Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-20
C0LIrMRIA-"Coauette."

Americas Sweetheart" gives evidence
in her latest work of no intention OF
relinquishing the title, though she has
bobbed her hair, admitted sex as a fact
and gone in for talkies. "CoQuette,
Mary Pickford's audible version OF the
! vehicle that served Helen Hayes so
/ handsomely on the stage, is showing al
! the Columbia this week. Early audi
! ences were pleased with the picture. and
many persons are apt to visit II II only
! out of sheer curiosity.
Miss Pickford's share in this work,
which is, of course, the lions share. Is
! In all honesty not likely to detract from
her popularity. If she does not burst
on the public-as she had evidently
hoped-as a dynamic dramatic star,
she does at least give unmistakable sign
of dramatic talent over and above the
mere poise and assurance which she
has always had. This Characterization
of the little Southern girl Is, for the
most part, o flexible, believable piece
of theater. The Pickford voice Is good:
the Pickford dramatic temperament Is
apparently q sincere one.
1t takes a good many sequences Of
Southern gallantry (full of sub" and
"hah honah" and 'mah dotah's honah,"
all in the most studiously correct inflec-
tom and a modern counterpart of the
graceful antebellum days, to get to the
real emotional feeling of the play.
When the time comes for Miss Pickford
to let loose, she does so with gusto,
obviously with honest determination,
but over shooting the mark of convic-
ton. not only reaching the heights but
rampaging beyond them, as it were.
Certain unfortunate changes in the
original story have weakened this
"Coquette. The Royalties have been
shifted and sugared at the cost of
dramatic power, though the sum total
of casualties remains the same. 1t was
all clearly done for Mary and for Marys
debut as talking sweetheart. Those
who relish their Pickford In generous
portions will not mind.
John Mack Brown, playing Michael
opposite the star, and John ST. Polls, as
the father. are Splendidly cast. Matt
Moore contributes.
/ Janet Coon whistles and sings the
pictures theme song pleasantly and to
enthusiastic applause. Two Movietone
features, news reels and a bright and
amusing comedy round out the screen
bill.
THE FOX-"Through Different Eyes"
Through Different Eyes" another of
sieging Washington lately. is keeping
audiences at the Fox in suspense.
through several reels of testimony and
legal word battles, this week Mary
duncan, an actress of the legitimate
stage, adds to her laurels In this her
debut picture by her splendid acting,
her beauty and her voice, which reg
listers very well. Co-starring with Miss
Duncan are Warner Baxter and Ed
mond Lowe. who achieved popularity In
IN oio Arizona" It is quite q jump
from romantic and adventuresome
capallero, with a decided Portuguese
accent to an artist, and from a debonair
soldier of the Southwest border to a
sophisticated New Yorker, but Warner
baxter and Edmond Lowe assume their
new cnaraterS with an ease and finish
OF which only such artists are capable.
Inc construction of the plot of
Through Different Eyes" Is rather I'M
usual. The evidence of the murder is
constructed into three complete cases,
leading to three different solutions
which is an interesting reflection on
the unreliability of circumstantial evil
dence and personal testimony. Each Of
these cases is presented to the jury,
first through the eyes of the defense;
second, through the eyes of the prose-
cutting attorney, which is the anthithesis
of the first and third, through the
eyes of one who really knew what hap
pened. There Is another pair of eyes
| the eyes of the press-that keep q close
| account of the proceedings Of the trial.
Each time case is presented through
different eyes the persons involved as
sumo entirely different personalities
until one is almost at loss to know
which can be true
John Irving Fisher, master Of cere-
monies, offers one piano selection and
new Spring outfit. Horton Spur, a
human jumping jack, gives an enter
| tanning Slow-motlon pantomime of a
beginner at golf. George Grifith and
Nine. Rossette dance and sing FL Cleve
plays the zylophone in q nonchalant
manner and jokes bit. Sally and
Pep do quite sensational adagio dance
Patricia O'Connel sings two popular
numbers. The usual colorful chorus
dancing Of the Foxtettes and the ac-
companying music of the Jazzmanians
completes the stage presentation. The
Vitaphone features consist of . group
Of Negro jubiless singers the fashion
news and the usual Fox news reel.