Evening star., 1932-02-20

right with the world
This film has that kind Of philo-
sophical finale which may surprise
those who believe that there is lit
tie room for such things in the
cinema. 1t is surprisingly effective,
too, and but for one other scene
of more melodramatic nature, Is
probably the high point of curious
tale of an unfortunate man who
was struck deaf in the midst Of his
career. That "other" moment had
come when this great pianist, gone
practically insane at the sudden re-
moval of the sound of music and
unable to enjoy even the smallest
shred of happiness, had tried to
take his life by walking out of the
window Of his apartment, and was
saved only by the verbal entreaties
of Battle, his devoted servant.
who called him coward" instead of
pleading with him in more decorous
fashion.
These two scenes and one or two
others, and the always smooth and
silken acting of Mr. Arliss (thank-
fully divorced from his Hamiltonian
wig) are the best of a film which
has great power in some places and
SlSdG NOlllo III oGlltlS IitoC WIND
come when the love story between
the man of over so and the young
girl becomes acute. and when GER
tain characters say foolish things
and act even more foolish. In the
main, however. those who believe
that ArliSs can act anything he
ChoOSes-and he can-and that he
may be supposed to be real even
when he is shown as great virtuoSo
playing the Moonlight Sonata" be-
fore a vast concert audience, will
find this variously interesting. if
trife morbid Somehow. however,
we prefer Mr. Arliss as a million
aire" rather than IS an "arteeste."
In either case, though. he resembles
Americas foremost dime promoter.
Added to the program is the War
ner Brothers contribution to the BIZ
centennial Celebration, in which
Clarence Whitehill assumes the
words and wigs of George Wash
ington, and in which the city itself
is presented from White House to
tie Capitol. E. de S. MELCHER.
'Murders in the Rue Morgue"
Given With Thrills at RialtO.
DOES capacity for creating stories
of mystery and horror gave him
a place in the realm of books
which makes most of his plots fa-
miliar to an average audience For
that reason, Murders in the Rue
MOrgue," comes as means OF
transferring some of his characters
from the printed page to the screen.
Local interest in the career of Poe
gives increased interest to the pic
ture which is offered at the Rialto.
DR.. Mirakle, played by Bella Lugosi,
is another of the series of unnatural
characters which may be set down
to his credit, for he makes the COM
pletely unSympathetic scientist a
living person who delights in evil
deeds. Contrasted with the cruelty
of this chief character is the dis
tinctly feminine role of the young
woman who barely escapes the
clutches of the degenerate doctor
and his giant ape. This character
is created with the finer qualities
that are associated with the work
of Sidney Fox. and she is most
capably assisted by Leon Waycoff,
as Dupin, the medical student who
solves the mystery Of the Rue
Morgue and save the life of the
young woman, after a spectacular
scene In which the ape, with the
girl In his clutches, is pursued over
the housetops and finally disposed
Of in thrilling encounter, while