Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

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gether with measured beat. He
was skilled in adding to the illu-
sion-putting real color into the
Show-and the shell beats repre-
sented the feet of gallopine
horses. And our hearts almost
stood still when we saw Bill Hart
Bronco Billy" Anderson or ever
Tom Mix leap into the fore
ground aboard his truSty Steed
grasp the heroine firmly about the
waist and toss her across the
saddle.
Those were the days. And now
the real Western picture is almost
gone. It will soon be as extinct
as the dodo. OF course, we have
the Zane Grey stories, and prob
ably always will have, but they
are the sophisticated pictures OF
a new West-none of that old
colorful past. In looking over the
situation out Hollywood-way, the
writer discovers that there is but
one actor now making a speciality
Of %WeSternS." And this chap is
Ken Maynard, one of the newer
recruits to that style of drama.
Bill Hart, long a favorite, has not
made a picture in years; Hoot
Gibson, always popular with the
younger generation, has gone in
for aviation films; Tim Cody
finished his last Western and has
made no arrangement to continue
along that line; Bronco Billy
Anderson, who was a fixture with
the old ESsanay Co., went into
stage production and dropped
from the movie spotlight; Tom
Mix has wearied of the routine
and is tied up with new ideas. his
most recent scheme dealing with
a plan to write pieces for the
newspapers and magazines.
So, the two-gun man is passing
from the movie, although he
played a considerable part in the
advancement of the photoplay in
dustry. The first real stories told
by way of the screen were West
erns-a particular type Of pic
ture which brought action before
the audience. The staggering
heroes of the day before yesterday
belonged to the class who wore
monstrous felt hats and chaps,
and who could shoot (for all movie
purposes Just as we'll with the
left hand as with the right. Many
a redSkin bit deeply into the
alkali dust, many a calico-clad
maiden was rescued and many a
slick gambling person saw the
error of his ways when the West
ern picture reached its height of
favor.
Now, Ken Maynard just about
has the field to himself. He may
roam the far plains around Holly
wood and fear no rival-and even
Ken places his work On a COM
mercial basis. II have no foolish
ideas about art" he says. my
idea is entertainment and COM
mercial value. I had a chance to
do the sort Of roles that Milton
Stills has popularized, but I am
sticking to my horse TarZan.
choose to remain in the West
ernS."
"HEARTS OF DIXIE" a Movie
= tone production with an all
Negro cast, is said to be an out
standing achievement in the way
of dialogue and singing. The time
of the story is about two years
after the Civil War, and the
scenes are laid, naturally, in the
sunny Southland. In all the
scenes there is said to be a rare
quality Of restraint, both in the
gestures of the players and their
talking. The film is filled with
strange dances, the chanting Of
the voodoo women, all enhanced
with the singing Of spirituals.
THIS picture Spies" which was
exhibited at a local theater
during the past week, clearly
shows a different system used by
the German producers and d.
rectors. The Germans, especially
those Of the Ufa Co., have never
exploited stars to a great extent.
In the Hollywood studios the star
is the main consideration. Then
comes the story, and the cast is
built around the story and the
star. In Germany great care is
taken in the selection Of the en-
tire cast.
"Spies" is a melodrama which
develops, at times, into a melange
OF cleverly designed and ably d.
rected scenes. In certain cpl
sodeS, there is an abruptness, but
one finds this in many Of the
films from foreign lands. The
mechanical details of the settings
are ingenious to an extreme, but
there Is considerable that Is left
unexplained.
The star system In this country
may play havoc with the best
sort Of story. The star may be
the only outstanding actor or
actress in the picture. In the
German studios, with such a pic
ture as Spies" all those of the
cast are finished actors. In most
instances, they are selected fol-
the particular parts they are tc
play. The character studies are
thoroughly enjoyable and ar
added feature to any picture.
y \ X
THERE is being inaugurated, ir
Great Britain, a movement tt
collect and preserve for the en-
pire all films that embody the
spirit OF erdeavor and the history
Of Britain, and to see that pos
farifv fhrn1fOh ithaca Aims mil
have visual evidence of the spirit
and doings Of the past. The Duke
Of York will accept, on behalf Of
DANCING.