Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photoplay
By C. E. Nelson.
By C. E. Nelson.

film was being exhibited. At the
second showing, during the after
noon, the customers left in groups,
were loud in their denunciation,
and many of them demanded their
entrance fee. Others addressed
prospective patrons, informing
thema about the picture. The
a result Of the public diSapproval,
however, the Aim was withdrawn
after showing for a single day. In
other cities, this same picture has
met with SucceSS-So, how are the
producers and exhibitors to judge
the public likes and dislikeS?
y x
MUSICAL pictures have not en-
N tirely been cast aside for the
coming year. Maurice Chevalier,
one of the big money-makerS OF
| the movie world, is coming back
| in a new one, THE Smiling Lieu
tenant" which, it Is claimed, will
be one of the biggest Of its kind.
Ernst Lubitsch will direct, and
two stars, Claudette Colbert and
Miriam Hopkins, have been signed
to play opposite the Frenchman.
Music for the production will be
supplied by the VienneSe COM
poser, Oscar StrauS, who, with
Clifford Grey, lyricist. is now at
work on the original play. Cheva-
! lier Is now en- route from London.
The future of the musical screen
production remains in doubt, but
several of the producers are taking
| large sized chances on putting
over hits during the coming year.
However, it is safe to predict that
the music will be cut to mini
mum.
TUBILEES, festivals and anniver-
Saries are almost everyday af-
fairs in the theater T:orld, and
now comes Carl Laemmle with
the announcement that February
will be his silver jubilee in the
motion picture business.
Laemmle is really one of the
pioneers of the industry. His first
Washington exchange was located
on Ninth street at Pennsylvania
avenue. and it was opened 81
years ago. The first manager was
p. OletSky, who Is now with the
Gold Medal film exchange. The
present manager of the local ex-
change is Charles P. Lester, who
has been with Universal for the
past IL years.
Short Flashes.
T ONDON reports that the Shaw
- II fo
Husband" has turned out to be
a movie flop. This is the first OF
the playwright'S work to be
screened, and the producers are
disappointed over the pictures re-
ception by the public. The play
was filmed by a British company
and given it's premiere exhibition
in London few days ago.
The huSband-and-wife combi-
nations are popular around the
Paramount Eastern studio. For
instance, Jack Kirkland, husband
of Nancy Carroll, is helping adapt
her own picture; Miriam Hopkins,
wife of Austin Parker, will be fea-
tured in week End" written by
the latter; Norman Foster recent
ly appeared opposite Claudette
Colbert in Young Man of Man
haitian" and Claire Eldridge, wife
| of Frederic March, is now being
considered for a prominent role
J in new picture.
/ Bebe Daniels is being starred in
"An Women" and others who
have been selected for the cast are
Una Merkel, Ricardo Cortez, Dud-
ley DiggeS, Thelma Todd, Otto
MatieSon and Walter Long.
Dolores Costello will SignaliZe
her return to the screen in a pic
ture called I'VE Three" taken
from an unproduced play by Edith
First National is producing.
The Warner Brothers picture,
'The Public Enemy" is said to
break all records in speaking
parts. Forty-two characters talk
before the microphone.
It is announced that the best
seats at the opening of Charlie
Chaplin's picture, "City Lights"
in New York, will cost $40. The
film is scheduled to have it's
premiere at the George M. Conan
Theater February 6. Other seat
prices go down to 81.
In his new contract with War
ner Brothers, Doug Fairbanks, jr.,
not only agrees to be an actor, but
he qualities as a writer, production
director, art director and costume
designer. e
ELISA Landi will be introduced
to the public with a picture called
Body and Soul" a production of
the Fox studio.
Just six months ago Conchita
Montenegro arrived in Hollywood
| from Spain. She was unable to
speak a word of English. Last
week she was assigned to play the
feminine lead in the Metro Gold
wyn-Mayer English dialogue pic
ture, Never the Twain Shall
Meet"
Robert Elicit will play the role
previously assigned to Hale Hamil-
ton in "All Woman" the next
starring picture for Bebe Daniels.
The Fox company announces
that it is spending $8,000,0 900
during the next four years for
stories. That amount of money
should turn up some wonderful
material.
This "Millie" picture certainly
has an outstanding cast. Among
the players are Helen TwelvetreeS,
Lilyan TaShman, Robert Ames,
Joan Blondell, John Halliday,
James Hall, Edmund Breese, Car
melita Geraghty, Otis Harlan.
Frank McHugh and Ray Hallor.
The Robert Sherwood play.
waterloo Bridge" will be pro-
duced by the Universal Co.
And now Jugoslavia has banned