Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-19

rather sorry story, WHICH pcCotAeS
less amusing and more involved as
it progresses, she still manages 10
hold on firmly to her cinematic
crown. She proves that there is
nothing in the way of acting that is
beyond her. AS a bride she is lovely
AS the handsome wife she seems
real. AS a disilluSioned woman she
is convincing. And doing cabaret
song. or playing poker under the
family piano with two strange
sailors, she is perfectly at ease.
Unfortunately, the story isn't at its
ease. It's characters are real LOT
about 10 seconds and then become
merely talking males and females
with reactions that do not seem 70
come at the right times or the right
places. Miss Chatterton is the rich
American girl who has married the
best fellow in England-incidentally
a viscount-when she finds out that
he has been unfaithful to her she
says Immediately that she Is going
to divorce him. And the v1scount
goes merrily ahead being unfaithful,
because his lady is the wife Of his
wife's brother-and he knows that
such a scandal in one family, II 1t
became public, would sink the neu-
rotic brother-in-law.
In the middle Of this IN walks
nice, quiet foreign-talking Paul Luz
kas-the artist par excellence-who
falls in love with Miss Chatterton
and she with him-and the ending
is-probably just as you guessed al
ready.
other than the unbeatable star,
and gentlemanly Mr.. Lukas, the pic
ture boasts Paul Cavanaugh as the
dastardly husband, Juliette Comp
ton. suddenly a ravishingly blonde.
and Donald Cook, who Is the crux OF
the whole business.
E. de s. MELCHER.
Smart Juvenile Actors
In "Skippy' at the Palace.
p Aw material Of human interest
~ Is found in large chunks at the
Palace Theater this week. for smart
children and equally clever dogs play
around on the screen with an aban-
don of which few regular actors
would be capable. The children OF
Hollywood have heretofore made
their mark. both in imitation OF their
elders and in finding original types
of capers The dogs OF the fllm city
also have q reputation to sustain.
When their talents are combined, as
in the play called "Skippy," the re-
slIltinr motion picture Is fully en-
titled to be billed as "a feature pres
entation." The infant class at the
Palace was out with full attendance
on Saturdays school holiday, and all
the remaining space was occupied oy
their elders, who wanted to see what
the juniors of the movies were ca
pable of doing.
Jackie Cooper has already made
his fame with a face, a voice ana
stage appearance that tag him LOT
sure journey in the direction OF Inc
ranks OF celebrities. His ability TO
initiate the comic ideas of his own
ace class is one of the marYelS OF
the screen. and he has that unde-
fined quality that is possessed by
good actors Of the more mature Vln-
tape. of carrying the attention OF his
audience whenever he Is q part OF
the scene. In the title role OF
"Skippy' he climbs the ladder.
One of the genuine objects OF at.
tention in this play is the announced
debut of Robert Coogan, younger
brother of Jackie. and 1t is evident
that the family experience mas oeeh
put to good use in developing an en-
tirely new juvenile type. HIS stage
business Is unique, he has originated
an expression which Is a compna-
ton Of dumbneSs and furtive Dr1gnt-
ness. and he Is able TO simulate OIL
fdeT1ce with a show of deliberate in
tention which Is a subtle marx OF
poise. e,
Then there Is Mitzi Green. she
has made her own strides In the
direction of recognition as an enter
tainer. and in the present proohc-
tion she is provided with much con-
Genial material. Jackie Scarf and
Donald Haines also have their good
roles. while willard Robertson ana
Enid Bennett contribute some eX-
cellent acting in adult parts.
The stage program at the Palace,
under the general direction OF Al
Wohlman, has much merit, WIN
original devices to be creolteo 10 the
versatile master OF ceremonies, VINO
also does his turn. II Is oeslgnaOeo
as ''Nifties Of 1881, and presents
some acts notable for real skill ana
variety of handling. Fellows Is
marvellous juggler; John ana Mary
Jennings appear in ball room dane
ing. Hites. Casey and Kenny are tap
experts; Cecil Blaire is a more than
clever acrobatic dancer, and Fred
Sanborn mixes comedy with xylo-
nhone playing. There Is also local
dancing talent. The newSreel Is
shown and Charles Gaige presides
at the organ. -. " u
John Gilbert and Fine Cast
In Tragic Play at Ratio.
IOHN GILBERT has talented as
- sistance In unfolding the story
of "Gentleman's Fate" which
opened Yesterday at the Rialto The
alter. One trio, alone-Lella Hyams,
Anita Page and Marie Provost
represents experience and capacity
in screen undertakings, while
Louis Wolhein is master OF emo
tional expression, with physique
which FITS into a story OF acton ana
supplements his truthful pictures
OF determination, shrewdness ana
devotion to those who are permI-
ted TO enjoy the dramatic perioos
in which he is displaying his 10y
atty to friends. Others whose tai
ents are employed in the telling OF
an ingenious story are John MILAN
and George Cooper, while incidental
action is provided by Ferike Boros.
Ralph Ince. Frank Reicher, Paul
Forecast and Tener HoltZ.
"Gentlenan's Fate" has the IA
rniliar background OF the racKeteer
organization, but the author, Ursula
parrot, has stepped outside the Gus
tomary type Of superficial plot and
has permitted the finer qualities OF
the mind TO dominate situations
growing out Of the violence Of gang
ster warfare. Mr.. Gilbert Is APP
propriately chosen for the role Of
the son Of bootleg king who has
Ceen sent to another city to be-
come q gentleman Of culture in
good circles, without knowledge OF
the source Of the wealth that sup
ports him. His acting is in the
tradition that surrounds his record,
and he displays the fine diScrimi-
nation that leads up to an impress
sive climax in which he falsely ad-
mits to his fancee that he stole
the Jewels he had presented to her
confession made In order that