodly share Of the praise
must go also to several In
lesser roles. Miss Pitts, as the
club switchboard operator, is
wow" just enough nunnor-
Gus appearance and discourse
is provided by the expert com
medicine to relieve the tenSest
situations and to afford plenty
OF hearty laughs. Mack Swain,
the clustering hotel keeper, is
also q knockout, and Boyd is
splendid as q waiter.
The stage show, ''Desden
China" devised by Chester
Hale, is a beautiful presenta-
ton. The setting and cos
tunes are as dainty and lovely
as piece of Dresden china IS
profesSed to be, and the enter
tanners are splendid. Allah
Rogers, as master Of cere.
monies, does wonderfully well.
Patti Spears. a charming solo
iSt, offers several numbers and
Collins and Peterson, q comedy
team. who really deserve that
appellation, are riot. Jolly
and Smith, and the Rodoin
Trio, all unusually talented.
contribute to the enjoyment of
the bill. The Chester Hale
girls are responsible for some
lovely dance numbers.
Short subjects, including a
newsreel which shows some In
tereSting points about man.
made lightning, and organ and
orchestral music by Charlie
Craig and Harry Borjes and
the Palace Syncopators, com
plete q program which should
be listed as one affording sure
fire eniOynent.-H. X
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
A Notable Cast

A really great cast Is seen
In support Of Dorothy Mackaill.
star Of the First National vi.
taphOne picture, The Love
Racket" now at the Earle
Theater. Sidney BIackner. IA,
vorite Of the stage. is the lead.
ing man and Alice Day, Myr.
tie Stedman, Edmund Burns.
Edward Davis, Martha Mattox
and Edith Yorke are included
In the cast.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
Camp Meeting

A complete replica OF negro
camp meeting in the South,
with hundreds OF colored wor.
shippers, singing their hymns
and spirituais is among the
vivid details of "Hallelujah, "
Metro oldwyn,Mayer's all.talk-
ing drama now playing at
Ioew's Columbia.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
'HALLELUJAH," A MOST
UNUSUAL MOVIE
By ANDREW Z. KELLEY

King Vidor motion picture director Of great talent and
Souherner by BIRTH long cherished the idea Of placing
upon the screen the picturesque drama which he sensed
often bacgrounded the everyday life of the primitive
negro He wrote the story of Haleuiah" 10 years ago
The Washington times., 1929-12-16
Love and Sacrifice

The cunning of the plot
weaver is manifest in First Ma
ional-Vitaphone's THE Love
Racket" starring Dorothy
Mackaill at the head Of bril-
liant cast at the Earle Theater.
In the picture, q trial is con-
Quoted with one woman, Alice
Day. at the bar of justice for
shooting her lover. but actually
the heroine, who serves on the
jury, is the one on trial. It is
a powerful drama of love and
sacrifice.
The Washington times., 1929-12-16

Lose anything over the week-endf "
80. NOW Il the time to phone Dis
tFiet 4 80 and place Lost" ad he
fore + RI Times and Herald slTarp-eyed