Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21

AAEbOAA nARRAS ~ ~
attractions for the past
few weeks, it is impossible
TO get away from the fact that
they have been below the stand
ard. With one or two exceptions,
there has been very little to APP
prove. 1t may have been a warm
weather stagnation in the pro-
duction plants, but from this
viewpoint. it seemed that Holly
wood was running short Of ideas,
short of talent and, in fact, short
of all the elements that are con-
tanned in good photoplays. Pros
pects for the Autumn are much
brighter.
There is a chance that vaude-
vile will be discontinued in the
local cinema palaces, and if this
change is made, better movies
must be the rule. With orchestraS
and stage shows eliminated, nat
urally there is only one fea-
ture to fall back upon-the pic
ture itself. Screen plays with
such stars as Ruth Chatterton and
Cfreta Carlo, even when the
stories are not all they should be-
are drawing cards, but what about
the general run of pictures? There
is room for a vast improvement.
Producers have been buying up
stage plays right and left, with
out much thought as to whether
these particular plays are suitable
for screen production. Many OF
them are not. They make weak
talky vehicles, devoid of action.
This would show a dearth in
movie suitable stories
for reproduction. The race for
supremacy in the photoplay field
has waxed keenly for many
months, and a primary thought
of many producers is the number
of pictures sent out. This may
be a bad policy; fewer and better
screen attractions will please the
public.
ALONG this same line, am in
clined to wonder over the
mental attitudes of some produc-
ers and directors. For instance,
in a number of recent sound pro-
auctions, various players, without
rhyme or reason, burst into song,
without relation to the plot of the
play. The unfolding story may be
what is known as straight
drama" when the energetic direc-
tor gives a pantomime signal and
a player starts to MARBLE. These
interruptions are numerous, have
nothing to do with the original
script, and they seem, often, en-
tirely out of place.
This practice may be the result
of the first sound pictures, when
producers and directors were pos
Sessed with the idea that screen
audiences demanded music. They
pushed forward with all sorts of
backstage productions and fairly
revelled in sound. 1t is quite
probable that these same produc-
ers and directors consider the
song of special value. and that no
play, regardless of its character,
is complete without little war
bling now and then. Also, they
have the sound devices, and why
not use them?
- i
THE sudden death Of Milton Stills
robs the screen of one Of it's
favorite actors, and one of the
last of the pioneer herman types.
Never of the matinee idol type,
Sills won his place in the screen
world by his acting He was
called upon, during his many
years in the studios, to fill all
sorts of roles, and when the
sound films came into being, he
was one of the few Hollywood ia
vorites found ready to meet the
call. His passing leaves an enor-
nous space in the list of compe-
tent screen players.
~
WE have been threatened with
screen opera for some time;
in fact, since the advent of the
sound pictures. And now John
Iraci, New York producer, an
nounces that "Othello" is COM
pleted and ready for distribution.
The Brazilian rights already have
been sold to the Industrial Reuni-
das Co. The stars of "Othello"
are Manuel Salizar, once a tenor
with the Metropolitan Opera Co.,
and Lelane Rivera, listed as "a
distinguished American soprano"
The same producer also an
nounces that he has engaged
Roberto Matalini, now in Paris,
to direct the next opera produc-
ton, La Fora del Destino."
A CCORDING to motion picture
engineers, television is a long
way ahead, and the film industry
is confronted with a number of
problems to be solved before
sight-and- sound can be distrib-
uted in the homes. For instance,
point out the producers, tech
nique of sound production has not
as yet attained 100 per cent quail
ity. Color is generally considered
in need of additional and pains
taking attention. Wide film is
problem requiring special thought
and treatment. All these bridges
must be crossed before television
is even considered.
T OOKING into the future, here
are a few short reviews of
new photoplays which will reach
Washington one of these days:
'Liliom." From the stage play
by Molnar. Directed by Frank
Borzage, who has assembled an
excellent cast, including Charles
Farrell, Estelle Taylor, Walter
Abel, Lee Tracy, Lillian Elliott, H.
B. Warner and a newcomer, Rose