Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

trained animals In addition to
riding bicycle, giving several
dances, including a "Shimmy" in
perfect rhythm, Eva proves herself
eligible as an entrant for, bowling
contests. Picking up ball with her
trunk, she knocks down several pins
and then marks her score on the
nearby board. TopSy, her zebra COM
panion, demonstrates grace and
agility in a rope skipping act.
The two animals were purchased
by Mr.. Gruber four years ago, upon
their arrival in New York from their
native lands. Gruber's success with
his zebra disproves a long established
claim that Zebras cannot be trained.
Collins and Peterson, in Monkey
Shines" proved themselves accom-
pliShed comedians with their ability
to provoke laughter.
Three young women and three
men perform some unusually grace
full and skillful "gymnastic dancing"
is q number, the Jack Randall Sex
tette.
The Chester Hale Girls and the
Palace Syncopaters complete an ex-
cellent vaudeville show.
Ed Wynn, advertised as the per
feet fool" lives up to his name in
Follow the Leader" a hodgepodge
of foolishneSs, lacking both clever
Jokes and attractive musical numbers,
the expected features of the average
presentation of this sort.
Supported by Ginger Rogers,
Stanley Smith and Lou Holtz, Ed
Wynn grimaces, gesticulates and
shutters through story, whose only
Semblance of plot seems to be when
Ed Wynn, as Crickets, half-witted
waiter, is unwillingly made the
leader of a famous band of crooks.
Although Follow the Leader" is
not the sort of entertainment which
would be recommended for mature
minds, it seemed to be highly ap-
preciated by the young people of the
audience, as many shrill, childish
laugh could be heard, gleefully ex-
ploding over Ed Wynn'S antics.
In fact, the Palace offers an ex-
cellent program this week for young
people and children, q feature only
too rare in this sophisticated age of
problem plays.
An amusing animated cartoon and
short reel numbers complete the
program. q. .. ..
Little Caesar" the Best
Of the Gangster Pictures.
THE transplanting process from
L the book to the screen has been
done so astutely by Messrs. First
National Vitaphone that Little
Caesar" energies with the hfe-llke
Caesar" emerges with the hfellke
story possessed. The result Is that
this new film at the Earle seems
very nearly the best dramatic" pic
ture of the year.
Although the theme-once
gangster, always q gangster-haS
been driven into the soul OF the
public with a good deal OF per
sistency during the past year, this
film is never tedious, never slow,
never unbelievable. only once,
when the boy who goes yellow" Is
shot down on the steps Of the
church, Is it even theatrical. For
the rest, it is a swift, often breath
less, clever unraveling Of the rise
and fall Of king-pin gangSter.
The acting of Edward G. Robin
son in the title role is, of course,
responsible for a great measure of
best bread-and-butter is earned by
the portrayal of such roles, climbs
to real heights as the aspiring gun
man who gets to the top Of his pro-
fession and then falls. Each step
he takes seems the step of the
overSure Rico, whose sudden rise in
the underworld goes to his head
with more potency than the fulfill
bition.
Robinson is, however, not alone
among the valiant in this act.
There Is Douglas Fairbanks, r., ex-
cellently tuned TO the dancing-boy
role; there is William Collier, r.,
doing a convincing bit of work as
the boy who loses his nerve; and
there is the gentleman who plays a
part Of the detective, who certainly
deserves one of the biggest hands
during the performance.
Thus the actors! The story needs
no revelation. 1t is all good.
Every drop Of it. A picture, in fact,
in which that old, old adage-"not
to BE- missed! "-Seems utterly in
adequate for the material and en-
tertainment at hand.
The vaudeville show, introduced
by the effective thank you" lady,
features that highly graceful ex-
ponent OF the dance, VanesSi, whose
Broadway successes have flung her
name far and wide. Miss Vanessi
presents q splendid act, helped by
four blue-frocked gentlemen who
sing and Such-like. Good as Is this
number, and the foolishness Of
Evans and Salter, and the drum
ming Of Jack Powell, who coaxeS
rythmn out Of kitchen pots and
pans, the best of all are the six
Galenos, who do such tumbling and
falling about as you have never
seen before. And this from some
one who usually is sound asleep
after the first fall. E. de s. M.
"BOudOir Diplomat" at RiaIto
Presents Riot Of Duplicity.
the force of a screen plot Is to
be estimated as in proportion to
the numerical strength of the char
acters who practice the arts of du-
plicity, then THE Boudoir Diplo-
mat" offered at the Rialto, Is enti-
tied to the record. Nearly every
one Of importance In the several
scenes Is making a victim of some
gullible person. More remarkable
still, the most persistent of the plot
tiers are themselves the easiest VIC
TINS Of unregenerate deception.
There is no reason for concluding
that the methods employed are
likely TO be accepted as among the
proper things in diplomacy, for II
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