Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17


Of reality and human passion, is de-
picted in this story of young
couple entering into matrimony with
advanced and sophisticated ideas"
An excellent cast supporting Dor
othy Mackall, as Laurie, the wife,
and James Rennie, as Jay, the hus-
band, makes the picture both con-
vincing and interesting.
Opening with the wedding banquet
OF Laura and Jay, who for many
years have agreed that marital sue
cess and happiness depend entirely
upon personal expression, freedom
and non-interference after marriage,
the picture moves rapidly through
the entanglements and misunder-
standings which arise from their
theories until happy ending Is at
tanned through the wise, sound
philosophy Of Laura's progressive
mother.
The mother, Mrs. Duell. played
delightfully."- by Helen Ware. is one Of
the most attractive characters in
the picture. and the lines which she
speaks, oftentimes in jest, give much
occasion for serious thought.
Everything goes we'll with Laura
and Jay, until Laura Is bored and
decides to go to work instead of
attending to her husbands home"
as her mother advises. Laura meets.
in her work. Purcell, an attractive
bachelor, who soon falls in love with
her. At the same time, Jay in his
business, meets fascinating widow
who makes no pretense of her hope
to charm the young husband
Despite their agreement, that
neither will ever stoop to suspicion
or distrust, both Laura and Jay find
themselves miserable with jealousy.
still in love with each other, but
stubborn In their refusal to deny
themselves the companionship of
others.
Their marriage is perilously near
the rocks, when Mrs. DUEL arrives
in time to avert disaster.
On the stage, Blanche Sweet, in
person. presents an entertaining
comedy skit entitled, "Snobbishness."
Screen fans of the attractive young
actress have an excellent opportunity
to see their favorite in an interesting
role, well interpreted.
Others on the stage are Jack
Randall and Company, featuring
comedy and dancing; Helen Lynd,
Coincidence of the first Little
Show" and Kramer and Boyle with
Beth Miller and Marjorie Moore in
Happy-Go-Lucky."
A Graham McNamee news reel
and comedy song picture complete
the. program. G. S. S.
Miss Dietrich at High Mark
In Role Of Military Spy.
SCREEN history is made by Mar
~ lene Dietrich In "Dishonored, :"
is presented at the Columbia Thea
ter in association with Victor Nc
Laglen. The latter is always fine,
and he is at his best in this play.
but Miss Dietrich demonstrates that
the Aim production is no echo Of the
speaking stage-that 1t may be made
a real vehicle for the exercise of
those talents which in the develop
ment of drama have created a
limited number bearing the hall
mark of the truly great.
American audiences have had few
views of Miss Dietrich's work. and
an earlier film offered in Washing
ton gave a doubtful impression as
to her place among the leaders.
Creating a factor In the downfall Of
one who had enjoyed respectability,
she displayed in that former play
some facility in representing the
wiles Of a vampire, but in Dis
honored" there is a greater theme
dealing with her own fortunes, a
display Of unyielding loyalty to a
patriotic service in war, combined
with a strength of devotion to an
opponent, which finally leads her TO
sacrifice a personal and national
triumph, and life itself, in order that
the object Of her love may go free.
Few women have won a place
among the actors who created char
acters that met the universal con-
ception of heroic traits, free from
artif1ciality, and the public has ever
been in search Of such artists. It
has expected to find them in the
field of traditional drama, where
personality and emotional appeal are
more easily recognized Some of
the women who have achieved fame
were secondary to the men who were
stage leaders. In the current pro-
duction, Miss Dietrich passes the
two barriers at one leap. She creates
the ideal of the woman of indie
pendent force and she makes it an
artistic example of the talking mo-
ton picture which compels one to
forget that it is acting for 1t is life
itself
It may be said Of the production
at the Columbia, that effective pho
Biography has gone along with great
drama, and that in the impressive
physical qualities and talent of Mr..
McLaglen she has been provided
with an admirable foil, but the fact
remains that the male star of the
production is fortunate in his pres
ent partnership. Warner GLAND,
himself an actor of quality, is an
efficient member of the supporting
cast, which is capable in the numer-
Gus vivid war scenes.
In addition TO the feature pres
enation, the Columbia has an anus
ing comedy, Chickens Come Home"
and other incidentals, including the
newsreel. D. c, G,
The U. S. Navy Film
At Warmers Metropolitan.
MOTION picture reviews, as a
rule. in the desire 10 cater to
the taste OF the picture clientele, are
confined largely TO personalities in
the picture, its emotional or romantic
thrill and the beauty and charms
of its stellar lights. This, perhaps,
may account for the apparent over
sight Of the naval interests in some
of the reviews of 'Dirigible, a pic
ture made with the cooperation Of
the United States Navy and designed
TO enlighten the general public as to
what is being accomplished with
devices lighter than air" for the
national defense and along other
lines.
The devices lighter than air"
commonly described as balloons and
blimps, and magnificently illustrated
in the U. S. airship Los Angeles,
therefore apparently became mere
incidents in comparison with the
romance Of the story, which also
had been cleverly provided by a vet
eran of the Navy.
Inasmuch as the elaborate pre-
mier Of the picture was marked by
the presence Of an authorized repre-
sentative Of the United States Navy,
probably for the first time, to admit
the cooperation of the Navy in
making the picture and to explain