Evening star., 1930-12-07


ital of the Nation-and after con-
sidering the photoplay fare which
has been served to Washington
theatergoerS it appears that
there are plenty of excellent play
ers. and that the whole trouble
comes from lack OF creative
ability on the part OF the pro-
ducerS. One, Is often moved to
wonder regarding the fate OF a
player such as George Bancroft,
when considering individual cases.
This Bancroft made an unde-
niable hit in his first starring We
hicle. This, according to all evil
dence, was too much for the pro-
ducers. Immediately, they de-
cided that George, having
knocked 'em out of their seats"
with a gang picture, was a gang
actor" Hurry calls were sent to
the scenario department, and
while the movie critics of the
country were hailing the player
who had made q hit overnight,
preparations were started for a
dozen more gang stories, with
Bancroft to star.
OO, OCO1AC 0COoAAAC q AAASNAS
gangster-andt this fact has about
finished his business. Whenever
one thought of Bancroft, or saw
his name on the boardingS, one
thought, naturally, of machine
guns, molls, dope rings, pistol
flashes in the dark. George was
a marked man. The other day
they gave him a new sort of pic
ture, and the fans could not dis
associate him from Sawed-off
But this is Just q little illustra-
tion of how things are conducted
in the producers Offices Of Holly
wood. If a star makes a hit with
a certain type of picture, all the
other producers Jump upon their
scenario departments, and we are
flooded with pictures that are very
much alike. Wallace Beery is an
actor who has been rather lucky
in this respect. His character
roles have given him chance for
a varied assortment of parts, and
he has never been really starred.
Victor McLaglen was showed into
herman roleS-always the same
type of picture-although, when
the talkieS came in, it was dis
covered that his voice did not
suit his appearance and charac-
terS. AS silent star, he was hard
to beat. Harold Lloyd makes an
other comedy, but, to all intentS
and purposes, it is as much like
his other ones as peas in a pod.
And Lloyd would get more laughs
If he confined himself to the old
time pantomime.
AS far as the work Of the play
erS is concerned, one may mention
a number Of outstanding perform
anceS. For instance, Beery and
Dressler in Min and Bill" and
Beery in THE Big House." Nancy
Carroll and Frederick Marsh in
Laughter" Richard Cromwell
and Henry B. Walthall in the new
version of "Tol'able David" Helen
Twelvetrees in Her Man" Other
work which is expected to please
WaShingtonians concerns Marlene
Dietrich, Gary Cooper and Adolphe
Menjou- in Morocco" and June
Walker ana Anita Page in war
Nurse" +f'7 -'@ -9oti" =
Again, looking Westward, it
seems that the players have a
much higher batting average than
the producers.
Rumors are flying thick and fast
around the Western front, but the
most startling one reports that
GretG Carlo is seriously considering
retirement from the pItotopldg 1Dorld
and a Tentopdl OF her household
goods to StDeden, there to rest in
peace and quiet for the remainder
OF her days. This. Is bad netCs-lo
matter 1uhetser It Is Just funlor or
really fact. 1t Is a THH1or tUhicb
concerns all of u.s. Here in Wash
frtOtoR, tUe might try and hare the
GoUerBneHt refuse her permission
to IedUe the country. She cannot be
GiloaOed to goi
THE connection of the stage and
screen at the present time is
intensely interesting to the out
slider. For instance.if new play
has run of three weeks on Broad
way, or in the vicinity of the
Great White Way, 1t can be sold
to the movie producers for a sum
of $4,000. If it fails to make the
grade Of a 81 days run, it's value
drops considerably in the eyes of
the screen searchers. Therefore,
some of the new plays are being
forced with. three-week runs, re-
gardless of the fact that they are
not paying for the electric lights
in front of the playhouseS. When
a play sells for the above -mens
toned $4,000, all hands of the
New York theater, from producer
and writer down to the stage
hands, get a share of the pro-
ceeds. It Is good work.
But the movie producers are not
allowing anything to get away
from them. They are buying good
and bad plays. In some cases,
bad plays can be made over in the
studios scenario department. In
other cases, good plays must be
made over to fit the movie tech
nique. Among the new plays that
are expected to have screen ver-
SionS are "The Man in Posses
sion," which has been bought for
william Haines; Torch Song"
and "On the Spot" a gang story.
One Of the real Broadway sue
resSes of the season, Elizabeth
the Queen" has been looked over
and turned down as unsuitable
for the screen.
y
The Amos m Andy picture,
"Check and Double Check" Is hdU-
ing remarkable career, according
to the ledger books of the exhibitors.