Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

4
him, the studies of Hollywood
would soon be abandoned and
crumble away in the Pacific sands.
without him, many stars would be
back behind the counters in the
cash-and-carry lunch rooms or
getting their daily exercise with
buffers in beauty shops. MIR. Pub
lie sees no reason why he should
not have a daily, or weekly, diet
of pictures the class CT the 81
mentioned by Mr.. Hays. And
the latter official does not men
ton the number of pictures waded
through to arrive at the glorious
81. Looking at the matter from
this angle, it would appear that
the half-hundred outstanding pic
lures were selected from about
10000 produced in the United
States during the past year. This
is not very good average. The
percentage of good pictures should
be higher-much higher.
THE screen beauties of Holly
I wood are disappointed. For
many years Mile. Chanel, the IA
nous Gabrielle Chanel Of Paris"
has been che of the foremost de-
signers of women's clothes. Her
best customers were the movie
beauties.
Mile. Chanel decided to make a
trip to Hollywood, and the beau
ties at the same time decided to
get a few free tips from the de-
Signer. Now, these beauties are
disguised. Every time Mile. Chanel
came to a studio and every time
she was entertained at luncheon
or tea, she wore the same little
tailored suit of platinum-gray
wool. Not a single tip from the
Paris designer did the beauties
receive-unleSs they paid, and
paid and paid.
THE past year might be termed
= 1.-THE Year of the G at
Exodus" Not since the r.3Cion
picture became an actual form OF
entertainment have there been Sc
many changes in the personnel.
Cinematic history was made, stars
and featured players dropped by
the wayside; stellar heads were
Topped of at an exciting rate, and
all on account of the strong posi-
ton of the talkies. In the old
days of the silent pictures, a
strong star was able to carry a
weak story; this is utterly impos-
sible with the talkieS. To prove
this, che has but to look back over
the, years screen fiops. Also, it
might be mentioned that the
strong stars of the old days were
the players who looked the part;
and then they had only to obey
the direction of the man with the
megaphone. A star could be deaf
and dumb, or have as much gray
matter as Mickey the Mouse, and
still carry on to please the movie
audience. It was possible to find
stars here, there and everywhere,
and they were found in all sorts
of out-of-the-way places. But
during the past year the talkies
have shattered the illusion by
painfully disclosing the cultural,
vocal and histrionic shortcomings
Of the bargain-ccunter recruits.
All this has been for the good OF
the motion picture. It will result
in its being placed upon a higher
plane. I have no inclination to
Join any band of reformers, but
this last little reform of the
movies should be beneficial to all
concerned. 1t did not come about
through a code adopted by the
producers; it comes from a nat
ural law-the survival of the
fittest.
Short Flashes.
ONE of the big box Office pic
- lures of the year is "Dracula. :"
The film seems to be gaining mere
popularity as the weeks go on, and
many theaters report unusual
runs.
Mack Sennett plans to use color
and bigger names in his one and
two reel comedies. His dialogue
will be shorter and shorte-.
The Pennsylvania Board OF
Censorship has been quite busy
with Fifty Million Frenchmen."
The picture has been held up for
some time on account OF serious
deletions.
Marilyn Miller is convaleScing
in Berlin after a severe attack OF
grippe. She will return to Holly
wood in April.
Because he plays the organ at
the Rialto, and also because the
movies are rather closely allied to
radio. mention should be made Of
those Otto Beck organ concerts
1 late at night, usually long after
the home radiators have ceased to
throb and bubble. To listen in on
an Otto Beck organ ramble is, in
my humble opinion. almost equal
in pleasure to sailing my open
boat on a squally day at Herring
Bay. That is the greatest Of my
compliments.
If you should care to know,
George O'Brien is homeward
bound from the Orient. He Is due
for more picture work in Holly
wood.
Joan Crawford has the leading
role in Girls Together" In her
supporting cast are Zelda Sears,
Marjorie Rambeau and Monroe
! Owsley.
william Haines has started work
| in Dancing Partner" The story
is taken from a Broadway play,
and Irene Purcell Of the original
stage cast has a prominent role in
the picture.
John Boles has completed his
role in Seed" taken from the
Charles G. Norris novel. His next
picture viii be "A Lady of Re-
source"
/ James Whale, director of Jour
ney's End" has been signed to a
five-year contract by Universal.
3 III. Il