Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington 5 Theaters.

dead in his native bungalow-only
to revive again in the last act and
waltz out with the wife Of an ex-
tremely boring local doctor.
In the filming of this less than
average play, shown at the Earle,
much was expected, since the theater
gossip sheets proved that the play
had bsen sponsored by the MeSsrs.
Warner Brothers only as O prelude
to its being launched in the films.
Now that it is Acknowledgements
with William Powell as new War
ner recruit-you may wonder why
they took all the trouble and why
they didn't do better for Powell
in his initial romp.
In the picture the "hero" doesn't
even get shot--which was the excuse
for the last act Of the play. He
merely walks out in immaculate eve
ming clothes breathing clouds Of non
chalance and defying the doctor
Douis Calhern) to do his worst.
But the doctor, who has loved his
surgical operations better than his
wife, allows the smooth and perilous
man to slip out under his very nose
with his wife, whom he has unfor-
tunately allowed to battle alone
against the jungle mosquitoes, etc.
This is all no doubt meant to
prove that If you take your wife
to the jungle you should either keep
her under lock and key or beat her
over the head twice daily. Luke
warm love doesn't go In the tropics.
It's either love, hate or the bottle,
with the bottle (from casual storteS)
usually winning out. Mr.. Powell,
who comes up out of the bottle Smil-
ing, Is moderately good and Doris
Kenyon Is occasionally a hundred
per cent beautiful. But for the rest
it is little too weakened to get
the proper sympathy. and apart
from Louis Calhern's happy methods
of making his role genuinely dis
agreeable, there isn't much to rec
ommend 1t.
This weeks winners on the stage
are Vic Oliver and the young and
ebullient Lovejoy dancers. Lee, Lee,
Lee, ETC., are good, but their act
has been seen beforehand Young
China" gets only moderate applause.
Still there is Maxine Doyle increaS-
ing her wardrobe and her smile and
Mr.. divers story about the bass
drum. E. de S. MELCHER.
Five Star Final" Continues
At the Metropolitan.
GTAYING for another week at the
~ Metropolitan Theater, the story
Of artificial newspaper life, THE
Five Star Final" continues to pre-
sent its sensational story of the
persecution of woman who has at
tempted to forget a tragic incident
in her early life. Digging from the
past a collection of facts which
might interest the public, the direct
ing genius Of the newspaper, played
by Edward G. Robinson, seeks to
make new readers at the expense
of one who has been acquitted by q
jury after killing In matter Of per-
Sonal honor. The effect of publica-
ton at a day when the woman'S
daughter is about to wed the son Of
a prominent family Is found in two
suicides and a frenzied attempt at
Staying. The wedding takes place
despite all obstacles, and the up
heaval in the newspaper office
furnishes another feature in the
happy ending of the play.
Much credit attaches to the cast
of THE Five Star Final" which in
cludeS, in addition to Mr.. Robinson,
Anthony Bushell, Marian Marsh,
Frances Starr, H. W. Warner and
Aline MacMahon, all of whom add
to the luster of past achievements.
There is also excellent acting by
George E. Stone. Ona Munson, Boris
Karloff, Oscar APPEL and others.
The Metropolitan offers several
short subjects. D. C. c.