Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

\ y
worth it, according to the box
Office returns. All this must be
considered. No matter what pro-
ducers and critics may regard as
star material, it Is the public that
invariably dominates the fortu-
nate individuals and elevateS them
to stardom. The fact that players
with every qualification for popu-
larity fail to stimulate the interest
Of the fans, while many capture
popular fancy who seem to lack
the academic attributes for star
dom, makes the picking of the
valuable players fascinating but
uncertain gamble. It is tribute
to the discrimination of the aver
age fan that his favor seldom is
extended to an actor or actress
lacking in genuine ability. This
ability may have been overlooked
by the critics in their first eSti-
mate of the player, but the public
Is certain to discover and re-
ward it."
ONE of the peculiar little twists
of moviedom concerns the
number of former stage dancers
who have developed into stars.
Dorothy Mackail went from the
dancing chorus of Ziegfeld's Fol
lies" to Stardom in the movies.
She claims that her early training
as a dancer has aided her in pho
toplay work, and that physical
exercises have enabled her to carry
on under the studio lights. Other
former dancers whose names are
mentioned in the bright lights are
Marilyn Miller, Marion Davies,
Ina Claire, Irene Delroy, Myrna
10y, Bearnice Claire, Marjorie
White, Billie Dove, Lila Lee, Winnie
Lightner, Ona MunSon and Bar
bara Stanwyck.
X X *E
7 EW CODY claims to have had
one of the most notable come
backs of the past season. Long a
favorite in the silent pictures, and
one of the pioneers of the motion
pictures, Cody dropped from the
headlinerS for considerable time.
Then he came from the silence to
play opposite Gloria Swanson
when that actress reached the
height of her career, and Cody'S
performance was the best of the
picture. Since that time Lew has
appeared in five talking pictures.
He is constantly in demand around
the Hollywood studios, and his
work is desired for the best pic
lures. His brand of acting seems
to have stamped him as superior
to bad stories.
x 4 X *
MARLENE DIETRICH may or
" may not resemble Greta Gar
DO. She may or she may not be
trying to steal "Greta's thunder"
am not inclined to enter an argu-
ment over these particular ques-
lions. However, her employers do
not intend to allow her first sue
cess, in 1.-THE Blue Angel" to lie
dormant. She will be seen and
heard quite often during the next
few months. For instance, her
newest work involves a part oppo-
site Victor McLaglen in "Dishon-
ored," a play written and directed
by Josef Won Sternberg. Para
mount advertises this attraction
as "the greatest natural record
breaker of the year." The picture
opened March 5 at the Rialto The
alter in New York.
x x X X
Short Flashes.
GEORGE BANCROFT'S contract,
according to word from Holly
wood, has expired with Paramount
and he is negotiating with several
companies. However, it is expect
ed that he will remain under the
Paramount banner for another
year, at least.
Carl Laemmle has issued an
other statement. The head of
Universal warns against the pro-
duction and exhibition of "Spon-
Sored" pictures. He says this gives
the impression that the pictures
contain advertising material, and
that they will drive millions of
patrons from the theaters of the
Nation"
Bill Boyd will be starred in
submarine story, Suicide Fleet"
Norman Foster, Carol Lombard,
Skeets Gallagher, Stuart Irwin
and Lilyan TaShman have the
prominent roles in up Pops the
Devil" now in the process of man
ufacture at the Paramount studio
in Hollywood.
The new picture for the four
Marx brothers will be known as
Monkey Shines" The brothers,
who are now playing on the Lon
don stage, will arrive in Hollywood
this Spring.
Twenty of the old Chaplin
comedies are to be revived, with
music.
Out of the IA featured roles in
lost Love-" Constance Benefits
new R-K-O-Pathe vehicle, 10 are
played by EngliShmen. But all
have had previous experience in
American films, some being Holly
wood veterans.
Marcia Harris has been added
to the cast Of the Will Rogers pic
ture, "Cure for the Blues" The
plot is taken from a story by
George AIDE.
"The producers overdid musicals
at the start" says Jesse LaSky,
but they have not killed them al
together. They will be revived to
certain extent this year-a must
cal Aim here and there to relieve
the monotony. The pictures will
feature high-type scores, and some
jazz"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer has as