The Washington times., 1929-01-21
JAN NINGS IS
SUPERB IN
LATEST
By ANpREw r. KELLEY

sins of the Fathers. +" the latest
Emil Jannings feature, presents
the German actor In another of
his fine screen characterizations.
1t will not rank with THE Pa.
triot," but it will comfort and
sustain those who rate Herr Emil
as the greatest camera actor of
the era.
There Is substance and q life.
like background to all of the
stories which Jannings picks for
his screen adventures This intel.
ligence in selection provides him
with characters of flesh and blood.
subject to the normal faults and
virtues, and more often unappeal-
ing. No other star dares risk sub.
mergence in role frequently un-
sympathetic and Irritating, But II
the chance to act is present. Jan.
nings accepts 1t and asks no more.
In Sins of the Fathers" he is
a German waiter, saloonkeeper
and bootlegger, In turn, and his
finish is as somber and tragic as
any Anti.Saloon League orator
could Wish. We see him first as
q fIat-foot servitor In high.class
hotel, whose discharge is brought
about by excitement over the news
he is father of a male heir--a
bulletin which causes him to spill
gravy over the ensemble of
doWage
Jannings next bloss oms as the
proprietor OF q corner saloon. His
wife prepares the pig knuckles
and kraut In the dingy Kitchen
while ne tends bar and the cash
register. His affection is lavished
on the son and heir, with just
tolerance for faithful wife and
daughter. Prosperity comes, and
his next step upward Is more pre-
tentious establishment and promi-
hence in the Turn Verein. At a
beerfest social he meets 8 schenl-
ing couple, and when his wife sue
cur1bg to 4 lingering ailment. the
salOonkeeper WEEDS a yamp.
Comes prohibition, shown by
some graphic impfessionistic shots,
and Jannings becomes bootleg
ger. A sort of rum king, with a
bottiing factory for his illicit
goods. brushes with the prohibi-
ton fleet and the police, He is
rolling in wealth when his son
comes home from college. The
boy goes on wiloOpee party and
contacts with some Of the poison
booze, inadvertently distributed ~
his father. He Is blinded. Janniags
goes to jail and his wife fees
with all OF his available cash.
Banished by his family. he is dis
charged from prison To accidentally
stumble upon his sightless boy IN
a pleasure garden where the
father, broken In health. Is once
more acting as 4 waiter.
Jannings is William Spengler
to the life He gulps his Pilsener
and wipes the froth from his
scraggly monstache with realism
that Is convincing to the thirsty.
His stolid stupidity IN the dis
tributiofl of his affections is con.
vincingly told and his fine. ex-
pressiye eyes excite pity and
sympathy in scenes heavy with
emotion.
Ruth Chatterton, stage star,
makes her debut in pictures as the
cheating wife. without contribute
ing anything startlingly impressive
Barry Norton is a flat failure in
his attempt to s.Inilate drunken.
ness. just fair in the other actor
proof opportunities. and still needs
a hair cut.
''Cheerio," the stage presenta-
ton, is a diverting half-hour with
speeialties introduced by Wally
Jackson. Dorothy Nevin. Helen
Mcfarland. Grave and Marie
Eline and the Candy Hale girls.
A short screen comedy. with
ROSTERS and hens as the actors, is
pleasing novelty, and the news
reel completes well-balanced pro-
gram.