Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05

JdDdu, II
acquiring Occi-
dental civiliza- = Sylvia Sidney.
ton, has chang
ed more in the past 40 years than
any other nation in the world. Our
new story occurs in 1882 with pres
ent-day Interpretation of the char
acters, situations and manners.
I'VE have altered the characters
of Pinkerton, the American naval
officer, and MS wife In the original
they were unsympathetic. Now they
are human.
1.-THE child of the little geisha girl
and the officer represents another
important revision. Originally an
American-appearing boy who went
to live with his father, he now
is a Japanese-looking child who
stays with his mothers relatives.
Comedy has been injected into
the story which previously was I'M
relieved by light moments. Miss Sid
ney C"American Tragedy" Sylvia
Sidney-brunette heroine of many
tragic Sagas who was chosen from a
Hollywood multitude to play the
leading role) has much of this and
Ruggles portrays an entirely new
ana prominent CHARACTER.
If the comments are true-and it
is to be hoped thst they are grossly
exaggerated Madame Butterfly"
as far as we are concerned-may go
safely kiting out of the window. Two
of the above remarks wreck it: In
the original they were unsympa-
thetic." (Talking about Butterfly
and Pinkerton). Now they are hu-
man" Additionally has been in
iected into the story which was I'M
relieved by light moments"
Whatever work the cinema has
done in the past, it has never tried
to make Madame Butterfly" into
part comedy, with the child staying
with japanese relatives, and the
original characters changed around
and about. We are almost prepared
in this version to see Charles Rug
giles waving an American flag at the
end instead of the heart-broken lit
tie buttert1y-ard to see a land they
lived happily ever after" at the maj
curtain.
Butterfly" is work that is so
deeply intrenched in the affections
of many that to try to revamp it is
clearly suicide. Sylvia Sidney is
wise choice for the lead in this pro-
duction-but with Mr.. Ruggles
bouncing here and there (snd. mind
you, Mr.. Ruggles is one of this de-
partment's favoritesl Butterfly"
went seem Butterfly at all.
The cinema was wise when it re-
Trained from tampering with
"Smilin' Through" The reason for
its unquestioned success was the
x.oy,aafKoI 4Tffn m itC
lavender and old lace atmosphere
throughout. No Albertina Rasch
ladies came skipping out and did
their undulating "hey-heys." People
went to see this because they re-
membered that on the stage they
had cried when Moonyeen and Cath
leen went through their several sad
love affairs. The reason they en-
joyed it again on the screen was that
they found there the same spirit
and the same excellent little sentl-
mentalities that had appealed to
them before.
Thus with Butterfly" 1t is known
too we'll to be rejuvenated and mod
ernized with Hollywood gadgets.
While its story has never set the
world on fire, its theme has been
approved by those who would weep
and enjoy the taste of their tears.
People are not prepared to go to
see it and laugh. There are some
things that don't bear mending. The
music in this is what docs the
trick after all. E. de S. MELCHER.
Burton Holmes Conducts
Pictorial Tour of Vienna.
BURTON HOLMES yesterday in
- troduced his auditors to Vienna
"a city Respondent in modern
veneer sin spite of all" that has
sought to deter its development.
Complete with modern trans, elab-
crate soclialistic housing plans, busy
thoroughfares, industrious policemen
and clean streets, it is yet alive with
memories of the gayety and splen-
dor that once made Vienna the
mecca of Europe.
Ancient relics, tombS, cafes,
cathedrals, leather makers, renown-
ed personageS are sought out In the
true Holmes style and presented In
his own inimitable manner.
Waiting on the ice in frozen
Vienna, lingering in coffee houses,
touring museums, with a comment
here and ar. explanation there, left
his hearers somewhat agog with the
wonder Of the modern capital OF
Austria. Pictures of the last act
of Die Meistersipger" and of the
interior Of the Grand Opera House
offered fitting contrast to the &C
tivities of frozen Vienna.
The seemingly endless pictorial
study of the treasures of the palaces
of Liechtenstein, Harrach, Schwartz
zenberg and Belvedere, the Vienese
Cathedral with its imperial vaults,
the Parliament buildings and other
noble edifices bulked large in the
systematic touring of the city and
its environments President Miklos
Of the Austrian Republic, the sculp-
tor Ambrose, Arthur Ferraris, Prof.
Stomach, Richard Strauss, Adolf
Lorenz and Franz Lehar. all add
their personalities to the travelogue.
Truly Vienna is wonderful city
''in spite of all" F. L. c.
"CoDege Widows" .....
At the Gayety.
THIS weeks show at the Gayety.
Il college Widows" boasts of an
array Of girls and comedians that
are sure to please the most critical
observer.
Although the comedians lack
punch in their skitS, they neverthe-
less manage to draw the laughs from
an eager audience The gags are
handled by Sam Raynor and Lee
Hickman, with Bimbo Davis coming
in as a third party to lend hand
in the wit. Raynor gets more out
of his work than do the two others,
but this fact doesn't detract from
the ability of Davis or Hickman, as
they are two flrst-rate comics. Ray
Parsons and George Kinear aid in
putting over the comedy. with Par