The Washington times., 1930-01-25
CLEAN INGS.
AND
SCREEN
By ANDREW R. KELLEY

in for Phantom of the Opera"
Proving that a good mystery
play or picture is a lure for
the cash customer. The reissue
Of the former Universal phenom-
enal success has been neatly
contrived with dialogue color
scenes >sand a musical score
which includes some we'll rem
dered vocal gems from Faust"
Mary Philbin and Norman
Kerry carry most Of the dia-
logue and though Lon CLANCY
is prominent with his weird and
terrifying makeup, the rubber
faced star does not speak.
On the screen Prof Lee
Somers and Frank BGer are
given credit for suggesting the
new overture of justin Ellie
music, interpreted by musicians
under the baton of Ray Hart.
In another column Stephen
Erlanger Cochran announces
his plans for a sixth season OF
spring and summer stock at the
National Theater, to open early
in April. A subscription plan
of 10 plays for $40 and lnclud-
ing second balcony seats for 20
cents a perfc is the Coch-
ran challenge to the talkle price
competition.
:, It is Jack Oakie who is sell
ing Hit tic Deck" for R-K-O
pictures, not only in Washing
ton but elsewhere. The musical
film feature is running neck and
neck with Rio Rita" as a box
office winner.
Singularly enough, Jack Oakle
was a borrowed player, being
rented out by Wesley Ruggles.
who was fortunate enough TO
tie the promising young come
dian to a contract calling Tor
$500 a week Oakie, naturally.
has been Objecting strenuouSly
to being sublet at $500 a week
and Paramount has adjusted
the trouble by taking over the
Ruggles ,ontract and promising
Mr.. Oakie stardom and all the
financial eploluments this dis
tinction carries. A couple OF
years ago Oakie was a Shubert
chorus man
Paramount plans to send him
on a tour of the Publix houses
and if things work out as Sche-
duled he will make a personal
appearance at the Earle Theater
some time in March.
Publix is after Wesley Eddy
and. Fanchon and Marco have
also submitted an offer for the
West Coast houses. Meanwhile
the prize M. C. of the LoeW cir
cult is bound for another year
although he is seeking a release
from this contract. In the light
of his proven success at the box
office there may be a revision
upwards.
Hollywood gossip has it that
"'Strange Interlude" will be made
by United Artists with Lillian
Gish as Nina Leeds" Henry
King is mentioned as the dl-
rector and Ronald Colman will
be co-featured as Ned Darrell" j"
Lillian Gish is sailing for
France next week@to discuss with
Playwright Eugene O'Neill, her
appearance in one of his dramas.
She refuses to confirm the
run1orS which say it will be
"Strange Interlude.'
Before the six-hour play
could be made ready for movie
audiences it is certain some
body would have to wear out
q couple dozen blue pencils.
The little tempest in the tea
pot aroused by my praise for
Maurice Chevalier and Charlie
Belts rejoinder in the mega
tive, continues to bubble. The
mail brings a letter from one
Of the French stars warmest
supporters. Although I am not
on Paramount's publicity staff,
Il is well to end a controversy.
on . friendly note by printing
the tribute. Here it is:
"Gleanings and Screenings"
Hike the saying Of Coue, is
getting better and better with
each new day" Your column
today. with its comment re-
garding Maurice Chevalier,
makes it compulsory for me to
write. / believe in Dragging
about our stars lover here"
but when a star from across
the water comes to our shores,
and in q short period of time
becomes an outstanding per-
sonality-it is something else
again. .@....
Maurice Chevalier is in a
class by himself here or
over there. "Over there" in his
own country-France-he is not
Just q star Of the theater-he
t8<a idol" proclaimed by every
lover of what is best in enter
.ta1nment, as a real genius
not one person In all France
'begrudges him the great amount
of money Partisan theater inn
presarios pay him for playing
to record-breaking business
every time he makes an APP
pearance. While in Paris, dur
ing the latter part of 1928, I
had the extreme pleasure of
hearing Chevelier sing three
nights in SuccesSion-each time
paid a record price for seats
and each night I listened to
his songs. the same songs, but