Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12

can n8rQly be
said to be in keeping with the spirit of
Spring just outside the theaCer doors.
There are, it Is true, some fairly
sincere moments on the part of Lois
Wilson, but Lois is burdened with
a part that starts with the draperies
and floral emblems of Ophelia. One
looks in vain for humor, interest, or
reality afterward.
Once upon a time, as goes the
story, there was a lovely lady who
hated her husband with an anger
that amounted almost to murder.
She, however, managed to keep her
self under control, although she was
in love with worthless gentleman
who would have been only too glad
to see the husband disappear. Fate,
however, just as the radio was play
inS 1.-THE FslrieS." selection frciS. a
Click cre:a, took the matter into
it's own hands and shot the I'M
wanted husband.
Who shot the husband? is the
theme which is unraveled with con-
siderable length. 1t seems that it
was the lawyer who has been defend
ing the haraSSed lady, and who
turns out TO be nicely crazy. so much
so that after declaring his here
tofore concealed love for her, he
Jumps out of the window of his Park
avenue apartment and Is not heard
of again.
Miss Wilson is not at her best in
the picture, nor is H. B. Warner,
but what could be expected of them
with such a story? There are, how
ever, one or two refreshing glimpses
of Nathalie Moorehouse as a pseudo
society lady. but the little boy who
plays Miss Wilson'S son will not APP
peal to the admirers of child actors.
Graham MacNamee is heard again
introducing the events in The Eve
ming Star Universal Newsreel, which
proves a most welcome interlude
after the feature. The Vitaphone
Varieties series conclude the pro-
gram. E. de S. M.
Strictly Modern"
A Tangled Love Story.
~ ORoTHY MACKAILL does
some very good acting OPP
posite Sidney Blackmer,
~ Broadway matinee idol, in
Strictly Modern" this
weeks offering at the Earle. This
combination, and an occasional
funny scene, help to make an en-
tertaining picture from an improb-
able story of 'love at first sight"
1t might also have been more APP
propriate to retain the title of the
stage play, Cousin Kate" Strictly
Modern leaves one in doubt on
leaving the theater as to how 1t can
be considered particularly up-to-
date for a young artist to be en-
gagged to a girl for five years and
then two days before the marriage to
depart in a huff because the young
lady informs him that after matri-
mony he must not paint pictures in
the nude on Sunday. Furthermore,
he must not expect passion to be
permitted in their matrimonial rela-
tons.
The story opens with Aimee
Spencer weeping at her desk as prep
arations for her Forthcoming we'd
ding are in progress. Aimee is cry
ing because her fiancee, Heath Des-
mond, has departed in rage after
hitting Judge Bartlett, lifelong
friend of Aimee's, for advising her
as to certain conditions to be de-
manded of Heath after marriage.
Two days before the wedding Heath
has still not returned. Aimee is
chagrined more over what people
lovers absence She sends for Judge
Bartlett for further advice. When the
judge arrives he is recognized as
pious hypocrite who is deliberately
trying to set Aimee against Heath
because he wishes to marry her him
self. The judge is about to offer
himself to Aimee when her mother
enters with a telegram from Cousin
Kate, a young relation who has
gained great success with her ques-
tionable novels. Kate heretofore has
always been the problem solver OF
the family.
Kate dorothy MackailD, know
ing nothing of the complications,
meets Heath on the train on his way
back to make up with Aimee. In an
amusing scene in which he fails to
open the car window for hel he
does succeed in making her acquaint-
ance and in falling in love with
her. They are separated by the ar
rival of the train at Aimee'S home
town. Kate, on meeting Aimee, in
sists on her marriage with Heath,
but later repentS, and desperately
drugs the judge who Is to perform
the ceremony. 1t Is then that Aimee
discloseS her love for the Judge,
which leaves Kate and Heath free to
crown a happy ending with their
own marriage.
The matter-of- fact presentation of
several unnatural situations destroys
much of the illusions of the play.
Though the story be. weak, the cast
is excellent and includes Julanne
Johnston, Warner Richmond, Mickey
Bennett and Katherine Claire Ward.
The Earle also offers short reels,
including the Paramount News, two
Vitaphone comedies, What a Life!"
burlesque of prison reform, and
Contrary Mary" a colorful Skit