Evening star., 1932-01-30
From the Front Row
Reviews and News of Washington 5 Theaters.

bursting into song (Which he seems
anxious to do)-thus demonstrating
why they don't let me (him) sing
on the screen"-he does a little kid
ding and then finishes up with the
doctors scene from bad Girl"
which seemed-and still is-one of
the big moments Of the past cinema
year Dunn, in other words, is o. K.
He more than deserves the great big
hand he gets. The more like him
the merrier--and please note he
doesn't say, Washington is my IA
vorite city"
The film, Rainbow Trail" is one
of those Zane Grey Grand Canyon
yarns, which the Fox Co. prepares
for George O'Brien three or four
times a year. The kind of story in
which there is a hidden valley" a
girl who is a prisoner, a big chief,
Lone Eagle; masked rider and
a fiStful of villains, all make
up a picture which is better than
the average. The scenery is top
notch. an Indian is thrown over
some cliffs, the white girl, Cecilia
Parker" pants prettily, and Mr..
OBrien may be seen as his custom
ary hard-riding, hard-fighting and
hard-loving Self-saVing the girl
from death and worse. The only
trouble is that Minna Gomble, that
particularly adroit stepping Sister,"
Is unfortunately miscast.
CIRCUS Days" is a grand stage
show, due to some nice, friendly
elephants (said to have taken a nip
at Mr.. Dunns ear) who do their
stun better than most mortals some
gymnasts, Carl Sayton and partner,
BEE Star, splendid aerialist, and
the usual circus gadgets. This is
not to be missed by youngsters-in
1act the whole show is especially
recommended to them.
E. de S. MELCHER.
Lovers Courageous"
At Loew's Palace Theater.
{" OVERS COURAGEOUS" at
the. Palace, is an unpreten-
tious film which succeeds in be-
ing thoroughly diverting. Such
satisfying personalities as Madge
Evans, Robert Montgomery. Roland
Young, Reginald owen Qast weeks
uncomfortable Wooer of Monyeen in
Love Is ALP at the NationaD, and
Beryl Mercer, commander a plot
which Is light, but noteworthy for
lts simplicity and, as they say,
charm"
While the theme Of the struggling
lad who StarveS and starves while
his first play is written, only eventu-
ally to find fame and fortune, has
been heard of before, as also the
fact of highbrow girl marrying a
loWbrow boy-still, the players make
this an Unexpectedly amusing story,
one which doesn't need a roaring
plot to keep it alive. The fact that
assistant grocery lad, Montgomery,
falls in love with the beauteous
daughter OF the admiral IF the
British fleet, and that their love
affair starts in South Africa and
continues in England, where said
daughter is betrothed to a titled
gentleman Of vast estates, is only
the peg upon which hang a series
Of amusing and semi-amuSing Incl
dents. While Montgomerys lines
seem occasionally a trifle forced,
they are continually different" and
on the whole more satisfying than
anything short of Private Lives"
Mr.. Montgomery is to be con-
. SLotb4hSNN 4Ol 4I4o NOlh III IlllS-lll
fact, for his progress during the
past year (his Garbo venture being
excluded, also because he has not
become as coy as many predicted
he would. He is natural and unaf-
fected and plays his part sincerely
and with obvious enjoyment OPP
poSite him is that thoroughly comely
young lady, Madge Evans, acting
also with ease, and convincing her
audience that she really does care
for her aSSistant-grocer boy who
turns playwright. This couple, plus
Reginald Owens way of saying
10y" and a line or two from that
always engaging performer, Roland
Young, take this film out of the
ordinary class and plant it in
the front rank-with a last line
which is especially effective as an
ending-and why wouldn't it be?
Stepping High" the stage show,
is notable for some excellent dane
ing and nice, lovely tempo main
tanned by cast, which includes the
Lucky Seven Trio Miles and Kover,
adagioists; Flo Mayo, trapeZe artist,
and William and 10 Mandel, who
head the bill as distinctive acrobats.
The Chester Hale ladies do a par
ticularly high stepping number as
well. E. de S. M.
Rialto Offers Fun
in "The Unexpected Father"
1T was inevitable that somebody in
the profession of motion picture
production should conceive the idea
that a real work of art could be
made by linking Slim Somerville
and ZaZu Pitts as co-stars and let
ting them give full play to their
shining ineffectiveness." 1t now
has been done in "The Unexpected
Father" which opened yesterday at
the Rialto Theater. These figures
Of the comic side of the films here
tofore have been able to attract at
tention with traits bestowed upon
them by nature, on their occasional
appearances as adjuncts and vio-
lators of the laws of grace. Here
they are to be seen in an appro-
pirate play which is, by all the laws
of logic, their very own.
Other actors might spend hours,
days and weeks in an attempt to
create humor. Slim and zazu need
only have the material of comedy to
work with and the thing is done.
Even CIle nucleus OF lne pIO-Ine
calling of an expert feminine at
tendant from an animal hospital to
take care of a child who has in
considerably attached herself to an
inoffensive bachelor man-offers
unlimited possibilities, and under
the direction of Thornton V. Free
land of the Universal Studios, there
emerges a play which is refreshing
in its naive exhibition of the sorrow
full jokes on those who are born to
be buffeted by the whims of fortune.
While Summerville and Pitts are
the acknowledged stars of the piece,
much credit should be given to the
child actor, Cora Sue Collins, who
needs no prompting to create the
impression of being brought up in
poverty with natural endowment
of strategy and diplomacy that gives
color to a whole show Mr.. Sum-
merville is in the character Of a re-
cipient of sudden wealth from an oil
well, and is made the victim Of a
climbing young woman whose fam
lily has designs on his wealth. On