Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington s Theaters.

alexander Callam, sung In excep-
the service of that genuinely funny
comedian Harry Howard; lady who
plays Kitten on the Keys" on the
harp, the Trado. Twins, who have
wizardry in their dancing, and the
SunkiSt Girls, who do most of their
excellent steps in the dark.
E. de S. M.
"Men Are Like That" b..
A Version of "The Show-Off."
THE talking screen adaptation of
George Kelly's popular play,
1.-THE Show-Off," appearing at the
Columbia this week under the title
of Men Are Like That" while get
ting away to a rather slow start, is
saved by intermittent outburStS of
hilarity, mingled mockery and melo-
drama. Taken as a whole, in con-
junction with the other features of
the program, however, it might be
characterized as contributing fair
entertainment of the comedy variety.
Hal Sicily portrays the big talking,
"Ne'er-Do-Welr;; j. Aubrey Taylor,
the role so successfully handled ON
the stage by Louis John Bartels, and
he Is not exactly the whole show.
The supporting cast which includes,
with brilliant characteriZationS, Clara
Blandick, Doris Hill, George Fawcett
and Eugene Palette, the Sergeant
Heath" of the Van Dyne series, adds
materially to the entertainment.
AS the wise-cracking false alarm
that the role calls for, the star of
the production probably slightly over
does the big talk"
AS an overdone sketch of domestic
life in the middle classes, and Of the
oft-told story of the daughter who
marrieS the four-fluSher. very much
in parental disfavor. the picture
answers its purpose.
Clara Blandick, as the mother Of
the Fisher family, and Eugene
Palette deserve special mention,
particularly in connection with the
domeSticated philosophy expounded
throughout the picture by the for
mer.
Occupying a conspicuous place on
the program is the M.-G.-M. comedy,
featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver
Hardy, that inimitable pair whose
appearance alone gives vent to laugh
ter and whose resonant outlaws in
this talking number called "Blotto"
are surely contagious.
An interesting aquatic Grantland
Rice Spotlight, the Hearst Metrotone
News and the Columbia Orchestra,
under the direction of Harry Borjes,
complete the program. j. B. 7.
Ladies of Leisure"
Is Wonderfully Acted.
THERE should be general approval
that Ladies of Leisure" is being
held over for a second week at
R-K-O Keith's Theater.
This is one of the surprise pictures
of the year. Little was heard of it
before it arrived. Even the featured
been advertised to the four winds,
and the play from which it was
taken, Ladies of the Evening""
Belasco's pet drama, seemed not at
all the sort OF thing that would de-
velop into a good picture offering.
But, Unexpectedly, and 1t may be
added deServedly, Ladies of Leisure"
has sprung into spotlight fame. This
is due partly to the fact that the
story has been carefully remodeled
and is now but family reminiscent
of its stage predecessor, but largely
to the fact that in its embodiment
the little known Barbara Stanwyck
gives one of the most brilliant per-
formanceS of the year. With what
seems like untutored naturalness she
plays the part of the erring girl,
who, through inspired love, becomes
. q woman that commands respect,
and she does 1t with a distinction
that in the least expected moments
Is productive Of considerably more
than moist eyes in her audience.
Miss Stanwyck is not what is
called a real beauty of the screen,
but she imparts those rare qualities
Of intelligence and absorption in
her Characterization which few
screen stars disclose. She manages
to make one soon forget that she
is Barbara Stanwyck. She INDUCES
in no coy mannerisms; her smile
is friendly and not fabricated in
response to the hoarse shout of a
director crying, "smile!" She Is
natural where one might expect her
to break into wild and abortive
grimaces. In other words she is so