Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington 5 Theaters.

her thank you" fans!-he should
be welcomed warmly for his gentle
patter-for everything, in fact, ex-
cept that hot house prelude in which
he says I'm glad to be back" and
the usual dolorous etceteraS.
Apart from Mr.. Brown, and IAN
better than you'd suppose, and a
skit by Bert Walton. which is I'M
pronounceable, the theater features
a film called THE Star Witness"
which is exciting and amusing, even
If packed with some of the largest
gumdrop 'hokum" around Although
the gangster craze, in pictures as
everywhere else, should be eXter-
minated, there is no doubt that in
this Chic Sale does enough nom
sense to make you forget some of
the rest. Here, into a strange fami-
ly OF morons, comes the unpleasant
rebound of a street shooting-and
the only reason that the shooting
Is ever solved is because Chic Sale,
as a happy inebriate of Civil War
days, walks along the street play
ing flute. This and a number of
other things make you realize that
this isn't to be believed. But some
OF it is good-and the rest is quite
faarable-and then, of course, you
aren't really there for any other
purpose than waiting until Joe
Brown appears. E. de s. M.
Joan Crawford at Columbia
Is Better Than Her Play.
"INHIS Modern Age" at the Co
lumbia this week, is about some
Of those bright young moderns who
are so gay and SO funny. Like the
troupe OF young wagS who visited
town last week in postwar saga,
and were also SO funny but not so
gay. the youths of This Modern
Age" II suppose there is some rela-
ton between title and picture)
laugh and play all the time.
While it sometimes is very anus
ing to watch the Riddles on their
gold and champagne-emboS play
grounds, enough gaietH is, odd as it
may seem to Hollywood, enough gay
ETY.. In the current Joan Crawford
picture there is a magnum of az
fected Glowing. That is its only de-
bility.
The narrative relates the romance,
and attendant vicissitudes, of a sleek
lass whose mother is a k-twoman,
OF the more expensive sort. Indeed,
Pauline Frederick, as the erring
mother. is SO charming that one
wonders why she was not more ex-
penSive.
Valentine. the daughter and Miss
Crawford all in one, with an uner-
ring sense for dramatic complica-
lions, becomes engaged to Robert
10 rul,ncn CfnliI
ents are said to have made a quar-
tet out of the famous Cabot to-
Lowell, etc, talkie trio. The BlakeS
Jisapprove Valentine because of her
mothers waywardneSS, as Valentine
does likewise when she discovers
that her mothers friend. Andre is
more generous than matrimonial.
The lovers are separated over this
circumstance, and Valentine almost
succumbS to the Establishments of
purported young rake. but is saved
in time for a reunion with her lover,
which, judging by the number of
tears the players shed half an hour
before the picture ended, none but
the audience expected.
Whatever ribaldry and scorn the
turn Of the tale casts at the straight
laced Blakes, who apparently were
lacking in hearts of gold. there was
a sigh of relief from the audience
when the stern Hobart BoSworth
Mr.. Blake and his wife appeared
on the scene The contrast with
those so very frivol JUS swimming
and drinking parties was an evident
relief.
The lovely Miss Crawford. who
has had roles of this sort thrust
upon her continuously. acquits her
sch creditably, despite the film
Her voice and manner have ma
tured and improved amazingly and
one wonders when she will be given
role worthy of her abilities.
Neil Hamilton is the heavy, very
heavy, lover.
The Columbia program includes a
tennis lesson by the facile Mr.. Til
den. who makes it seem much easier
than it is, and slapstick comedy.
r. B. P, Jr.