Evening star., 1932-03-12
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington 5 Theaters.
"Arsene Lupin"
Well Done at the Palace.

"Arsene Lupin"
Well Done at the Palace.
BARRYMORE experience and abil-
ity to interpret character have
no handicap in undertaking the
chief roles Of "Arsene Lupin," a play
which has gathered into a single
plot many of the recognized and
well tested devices OF the approved
detective story. The rapid success
sion of situations offers the best of
the inventions of French and Amer
lean fiction, whose chief purpose is
to show that for each clever crook
there Is an equally skillful repre-
sentative of the law to destroy the
work of crime.
With a classic example of the
penetration of social circles by the
professional robber. Loew's Palace
Theater offers for the week a pro-
duction that carries its own fascina-
ton for the theatergoer, with climax
after climax in a practical study of
the cleverness of the master Grim
lnal and the masterful protector of
the public.
With the engagement of John and
Lionel Barrymore for the chief roles
there is an exhibition of Character
work that offers the high satisfac
tion OF observing the best skill of
the screen in relief against a back
ground of one Of the great incidents
of police work.
There Is no reason whv there
should be any comparison between
the film labors of the two brothers
SchoOled In the same environment
they have developed their individual
styles, both OF which are valuable
contributions to a play of action
LionePS experience in the deveIon-
ment Of plots and in the internrets-
tion Of character roles is brought tn
fruition OF most commendable sort
IN "Arsene Lupin," while Johns
popularity as a versatile artist in
heroic mold gives to the plav a dis
tinction which matches the visible
shrewdneSs of his brother
In the course of the story John
Barrymore smoothly reveals his ner-
sonality in a multitude of ways' all
OF them contributing to the mystery
involved, while his little excursion
into romance in the midst of the
relentless operations of theft on
large scale, even to the taking of a
famous work of art, gives to the
production a minor interest which is
an appeal to the emotions of the
average theatergoer.
Associate actors in the cast are
the capable John MILAN and Tlllv
Marshall while the woman who
figures largely in the plot is depicted
effectively by a fine display of
feminine skill that is achieved bv
Karen Morley, well endowed with
the ability to combine the superficial
receptions Of intrigue with a more
moving response to human senti-
ment.
The stage show at the Palace is of
average merit. 1t moves rapidly
under the direction of Freddie Ber-
nard. who also sings with good
effect, and introduces various enter
tainers, in popular radio impersona-
tions which are found effective also
in vaudeville. 1t is titled impress
sions of 1882" and includes acts
which engage the talents of Walter
Dare Wahl, Paul Small, Rita Delano,
Henry Johnson and Frankie Finn,
The Chester Hale Girls contribute to
the ensembles. The overture.
Melodies Of the Emerald Isle" di-
rected by Harry Borjes, conductor of
the orchestra, is we'll done. There
is also a Fitzpatrick Traveltalk.
D. c. C.
Racing Youth"
Shown at the Rialto.
pROBABLY the most elaborate
exhibition of automobile racing
ever shown, either in real life or
in the realm of the films, has been
made the chief feature of Racing
Youth" which is offered at the Ri
alto Theater, with Slim Summer
vile and Louise Fazenda as its stars
Even without considering the fea-
lures of the play itself, there is
enough continuous action in this
>part of the story to make the pro-
dlietion effective and worthwhile.
There are neck-and-neck brushes,
,napltiple collisions and wrecks, a
machine falling over an embank-
ment, and cheering crowds to urge