Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
FOX--"True Heaven"

FOX-"True Heaven"
"Wee Willie" Robyn on the stage and
True Heaven" on the screen vie for
headline honors in this weeks bill at
the Fox Theater. Wee Willie sings some
catchy songs in his magnificent tenor
voice, which has made him famous as
a member of Roxie's gang" and he
was applauded at each appearance as
he deserves to be.
George O'Brien and Lois Moran bring
another story Of war days to the screen
IN True Heaven" the name referring
entirely to their young dreams of life
after the war clouds have passed away
1t is tale of espionage and a woman's
struggle between love and duty, won
by duty. 1t may be the war type which
mas been served up rather often in the
past decade, but is so we'll done and
with such engrossing action that there's
not duh minute in it.
George O'Brien makes Stalwart
young officer of the British Army whose
duties carry him, in German uniform,
70 the village of Hautecroix, where he
finds the girl he had loved on sight
when he first met her in little Bel
gian town and had subsequently sought
in vain. He declares his love and asks
her to marry him after the show is
over" not realizing that she is doing
the same work for her Fatherland that
ne has been sent to do for his country.
There is a dramatic climax, with the
man facing the firing squad, the girls
pleas for his life having failed. Then
he is released, as the armfstice is signed.
In addition to Robyn, there is an
unusually good stage bill this week, with
john Irving Fisher presiding as master
of ceremonies. Incidentally, Mr.. Fisher
. is the central figure in musical trio
which brings down the house" with
an impromptu performance. His fellow
artists are Sigmund ziebel, violinist,
ana Eli Emmanuel, cellist, both of the
Fox Orchestra. Something new in ac-
robatic dancing is offered by Paul Kirk
land, who climbs the ladder which is
attached to nothing but thin air and
keeps it dancing merry jig all the
while.
Miller and Kilo, comedy gymnasts,
ere good, as are the jugglers with their
dog Harry Stevens enJertainS royalty
with his ukulele and the O'Connor Sis
tiers provide another vocal number. OF
course, the FoXettes are there in origi-
nal costumes and some new steps. Mr..
Brusiioff and his orchestra favor with
a modern interpretation Fox Movie
tone news is featured by picture
showing the desert Sheiks on parade.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Harmony"
Charles Rogers and Nancy Carroll are
featured In CLOSE Harmony" Para
mounts 100 per cent talking and sing
ing picture of back stage life, at the
Metropolitan Theater this week. The
story was written by Elsie Janis and
Gene Markey.
Rogers is cast as an impecunious
young aspirant to the glories OF a
vaudeville career, who is elected from
his boarding house because of the noise
resulting from an orchestral rehearsal
conducted by himself in his room dur
ing forbidden hours, and also because OF
his inability to pay his rent. But this
indignity has its compensation, for a
former roomer, the now successful stage
star, Marjorie Merwin, appears on the
scene, pays AIS bills and takes friend
ly interest in his ambitions. :.
Friendly interest on one side and
heartfelt gratitude on the other develop
into a deeper feeling whose course. we
are told, never runs smooth. Certainly
not in this case, thanks to AIS three RI
walls, Max Mindil, very excitable and
wheeZy voiced manager OF the Baby
lon Theater, and the two comedians,
Barney and May, rivals in business as
well as in affairs of the heart. It is ap--
parent that Mindil will employ Al and
his orchestra at high figure II the
Harmony team of Barney and Bay are
not available, so Marjorie concoctS a
plan by which Barney and Bay quarrel
and refuse to speak to each other. al
refuses to accept position gained by
such methods and repudiates the girl.
Spurred on by Marjorie'S tauntS about
his lack of courage, Al makes such a
bowling success of his act that he gets
the contract on his own terms, the Har-
mony Boys become harmonious again
and strains of the Wedding March
from ''Lohengrin" can be heard in the
distance.
Buddy" Rogers and Nancy Carroll fill
their roles remarkably well. Harry
Green formerly with Keith's. almost
runs away with the show with his char
acterization of the manager, and Jack
Oakie and "Skeets" Gallagher, as Bar
ney and Bay, furnish hilarious comedy.
Two short reels, Ben Bard in THE
Golf Champion" and Charlie Grapewin
and Anna Chance in "Jed's Vacation,
q Vitaphone number featuring Miss
Marcelle, clever and gifted singer and
1npersOndbOT, ana FdIIl6 0OuIlQ NEWS
are supplemental attractions.
PALACE-"The Voice of the City"
Willard Mack, one of Broadway's
most prolific actor-authors, has gone
movie" in an exceedingly suspicious
fashion. He not only adapts his own
story to the screen, but he directs and
stars in it as we'll, turning out first
rate "talkie" melodrama, THE Voice of
the City"
Despite Mr.. Mack's made-to-order
role, which he fills convincingly, the
play calls for a very capable cast and it
is here that the director displays ex-
cellent judgment. With the exception
of John MILAN. the supporting array
is made up of comparative unknowns,
from the screen angle, but who were
doubtless recruited from New York's
footliehts. Robert Ames has had a
successful stage career and his work in
the present opus is almost f1awless, his
voice particularly. He was seen re-