Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

Washington as the lateS'
effort of Director Herbert Brenon
1t was certain to attract attention
and this attention is well de.
served. There may be a question
as to whether the best selling
novel is really picture material
but there is no getting away from
the fact that Director Brenon has
been aware of all its possibilities
and has taken advantage of them
The entire picture is made under
gray skies, the entire atmosphere
is gray, and the customer who wit
neSSeS the final fade-out leaves
the theater with gray auro
hanging about him. If the direc-
tor had followed the old-time
custom, which many directors feel
they must consider even to this
date, Sergt. GriScha would have
gone back to his happy family, a
bride hanging upon his arm and
medals covering his manly chest
However, Brenon has followed as
closely as possible the original
story. Sergt. GriScha faces a Ger
man firing squad and the fade
out shows him a crumpled heap
in the snow. The whole picture
gives rise to much thought to
those who think about the motion
picture as an art form. It is
another step in the right direc-
tion-a step which will lead to
bigger and better things from the
studios.
Never before given such an i'm
portant role, the young Chester
Morris handles the part of the
Russian soldier with remarkable
skill. He is directed in a mastery
way and his work will stand out
with the best of the year. The
part of Betty Compson, who, by
the way, is appearing in entirely
too many pictures, is not a big
part, but she is real talking
actress. Especially good character
bits fall to Jean HerSholt, Alec B.
Francis and Gustav Won Seyffer-
titz. The excellent cast goes a
long way toward making the pic
ture the success that it is. With
an ordinary cast and an ordinary
director the picture would GER
tainly have been an ordinary pic
ture-and probably less than that.
y X Il
WHAPPY DAYS." another hold
over on Eff street, is a gath
ering together of all the stars and
near-stars on the Fox lot. You
may like it, and again you may
not. I join the ranks of those who
prefer something a little more
substantial in movie fare. The
movie revue seems unable to get
away from the 'back-stage story,
however light it may be, and
Happy Days" goes back to the
old show boat for a plot. Vaude-
vile stunts are incorporated in a
minstrel scene, but so many play
ers are photographed that they
appear, to the naked eye, like a
hill of busy ants. But the greater
portion of washington prefers the
picture: it is being held over for a
second week-and I am, no doubt,
wrong again. IA so.
X X = ~
pICTURES ON THE WAY. Ruth
Chatterton and Basil Rath-
bone, both well known to the
legitimate theater, are to have the
leading roles in the screen version
of the Frederick LonSdale play,
1.-THE High Road" Sidney Frank
lin will direct for Metro Goldwyn-
Mayer. Others in the cast are
Cyril Chadwick, Herbert Funston,
Moon Carroll and Ellie EllSler.
And Ralph Forbes appears, play
ing with his wife, Miss Chatterton,
for the first time since they
played together on the stage.
One Of the features Of the new
David Wark Griffith picture,
Abraham Lincoln" will be screen
showing of the famous Sheridan
ride. But the "shotS" will not be
taken in the Valley of Virginia, as
Director Griffith has selected
Southern California for his work
However, some of the scenes will
be made around Springfield and
New Salem, III.
Gods Country and the Woman, y
a novel by James Oliver Curwood
will be given especially elaborate
filming by First National. Nc
director has been selected and no
players are mentioned, but the
story will be made in the North
Woods in technicolor.
Mary Pickford announces that
her next picture, which goes into
production Immediately, is For
p ever Yours" The story is said tc
be laid In England and Wyoming
and deals with a woman'S love
from youths merry days to the
changing fortunes OF middle age
and beyond. Benjamin Glazer viii
supervise the film.
Two hundred Hollywood cow
boys form a choral background
when John BoleS sings Song Of
the Dawn" in 1.-THE King OF Jazz.
John Murray Anderson has chargt
Of the production, which is being
made in color.
Harold Lloyd, the comedian
plans two new pictures for thu
coming year and he will inves
around 100000 in them. Hi
next story will have consider
able portion of its action laid a
sea, production calling for thu
chartering of an ocean-going line
of first class. OF course, both pic
lures will have dialogue.
Alice Joyce and Lowell Sher
man have the leading roles II
Second Man." which Is beint
filmed by R-K-O.
y
HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP.-It is re-
ported that Laura La Plante
who has been with Universal TO
the past eight years. has beer
released from her contract by he
own request. 1t is reported tina
she will make an extended tril