Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington Theaters.

princes, VINO has become his VIE,
meets him so that the sounds of their
voices are mingled. Music is en-
ployed to give dramatic force.
Solos and duets by the principals
are numerous, INCLUDING Lover
Come Back to Me-" "Well Stand To-
gether," an appeal for military action,
and several others. The choral sing
ing by soldiers employs some well
trained voices.
The Palace stage program is orig
inal in form, presenting a miniature
revue which has several new ideas
under the general title of "Rackets
Of 1884," led by JAMS and Whalen.
Made up largely of comedy, music
and dancing, it includes the acts of
Rosette ana Luttman, Betty Rees,
Toma Genaro and the Chester Hale
Girls, with the Palace Orchestra.
D. c. G.
C0Iman at Columbia
In 1.-THE Devil to Pay"
COLMANITES or lady admirers
~ of Ronald Colman, will not be
disappointed in his latest talking
picture, THE Devil to Pay" pre-
sented this week at Loew's Columbia.
Colman has rarely appeared to bet
ter advantage than in this light
hearted. clean and amusing comedy,
in which he plays the part of care
free, irresponsible and wholly lovable
younger son of an English lord.
Talking pictures have enhanced
Mr.. Colman's charm as one of the
screens most popular masculine
stars. His voice is attractive and his
diction excellent. The lines of THE
Devil to Pay" are scintillating with
wit and clever repartee.
Loretta Young, more than usually
lovely in the most becoming gowns,
makes an ideal opposite" for Mr..
Colman, and the entire cast, from
the growing, big-hearted old father
to the "cabby," who mees the son
returning to England from a two
years sojourn in Africa, are splen-
didly chosen and add to the success
of the picture.
Although 1.-The Devil to Pay" is a
lighter, more frivolous vehicle than
is frequently selected by Mr.. Col
man, 1t is highly entertaining, offers
plenty of laughs, and is not so laden
with romance to be sentimental
Briefly. the story revolveS about
Willie Hale, whose lordly father has
given him 10 chances to make good,
and with each one he fails. After
his tenth failure, he returns to Eng
land, and, instead of his gruff old
father kicking him out" as he has
threatened to do, he gives Willie
hundred pounds, promptly taken by
the prodigal son to the races, where
he acquires a small fortune betting.
There Is a beautiful actress in the
story, and she has been Willies lady
love until he meets Dorothy, the best
friend of his sister Susan Dorothy
is engaged to a Russian grand duke
when she meets Willie, and 1t is a
match strongly desired by Dorothy's
parents. However, Dorothy falls in
love with Willie, who reciprocates
her affection. A slight misunder-
standing arises over Willie's actress
friend, but that Is soon cleared away
and the curtain falls upon a happy
ending.
THE Devil to Pay" is one of those
all too rare cinematic entertain
mentS, which leave one with light
er heart and the regret that the pic
ture is ended.
Several short-reel pictures, includ-
ing a Hal Roach comedy and a
news reel, complete the comedy.
G. S. S.
"Charley's Aunt" Shown
On Metropolitan Screen.
0CHARLEY'S AUNT" that SEEM
~ ingly immortal comedy of
three English college students and
the troubles encountered, by them
when one students aunt fails to APP
pear, and when another student is
enlisted to play the part of the abb
sent aunt, never falls short of con-
vulSing an audience, however small
or large.
The recent talkie version of this
comedy, now current at Warn:r
Brothers Metropolitan Theater. still
retains its popularity and adheres to
that convulsing tradition. Many of
the audience probably were viewing
Charles Ruggles' "auntics" for the
second time during the past few
months. Ruggles' acting in this
particular version does not quite
come up to that of sgd Chaplin, al
though it does run a very close
second. This is perhaps due to the
fact that Chaplin first introduced
"Charley's Aunt" to the screen way
back in the good old days of the
'Si'ent drama" or comedy.
June Collyer, playing with Ruggles,
is nearly buried, having the part of
his almost imaginary sweetheart,
and coming into physical being only
in the last f-w minutes of the
picture.
A Universal Newsreel and Oswald
cartoon round out the program.
j. N. H.