Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-02


Exhibiting over at all times. His re-
yoIvinp ewes and the restlessness OF
his hands and feet, together with a
,ever-stay-put manner of delivery,
now. as always, make him one OF
the most-if not the moSt-satls-
fying of comedians.
Mr.. Cantor, furthermore, may De
consistently relied upon for fresh
ness of material his stories and ms
songs never giving indication OF the
mast They are blessed, too. Win
that touch of off -colorism, without
which Eddie Cantor would never oe
Eddie Cantor. Certainly he Is
pleasant birthday present, not only
to Warner Bros, but to the vast
public. which as early as yesterday
at noon was beginning to storm the
theater's portals.
with bright Lights" the current
film attraction, the Warmers nave
not been so fortunate. A semi
original but illogical cinema plot,
blessed-or rather hampered-W1tn
a backstage atmosphere and people
who, except for the genial reporter,
one would want to shoot, the Wnole
Aim may be said really to fall nat.
It's assets are Dorothy Macka1ll,
dressed scantily, if at all; a really
funny chorus meant to be dancing
in a cafe show somewhere in South
Africa: song sung nicely by FRANK
Fay, the slightly unstable reporter,
who provoked laugh every time ne
appeared, and one or two technl-
color paintings coloring the sets
effectively.
What the story is meant to prove
is that, although Frank Fay, In
character, wants to give up Miss
Mackaill, his pal of the stage, so
that she may marry rich and blue
blooded man, true love will out, as
they say, and as the curtain de-
scends there is Dorothy in never
getaway grip with Frank.
In spite of the noble moral that
arises in this, 1t all seems bit con-
fusing, since the camera jumps from
backstage to South Africa, from
South Africa to a dressing room,
from dressing room to sideshow
and back again to dressing room,
where Noah Berry, at whom Dorothy
hurled an oil lamp in Africa, has
Just been shot. In other words, full
of the stuff that Is meant to appeal
vastly to a thirsty movie public, the
picture is, nevertheless, a lengthy
hodge-podge with never Clicking"
moment. Furthermore, Noah Berry
is shot before he can do any singing,
which Is a great, big mistake.
The cast, minus the reporter,
needs no especial mention.
Warmers anniversary theme song,
a "hobo" Vitaphone Variety, a news
reel and THE Star Spangled Ban
ner" completed yesterdays program.
E. de S. M.
"Cheer Up and Smile"
When You See the Fox Feature.
THE title Of the current attraction
- at the Fox, Cheer Up and
Smile" is recommended as a mental
exercise to be repeated at five min
ute intervals during the running
time OF the picture. Without such
psychological stimulus, what goes on
in the story may cause quite the
opposite effect.
Possibly the recent heat wave was
still hanging heavily over the Fox
studios when this comedy was con-
templated. Certainly what has
emerged will do nothing to minimize
1t. A saccharine yarn, graced with
a staff of actors with prediction
to overact, possibly, are its chief
defects. An outstanding virtue that
may be found is the briefness of its
running time. about SO minutes.
The fundamental thesis spreading
itself thickly over the story is that
every time 1t rains Arthur Lake-a
pleasant young actor who has been
abused neutrality-suspicious. cold.
This is the doctrine that is meant
to make this a riotous comedy. 9th