Evening star., 1933-08-03
This Pretty Nearly Describes
the New Musical Film.
Moonlight and Pretzels.
CONSTRUCTED ON
HOLLYWOOD PLAN
The Lineup of Attractions
for Downtown Theaters
Beginning Friday.
BY E. de S. MELCHER.

~ ESPITE its title, Moonlight
Summer contribution to screen
II musicalianna opened last night
at Keiths with all the ear
marks of prosperity. The audience
laughed, the actors spoke well ana
sang even better, the songs were good,
the plot not too difficult and the gen.
eral air was one of light and gooo-lme
entertainment.
You know. OF course. in advance. the
plot of any backstage musical story
Either the heroine goes blooey (aS III
"42nd Street, or the hero goes ooom
Gas in Gold Diggerso or the snow
comes near not going on at all, as IN
the current opus.
Nevertheless while you need not ex-
pect to strain the brain tissues Moon
tight and Pretzels" something really
should be done about this tltle) mas
those particular things which you had
expected when you decided to go ana
see it Il has a very neat little tune
called Il Gotta Get Up ana GO 10
Work; it has Roger Pryor for nero
and while Mr.. Pryor is no beauty, ne
is one Of the best and most Tkeaoie
of the younger he-men actors; IL mas
Miss Lillian Miles, torch or scorch-
singer. blonde. slim and agreeaole, VINO
is the foil for funny man Leo CarlHo,
and it has something called Dusey
Shoes" which is sung by Alexander
GRAY and which finally rises to real
Hollywood patriotic proportions When
II flashes a picture of President Roose-
welt on the screen.
This interlude which. due to the
rantings and roarings OF the rrorgo.y
ten Man" number of Gold Dlggers
fame will probably be duplicated IN
every musical film of the season, seems
vitally unnecessary. But 1t Is wen oone
and the audience seems to ike IL, SO
there is no use bearing gruoge
against it.
Mary Brian, photographed most un-
becomingly throughout, is the small town
oirI in this who goes to Broadway when
small town song writer (Roger Pryor.
decides to become producer and
writer all in one. Her trials and trlbu-
1ations at getting in and out OF the
show. Mr.. Pryor's worries about money
and gamblers Garlic and RaWhnson), J.,
Miss Brian's worries about Mr. Pryor
and Mr.. Pryors worries about MISS
Brian-With every one worrying until
the final fade-out is the sum and SUD-
stance of the story.
The best parts of the show, however,
ore such interludes as the g! Gotta
Get Up and Go to Work" number, the
Frank and Milt Britton Band going to
pieces as they have done so many times
here on Washington stages; the acting
of Pryor; the "hunky dory" remarks
Of Garlic and the music in general,
which includes a tune (belleve 1t or
not) called Moonlight and Pretzels,
played by the excellent Britton boys.
other events in the flm include Jack
Denny's Orchestra, glimpses OF Bernice
Claire and the -Four Eton Boys, and
more musical numbers which the radio
will help you to remember.
WITH Keith's starting two days
Nv ahead of the regular new weeks
schedule. and likely to do nicely at that,
there remain only four new screen at
fractions for the coming week, since
Mae West in She Done Him Wrong"
starts all over again at the Metropoli-
tan. The following is schedule of
new films coming to local theaters
tomorrow:
PALACE-"AnotherL Language" This
is the film version of the popular Tin
New York; Rose Franken play about
the objectionsb BILE Hallams, who meet
every Tuesday night in vast family
conclave and try their best to destroy
the domestic bliss of son Victor and
daughter Stella. Victor and
Stella are played by Robert Montgomery
and Helen Hayes on the screen-and
those who have been taken from the
stage include John Beal and Margaret
Hamilton-the latter being the lady who
stole the show the opening night here
In Washington when she ate grapes
with more efficacy than any one ever
has before her.
EARLE-George Arliss in "Voltaire"
Is the screen attraction, while Nick
Lukas heads the stage show. Mr.. Arliss
In his latest film assumes the role
Of the philosopher -dramatist of