Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photoplay
BY c. E. Nelson.
BY {. {. Nelson.

is to consider the pictures
that have passed. And, Of course,
there is the old game of selecting
the "best ten" of the past year.
Such a list, naturally, interests
Washingtonians only to the eX-
tent of local showings. For this
reason there are several highly
praised pictures that cannot be
included in list of the best ten
for Washington. For instance,
there is Morocco" and "The Blue
Angel" BY a peculiar twist OF
the affairs of moviedom, both OF
these pictures show a new star
not vet thrown upon the screens
of the National Capital. She is
Marlene Dietrich, the German
girl. "The Blue Angel" which has
been acclaimed by New York
critics. is a Ufa picture, and the
well known Emil JanningS plays
opposite Marlene. Morocco" was
made on the West Coast, but 1t is
late in arriving in Washington.
It is impossible when selecting
a list of the "best ten" to overlook
"The Big House." the prison pic
t,lre which was banned by the
censors of Ohio. This picture was
an outstanding feature of the
past wear. and whether Ohio was
allowed to. see it or not makes
little difference when its real
value is analysed. The work OF
Wallace Berry was the best OF ms
career. Then there is Min and
Bill" picture with an Impossible
name, but filled to the brim with
all that goes toward making
successful photoplay. abraham
Lincoln" starring Walter Huston,
deserves a high place in the best
ten" It might have been better
picture, but it stands head and
shoulders above the average run.
In my opinion Animal Crackers"
with the Four Marx Brothers,
should have the prize as far as
screen comedies are concerned.
One cannot question the enter
tainment value Of such a film.
Of the two Greta Carlo pic
lures, I consider anna Christie"
better than Romance" The
Swedish Iceberg in her first talkie
was a delightful surprise to the
ear. and this, combined with an
excellent story, leaves no doubt in
nv mind concerning the place OF
anna Christie" in the list. Per
haps we had better include 70
nance" for good measure. The
war picture "All Quiet on the
Western Front" is next-and who
can refuse to give this film a
place? When we get to music,
lawrence Tibbett and his Rogue
Song" top the years list OF ribbon
winners. Then comes Richard
Barthelmess and 1.-The Dawn Pa
troll" Of the George Arliss pic
lures "Old English" probably de-
serves first place-and then there
was that Joe Cook thing, Rain or
Shine"
Looking back over the list, I
find that it has grown to IL pic
lures, and we are faced with a
problem. What picture must we
eliminate? It is certainly impos-
sible to cut out one of the Greta
Carlo features; the comedies
have given us great deal of real
enjoyment; the musical piece of
Tibbett cannot be eliminated, and
the Barthelmess film was q long
run success. Therefore, the list
shall stand at "best eleven"
IN selecting such a list Of pictures
for the past year the Washing
tonian leaves out some Of the very
best films, which are scheduled
for exhibition here at later date.
I have mentioned "The Blue
Angel" and Morocco" and at this
writing, have not viewed tom
Sawyer; the new Doug Fairbanks
picture, Reaching for the Noon;
''Kismet," starring Otis Skinner,
and several others that might
find place on any list OF the
best pictures.
AND there is one peculiar thing
about this business Of ar
ranging a list Of best pictures for
the year. Have you noticed the
absence of names of stars once so
prominent in Moviedom? Where
are the names of Mary Pickford,
Doug Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin,
Ronald Colman, John Barrymore,
Clara Bow, Norma Talmadge,
Norma Shearer and numerous
others? Richard BarthelmeSs is
about the only star of other days
who is represented. The other
players on the select list are from
the stage, number Of them re-
cent additions to the studio forces.
Where are the stars of yester--
year?
Stage stars who have made
good pictures but who are not in
Guided in the list are Marilyn
Miller, Eddie Cantor, Helen
Twelvetrees, Ruth Chatterton,
Basil Rathbone and Grace Moore.
Of the radio stars, Amos n Andy
make a list all their own.
y =
THE greatest change of the year
came about through the
sound pictures. One year ago, not
many Of the theaterS throughout
the country were equipped for
sound production. Today, nearly
all of them are. This has made
a complete turnover in the in
dustry. One year ago, there still
existed a certain amount OF doubt
concerning the future of the
sound picture; today, all that
doubt has been removed.
Vaudeville presentations are
about where they stood year
ago, but more stars are playing
the picture houses than ever be-
fore. Elaborate prologues have
practically disappeared, with the
exception Of one or two New York