Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10

- TuJurG Oh GIllo ALelA NOAOAo 80
tertainment medium. Since the
: movies came into their oWn-ano
even since the first crude eiTortS
Of the directors and producers
there has been a certain tendency
to find fault. The first motlon
picture I ever saw was exh1olteu
In a little red school house. IL
showed a company of Uncle Sam S
soldiers scampering through the
SU-f and landing in Cuba. A
SPECTATOR was supposed to possess
a vivid imagination to dlstln-
Cuish the soldiers from the SURF,
and vet it was wonderful thing
We Ynarveled over it, and Won
dered what the world was coming
to-pictures that really moved
pictures that told a Story-plctureS
that showed far-off land! And
vet there were persons In the
audience in that little red school
house who condemned the 1nven-
tion. It was too flickery; the IN
vention was a "bust"; IL Woulq
never amount to the proverblaI
tinker's tarnation!
Since those days other marVels
have been found, and, laSt OF all
we have the sound picture. rms,
in NV mind, tops the list OF most
modern ideas, for the simple rea-
son that it affords amusement,
Combined with a certain educa-
tional value. And, in this DAY
and age. an invention to AFFORD
amusement for the masses is one
of the most vital and necessary
of all creations.
It is rather easy to md IauiC
with the motion picture. IL Is
not technically perfect; IL garnles
certain well known stories; every
once In a while, 1t vergeS upon
rourh-houSe tactics; its comedy
is often of a low-brow variety,
and its drama Is sometimes TOO
high hat; the directors are care
less and the producers more so;
nlavers are badly cast-and there
are hundreds of other complaints.
# must be confessed that I have.
now and then, joined those OF the
anvil chorus, but it has been done
with a sole idea in mind-to lend
a word toward improvement, ana
with the thought that the WORD
NAV reach those who have the
mower to make such Improvement.
All this may be futile, as IL some,
times appears, but the crltlcS Will
be with us, always.
The big thought, however, con-
Germs the great strides made IN
the industry, or art, during the
past few years. In spite OF 1gno-
rant producers, careless directors,
technical defects and all those
things, the movies have gone for
ward. They have established
themselves as a thoroughly mod
ern form of entertainment; they
are getting better, regardless OF
complaints, and in all probabllty
they will continue to improve
This speaks well for the idea OF
the motion picture, and not SC
much for the men and women
who are producing them. 1t shows
that the motion picture Is almost
foolproof. But what a fleld OF
opportunity it offers In the days
TO come!
The name of Lois Wilson has
been placed among the screen
pL0veTS tcho haze come back.
NotD appearing opposite John
BoLes tn ~Seed," she, strangely
enough, bIdmes her co1te-bGck
upo7l the fact that, after her
retirement, she constantly re-
fused offers to return to the
screen. This, she says, con-
Uirced the producers and dt-
TectorS that she 1DdS q treasure
hidden from public UtetD. Then,
aDhen the offers became creep
tiondIlv tOeu backed in q fTlan-
cidL 1pdv, Lois simply returned
to tUork In the studio. The
former star of the silent drama
had refused to be cast in "oHe-
type roles
WHILE many of the producers
Nv have been seeking to dc
away with the star system, and
advertising the stories above the
players, one company, during the
past couple of weeks, has an
nounced the elevation of three
new: players to stardom. The
new stellar role leaders are Rooert
Montgomery. Wallace Berry and
Marie DRESSER. The importance
of the star has not dwindled to
any large extent. Certain stories
may draw audiences, but the
stars draw bigger ones. Famous
names are still being sought, high
salaries are being paid.
Young Montgomery'S story L.
an interesting one. He landed in
Hollywood after a trip on an oil
tanker. Early stage experience
caused him to seek employment
in the studios, and his first pic
ture5 was a hit. From the first
he was known as picture
stealer" (that is, a player who
usually made more Of hit than
the starr and, playing opposite
Norma Shearer, he certainly die
not add to the glory of the star
Wallace Berry is one of the few
players in Hollywood who never
desired to become a star-and
there was method in this mad
ness. The good character actor
is never out Of work; the star
loafs between his starring vehi-
cles. Berry is an old trouper who
knows the rules Of the theatrica
game, and he has worked II
nearly all the studios on the Wes'
Coast. Now, being a star, he vii
have more responsibility. II one
of his pictures is not well re-
ceived, 1t will become wallace
Beery flop'-and this is an idea
not at all we'll received by Berry
Like Berry, Marie DresSler came
to the movies after a long stage
experience. She was a surpris'
hit of the past year, and toda!
she is one of the most popular