Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.

would be unethical to betray secrets
which he had learned from the car
through friendship, refuses to write
the story after his death and Is
promptly discharged He then an
nounces he Is through with being
stool pigeon and Is sick OF the life.
The audience is left with the i'm
preston that he goes forth with
Connie and lives happily ever after
in a profession other than journal
ism, which Is not so hard CT jour-
nalism.
A featured musical number, "That
Homestead Steady of Nine" is sung
by Miss Compson in one of the
cabaret scenes
An amusing animated cartoon,
Oswald: a laughleSs comedy and
The Evening Star News-Universal
reel, with Graham McNamee an
nouncing the events, complete the
program. @. s. s.
Paramount on Parade"
Reflects Elsie Janis Clever Ideas.
0DARAMOUNT ON PARADE" as
the title implies, is roll call
of this company'S stars, dressed up
to do their bit in what proves to be
a CHEEKY, bright and only occasion
ally dull revue. In fact, as a revue
this new attraction at the Columbia
Theater does pretty well, thanks to
the services of MeSSrs. Chevalier,
Oakie and that madcap child, Mitzi
Green.
Elsie Janis has been the guiding
spirit in the manufacturing process
of this picture, and for that reason
IN al
spurts of comedy. Leon Enrol has
posedly on his deathbed; Harry
Green appears as be-goggled Jew
ish torreador in a scene from Car
men," and Helen Kane shows how
to teach school and history by the
"boop-boop-a-doop" method. Be-
sides these short comic interludes,
Maurice Chevalier and Evelyn Brent
illustrate the origin of the Apache
dance; Jack Oakie and Zelma O'Neil
sing q song and bite each other, and
MitZi Green takeS-off Mr.. Mack,
OF the Moran and Mack team, with
all the earmarkS of Elsie Janis
herself.
OF all the stars that appear, only
Ruth Chatterton's ability seems to
have been misguided. For some rea-
son, the scene In which she appears
Is curiously ineffective. To make
up for this disappointment, Para
mount has produced Nancy Carroll
in a song and dance number quite
up to her standard, and Buddy
Rogers and Lillian Roth have
scene together that proves Miss Roth
a good singer and dancer and MIR.
Rogers a good singer. Other num-
bers that are among the best in
clude whatever Maurice Chevalier
does and whatever Jack Oakie ap-
pears in. Like all other revues this
one goes on and on and on. 1t is,
however, better than most Of them.
The Columbia Orchestra playing
selections from 1.-THE New Moon"
short subjects and the Hearst Metro
tone newsreel complete the program.
E. de S. M.
Hell Harbor,"
Grim Caribbean Yarn.
MURDER and lust for gold, amid
A'A the romantic setting of palm
trees and the moonlighted shores of
the Caribbean, appear to be the out
standing themes in Hell Harbor,"
the feature picture showing this
week at Loew's Palace with Lupe
Velez in the leading role A sextet
Of native Cubans, playing with the
technique of professionals upon ma
tive instruments, is one claim the
picture may have to originality.
Genuine Cuban music Is played by
this orchestra, in dance hall scenes,
where a rather weak attempt has
been made to initiate the famous
West Indian "danza."
Lupe VeleZ proves to be q very
skillful swimmer in one scene, where
she dives from the bow Of a schooner
and swims ashore. In fact, the
young woman does very commend
able acting in a story which Is a
poor medium for one with such an
attractive personality to express her
self.
The story deals with an unscrupu-
lous white settler in little port on
the Caribbean, who tries to marry
his daughter Anita to the most pros
porous trader Of the little town. The
marriage will take place, however,
only If the trader Is successful in
selling some pearls, obtained in
none too honest manner, to an
American trader, who is expected to
dIIINc at ILlC pOLb aUOuI ILiuI t1AAic'
The American does arrive per
schedule, but instead Of buying the
pearls, he falls in love with Anita.
Both Anita's father and the trader
who has desired her in marriage are
killed in the complications which
arise through the failure of the pearl
sale, and the picture, after many
shrieks and blood shed, shows the
AypNn
fully away toward Havana, with
Anita happily aboard as contem-
plated bride.
An excellent vaudeville is offered
to those who may not delight in the
frequent Sordid scenes of the pic
ture. Benny Davis, the well known
composer of popular songs, presents
a number Of young people whom h