The Washington times., 1929-01-03
GLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW R. KELLEY

It was 1:15 a.sm. in the New
Year when the final curtain de-
scended on the premiere per-
formance of Earl CarrolPs
"Fiorella" at Ford's Theater,
Baltimore.
AS near as can gather, after
digesting four reviews of the
new musical, Mr.. Carroll has
spent money prodigally and has
enough production for two re-
vues. Leon Errol weighted down
with armor and muskets, has a
great romantic comedy role, and
Fannie Brice's wicked Old VIII
lage of Venice" is the hit of
the show. Lionel Atwill struts
through as the Count Matteo Di
Brozzo, minister of state, a dig
nified role. And Earl has, from
all accounts, challenged Ziegfeld,
through a stage overrun with
dazzling beauties. The most en-
= thusiastic reviewer calls it bet
ter than "Show Boat" No mod
est praise.
Mr.. Carroll's present task is
to cut and slash, for at least one
hour must come out of the run
ming time allotted to the opening
performance.
One student of the cinema
who reads these columns OBJ
jects to Lilac Time" being
included in the ten best movies
of 1928 and would substitute
-Four Sons" Another pro-
tests rating Charlie Chaplin's
Circus among the third
choice films. Still one more
commends the selections but
regrets no place was found for
Victor MacLaglen's "Girl In
Every Port" A fourth asks
what about Sunrise" and "The
End Of st. Petersburgh"?
A debate on the ten best
movies of any season is an
endless controversy, and not even
with the wisdom of Solomon
could ten be selected on which
all would agree. Sunrise" was
held off until 1929, and so was
not considered. The Russian
film has been highly praised,
but as it did not play in first
run houses of Washington,
which come under the purview
of this department, judgment
was reserved.
Personal tastes for movies and
shows are many and varied.
Some six months ago | had
matinee tickets for Present
Arms" good musical. The
general press representative of
a New York producer advised
me to tear them up. "I'll send
you to the best show in town
this afternoon" he said. He
gave me pair on the aisle for
the worst bore of play that
ever found production. I've been
wondering since whether he was
nursing a grudge or was a rela-
tive of the old lady who kissed
the COW.
This has been a hard season
for those who dipped into the
legitimate drama expecting to
capitalize on a popularity predi-
Gated on newspaper prominence
or headlines. Peggy Hopkins
Joyce, in Lady of the Orchids"
came a cropper for Producer
Ray Goetz. peaches" Brown
ing is out of "The Squealer,"
having failed to attract suffi-
cient business to warrant her
sizable salary. Jack Dempsey's
play, THE Big Fight" was
costly failure.
Sophie Treadwell's play, Ma
chinal," with incidents that
paralleled the Ruth Snyder case,
was one of the Arthur Hop
kins casualties. Maxwell An
derson's drama, Goods of the
Lightning" built on the Sacco-
Vanzetti tragedy, failed to at
tract. "Elmer Gantry," the
dramatization of Sinclair Lewis
controversial novel, was dis
NAL flop.
relay along to Mr.. Colby
Hartman, managing director
of the Loew Theaters. the sug-
gestion from Eleanor Buck
ley that the short film showing
the death battle of the mon
goose be given a return en-
gagement. "Of the ten bast
short reels shown during 1923
this was all of them," says the
enthusiastic Miss Buckley.
Come to think of it, picking
the 10 best shorts" Of the
around-the-corner year would
be labor. Easier to pick the
ten worst. And among the lat
ter would be the current Max
Davidson at the Earle.
B0X-offlce business along
Street has recovered nicely
from the pre-holiday slump.
Business in the legitimate thea
ter is also on the upgrade this
week.
Turning in to the Metropoli-
tan lobby at exactly 2:40 p. m.
Yesterday, l broke my first
New Years resolution, which
was never to stand in wait
ing line for any picture. 1t
took eight minutes to pass the
portals for ION Trial and the
delay was worth the effort.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"