Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13

a.
Bertha loses her job because she be-
friends a little waif working with
her in a cheap East Side boarding
house. She obtains position in the
home of Rollo Farley, and later be-
comes the mother of an illegitimate
son. Bertha gives her baby for adop-
ton to a wealthy couple, sitting her
mother love in order to give the
child advantages he might other
wise never possess. But she never
loses sight of her boy, although she
never discloSes her identity or lets
her existence be known to him.
On one of his birthdays she sends
him her priced poSSeSSion-an old
concertina, which proves to be the
first influence in the molding OF the
child's future profession as a mu-
stefan. Years later, when the boy
has become famous, Bertha stands,
old and unknown, in the rear of the
theater, and enjoys his triumph as
an artist. The end Of the picture
shows Bertha happy in a new en-
vironment, bringing up the f1ve
motherlesS children of an honest,
German baker.
A perfection of acting Is attained
by Winifred Westover, in the part
of Bertha. Miss Westover has mas
tered even such difficult essentials
as the awkward, numbering walk Of
the Scandinavian servant girl. At
times, as when she sacrifices her
baby to his foster parents, and again
at the boys musical triumph, she
seems almost inspired in her role.
From the Capitol Theater, New
York, Herman Timberg amuSeS with
repartee and clever dancing. In adj
dition Barbara Blair dances and
sings, Leo Chalzel and a ballet Of
Chester Hale girls dance, and Sammy
Timberg, song writer, acts as mas
ter of ceremonies. Short subjects,
a Hal Roach "Our Gang" comedy
and newsreel complete the pro-
gram. G. S. S.
THE Big Party"
A Story Reminiscent.
A COMPARATIVE newcomer to
the screen, Dixie Lee, is the
extremely personable young lady
around whom THE Big Party" cen
tiers at the Fox Theater. She is pos
sessed of blonde personality
which is ticularly effective
toward the end of the film when
she sings, IT Amt Good for Nothing
But Love-" and also an ability to act,
which. although scarcely in the
cyclonic realm, is sufficient to, do
wonders for film. that is hardly
above the average.
There seems to be something IA.
miliar about this story. But this
time the poor little shop girl
gets fired from her singing-acroSs-
the-counter-io and lands in a re-
splendent dress shop. But this time,
it has every now and then neat
little quirps which keeps the interest
bobbing along with only minor and
not too devastating squalls.
Dixie Lee. as Kitty Collins, ac-
quires herself a boy friend who is
nothing more nor less than win.
dow dresser. He is responsible for
getting her a job in vast emporium
of fashion and from then on the
trouble bubbles. It isn't hard to I'M
derstand that the rich gentleman
or better, plain man-who owns the
store is exceedingly anxious to own
Kitty. But Kitty, half-wit that
she IS, doesn't think anything about
that, or the apartment that Is given
her, except that 1t is all. for the en-
tertainment Of out-of-town buyers.
When, at the end Of the "big party"
this man suggests things that make
the blood flow to Kitty's cheeks, she
leaves him fiat, Of course, and the
next minute the boy friend comes
along and knocks him fiatter, so
everything winds up with bang.
AS a matter of fact, the actors do
we'll with the fiimsy material offered
them. particularly Richard Keen and
Frank Albertson, and Dixie Lee, of
youthful vintage, is worth watching.
The stage offering for the week,
besides an appropriate song from