Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-20
From the Front ROY
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.

film that seems to be causing
stampede at the newly reopened
Rialto Theater, has been pulled out
and diluted until, thanks probably
to the shears of the censors, the
true spirit of ribaldry is perceptibly
lacking. The picture has, however,
many virtues, one being a fast and
furiously funny beginning, and
among the others being Douglas
Fairbanks, jr., who, in the role Of
the wifeless father, gives blue
ribbon performances.
without harping on the shades OF
the past, taking it for itself, this
Aim is pleasant enough as sand
wich in between light supper and
bed. AS what it will probably be
called-sophisticated comedy-and
as the sort of thing At for the eyes
and ears of adults only" it is weak
tonic. The crisp lines of the play,
provocative of a deadly blush on
many a maidens cheek. have been
used sparsely-except at the be-
ginning. when a few of them seem
to have eluded the censorial ak.
Alas, though, after the first half
hour or so, the director or somebody
has lost courage, and the film
terminates as q mediocre farce,
reminiscent of Avery Hopwood
material at its poorest.
BY now the theme of the luckless
young man who finds himself a
father on his wedding day must be
known through every hamlet and
farm. The scene in the anteroom
of the maternity hospital is one of
those things that are 1ndelibly con-
nected with the successful moments
of the theater The screen, too. has
caught the spirit of the original at
this point and played it for all it is
worth. But after that the sickness
begins TO set in, and the dilution
process winds the picture out at
Snail's pace.
The actors, besides Mr.. Fairbanks,
the explosive Italian, and Zasu
Pitts, who contributes another of
her teary-eyed caricatureS, are in
consequential-even Roscoe Kerns.
Comedies and newsreels complete
the program. e. de S. NJ.
"Sea Wolf Is at the Fox
In Milton SiIls' Version.
CAPACITY for ruthless action,
while displaying a face which
bears the marks of better qualities,
has always been observed in the
work of the late Milton Sills, and in
no picture is this phenomenon more
noticeable than in THE Sea Wolf"
which began its week at the
Fox Theater yesterday. There is no
lack of acting quality on the part of
the chief featured member of the
company, for the terror of the seas
Is seen as a real source of rebellion
when sailors are driven to despera-
ton, but the camera, with its search
ing penetration, reveals the Milton
Stills who died honored by his pro-
fession.
Jack London's story is no ordinary
movie plot. and in fact the reading
public, which has assigned to it
permanent place in popular fiction.
must be satisfied with brief glimpses
OF the notorious character for there
Is material In the book to supply
several such productions. The YER
sion given, however. works out the
vital incidents in the closing period
OF life which left only misfortune
in its wake.
Mr.. Stills is the dominant figure
and his conception of the character
VA UOAA AoN&A AL AAu1 IlOAAJ NAbAA
the continuous action associated with
the role. Range Of emotions is
notable in his work, while the dis
closure of the fact that Larsen is a
reader Of history and philosophy,
as we'll as a person of violence, is
more convincing than would be pos
sible in the hands of a person who
lacked his qualities.
Jane Keith as Lorna Marsh, the
young woman who is subjected to
the affection Of Larsen, and Ray
mond Hackett, as Allen Rand, her
lover, are well chosen for their parts
and act well in the exciting scenes
on Shipboard. One of the most
thrilling of the incidents pictured is
the progress aloft of the young
sailor, Rand, when he Is sent up by
Larsen to shift the topsail, in the
hope that he will meet with dis
aster. other sailor characters, es-
Sential parts of the action, are
Mitchell Harris, as Death" Larsen;
Nat Pendleton, as Smoke" and