Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-03
R-K-O KEITH'S Intense I
The Case of
SerQf GriScha y

THE Case of nered with 1T
Sergt. Grischa." ting restraint,
makes THE Case of Sergt. Grischa, ="
| the picture at R-K-O Keith's this week,
notable and often powerful. FASH
Toned from the pages of Arnold
| Zweig'S novel, the def and refined
! hand of Herbert Brenon has turned 1t
into considerably more than the grim
unfolding of an unlovely tale. 1t is a
| picture that stands on the merits Of its
| slow eloquence, terminating in the of the
most realistic climaxes ever presented
in the films. 1t should draw to Keith'5
Theater all who care to see an impress
sive Interpretation of a drama that has
neither humor nor a happy ending.
| drama that contrasts bitterly the
losing war of the man as opposed 20
the machine.
The story follows the book faithfully
It tells the pathetic struggle of young
Russian prisoner, Grischa, after eScap-
ing from German prison camp, in try
ing to avoid the wrongly inflicted death
penalty. That he eventually will sue
ceed is the natural supposition of the
average mind-that he comes very far
from 1t is the tragic and actual out
come. Pictured with stark ruthless
ness the death of Grischa comes as
one of the first real shocks in cinema
lowed up story to its logical, If dread
ful conclusion. Never once does it balk
at the inevitable, and when finally the
handkerchief, the prelude to death, is
tied over Grischa's eyes, and one
realizes that there is no longer any pos
slnle outlet of escape for him-the
tenseneSS apparent in the audience
may be said to be more than acute.
Chester Morris, a comparative new
conner to the screen, in the role of the
ooylsh Grlscha, does everything that
might be expected of him-even more.
IL Is due largely to him that there are
moments in the film that are SUPER
IatlVely splendid. His range of express
sion seems to be limitless. He makes
the nightly sensitive and the more
historically clustering episodes as re-
allstic as are the words of the printed
book. From first to last he gives to
Gr1Scha the pulse, the breath, the
blood of real person.
OF the other members of the cast
perhaps, Gustave Won Seyfferitz. as the
teutonic communicative hief, fares the
best. Certainly Alec B. Francis over
INDUCES the possibilities of his saint
Illness and Betty CompSon in the role
of the supposedly grey-haired ladv
friend is as blonde and as unmistak-
ably labelled Hollywood" as ever. In
spite, however, of these minor lapses.
the MIN is one of great distinction
through the merits of Actor Morris and
the brilliance of Director Brenon. And
the end. even if the highways and by
ways to it are long, is certainly worth
waiting for.
The remainder of the program is
given over to the antics of the R-K-
OLans, the usual worthwhile news
reei ana an exceptionally exciting
Grantland Rice Spotlight THE Feline
Fighter" showing some dogs chewing
bobcat to pieces. E. de S. M
FOX The fate Of the elaborate
screen revue may well turn
Happy upon the reception by the
Days" public of Happy Days." the
feature this week at the Fox
Heretofore the success of talking pic
ture versions of pretentious stage re-
vues has been doubtful, to say the least.
Moviegoers have missed, and perhaps
a majority have regretted, the absence
OF tangible plot or story. The hang
ing of brilliant episodes upon the finn
Siest OF narratives has lacked, in a ma
jarity Of cases, the power to satisfy.
Happy Days" in some respects, out
shines the revueS of the past year. It
calls before the camera every. star on
the Fox lot, and their claims to star
dom will not be disputed by any one
Such personalities as Victor McLaglen,
Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, FL Bren-
del, George Jessel, Will Rogers and q
score of brilliant others, it would seem,
must insure the success Of any picture
in which they are cast Each has played
in pictures put over" solely by virtue
IF their own ability
Yet in Happy Days" the vital spark
essential to brilliant success Is lacking.
Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell sing
pretty love song against a romantic
background. McLaglen and Edmund
Lowe kid each other as of old. Others
do their specialties. And still something
is lacking Perhaps it's a case of the
forest being obscured by the trees.
Fanchon and Marcos stage revue Is
more than. ordinarily entertaining, the
best received artist being LAMBERT, xyl-
ophonist. KaraVaeff, Russian tap dancer,
gives fine performance. Other features
worthy of note arc the singing of Alex
Csllam and Sherry Louise and the Fox
Movietons News. &c.
EARLE washington wa ing nr,n mas nr cause b nG
The awed at the superb art of
Laughing the little girl who began
Lazy. her career years ago as a
juvenile with the Columbia Theater
Stock Co. when it contemplated the
magnificent heights she had reached as
an emotional actress in her latest
sound film The Laughing Lady" in
which Ruth Chstterton appears this
week, at the Earle Theater.
of course, Miss Chatterton's genius
is not Just being discovered. But the
dizzying heights to which she has
scared are impressed upon one forcibly
in this latest triumph. She is incom-
parable in the role of Marjorie Lee,
the young wife whose reputation is torn
to shreds by a divorce lawyer on whom
she seeks to wreak fitting revenge with
unexpected results. tendency to
laugh Historically in moments of stress
is misunderstood by a world that
wishes to misunderstanding the
title. A well-knit plot and flawless sup
port from her supporting cast combine
to make this one of the best movies
talking filmdom has yet produced.
Clice Brook plays the part Of the
lawyer. Raymond Wilbur, as the char
acterless husband, combines just the
proper ego and weakness in the role.
Both Mr.. Brook and Miss Chatterton
have speaking voices Of rich dramatic
and musical qualities, and they are well
reproduced Then there is chap
named Dan Healy who deserves special
mention for his excellent characterize
ton in a minor role.
An AL Christie comedy featuring
Charlie Murray in short comedy is
entertaining. Charlie is an Irish
laborer who is just wishing for a mil
lion dollars when a lawyer appears
and informs him that an uncle of his
in the "ould country" had died and
left him just that sum. News fea-
lures include both Pathe and The
Evening Star Universal reels The
usual orchestral overture is augmented
by a violin solo number by two mem
bers of the orchestra, Jack Menowitch
and Milton Schwartz. c. r. 2.