Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28

n man for a while with the Ma
- tional Theater Players this year,
will bring his current New York
show, Brothers" to Washington next
season, according to publicity sent out
last week Bert Lytell. in his younger
Thespian years a popular stock leading
man, gained his widest recognition in
the movies, where he fluttered the femt-
nine heart for a long time with his
iron -jawed heroics.
Brothers" Is a Herbert Ashton melo-
drama. The story concerns twin BROTH
ers, orphaned at an early age. one OF
whom is reared In affluence, the other
fighting his way up from river-front
childhood Lytell plays both roles.
Robert Garland, writing in the New
York Telegram. notes that in the play
hearts are broken. shots are fred, the
mighty are humbled, the lowly are ex-
allied, and, as in every triumphant
melodrama, rags are royal rainent when
worn for virtues sake" The play,
while breaking no records for critical
acclaim or box office prestige, has had
solid run at the Forty eighth Street
Theater.
Miss Clara Bow, for some time now
the acknowledged doyenne Of flaming
ingenues, confounded the New York
cinema critics with her Dangerous
Curves" current at the Columbia. In
much the same fashion that "Abies
Irish Rose" did. The picture, hand
somely panned by the reviewers, was
Paramount Theater, one Of the f1rst OF
all films to be so honored. II the critics
thought that Miss Bow was on the
way out" the people whose cash provide
her with the necessaries Of life, such as
Jewels, gowns and publicity. did not
think So Part Of this popular success
can be credited to curiosity about the
Bow voice. here heard for the first time
in an audible picture. That the story
weak and initiative drama" seems to
have been agreed among the critical
fraternity, but it might be remembered
even among those who sickle for art
qualities in their entertainment, that 1t
was the public, after all. that decided
the astounding fortunes Of Anne Mich
OILS work and made it about as well
known in this country and abroad as
Uncle Toms Cabin"
Another picture which strobe into un-
usual public esteem-and this time into
critical esteem as well-was Broadway
Babies" the burden Of the effort and
success reposing upon the shoulders OF
the frail, electric little Alice White,
ci-devant stenographer in q Hollywood
studio. Her playing Is spoken OF by
one reviewer as possessing extreme
force, delicacy and insinuation." One
interesting feature in connection with
the film is the lack Of fanfare end tor
rid publicity which preceded u pre-
miere. First National. along wt.n all
the others, may be depended upon to
confess the merits Of its products in
the stories which are customarily mailed
ahead of Aim debutS. Broadway Ba-
bies" was something Of a dark horse in
this respect. Washington has the pic
ture this week at the Earle.
Hope Hampton's Vitaphone short, at
the Earle last week, from the fourth act
of "Manon," met some interesting reac-
lions from the audience of which this
reporter was an humble unit. Many peo-
pie, when Manon wrinkled her nose
and INDUCED in sundry facial gymnas-
tics under the stress OF her vocal ef-
forts, laughed out loud. The close-ups
absolutely betrayed these whimsicalities
necessary perhaps in operate tech
nique, but usually unseen on an opera
STAGE, and nearly destroyed the psyche
logical effect of the music. Fortunately,
perhaps. Miss Hampton could not hear
these signs of visibility. It is interest
ing to consider If opera will ever be
popular WIFI UlONlS duOlCIlCcS. Lie
matter Is important, since 1t has been
announced that quite a number Of full
length works will be sounded" Will
the producers, furthermore, limit them
selves to the actual opera scene, or will
they take their rowing cameras out into
the actual world. as they have done
with so many stage plays? Will the
rich investiture Of stage opera be re-
produced in color? And will directors
maintain the right of close-ups, despite
all obese tenors and heaving sopranos?
Let them, then, beware the gigslel
The cooling plant at the Metropolitan
is in running order. and has been all
during the past week, the management
AYERS. After sundry delays, for which,
in all honesty, the theater was not re-
sponsible, the divers pipes and tanks
and gadgets were coaxed into co.opera-
ton for the flnal week Of "On With the
Show"
The Buddy Rogers vehicle, River Of
Romance" now at the Palace, provided
Leo GARLIC q good role in its original
stage form as Magnolia" the work OF
Of its presentation come to mind
mainly that 1t was weak-unit dra-
matte proposition. boosted to success by
Carillo's studious efforts. Whether
Rogers has the subtlety to hold the
part down seems doubtful, considering
the type Of thing he has done hereto
fore. most that of the buoyant modern
youth. In all likelihood they have
adapted the tempo to Rogers rather
than adapting him to the tempo. This
mountain to- Mahomet vile is not UNI
known to the cinema It has been
known to effect an actual Improvement.
but the actor must be of SUFFICIENT