Evening star., 1932-10-15

ira ad1 10 n Is
shattered. So are good many
other things in this Madelon Claudet
type of film, Blonde Venus" which
opened yesterday at Warmers Earle.
Miss Dietrich, more comely at GER
tain high pressure moments than
ever before is featured as one of
those motherlove experts who would
rather do anything than have her
child torn from her. While the
theme Is often dreary, and in spots
almost Objectionable as far as we
could see it makes swell enter
tainment-and is acted all the way
through up to the hilt.
Miss Dietrich is one of the few
screen heroines who can remain calm
in the midst of hysteria. An en-
emy of the face-tWisting school, she
conducts herself with cold bril-
liance-and even when she is toss
ing away 81 500 to a lady companion
in Is cent lodging house, she does
not give in to the customary rant
inss and roarings which afflict Some
of our native Hollywood actresses
Looking for all the world like Sadie
Thompson in one or two of the scenes,
she seems to say "Well.why didn't
you let me play Rain which,
incidentally, is not bad thought
inasmuch as Miss Joan Crawford's
version is said to be Sunday School
entertainment compared with the
original.
The Blonde Venus is a tortured
young mother who, in order to get
money enough to send off her all
ing husband for his health. indulges
in a hearty love affair with mil
lionaire playboy (Cary Grant,. At
the unexpected return of her hus-
band. who has believed her to be
playing fair with him all the time,
she is kicked out of doors-but in
that kicking takes the child with
her. Then follows a series of un-
pleasant doingS-with the poor wom-
an bounded all over the earth-and
flnally-well what you expect if you
aren't counting on tragedy.
Miss Dietrich is better than ever
in this lechrymose fable-and Her
bert Marshall. one of the best of
the British actors is especially ma
tural as her husband Mr.. Grant is
well enough as the playboy. and
Dickie Moore will tear ladies to
pieces by his acting as the small,
homeless utLIe DOy.
The stage show is particularly
notable this week. 1t includes the
worlds best dancer, Hal Leroy; a
close runner-up in Mitzi Mayfair;
Nan Halperin in two good and one
no; so good women skits; Vic
Oliver getting his customary big
hand, and Johnston and girls who
make lots of noise on three xylo-
phones. The surprise moment of
the show comes when Maxine Doyle
comes in and acts surprisingly well
in a minute or two without her
theme song, Thank your
E. de S. MELCHER.
"Smilin' Through" at Palace,
Held Over Second Week.
A DMIRERS of the stage version of
"Smilin' Through" need not fear
what the screen has done to this
Cowlian romance. For Mss Jane
Cowl's cne-time success has been
fashioned into one of the most adroit
and pleasant entertainments that the
cinema has devised. 1t is recon-
mended to all those who do not
mind sentiment. and who do not
mind sitting in the midst of a vast
feminine audience and hearing the
sound of falling tears and large
assortment of interesting sniff1es.
Norma Shearer as Moonyeen and
Kathleen, the dual heroines of this
tale of moonlight and roses. is better
than she has been before-which is
saying a good deal. And those two
admirable actors, Leslie Howard and
Frederic March, who do a certain
type of role twice as we'll as ony one
else, are splendid as her various
near husbands.
The introduction of certain light
and bright dialogue by Donald Og-
den Stewart is an important reason
for some of the choicest bits of this
filn-since, then, the subsequent
sob sequences have something to
stand up against However, every
foot of it has merit, and there is no
reason why you shouldn't go to see it
and enjoy it thoroughly-as every
one else has done. E. de S. M.