Evening star., 1931-04-26
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.

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Craven contribute to the picture.
A Graham McNamee newsreel con-
cludes the program. g. 8. s.
"Ten Nights in Bar Room"
At Metropolitan Theater.
THERE is nothing funny about the
screen version Of 'Ten Nights In
q Bar Room" The old temperance
play has returned to its original role
as q melodrama and IS presented at
the Metropolitan Theater this week
with the obvious intention OF setting
forth the argument which prohibi-
ton contends is its strongest justi-
flcation-the protection Of the home.
The evils Of the old-time saloon.
with its hard-boiled proprietor and
his shabby little devices to ensnare
the working mans wages on pay
night" are exposed in the tragic
story of the Morgan family, as the
father, genial Joe, travels swiftly
downhill to drunkard's hell.
Strangely enough, after more than
q decade Of treatment on the legiti-
mate stage as burleSqued farce, the
screen version resumes its original
character Of serious appeal, and
dramatically pulls at the heartstrings
and stirS the emotions. This Is a
IElpuCt 10 GLle SlccI IOICS VI AVo
dramatic power.
The story of the weak. good
hearted father who brings about the
wreckage of his home through drink
and Is eventually redeemed through
resulting tragedy, is well known TO
all theatergoerS.
William Farnum, grizzled veteran
of stage and screen, gives a power
full portrayal of the likable, unstable,
Joe Morgan. He is well supported
by Thomas S. Santschu as Simon
Slade, the doubIe-crossing saloon
keeper, who prides himself on his
"respectability" Patty Lou Lynd, a
lovely young blonde; Robert Frazer
and a well chosen secondary cast.
The second film in the series of
Adventures in Africa" depicting the
experiences Of Wyant d. Hubbard,
tops the auxiliary features. The
second Of the series continues to
show Mr.. Hubbard and his wife and
two small children travelling through
the Dark Continent.
Janet Reade and Dudley Clements
star, If it can be called that, In a
short Vitaphone feature, Sky High"
which has little to commend 1t.
"Sky High" Is just low comedy from
which the humor is missing.
G. S. s.
Poor Material at RialtO
Used in "VirtuOus Husband"
CLIM and rather tawdry material
~ Is employed in the making Of
''The Virtuous Husband" which Is
given at the Rialto Theater for the
week. A single unimportant incident
which might be briefly mentioned In
the story Of the launching of a
young family has been stretched to
the point where 1t must receive more
attention than it deserves. There is
a waste of good material, in actors
and the other ingredients of motion
pictures, in an attempt to make q
plot out Of this example of stupidity.
Precise personality Is represented
In the role undertaken by Elliott Nu-
gent, the cause Of much disturb
ance among friends and relatives. He
Is represented as the son OF q writer
on subjects which call for q column
OF advice for those who are troubled
with domestic mishapS. After the
death of his mother, the dead
hand" continues to exert its power
through the series of letters left by
the parent to be opened at various
stages Of his career. So completely
does the reading of these letters and
the following Of their advice inter-
fere with domestic happiness that
separated, a condition which lasts
until kind friends have dumped all
the letters over the rail Of O bridge.
Besides the Serio-comic character
that MIR. Nugent has created for the
lead, the young wife and her closest
friend are acted with skill by Jean
Arthur and Betty Compson, repect-
lively. Tully Marshall, as usual,
brings talent to the task of creating
q role, and his work as q lawyer and
uncle OF the bridegroom Is an i'm
portant part of the play. Allison
Skipworth and J. C. Nugent also
nave their share in the development
waste of talent.
There are several short subjects
at the Rialto, in addition to the
newsreel and the talking cartoons.
Otto F. Beck plays organ selections.
D. c. c.
Ruth ChattertOn in
"Unfaithful" at Columbia.
RUTH CHAaTERToN, distin-
guished actress of the stage.
continues the chief attraction at
Loew's Columbia this week in John
which has been adapted to the
screen by Paramount. Supporting
Miss Chatterton Is that excellent
artist OF the screen, Paul Lukas.
Notwithstanding the inttmation
that the story seems below the
standard Of Young Woodley." the
play that carried the name OF Van
Druten high in the annals Of the
stage, Miss Chattertons Charming
personality and her great gifts as
an actress, no less apparent in her
screen work than when they carried
her to the heights with Henry Miller
IN the theater, doubtless may be
credited with the drawing power
tnat has carried the picture into its
second week of exhibition In WASH
ington. Opportunity is given her as
bride, wife and q disillusioned
woman, who seeks forgetfulness, If
not revenge, In letting herself go
the limit, while her cad Of q hus-
band continues his peccadilloes with
her brothers wife, successful because
OF the fear his wife has of q family
scandal.
Paul Cavanaugh, Juliette Comp
WI 0L0 AOALdAO NOOk are c6SL In
strong roles in the picture story.
w. H. L.
q. w. u. Drama Club
Presents Spring Play.
THE George Washington Univer-
versity Drama Club last eve
ming presented as its Spring offering
at the Wardman Park Theater st.
John Hankin's play, THE CaSsilis
Engagement" with Kingsland Prend-
er and Florence Jacobs in the lead
ing roles of Geoffrey Cassilis and
Ethel Borridge, respectively.