Evening star., 1933-08-19
COMEDY PAIR
MADE STARS
OF NEW TYPE
Zasu Pitts Linked
With Sun,nleruiILe
in Ship Story.

ONE of the sizable inches in the ex-
" hibition hall of national comics Is
reserved for zasu Pitts, while Slim
Summerville has often been suspected
of humorous possibilities. They are
starred in Her First Mate" on the
screen at R-K-O Keith's. and justify
the confidence that in q joint enter
prise they would amuse even q mel
ancholy audience. With the more JOY
Gus gatherings that always assemble to
watch their performances. they are to
be credited with producing congenial
atmosphere.
Miss Pitts has the marvellous record
of never having varied hairs breadth
from the combination OF traits that Is
responsible for her fame. Hollywood
prosperity has not destroyed the visit
| full hunger for contentment that Is
spread abroad by her unmatched IA
cial expressions Stunning all evi-
dence Of personal merrirnent, she is a
| constant creator of satisfied. Sympa-
, thetic glances of happy appreciation.
| She Is able to put speed into action
without the slightest evidence Of even
normal exertion. She is the great ex-
ample Of efficient distress. In her pres
ent play she is the lucky possessor
of the ability to stumble into success
/ ana high TcWdIOS ALioWhlS INV
wise she is.
The Sumrnerville contribution is bet
ter than usual perhaps a great deal
better The slim actor has been en-
dowed with new kind of intelligence
an ability to do the wrong thing with
| the air of a master mind. He Is no
longer devoted to trivial things, but Is
Just an unusual character who has
real equipment for the screen. His
enterprises are worthy Of attention and
the plot that has been provided for
| him enables him to create character
! He Is introduced at the beginning with
childish urge which results in his
smashing q window and then elud1ng
attention. He exhibits great glee over
the brilliant conflagration that destroys
ferry boat. of which, without being
aware of the fact, he Is the chief own
er. When anger takes possession OF
his soul. he accomplishes the greatest
feat of destruction Of his career as he
wrecks the interior of his home.
! The story deals with the experience
of the two stars as q young couple
trying to get along in the world, with
savings of $1,000 Husband and wife
spend the same money at the same
time, the wife buying the ferry boat
and the husband taking a ship which
|
ment for rum-running. One of the
picturesque scenes is the attack on the
outlaw ship by an American destroyer
and the burning of the craft. The
burned ferry boat eventually leads to
q valuable contract, with the building
Of new boat, and the man. descend
ant of Q long line of mariners, who
has hoped to sail the seas. returns to
the prosaic but more profitable occu-
patton Of ferrying.
| Una Merkel, another distinguished
comedienne, Is one of the strong men,
bers of the cast, and her characteristic
kind Of humor is given full play In
her mastery handling of the numerous
striking situations. Berton Churchill
gives a gleam of the customary ability
that marked his experience on the
stage. while George Marion. as an old
seaman, produces a character which is
almost matched by Henry Armetta as
q Greek rum runner. Warren HymeI
also finds an excellent character role
The Keith program includes some
good short films, and friends of Flor
ence Roberts in washington will find
her In James Gleason's film, giving
fine support to the leader of the COM
pany. in the story Of husband who
tries to systematic the household
Pooch the Pup is seen in a good car
toon comedy. D. C.. C..