The Washington times., 1929-05-01
ARE
ONCE MORE
In ORDER
BY DOROTHY HE~-cG

f1OAL1 "OODs NailL., may L.
Years ago, when the motion pic
ture was young and rec IS and
airily Indifferent to its discrep-
ancies, the critics were accus-
toned to seeing new offerings in
the projection room.
The motion picture toppled into
adn'"-cence. 1t became sophisti-
Gated and alCN I'd II tive to
its discrepa. critics were no
longer invited to projection room
previews. They must see each
celluloider in the thei.ter and
pr~''t by the AUDIENCES reaction!
Todc--', the motion picture pre-
sumes 1t has reached the mature
stage in its deve e'"~"'"nt. And,
like the majority of matured folk,
has reverted with c"~-'al dignity
to outstanding features of its
childhood. '~~'~ o~itics are be.
ing invited to projection room
previews.
M. G. M. led the procession by
inaugurating P. M. showings at
the studio. Famous Players, not TO
be outdone, ushered in a series of
weekly midniG'pt sHow'@~- at the
local Paramc''~ - 49,
The ta'<ies unreeled the cream
Of its product, and the critics
sprea7 up TO the fur
therest corn"" -''. Even
Mary Pickford. cautious show
woman that she is, harked to
the current preview fad and
screened a pre- '~~ Of
"Coquette."
Not to be outdone, the Sam
Goldwyn forces invited the critics
to a studio repast 'tother eve.,
after which they ambled to United
Artists comfortable projection
room and looked-listened to Bull
Dog Drummond." This celebrates
Roland Colman's stellar bow into
the outloud race. The film debuts
in New York, May 2, and will
travel NEWS from there.
Bull Dog Drummond" as an
outloud is played seriously. Mr..
Colman does succeed in tossing off
stupendous deeds of a heroic
nature with a twinkle in his eye.
But n curiously uproarious leac-
tion dominated the projection room
when the film neared the half
way mark. One didn't want to
rock with laughter. One yearned
to be in on the fun with the
players and chuckle knowingly.
Their seriousness daunted but did
not dam the mirth.
Amuse-O- Grams
Moran and Mack, the two black
crows, lolled on the studio set
while sound experts tested the re-
productive qualities of the orches-
ira for their initial talky.
"I think the orchestra needs
more wind instruments" one sug-
gested. Mack to Moran: George,
'spose you run over to our dress
in room and get that electric fan
for the boys!
It happened while Irving Thai
berg was in New York. He tele-
phoned Norma Shearer ter hum
only to learn she was at dinner
party. He telephoned her at the
party. He seemed perturbed.
Norma was out without him. He
stipulated he'd give her Is min
utes to get home and ring her
there in that time. And Norma
was home in Is minutes! Weren't
you furious?" a friend queried.
"No,"' smiled Miss Shearer. 81
rather liked itr'
Screenalities
Lillian Gish, Mary Pickford,
Joseph Schneck en- route to New
the rumored United Artist-War.
ner Brothers merger Jack
Warner also en- route or arrived.
Jack raced to the train with Is
minutes to spare, and made 1t.
bigosh. though it's safe to reckon
the chauffeur suffered a nervous
breakdown after getting him
there Richard Barthel.
mess and wife also headed for
New York-wards
An amusing incident marked
Lillian Gish's departure. She
"fOrded" to the train two hourS
before it pulled out. She had spe-
cial permission to board the car
in the yards. She did. With her
maid. A process server was after
her. She succeeded in lodging
him. Even though it forced her
to remain locked in her compart-
ment for seven hours. All, mio,
such is drama Prince
Ferdinand. the ex-kaiser's grand
son, lunching tete.a-tete at Ye
Montmatre with Lili Damitt, the
French whizz-banger. And Lii
a vivid blond study in red coat
and red beret. That gal certainly
corrals the princes. Recoliect
Prince George of England
That's all.
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