Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

are scant melodies and even scantier
plot-these gentlemen have still
surrounded Miss Swanson with
capable players, sets done in the
freakish style of the century (the
cocktail shaker Is, however, recon-
mended), clothes which ladies in the
audience go "ga-ga" over. and a gen.
eral spirit Of lavishness without
which the first lady's profile might
not set so we'll.
It Is evident that Miss Swanson
has said to her sponsors: Look
here-I want to be natural want
to speak naturally, sing naturally,
and have a story that will trip along
in a gay mood, with only an occa-
Sional dramatic splash" The
splaShes are, as a matter of fact, in
frequent-and for that one may be
thankful. Butt seems as though
naturalneSs in most instances re-
solves itself into galvanic laughter,
in which, at sight of something that
might provoke no more than a smile,
Miss Swanson throws back her
comely head and INDUCES in such
torrents of mirth as might well
astonish even that queen Of good
she's laughing even nowD.
Other than freakiSh FITS Of mirth,
and some rough-houSe comedy done
very well by the star and Ben Lyon.
the story is the long-drawn history
of young lady who got rid Of a
past and then tried to decide
whether she would tell her neo-hus-
band about it. Her would-be Romeo,
having written a book entitled "Obey
That Impulse" helped her solve the
problem, and then "reneged" and
then-both of them got on the same
steamer and sailed on to life of
welded happiness.
To be enjoyed more by females
than by their rougher confrereS, IN
discreet" has some pleasant sing
ing by Miss Swanson, good per
formances-other than the expert
lady Of the films-by Arthur Lake
and Ben Lyon; and, best of all, 4
strong suggestion of Marie Dressler
given by Maude Eburne. which
reaches very near the burlesque
comedy mark Of the year.
E. de S. MELCHER.
1.-THE Lady Who Dared"
Shown at Metropolitan.
DESPITE the yawns of a profess
ambitious husband, and the
compromising intrigues of crooks,
Billy Dove, as the lady in The Lady
Who Dared" at the Metropolitan.
proves that wifely fidelity can sur
mount all temptations. though the
average cinema production argues to
the contrary.
The original point about this pic
ture Is that it Is moral. The
rectitude of the lady Is so far above
reproach, that one almost takes
heart and thinks that maybe Holly
wood is beginning to appreciate that
the public does like nice girl"
However. the story. which Is inter-
esting and suspense-SuStaining, has
not had the most done with its pos
sibilities. In fact. If 1t had only
been worked out q little better, 1t
could have. through the originality
of its theme, gained for itself the
reputation of being outstanding. AS
it is now, it offers pleasant enter
tainment, without proving itself par
ticularly startling.
One is first introduced to the lady
who dared. in delightful atmosphere
of a South American city. where her
husband (whoSe indifference to his
wife's loneliness makes one wonder
why she doesn't dare all sorts of
things is stationed as American
vice consul.
Things move rapidly from the
moment that Marguerite, the lovely
wife. is left in her lovely loneliness
on a hotel sofa. First, there enters
Jack Norton, played in q rather
melancholy fashion by Conway
Tearle. who sees Marguerite and
discovers her loneliness. Jack is
- hA ix 1arNVn
but is actually a big diamond snug
gler. His accomplices are the
Flemings, supposedly respectable
members of the American colony.
Through intrigue. Marguerite is
made the innocent victim of a black
mail plot by the Flemings and
Norton.
In her efforts to recover the EVIL
dence against herself, Marguerite
learns that Norton. who at first had
intended to damage her reputation.
has fallen in love with her, and,
through his love, protects her and
betrays himself and his accomplices.
Through the experimenting of
Norton and the Flen1ings, Mar
guerites husband, as the American
official handling the case, Is highly
commended. He does not discover
that his wife has been the real fac
tor towards his success. but Mar
suerite, through her wifely devo-
ton, appears satisfied to know that
she has been Of help to her hus-
band.
Sidney Blackmer rather overdoes
the part of the husband, so con-
sumed with professional ambition
that he completely neglectS his wife.
One is convinced that even a wife
would have turned under such con-
tinued indifference, and, instead of
fighting to recover the photograph
of herself in another mans arms,
would have been pleased to have her
husband see it.
However, THE Lady Who Dares"
is a highly superior lady. even dar-
ing the heights, or depths, of her
husbands indifference to prove the
quality of her love and loyalty to
him.
Several short reel subjects add
greatly to the entertainment of the
program. These consist of the sixth
In the series of Adventures in
Africa" Graham McNamee news
reel and an amusing Mickey
Mouse" comedy. g.. s. s.
Miss Young Wastes Talent
On Trivial Production.
WITH the exception of few bright
w comedy touches and a clever
session with professional divorce
correspondent, big Business Girl"
at the Earle Theater, has very little
to inspire commentator. Apparent
iy it Is a waste of time for Loretta
Young, since there are many con-
Predictions in the character that
she has for an assignment, and a
general cheapening Of the PROPOSE
ton on which the play is based
that there is a business sphere in
which feminine talent may achieve
high place.
In the production of the film there
are several lost opportunities. Chief
of these Is one that comes to the
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