Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-20
SCREEN
S'N'%~>'ae''s'''1'Ns ~ 49,
FROM THE
BY c. E. NELSON.

important issue is in the balance
is recognized by the trade press
and the entire industry.
Pathe states that in October an
application was made to the direc-
tor of the motion picture division
for licenses to exhibit "Sal OF
Singapore" This silent version
was reviewed and was licensed by
the Censor Board. Subsequently
dialogue sequences and musical
Synchronization were recorded for
this PhilliS Haver vehicle. The
making of the sound recordings
did not involve any change of the
pictorial matter embraced in the
film. In November, Pathe made
application for additional licenses
for SAL of Singapore" The
sound, music and words recorded
were not submitted, as there was
claimed to be nothing in the law,
by inference or suggestion, as to
the censorship of speech. The re-
queSted licenses were issued with
the following words stamped upon
their face: "ThiS license is invalid
when the film or any part thereof
is used in conjunction with me-
chanical devices for the reproduc-
ton of sound or by the use of per-
sons for the utterance of Ian
guage."
Pathe claims that the director
of the motion picture division has
no legislative powers and cannot
change the law, and that he has
no powers other than those ex-
preSSly given to him under the
law. The company has taken a
step which will lead to the courts
for a final Solution-to censor or
not to censor the talkieS.
X x
NEW Pictures: 1.-THE Shopword
Angel" Paramount produc-
ton, stars Nancy Carroll and Gary
Cooper. It is a war story, with
especially good titles. The story
concerns chorus girl, and it has
nothing to do with a Shop-a good
picture with many laughs.
Marquis Preferred" starring
Adolphe Menjou. The locale is
Paris, and the spoken titles are
presumed to be translations from
the French. The situations are
amusing, and Chester Conklin has
an important part. Nora Lane
plays opposite the star.
THE Case of Lena Smith" con-
tainS some Of the best acting ever
done by Esther Ralston. Most of
the action takes place in Vienna,
and the supporting cast is eSpe-
cially good. The picture is ex-
pected to place Miss RaISton
among the screens most forceful
Short Flashes.
REN HEIGHT and Charles Mac
Arthur, novelists and co-au-
thorS of the Broadway success,
THE Front Page" have been
signed to F. B. o. contracts to
write original screen stories. Hecht
is already at work on Upper
world" His first screen story
was Underworld" which starred
George Bancroft. He has written
twelve novels and plays.
The Woman'S Club of Bethesda,
Md, through its educational de-
partment, is screening How .i,ife
Begins" at the Bethesda The Ter
on the afternoon of January 80
The picture is microscopic bio
logical film, giving with scientific
accuracy the methods by which
animals and plants come into ex-
istence, beginning with the lowest
forms of life. Teachers consider
it the equivalent of six months
course in biology. Grace o. Pa
riSeau is chairman Of the COM
mittee.
Ben Lyon has been signed by
the Columbian company to appear
in silent and sound pictures. Dor
othy Revier is returning to the
same producing company.
Conrad Nagel will have the lead
ing role in White Collars" which
William de Mile will direct for
Metro GoldWyn Mayer. Nagel also
appears in the leading role in
Dynamite" an all-talking picture
of society life.
Metro Goldwyn- Mayer will pre-
sent a sound Synchronized and
partial dialogue perturbation OF
The Bethany Trial." written by
Frances tNoyes Hart.
Nils Asther shares top honors
with Lewis Stone in wild Or
chids." Greta Carlo has the
feminine lead.
/ Henry B. WalthalI, who once
played the Little Colonel in 1.-THE
Birth OF Nation" a picture made
many, many years ago, has been
selected to fill the role of Father
Juniper in 1.-THE Bridge of San
Luis Rey." Others in the cast are
Lily Damita, Ernest Terrence
Raquel Torres and Jan Winton
Charles Brabin is directing the
story, which was a best seller novel
written by Thornton Wilder.
If you are interested in the mat
ter, John Gilbert played his first
stage role when he was a year old
He was taken on in a scene in one
OF the old Eddie Foy comedies
and he was an instant success!
Lima BaSquette, widow of Sam
Warner and during the past year
a player in a number of produc-
tions for various companies, was
recently married in Hollywood to
Peverell Marley, a cameraman
June Collyer was bridesmaid and
Robert Edeson was best man.
| Estelle Taylor has been assigned
to the feminine role opposite Lon
| CLANCY in Jungle"
THE Woman Who Needed Kill
ing" a story written by Margaret
II. Lawrence, has been purchased
by Paramount as a vehicle fol
Give Brooke and Baclanova.
And here is another social note
The Barrymores-John and Do
lores-have sailed from Los An
geleS on q belated honeymoon