Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

the past 10 Tie TeCOIQSIS VI P1AO-
toplay history.
Washington, during the past
week, was given an opportunity
to view several pictures that had
created more or less comment in
other cities, mainly New York,
For instance, there was that
Mark Twain story, tom Sawyer, =
and then, war Nurse" "KiSmet, y
"Hell'S Angels" and Hook, Line
and Sinker." 1t was my duty
whether I reliShed the job or not,
to inspect this group of studio
products, and I might start of
with my diSappointmentS and
leave the good things for the last
Because the printed page has
always been a lure to me, at a
very early age 1 stumbled upon
the works of Samuel Clemens, bet
ter known as Mark Twain. !
became a martyr to literature
when my school teacher found a
copy of "Huckleberry Finn" Tor,
was it tom Sawyer"?), hidden in
my oversize geography. 1t was
no case of developing a love for
these two books. To me, the two
boys were my heroes; l entered
into their Summertime schemes;
the SuperStitiouS Huck and his
pal, Tom, were my friends; we
roamed the hills together, we
roasted potatoes over the cave
fire, and we steered our pirate
ship on the river-although my
river was the Wabash and his
was the Mississippi. So, in such
a manner, grew up with Huckle-
berry Finn and Tom Sawyer; and
so, each Spring, even now, read
again the adventures of my boy
hood friends, and live. for a few
hours at least, in their company
"a joyous, noisy, plotting COM
pany
Jackie Coogan only by very
wide stretch of the Imagination
resembles my friend, Tom Saw
yer. But perhaps, I am wrong
again. He seemed to answer the
purpose of a modern Tom, but not
the Tom of the years gone by. To
my way of thinking, he was too
girliSh, and not as that master,
Mark Twain, had really created
him. The Tom of my boyhood was
a rough, staggering chap; not a
little fat boy who thought more
of girls than he did of a pirate
expedition. And I weep for this
representation of my hero!
may be wrong again, but the
movie story seemed to be a sort
of combination of the two books,
'"Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry
Finn" The continuity is not
well developed; the story is a
series of episodes in the lives of
the two principal characters. Be-
cause, in my own boyhood, I en-
shrined Tom Sawyer and Huckle-
berry Finn, I find the movie YER
sion of their boyhood to resemble
one Of the classics filled with as
teriSkS-a boarding school YER
sion, or bedtime story. I didn't
like it!
The other pictures mentioned
GboDe tcere all pretty good,
although "HelEs Angels" tOiH
neueT get back the $4,000
900 1t Is reported TO hare cost
to build. "HoOk, Line and
Si1lEeT" offered me the most
enjoyable t1Do hours. Those tlDo
funny feuoaOS, Bert Wheeler
and Robert WoolSey, are far up
IN the list OF n1oute entertain
erS, and they haze the kndck
of changing their stuff to suit
their UehtcleS. Otis Skinner
and Loretta Young, naturally,
shine brightly N "KtSmet,"
: 1Dhich Is q logical and faithful
screen UeTSioql of the big stage
hit. "WdT Nurse" is another
ShocEer of the great struggle,
portrGyiIg the feminine angle;
but it Is q 1OorthDhtle effort.
"The CohenS and KeLyS in
Africa" 1DaS the best of this
series of humorous sketches,
NTH George Sidney and Charlie
Murray in the leading roles.
PLANS are being perfected for
"the greatest picture ever
made"-the life story of George
Washington, which will have a
Nationwide distribution during
the bicentennial year, 1882. Pro-
duction will soon get under way
in Hollywood. Foremost on the
committee having active charge
of the project are Clarence Mack
ay, Mrs. Edward Box, Samuel In
sull and Senator Watson of In
diana. A number of industry
agencies have pledged their as
siStance in the work, and the
present plans call for the finest
professional and technical super
vision from within the photoplay
industry.
Such a picture will be one of
the features of the 1882 bicenten-
NAL celebration, and it means a
great deal to the City of Wash
ington. Many of the scenes will
be photographed in the vicinity
of the National Capital, for the
life of the First President was
closely identified with the city
which bears his name. A pic
tureSque Colonial background
should make 1.-THE Life of Wash
ington" really the greatest photo
play ever produced No effort
should be spared to exhibit it be-
fore every man, woman and child
In America.
y
The Rialto announces quite q
worthwhile list of pictures for
the coming month, starting
NTH Conrad NdgePS neiU star
ring UehtcIe, Gree Lone" After
these come "DrGcuId," aDhtch is
reported to foIlotU Uery closely
the original stage production
and to include the stage cast
of PLAYERS; Resurrection"
from fhe ToIstoU 11oDeL. starring