The Washington times., 1933-05-20

Andrew r. Kelley ly in its patho-
bgical phases, the story has been
so Skilfully directed by John
Cromwell and is so beautifully
acted by Laura Hope Crews and
Irene Dunno, I commend it un-
reservedly to those who take
their celluloid fare seriously.
"The Silver Cord'' tells of a
mother love that can be so all
consuming and selfish it becomes
a dangerous abnormality. Under
the guise of maternal affection
this parent builds up a barrier
which would bar her two sons
from all natural reactions Tor
other women.
What a mother this is. Played
by Laura Hope Crews, she be-
comes a willy Shrew intent upon
keeping her boys wholly dependent
upon her for romance and happi-
ness. When the eldest Of the
sons contracts an impulsive but
desirable union with a brilliant
young scientist mother does her
best to break it up. 1t happens
that the wife (played by Irene
Dunne) is even more shrewd and
discerning and senses Immediately
the evil purpose of her neurotic
and posseSsive mother-in-law.
Brilliant Acting
In a we'll written and magnifi-
Gently acted scene, wife confronts
mother and insists that her huS-
band make his choice. It's a cru
cial moment for the son, with his
mothers faults brutally exposed,
but he has strength of character
enough to recognize the merit and
justice of the argument, and so
he cuts loose from the maternal
apron strings.
The younger son (played by
Eric Linden) is a weakling and
pitifully subservient. He permits
his mother to break up mis- en-
gagement to lovely girl (played
by Frances Dee), remains subject
to her domination and becomes
her solace after his brother ex-
erts his independence.
There are long speeches in 'The
Silver Cord" but they are SO ef-
fectively delivered and so forth
right in conviction they relieve
the story of any danger of volu-
bility. Irene Dunno Zone of the
very few Hollywood actresses who
can really look and talk like a
LADY, gives a sterling perform
ance, calm and assured and thor
oughly moving in its appeal. The
mother of Laura Hope Crews is
a characterization thai is sourdly
constructed and blessed with dia-
1ogue that rings with understand
ing.
She is a hateful figure as Play
wright Howard has conceived her
in overwhelming desire and no
effort has been spared to soften
her evil. The Crews interpreta-
ton is masterpiece of forceful
speech, gesture and expert emo
tional shading that impresses Wig
orously its telling points. Frances
Dee contributes a very clever and
genuine hysterical outburst and
under the spell of competent act
ing Joel McCrea shows signs of
learning the value of facial eX-
preston and a realization his
hands are something more than
awkward impedimenta.
Psychic on Stage
On the stage this week is Gene
Dennis, girl psychic. She is in
troduced by a screen master of
ceremonies. Miss Dennis explains
briefly how she discovered her
strange powers and then pro-
ceeds to answer questions pro-
pounded by the audience. The
queries range from such subjects
as "Will 1 succeed in business?"
and will I have my writings
syndicated?" to interrogatories
implying the psychic could fur
niSh medical advice.
House Manager Hardie Meakin
acted as intermediary between the
stage star and audience and there
were scores of hands raised yes
terday matinee in this informal
quest for information. When she
answered enough or filled her al
lotted time Miss Dennis walked off
abruptly to a handful of applause.
If intended for a vaudeville act,
it needs the immediate attention
of a Snowman. 1t suffers in the
main from complete failure to
create any illusion of mysticism.