Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

gardenia, or that fuzzy dowager
whom he is bowling into a cham
payne dinner, or that silk hat
which he is wearing to Easter serv-
ice. comes before you - and Mr..
Brooks fine acting Is thus percepti-
bly, dimmed. Which is not to say
he hasn't his moments in silence"
For he has. And so has the MIN.
But in its general contour 1t has
something of tie awkward about 1t.
Something trifle stilted. Some
thing that the play probably had
and the films couldn't quite catch.
Mr.. Brook is seen at first as
white haired prisoner, whose silence
is complete, even with the noise OF
the gallows ringing in his ears. He
is silent to help his little girl" 1t
is this young lady who has caused
the trouble, done the shooting-and
he is taking the rap" for her.
What happens need scarcely be d.
vulged. But the best part Of 1t
comes when Marjorie Rambeau Is
around as the Gay Nineties bar
tender who was too anxious to be
Mr.. Brooks wife, and when John
Wray opens his mouth-or when
ever he does anything.
These two players, in spite Of a
smooth but conventional portrait
supplied by Peggy Shannon, and the
stars capable accent, make the pic
ture lively when it is lively. Other
wise it is emotionally dull.
The stage show features Al Wohl-
man and his Broadway Stars of
the Future" the latter heavily in
dorsed by the former and almost as
err,od Ha saws fhoSy ara nf thar
all, Wilton Crawley raised the most
noise-although the supple Geral-
dine chats all there is to the
name), the three Queens and Frank
Farnum did their particular dane
ing hey-hey giibly. smoothly. II not
particularly excitingly
z. de S. MELCHER.
Constance Bennett Shines
In Worth While Piece Of Drama.
IMPRESSIONS of person Of sensi-
bility. modified by a set OF false
standards, and one whose impulsive
moments lead to damaging frank
ness. are given by the chief char
acter in Bought the fllm play at
the Earle Theater. Until Constance
Bennett has played the role, it is
impossible to think Of one person
representing all those elements in
personality, but this actress has the
capacity and the training to create
a plausible person, giving in turn
the appearance of reality to each
of the traits that have been men
toned.
Bought" is a production longer
than the average, and as all the
fnA
nett. there is an exceptional oppor-
tuntty to study her versatility In
picturing the emotions of q young
woman who permits her natural
qualities to be overlaid with a mania
for display and desire to gain an
easy place on the heights without
the necessary background Of merit.
Only good actor Is able to create
these definite, clear-cllt differences
Of character, but to those who APP
preciate the motives that she makes
50 evident there can be only ap-
plause for the work in Bought"
Similarly, when the lesson Of the
story has been learned, there is an
obvious return to more whole
some personality, and the ending
that creates a satisfying conclusion
to an interrupted romance.
1t is play that may be de-
scribed as worth while in its ethical
standards. with numerous well
drawn and natural human beings
to contribute to the plot, which runs
the range Of the varying circles in
a modern city, and has a definite
movement toward logical climax.
Throughout her doubtful career. the
young woman Is under the watchfuI
eye OF the man that she afterward
finds is her father 1t Is OF special
interest that this fine character il
played by Miss Benefits own
father.
An excellent piece Of work Is
done by Ben Lyon opposite the star,
and his record in such roles Is made
more complete by this discrimi-
mating Characterization which has
the mark Of the artist. The well
chosen cast also includes Dorothy
peterson, Raymond Milland, Doris
Lloyd. Maude Eburne. Mae Madi-
son. Clara Blandick. Arthur Stuart
Hun, Edward j. Nugent and Paul
Forecast.
The stage performance at the
Earle Is headed by Joe Penner in
series OF his own Characteristic
comedy features, which brought
much recognition at the opening
performances. The most elaborate
number is that Of Harry Delmar.
with his 1891 vaudeville revue. in
Guiding Charles Kemper, oliver
Mcclure, the Three Maritime Sis
ters and Pat and Nat Reno. 9th
ers on the bill are Jordan and Grace
IN an artistic novelty, and Murray
and Alan as testers OF 1000 wears
ago. Film and stage furnish A
generally meritorious performance
d. G. G.
THE Smiling Lieutenant