Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-21
The Weeks Attractions in Local Theaters
Reviews of New Photoplays and Stage Productions
BELASCO

BELASCO D1 owen sp1 DsSis S1 5atsst
Dread" ed at the BelaSco
last night. 1t is
frankly, melodrama.
Dread" Is nerve-racking for two OF
the three acts but 10 furnished thrills
enough to hold interest for two hours.
The cast Of nine players have given
thought to their roles, and the per-
formances of Spencer Tracy, Miriam
Doyle and Madge Evans are out
standing.
The story is that of Olive Ingram.
who has devoted some 20 years of her
life to mothering her sister Marion.
Olive is to marry Perry Croker. IN
known to Olive, Marion and Perry have
fallen in love. They agree that the
only decent course is to tell Olive and
leave the decision In her hands. Olive
is brave, but when Mrs. Hale" from
Louisville appears with Perrys photo
and that of their baby, with a story OF
a two-week wartime romance, owe S
heart Is broken. She dies OF heart
attack and her last words to Perry
contain q warning that he shall never
have her sister.
Despite the advice of all her friends
Marion Is unable to resist the infatua-
ton and has decided to marry MN,
when a portrait of Olive, fashioned at
her own easel, drops on a desk; the
graph exposing Crockers dupnclty 1aliS
to the floor.
Another act Of melodrama, the reap
pearance of Mrs. Hale, her near death
from strangulation, which fairly ter
rified the Washington audience, and the
villain passes out of the picture by the
obvious route. Dread perhaps not SO
dreadful as the name, but there are
horrifying moments which play on the
emotions and it certainly removes ouSl-
ness cares from the mind.
COLUMBIA Son Gi0F makes s"f her
"The TresuaSser" debut in sound
pictures in THE
Trespasser," now playing at Loew's Co
lumbia Theater. Perhaps no motion
picture favorites advent in the present
dav sound productions is awaited WIN
more interest than is Gloria Swanson's,
Always distinguished by a consistent
sand enthusiastic following Of the ma
iority of film fans, Miss Swanson mas
ranked at the top in her earlier pic
lures, for example, Sadie Thompson
and 1.-THE Loves of Sunya." 1t Is
pleasure to find that not only does the
versatile artist come up to her previous
high standard, but to this reviewer at
least, she far surpaSSes her earlier sue
cesses in this performance.
The play, written and directed by Ed
mund Goulding, proves an admirable Sc
lection, for herein is afforded one OF
the most engrosSing and dramatic tales
concerning modern social problems
which has vet come to the screen. The
story is a page from life. Miss Swan
son has portrayed the leading character
with vividneSs and fineSse which leaves
nothing to be desired.
The lovely Gloria is noticeably more
mature more serious, displaying depth
of feeling and understanding which is
highly commended. Her speaking voice
is both pleasing and effective, and her
singing is delightful. Surely the COM
bination of a beautiful voice. an exqui-
site appearance and a versatility in act
Ing, will afford her every opportunity for
remaining upon the pedestal upon which
an adoring public has already placed
her.
The plot is not unusual and much
action is packed into comparatively
short time. Many angles are taken up
and laid aside, but all this is done SO
artiStically and SO cleverly that it is
fascinating rather than confusing
Marian Donnell is sweetAand capable
stenographer who falls in love and mar
ries young Jack Merrick, scion of the
millionaire house of Merrick in Chicago.
The senior Merrick. aided and abetted
by the family lawyer. haStenS to the
couples hotel to annul the marriage.
They succeed after promising that mat
tiers VIII be Strengthened out later. The
youths separate, time passes, the wife
returns to her secretarial position to
keep her baby and herself: the young
man, not knowing of the child'S birth,
hurries off to France, where he subse-
quently marries the girl of his fathers
choice, Flip" Carson. Marian allows
her married employer to establish her
in luxury and thus her child is afforded
the comforts which she Graves for him:
Only after several years OF trials and
sorrows is the unfortunate situation
cleared and love allowed to find its way.
A forceful tale with a moral is thus told
in such a gripping and effective manner
aS to make 1.-The TreSpasser" one Of the
best pictures of the season.
United Artists Corporation has sur
rounded Miss Swanson with superbly
capable supporting cast, including
Robert Ames, Purnel Pratt, Henry B.
Walthal, and others.
Added features include an above aver
age Hal Roach comedy ans a varied
news reel Exceptional and spectacular
shots of a recent test Of new shells at
Aberdeen Is notable. The Columbia
orchestra, conducted by Claude Burrows,
completes the program with an appro'
pirate musical score.