Evening star., 1933-01-07
"The Death Kiss" Presented
At Columbia Theater.

AT NOtuUUUId Il ntdtrI.
MYSTERY with touch of scien-
4FI tific research is heightened by
the fact that it has developed dur
ing the noisy activities Of Holly
wood studio, in THE Death Kiss,
which is shown on the screen at the
Columbia Theater. The play has the
benefit of an excellent company,
with some fine roles for David Man
ners, Adrienne Ames and Bella Lu-
gosi. The film colony also touches
the comedy of the week, which Is
Lloyd Hamilton production.
Murder as basis for drama
colors the entire story Of the feature
film, and the work Of David Manners
in proving the innocence Of the
young woman, the part played by
Miss Amss, shows this actor in a
role which adds to his record of
effective participation In motion
pictures. Unofflcially interesting
himself in a mysterious Staying,
which has been made possible by
the use of firearms in the creation
of a Hollywood picture, he has
more masterful touch than has been
made possible for him in the past,
and is more of an exponent OF
action than customary. His equip
ment for such action is clearly
demonstrated, and The Death Kiss"
may well be numbered among the
best OF the films in which he has
had an important part.
Bella Lugosi has been credited
with a fixed place among the mys-
tsry actors, sometimes with more
distressing accompaniments than in
the present offering, but in this
play he also is man Of action, and
is among those who are the antag-
onists of Mr.. Manners and Miss
Ames. Numerous expert character
performers are included in the cast,
and with a plot which carries the
interest throughout there Is a film
which is illuminated by variety in
personalities. The roster includes
John Wray, Vince Barnett, Alex
ander Carr. Edward Van Sloan,
Harold Minjir, Wade Boteler, Al
Hill, Barbara Bedford. Alan Roscoe,
Mona Maris, Jimmy Donlin, Harold
Waldr!dge and Lee Moran.
The story develops through jeal-
ousy on the part Of one OF the
picture executives. because an actor
has been associated with his wife.
Death is the penalty, but in cover
ing I'D the crime there is an at
tempt to place the guilt upon the
leading actress of the company:
There are scenes Of violence, and
on the whole it is a production OF
strongly sustained interest.
The weeks comedy is one OF
these amusing incidents in which a
person who fails to qualify seeks to
obtain a place in Hollywood. 1t has
much comic effect. There is also
scenic film. and the newSreel IS de-
voted partly to the career OF the
late President Coolidge. d. G. G.
10000 Years in Sing Sing"
at the Metropolitan.
THE acting of Arthur Byron as
L the warden, of Spencer Tracy
as Tom Connors, and to a lesser
extent of Bette Davis as the little
girl who shoots to kill and kills for
love, makes you forget that 10000
Years in Sing Sing" doesn't perhaps,
approximate the original book as
written by Warden LaWes. The film
which opened yesterday at Warmers
Metropolitan. is, however. an eXcit-
ing prison yarn, zone III lIle DeSL
Big House" manner. 1t includes
some entertaining characters and
some prison scenes which are
authentic
Prisons have. Of course, been done
before on the screen. And this may
be a reason for not praising the pic
ture TO the SKIES although it is well
done. and it is amusing, and it is
sometimes exciting. But you have a
.celing. most of the way through it,
that they are struggling to make the
bad boy, Tom too much of a hero,
that his friendship with the warden
is too good to be true, and that it is
perhaps q shame to send such a
jolly fellow to the chair-even
though he has done enough things
to get him close TO such prison fur
niture many times.
ntrmm -