The Washington times., 1929-09-18
.GLEANINGS
:ANDs
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW r. KELLEY

Front Page" is tied up tight
with a run Of the play contract
which binds him to Producer
Jed Harris while that play is
on the boards.
The blond Mr.. Tracy went
over in big way in his first
talking movie called "Big Time"
and just as soon as he is free
Fox Pictures wants him again
in Hollywood.
Mr.. Tracy has hoped along
sensationally since he first came
into Broadway prominence as
Roy Lane, the hoofer in Broad
way" He played the role so
successfully many critics were
inclined to believe Lee was a
one-part actor but he proved
that was q poor guess by ring
ing up an even greater hit as
Hildy johnson, star reporter of
"The Front Page"
Gertrude Lawrence glanced
over the pictures of herself
which the Washington news
papers have been running and
then sent Dewey Bloom, her
personal representative, arouno
with some real artistic photos
produced in dear old Lunnon,
with a request that they be
used in the future.
Miss Lawrence is another
stage star who has clicked in
the takers. At least those who
have had an opportunity to catch
a pre-view of her Paramount
picture, "The Battle of Paris
claim it is a winner.
IT, her new play, Candle
Light" is a hit in New York
and Producer Gilbert Miller
thinks it will bet means that
Miss Lawrence can be acclaimed
as an English actress who has
made a success in three differ
ent lines of entertainment work
since her arrival with the Char
lot Revue of 1924. First as a
musical comedy star, then as a
movie queen and now as a dra-
matte actress in farce comedy.
There has always been a
topic of everlasting debate
among the followers of Beatrice
Lille and Gertrude Lawrence ss
to which was the cleverer.
think the laurels all go to Miss
Lawrence, being one of those
who regard the Lille talents as
highly overrated. If Winnie
Lightner can't do all the clown
ing and low comedy cut-ups of
Lille, and do them better, then
/ pass. Of course, Beatrice has
a tea-cup, lorgnette ard lin
CUISINE following, but it was not
large enough to keep "She's
Ny Baby" from being a $780,
900 Dillingham; flop.
They screened Hal Skelly's
picture made from "Burlesque' =
and called the "Dance of Life
at the Columbia Theater late
Monday night and Publicist SAM
Rubin came away from the pri-
vate performance shouting loud
he had seen a film musical that
surpassed Broadway Melody"
1t opens its engagement Satur-
day.
Exhibitors claim there is one
trouble with movies made by
stage stars. The Broadway
reputation means very little on
F Street. The Irregular movie
fan has his favorites and seldom
goes to the 81 shows where the
Chattertons, Eagels, Skellys and
Illusions show their wares. AS
a result Nancy Carroll means
more to "Dance of Life" in a
box office way than does Hal
Skelly. The same goes for
Jeanne Eagels, who is just be-
coming known in the motion
picture temples and, great
actress that she is, can't ap-
proach Clara Bow for popularity.
Leslie Howard happens to be
a leading man who can pick his
parts. Since he first made his
bow here in Outward Bound"
Mr.. Howard has never had to
look for a job. Playing in
Cardboard Lover" with Jeanne
Eagels, he came so close to
stealing the show from the star
that it was certain his career
in that production would be
short lived. 1t was, and he was
soon starring in Galsworthy's
Escape"
1t looked for a few minutes
Monday night as though Mr..
Howard was going to hook the
honors in Candle Light" but
after the first act he faded out
while Miss Lawrence claimed
attention.
Although Producer Miller is
keeping quiet about it, Mr..
Howard is scheduled to leave
Candle Light" very soon and
will appear in a new play,
called Berkeley Square" in
which he will also. be interested
on the production end. The
premiere performance is pen
cilled in on the booking sheets
for Polls the last week in
| October.