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


dom in the past year ano
what is likely to happen
may reflect and ruminate and
null over the following:
A year ago the movie moguls
screamed for song writers. drew
them out with the care OF the
spider, squeezed melody from
them until they were dry-ano
now-are getting rid OF them;
ladies with voices, and fair of face
and figure. were signed on the
dotted line and hustled into pic
tt1res with music and are now
being hustled out of them; dla--
logue took the veneer OH some OF
the great, with the result that
they are no longer great; Clara
Bow got herself engaged TO Mr.
Richman for the sake OF pupllclty,
Paul Whiteman was signed 1or a
picture, and annoyed a certain
picture producer because ne
wouldn't consent to play the lover
Rudy Vallee proved himself the
worst cinema actor of all times;
Ruth Chatterton made the most
nhenomenal comeback" ever
staged by theatricalite; Charlie
FARRELL lost Miss Gaynor; Charlie
Chaplin kept to his dictum ano
succumbed to sound and noise but
no audible dialogue; Norma Tai
madge went down a peg; Mary
Pickford did a sort OF tiotSam ano
ietsam act; husband Douglas
went to England to play COLL
and Dame Rumor pricked up her
ears and said he was through with
the films-whereupon he did
"Reaching for the Moon, and
10.OOO actresses, when interviewed,
said "the talkies will never sup
plant the stage!"
ONE should like to prophesy for
the new year: That the Column.
bia play host to new and paooeo
seats; that Marlene Dietrich Will
climb to dazzling heights; that
the Carlo throne will in no way
Euffer: that Fredrik March Will
become one of the most popular
Of the screen stars; that some one
will sing Sweet Mystery OF Life
at the Palace; that Fanchon and
Marco will, or should, do some
thing about their stage shows;
that Manager Collier will do some
of the most startling advertising
of the year-with splendid re-
suits: that the Little Theater Will
show one "men and women only
picture and then go broke; that
Lew Ayres will be just about at
the top of the favorites; that
Ruth Chatterton will go on play
ing the tragic heroine with heart
rending results; that Mary Pick
ford will surprise her public"
one way or another, with her per-
Torrance as Kiki; that Alice
White will be busy with unem-
ployed apples; that Norma Tai
madge will turn to the stage; that
no more Metropolitan song birds
will be lured to Hollywood-except
possibly the new sensation, Lily
Pons: that Amos n Andy will
Keep to their radio, and that the
picture industry will keep on right
merrily with its ups and downs
Che ups having the advantage.
ALTHOUGH such matters are
"a not discussed with the fervor
that was theirs in the f1rst
awakening Of the talkies, the ques-
don of sound continues to engross
&he studios. No picture or recent
DAYS brought forth an illustration
of this more forcefully than "The
Right to Love-" In this the Para
mount sound units have con-
tributed materially to soundless-
ness. In other words, where the
Fox organization still suffers from
the Earrings and grating that
emanate from their screen be-
tween dialogue, Western Electric
and hence Paramount-have in
vented a new quiet" that Is most
pleasing and eft1cacious TO the
ears. There was scarcely an I'M
necessary echo during this entlre
film, the slightest sound being
detected with authority, and the
voices retaining complete natural
ness. The result was that many
persons were not even conscious
Of the change-at least not until
they had visited another film and
been heckled by the minor dis
turbances of its sound troubles
Paramount Is, indeed, busylng II
self most pleaSingly with mechan-
zeal adjustments.
THE greatest personal triumph
- of the week in the houses OF
cinema art was scored by that
pleasing little lady, Vivienne
Sepal, whose voice needs no ad-
1ustments on sound devices to
make it clear, strong and thor
ouphly attractive-as is she, a.
they say, "in the flesh"
The greatest disappointment
was zone Heavenly Night" In
which Evelyn Laye's blondine
beauty and John Boles' hardy
expression couldn't overcome a
story streaked with sentiment o.
unfiattering variety.
NOV that the hundred thou,
sandth critic has bitten or
the end Of his pencil in an ef1orI
TO determine which were the II
most potent cinematic Offering:
of the year, along comes the Ma
tional Board of Review and, II
one fell swoop, tells what's wha'
and wherefore and wherein "
master Of the sleuthing game has
been wrong.
This is the list as pronounced
With Eusto by this venerable anc
mighty group, whose dictum Is a!
unimpeachable as the annua
cherry blossom fest: "All Quiet OF
the Western Front" Holiday,
Laughter" 1.-The Man From