Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-03
COLJMBIA-"Alibi."

Theatergoers are, of late, seeing most
of the stage hits OF the past few sea-
sons done over for the "talkies" with
varying success. In "Alibi," adapted
from the sensational play, "Nightstick,
the photoplay version achieves effects
impossible for the stage, builds up to
the climax with moments OF more pow
erful drama. and above all, Is done
with a realism that is powerful and
compelling.
Not until one has seen "Alibi" does he
realize the possibilities the sound pic
lures have in overcoming the limitations
of the stage. For while voices" is
suing from the shadows may be less
realistic actually than those coming
from behind the footlights the "talkies''
are able to portray truthfully the i'm
portant detail that for the stage audi
ences is limited to mere suggestion in
the lines.
Thereby "Nightstick. the stage play
OF a policemans daughter S.ld her
crook husband, becomes in "Alibi" the
talkie version, the same story with the
added drama OF a big citys night life
as acted by a determined police force
and daring gang of crooks. But 1t is
to the stage play that "Alibi" owes its
excellent dialogue, which is not small
part of the pictures success. The story
also is in itself far superior in drama
and suspense to most of the crime pic
lures which have flickered across the
screens of late.
The picture is excellently directed and
acted in a manner more than adequate.
II is to be particularly commended for
its restraint and lack of "hokum," for
the sympathetic way in which 1t ham
died moments that could have been
capitalized into disastrous sentimental
nv To he in nf
young detectives death the timing is
bad and certainly not added to by the
house orcheStra's playing of soft
music" while the boy passes away.
The cast is entirely new, with only
two prominent exceptions, and 1t is
quite successful. Chester Morris is per-
fectly cast as to type in the lead. and
he has an excellent voice. His inter-
probation is consistent. Eleanor Griffith,
a washington girl, brings to her
rather limited part a dramatic sincerity
and a clear diction. Pat OMalley's
work is the high point of his inter-
rupted career, and Mae Busch scores
a comeback in an interesting char
acterization. The young unknown who
plays the heroic detective Is worthy Of
special mention. In many respects he
made his difficult role the high spot
Of the picture, histrionically.
Two short subjects in the nature of
fairly good vaudeville and O news reel
OF unusual interest round ou. the bill.
METROPOLITAN-"Noah's Ark"
The producer of the great spectacle,
'Noahs Ark" showing at the Metro
pontan this week, having been struck
by the necessity Of giving his theme
q modern significance, decided to relate
H. vi aF
lures to the late war, realizing how the
public prefers the profundities of sym
bolism relating to their own lives and
their own emotions. In finished form,
therefore, the pictures carries corollary
imports; that. just as the flood was sent
to cleanse the wodl Of sin and idolatry,
the World War was sent to cleanse the
world of hatred and intolerance. The
cleaning message is that war has be-
come outlawed" (Mr. Kellogg's very in
tention), and in reaching the ultimate
expression Of this concept the pro-
ducers of "Noah's Ark" have had the
opportunity of using all their tech
niQue, all their impressiveness, all their
fireworks.
The combination of ancient and mod
ern themes strikes this reviewer as a
great weakening of the value of the pic
ture. 1t is so strongly didactic, so I'M
GIIdI 10
point a lesson deprives the work of
elasticity. The sequences which pro-
vide the modern half of the story are
somewhat similar to those of other pic
lures, but not as impressive as 1.-THE
Big Parade" or What Price Glory?"
The real documentary importance Of
the picture lies in its treatment of the
Biblical atmosphere. which forms the
second section Of the filnl, in the form
Of q hashback. Here there Is truly
spectacular movie work, gigantic sets,
terrifying action, occasional moments of
real dignity. The sound effects used
10 heighten the impressions of grandeur
or terror are at times so insistent that
they actually shake the building. In
those elements Of craft which the movies
have peculiarly mastered, "Noah's Ark"
is in no wise deficient. 1t is as gigantic
and energetic piece of spectacle rs
the screen has even given. For sheer
scenic effect, the handling Of mobs, its
representation Of destruction and ele-
mental wrath, the film has probably
never been surpassed.
Those whose acting contributes to
''Noah's Ark" in double portrayal, that
Of both ancient and modern character,
include Dolores Costello, George O'Brien,
Quinn williams. Noah Berry and Paul
McAllister. ''