Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
From the Front ROY
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.
Powell Excellent
In For the Defense. ~

Powell Excellent
In For the Defense"
WILLIAM POWELL, with a voice
w that registers pleasingly in
the sound films, is featured in role
that seems perfectly tailored to his
histronic measurements at the Met
ropolitan Theater this week in For
the Defense" when Mr. Powell goes
in again for a jail term in Dig way.
This suave and talented actor,
who achieved success in making real
the amateur sleuth, Philo Vance,
hero of Van Dimes murder stories,
now is turning out an equally poll
isfed Characterization of one who, If
not a real crook certainly gliceS
close to the edge in this, his latest
film, as a brilliant criminal lawyer.
He is admirably supported, although
more or less incidentally, by the
charming Kay Francis, who is seen
as an actress heroine who has her
mind set on marrying the hero, even
though he appears rather lukewarm
toward the proposition, showing
rather a strong inclination to have
his cake and eat 1t, too. William
B. Davidson, as the district attor-
ney, also presents creditable char
acteriZation.
The story concerns a brilliant
lawyer with appropriation ten
denotes and a fair for saving crooks
from the iron grasp of the law.
Several such cases are shown in the
course of the film, and it is obvious
that the audience responds as en-
Enthusiastically and applaudingly to
Mr.. Powell's popularity in the crook
world as the crooks in the picture
do. OF course, the big case comes
when the rival for Miss Francis
screen affections gets into jam for
a roadside manslaughter. To pro-
tect the beautiful heroine, who really
was driving the car that knocked out
a poor, innocent milkman doing his
duty at am. somewhere out on
Long Island, Mr.. Powell brides a
juryman to bring about a hung
jury verdict. The attempt to bride
leaks out and is bounced upon
eagerly by the district attorney and
his cohorts. AS q result, in the
fade-out, Mr.. Powell is seen riding
into the gates at Sing Sing, telling
Miss Francis, who stands humbly at
the side of the car in the pouring
rain, that when she comes back at
the end of his term he will have the
wedding ring all arranged for.
The story is excellently told, with
good suspense and sense reality
that holds the respectful attention of
the audience. 1t is top-hole pic
ture of its type.
In addition, there is Graham Nc
Namee's voice and intriguing person.
atty explaining everything from the
R-l00 to MIR. Hoover's Summer
White House on the Rapidan through
The Evening Star Universal news
reel; a short film, Many Moons"
featuring South Sea Island scenery
and the song Moonlight and
Roses; a comedy, Resolutions"
with Billy House, that draws many
laughs, and a most amusing Disney
cartoon, Mickey Mouse" with Span
1sh tunes and caricature settings.
III. F.
Joe CoOk-"Rain or Shine"
Roar Of Fun in a Weary Land.
or course, Joe Cook and his lu-
dicrous personification of non
sense, Rain or Shine" had to be
held over at R-K-O Keith's. It
might just as well have been titled
THE Show Must Go On" a tradi-
ton in the profession which has so
often been heroically indicated by
players of all types that it has
come to symbolic the highest serv-
ice in response to the call of duty.
But Joes show is no panorama of
sacrificial service. IT. is veritable
howl of delight, and certainly, dur
ing the warm wave that has
plunged Washington into the depths
of depression, it has proved an ir-
resistible injunction to forget the
weather.
1t was only natural to make the
background of the story a circus
with its sideshow freaks. But Joe
Cook and his gallant band of laugh
forcers needed no story, no back
ground. The result might have
been the same to just turn them
loose-and then advise the audience
to hold its sides. But Joe had to
make that circus so on, regardless
of the Vaccinations of the villainous
ringmaSter and the lion tanner,
even in the teeth of the despicable
meanness of the weather man. He
did make it go on-and how!
True, Joe has his old stage asso-
ciates, Tom Howard and Dave
Chasen, reinforced with the comic
talents of Louise Fazenda. But
every minute and all the time there
is Joe foiling fate.> while his au-
dience roars with laughter How
can you review such a show? OF
what use is a review?
Joe Cook in Rain or Shine" is
one Of those things that were never
intended to be reviewed: you can't
criticize them for laughing.