Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-30

dancing June Carr and the Sorel Boys
and Girls ada their bit of merriment to
the lively hodge-podge Al Evans adds
q touch with his direction of the Palace
Syncopaters in their speciality number,
Every Day Away From YOU" The
COLUMBIA LIFT Tns se pseee ve Of
"The Dance sion of the recent
of Life" stage success, BUR
lesque," is being
held over for a second week at
the Columbia. Hal Sicily, the dane
ing comedian of the original play, ap-
pears in the lead, and he is ably sup
ported by Nancy Carroll. who displays
talents for dancing and singing as
well as for capable acting. The picture
Is all-talking.
''The Dance of Life" reveals q cross
section of life back stage. It is the
much-exploited story of the struggle
for Broadway fame from the obscurity
and privations Of the Tank Town cir
cults. This time the big chance comes
only to result In unhappiness and mis-
understanding, when Skid" johnson
finds that having ones name in the
lights and the approval of sophisticated
New York are all very shallow, and
he left behind him before he knew the
glamour of success, especially his wife,
who had made 1t all possible.
The story opens in railroad station,
where Skid" and Bonny King, both
jobleSs, form a dancing team and sue
coed in landing job in the burlesque
circuit. Skid" always irresponsible
but charming, has little ambition and
an inclination for drink, but he Is
urged on and kept straight by Bonny.
Finally they marry. Comes the long
Skid" departs for New York. With
success comes forgetfulness of old times
and high living. Meanwhile Bonny,
neglected by her husband and jobless,
goes to New York Disillusioned, she
returns West to get q divorce and to
marry wealthy admirer. When Skid"
appreciates what he has lost, he resorts
to drink and loses everything. How
ever. Bonny finds that she cannot carry
out her plans and returns to rescue
skid" They start again as the old
dancing team in burlesque.
The realism and simplicity of the
characters and the dialogue are refresh
ing. Some Of the scenes are in natural
colors. The story is well proportioned.
The remainder of the program con-
sists of the Columbia Orchestra, Cliff
Edwards ("Ukulele Ike'D in a vitaphone
skit and the news reel.
LITTLE to rather I'll xs sSqq te S ssnS
"Nana." with all their esthetic
traditions, have yet to
learn about motion picture technique
and imaginativeness before 1t APP
breaches an art in their hands, Is on
view this week at the Little Theater in
Mana" The film, based on Emile
Zola's novel, recommends itself to this
reviewer as one vast imperfection in
spirit and treatment from beginning to
end.
1t must seem an almost impious thing
to make these general observations in
view Of the fact that one Of the finest
photoplays of all time was also French
product. THE Passion of Joan of Arc"
which appeared at the Little Theater q
few weeks past. is the film referred to.
Russia, Germany, even Italy and Eng
land, have made consistent Gf. in some
cases, widely separately contributions
to the screen. France has failed to
realize upon her own artistic traditions
in the new medium.
Mana" the program informs you,
was produced by Jean Renoir, son Of
famous painter who was wildly an
u.
The cooperation of members of Zoia's
family is also said to have been made
use Of These things being true, one is
no less aStounded that they could have
so completely ruined the possibilities of
great work. Why were caricatureS
presented instead of characters? Why
was the selfish. tragic little madcap,
Mana, made to look and act like mimic
of Louise FaZenda In some of her most
exaggerated comedy? Why was the
whole dramatic action performed in an
imitation Of the early East Lynne"
manner? Why was the emotional pro-
erosion of the plot (even in the ordi-
narily skillful hands of Werner Krauss)
so tormentingly stepped in either unre-
lieved burlesque or funereal dizziness
against painted backdrops? And. final
ly. why was the sequence of episodes
which keyed the physical development
of plot so loosely strung together, SO
lamentably sub-titled, as to indicate
sheer contempt for Zola's masterful
building of detail? France does moth
ing for her movie reputation by sending
Mana to this country.
The newsreels, aided by Laurel and
Hardy comedy, retrieve the Little Thea