Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22

OF the world. Luckily, this vocal
misflt is muted until these last few
thrilling moments.
1t is impossible to give even a
suggestion of the most interesting
highlights in this film. 1t is all
good-every bit of it.. And the ex-
plorers, with the commander" at
their helm, make splendid actors.
That they have accomplished more
than they set out to do" can be
readily seen in this record of their
trials and tribulations. IT. was no
pink-tea party down there on the
quaking polar ice fields. For six
months they were shrouded in dark
ness. That they came back, whole
and hearty, every one of them, is
splendid achievement. And so is
their fllm-which every one should
see. e. de s. M.
HershOIt's "Mamba"
Well Acted at R-K-O Keith's.
MAMBA, the deadly snake of the
East African jungles, comes to
the National Capital this week, on
the screen, at R-K~O Keith's, where
Jean Hersholt, mamba in the flesh,
plays great role as the villain in
magnificent Tiffany technicolor
production entitled Manila"
Eleanor Boardman and Ralph
Forbes co-star with Hersholt in this
tale of human fangS and venom and
rise to triumphs of dramatic art.
The story is rather overdone and
bits Of the acting may be exsVeer-
ated, but the whole combines into a
splendid production, beautiful in
carefully blended coloring. Director
Al Rogell has exhibited the touch of
master in lifting this story of F.
Schumann- Heink and John Rein
hardt from the ranks Of the ordinary
into the spectacular.
One finds something rather Berry
esque in Hersholt, but there is no
copying of Wallace's methods of act
ing, as each is a star in his own
right. However Hersholt is made up
to look good deal like Berry did
In his earlier production and as a
villain he equals any of the best bits
that Berry has produced.
Eleanor Boardmans portrayal of
the impoverished nobleman's daugh-
ter again brings the laurels of drama
to her. Sold into bondage as the
wife of Hersholt, the dread king"
of an East African post, who is de-
spised by the whites and hated by
the natives, she has a dificult role
TO carry at times. There is vivid
contrast between the villainy OF
Hersholt and the noble character OF
his bought" bride.
Forbes, cast in the role of the Ger
man officer who long has been an
enemy OF Hersholt, provides, with
Eleanor Boardman, the love interest
of the story. On her honeymoon
trip to East Africa she meets him
and hears from him bitter denun-
citation OF her husband, although he
did not know she had been welded
to the mamba. The villainous hus-
bands boast that whatever he owned
bore his mark-that of the whip
lays the setting for the climax.
The human "Mamba," to heap
fuel upon the flames of native
hatred he had kindled, kills a ma
tive woman who had been bothering
him. Exciting events follow in quick
succession as the story unrolls. The
post to which the bride has been
taken, garrisoned by the Germans,
. is torn by the declaration of war
between England and Germany;
friends of yesterday become foes and
to complicate matters, the natives
open hostilities to get Hersholt and
the story ends in his dramatic death
at the hands of the natives, with
the near sacking OF the fort by the
rebellious tribeSmen, held at bay by
Forbes and few troops just long
enough for the British to rescue
them and take the German officer
and his sweetheart as prisoners Of
war. safe from either the perils of
war or Of the 'Mamba."
Where the story weakenS, the
acting and the splendid coloring save
the production, which Is we'll worth
D. j. K.