Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
The Snoring Picture cAlbum
By Robert E. Sherwood.

N 'front.' OF the theater, the Stalwart
fellow in the field marshals uni.
form was shouting: The feature
/ i picture is about to start
lew Ayres, that new idol OF the
! screen The famous platinum
blond. Miss Jean Harlow. one of tbs
original Hell's Angels Good
seats in the mezZanine The
| feature picture is about To-
The impressive shill had many other
| tempting announcements to make tC
the paSsersby on Broadway. but what
lured me into the theater was a desire
to see whether Jean Harlow is satisfac-
torily fulfilling my prophecy that she Is
not destined for a particularly glowing
career on the screen.
l found that the feature picture
("Iron Man, had actually started hall
an hour before, and that 1t is per-
haps unfair to judge Miss Harlow BY
her work in this one. Her part is even
more thoroughly despicable than it was
in "Hell's Angels" and the audience is
inclined to cheer when one character
rewards her with an emphatic sock in
the Jaw.
There is one thing to be said for Miss
Harlow: She can certainly take pun
ishment. and it's possible that this quail
ity will insure her success in Hollywood.
=
ingly unsympathetic as those in "Hells
Angels" and Iron Man. and come
back for more, then 1t would seem that
she is of champ onShip caliber. Her
hair may be platinum, but her backbone
is made Of structural steel.
Lew Ayres is hardly the type for a
rock-ribbed prize-flghter. and it is diff
f1cult to believe that he could win bout
after bout by dint of sheer ruggedneSS,
even when one sees referees counting
out his opponents. However, he man.
ages to give a good and ultimately eff
fective performance. His earnest sim
cerity is strong enough to atone for his
physical disability. He is an actor Of
genuine promise and one who is not
afraid to undertake parts that are ap-
parently beyond his weight.
In Iron Man" Mr.. Ayres received
aid of incalculable value from that more
experienced craftsman. Robert Arm
strong, and from the director, Tod
Browning posseSsor of one of the most
nimble intelligences in Hollywood.
1t may be argued that Mr.. Browning
has not done all that might have been
done with that excellent story. Iron
Man" but he has done so much more
In retaining its harsh realism than any
of us cynics had right to expect that
IL ~ IlOL lOI 10 W CO1HJIdAl. ne IldS
added one more title to the happily
growing list of honest, courageous en-
deavors on the screen.
\
DEsPITE the protests uttered by Carl
- Laemmle and others. films spon-
sored by national advertisers are still to
be seen in picture theaters, and al
though don't wish to seem repetitious,
I venture to say again that this is
stupid and dangerous practice. one
which will earn for the movie industry
far more in ill-will than it will ever
make in money. Almost every theater
in the country has shown the short
comedy, THE Stolen Jools," which was
produced in sweet charity's name for
the benefit of sick and destitute mem
bers of the theatrical profession. It
was worthy object and a handsome
gesture. 1t was accompanied by
speech by an actor who said. I'VE in
show business don't like to ask for
charity. We want to take care Of our
own"