Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15

- -.--.J of the year. Due
Nancy Carroll. to the brilliance
of Mr. Could
ing. who has an uncanny faculty of
knowing Just what to 90 with people
and props" (Such as music. which
he introduces at odd moments with
astounding results. he has turned
into sheer gold what might have
been Second-rate stuff.
Into a story of a clever gold dig
ger who plays her cards cleverly,
without reckoning on the jack OF
hearts, and who comes very near
losing the one thing In the world
that she wants, he has introduced
enough pathos and dramatic inten-
sity 20 hold an audience spellbOund
throughout. Indeed, although there
are minor exaggerations apparent
here and there, although the action
in one or two instances has been
strained almost to the breaking
point, the effect, on the whole, Is
one of complete genuineness and sin
cerity, and the result triumph for
all concerned.
Too much cannot be said in praise
of Nancy CAROLS performance; it
Is dignifled and totally luminous at
every turn. The vacuous expression
that was hers in Honey" has been
nodded into something of finesse and
character. She has. furthermore, at
her command a surprising amount
of well-timed restraint. Phillips
Holmes. playing opposite. is a young
actor who shows surprising ability.
If barber had only taken him in
before the first scenes that slight
jolt of seeing almost feminine curls
trailins down the neck of a strong"
man from the wheat fields might,
and should, have been eliminated.
The rest of the cast is admirable
but not up to the really high mark
of the two leading players. Mote
Zasu Pitts as a telephone operatorD
The stage show is up to the usual
standard of the Palace. 1t is fast,
bright and continually pleasing. Its
leaders are two amusing gents" who
go by the names of Collins and Peter
son. Others who add their note Of
cheer are Louise Bave, who sings as
nicely as a member of the Capitol
family should; George Taps, who
does things on the tips of his toes,
and the Samuel Brothers, who, with
the Chester Hale Girls, complete one
of the years best programs.
e. de s. M.
''The Fall Guy"
Makes Them Laugh:
lack MULHALL departs from the
- strictly comic into the more Sc
rious field of drama in THE Fall
Guy" this weeks offering at R-K-O
Keith'S. However, there are many
good laughs in Mulhall's current
starring vehicle, despite THE Fall
Guys" tumbles into the pit Of slcp-
py sentimentality which tend TO
take the edge from complete en-
joyment of the production.
This boy Ned Sparks is there,
though, as laugh-getter. The long
faced comedian, appearing as a stu
dent of moaning on a saxophone in
the story Of the Vaccinations of a
gang lord looking for a victim to do
his dirty work, gets away with neat
wise cracks that match the comic
facial contortions he presents.
Mae Clarke, cast opposite Mulhan
in the role Of the wife of the fall
guy" plays her part to perfection.
Always nagging, though at heart still
deeply in love with her husband of
f1ve years, she succeeds in driving
the jobleSS Mulhall into the trap laid
by the gangster, although everything
winds up all right The fall guy"
turns the tables on the dope-running
gang lord. who had left him with the
marked Satchel containing the drugs.
up the Congo" an added attrac-
ton, depicts primitive life in Africa
and is an interesting travelog
through the wildS of the Jungle. !
There is some excellent photography
OF jungle scenes, a herd of wild ele-
phantS and shots of other and
stranger animals. The native dances
OF African tribes are caught by the
camera, which portrays literally the
naked truth about the kings dozens
OF wives. The wives serve as the
chorus.
Short subjects, including Aesop Fa-
Dies, complete the program.
ID. J.. K,
True TO the Navy"
Presents a New Clara Bow.
HE best news about True to the
Navy" Clara Bows latest screen
opus, now on view at Loew's Co.
lumbia, Is that Clara has reduced
some Of her avoirdupois. Otherwise
the news isn't so good.
Something has happened to the
titian-hatred star of the former cit"
days. Either she has forgotten how
to be alluring. or her loss OF flesh
has numbered her thespian capabili-
ties. Certainly, her latest film re-
vealS her as a lady of personable
mien, with just enough acting po-
tons to keep her on a satisfactory
land nothing more) level. She
seems to have lost the power of
rehabilitation. which was her great
est asset in the old days. Even the
long, fuzzy, untamable hair has
little OF the old fire" left.
This is probably due to the story,
which Is nothing TO boast about.
The most satisfying shots" in it
are when Clara suddenly turns into
q Carrie Nation. sweeps all the bot
Ties on bar. and q fight develops,
which involves just about half the
Navy. This happens after the sailor
boy friend has refused to marry
Clara, on the ball room dance floor,
for which publicized deed the man
agement was TO give them a hundred
dollars. Clara, in other words, al
most loses her man, but comes out