Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

TIME cinema fate of John Gil.
bert. whether 1t interests
you or not, seems to be
a favorite topic with Holly
wood and New York writers. The
once-popular John has been or
the shelf since his first talking re-
lease, but a newer picture. Re
demption" with sound, is de-
clared to aid the former star II
regaining some CT his prestige
Adela Rogers st. John, writing IN
the New Movie Magazine this
month, declares that Gilbert chad
several bad breaks and is now bid
ing his time before a smashing
comeback" Also, she adds, Gill
bert is more emotionally reSpon-
awe, more easily hurt and less
coolly balanced than most men,
and she quotes him as saying ::"O1
course. am no intellectual giant
but neither am I a moron"
All this is very interesting, but
John Gilbert will travel a difficult
road in regaining his screen pop
ularity. His Gin m throne
crumbled to dust when his
"Glorious Night" effort was taken
from the can and exhibited. Never
before has and probably never
again will a screen players work
be greeted with such reception
It was almost unbelievable that a
star could "flop" so suddenly and
so solidly. Such incidents have
been more or less common on the
stage. and in such instances
much of the trouble was blamed
upon the vehicle used by the star.
However, in the movies, the story
does not receive the blame; the
star is the target. The failure OF
"Glorious Night" was personal
failure-although, in my opinion,
the producers should have shared
it. The picture never should have
been released for public consump-
ton.
while Gilbert's new picture,
which is really an old one with a
sound accompaniment, is not de-
clared a world-beater, the star is
said to improve as a speaking
actor; that he has possibilities IN
the future. The movie-going pub
lie, however, is not inclined to sit
by patiently and wait for John
Gilbert to complete his lessons IN
elocution. The former star OF the
silent screen will go down In
movie history as the pioneer flop
per of the talkies. Why waste
words about the matter?
A INVOLVEMENT is made that
"A opera is really going into the
movies on a grand opera scale. A
series of 40 feature length films
are to be made, according to John
Iraci of the international Broad
casting Co., and the first "Othello'
has already been completed at the
Metropolitan studios under the di-
rection of Roberto Natalin1
Manuel Salazar, Columbia re-
cording artist and once with the
Metropolitan Opera Co., sings the
title role, with Lenane Rivera
soprano, playing opposite. Tit
next opera scheduled is LA ForZs
Del Dentino," with LA Gioconda'
to follow. All will be sung II
Italian, and the music is unde'
the direction of Angelo Mature.
III ID Ul1dO
know what they are about wher
they plan such an ambitious
schedule of grand music for thu
photoplay patrons, but 1T will b'
interesting to watch the reaction!
from the first of the pieces ex
hibited. And in Italian, too!
TN an interview given out from
= his home in France, Eugene
O'Neill, the playwright, announce
that he Is working on another
play, but Of more interest Is hi
statement to the effect that $75,'
900 was offered for the Screer
rights to Strange Interlude." Thu
rights could not be sold, however
on account of a plagiarism sui
which is pending against thu
author and producer. When com
pleted, the new play will be ship
ped to the Theater Guild for
New York product ion, anC
Strange Interlude" may no
reach the movie theaterS for {
long time to come.
ONE of the highlignts in thu
- Washington motion pictur,
situation is the scheduled exhi
bition Of Cali Quiet on the West
ern Front" at the Rialto Theater
This picture, unlike many screened
novels, follows the book faithful.
the destruction of the heart a
well as the body of the soldier b.
war-and 1t breaks down many o
the old-time limitations as to sub
feet matter and treatment.
The Rialto, by the way, Is in
Stalling a new cooling system 70
the Summer months, and thereb
hangs q peculiar little story: TIL
theater has owned a cooling Sys
Item for some time, but when !
was turned on not long ago 1t wa
found to destroy the sound effec'
The ventilators shot the voice
through the top of the theatel
thereby making 1t impossible t
use the talkies and the coolin
system at the same time. So. tn