Evening star., 1934-09-05


upon her hands for much of
and any who dared to slip
obliterated beneath fascinating
Naturally Herr Blue, who is par
boiling his especial brand of waggish-
ness beneath the Fox spotlights this
week, also feels the question Of hands
has had something to do with his own
career. He is a baggy trou comic,
which means it Is difficult for him
to find a plenitude of gags and busi-
ness in harmony with his adopted
character. Therefore the gesture, the
twisted wrist and f1uttering finger are
his salvation. But the helpmeet OF
his appearances on boards proves
merely mark of the outcast in Holly
wood. Should some bright director
prefer him for a funnyman role in a
light picture the other principals
would refuse to be photographed in
the same block with our Mr.. Blue.
This is not mere snobbishness on
their part. 1t is legitimate rule OF
the theater that star is star and
a featured player is ditto, and never
one or the twain shall give way to
another if it can be avoided.
Consequently, Ben Blue, who was
a Washingtonian before he began to
find out about these things, has
turned to the two-reel comedies, which
he writes himself, carries off in the
role of star, and wherein, hands or
no hands, none may say him nay.
Mr.. Blue does not believe Hollywood
jealousies can be driven, however, to
the extremes that some stage rivalries
reach. In the legit all one has to do
to wreck scene played with the lead
ing light is to back up" on him. This
is a simple process. Engaged in con-
versation, or dialogue If you will with
the chief player, one merely steps back
a few PAGES. This compels the
speaker to turn himself in profile in
order to deliver his lines to the person
for whom they are intended. That, of
course, kills the maestro in that scene
No audience will watch an actor who
is turned sideways. The eyes shift
automatically to the man in full face.
In the movies, Blue says, any one
who attempts such a canard is repri-
manded by the director and compelled
to do the scene again. Because he
understands such schemes, Blue is not
bitter about the lot Of the hand
manipulators, including his own. He
does not expect to give away his
scenes to any one else in the cast he
heads, and he realizes the prejudices
of the still" players against those
who flop about continuously. You
have observed how stationary most
acting appears on the screen. A per-
petual transient let loose in any scene
consequently captures it automatically.
Mr.. Blue says, incidentally, that one
of the first and most trying compre-
tensions forced upon newcomers to
the screen is this fixed habit Of acting.
1t takes them some time to learn that
a camera lens Is focused on GER
tain point and will not produce clear
images If the actors constantly leap
away from and back to that point.
n 4 \ 4
MOST important news Of the day:
A'A The local opening at R-K-O
Keith's Theater of THE Fountain"
that sensitive and intelligent story
written by Charges Morgan. Treating
with great restraint and insight, the
ancient love triangle of man, wife
and lover, 1.-THE Fountain" enjoyed huge
popularity as a novel, and promises
great things on the screen, what with
Ann Harding, Brian Aherne, Paul
Lukas and others in the cast. The
Others" to give you an idea, include
Ralph Forbes, Violet Kemble-C Cooper
and Sara Haden.
1.-THE Fountain" replaces Down to
Their Last Yacht" title which has
kept the farce fans on edge for
months and finally abandoned them
to the wolves when it was called upon
to live up to its reputation.
Manager Hardie Meakin announces
in conjunction with his Fountain"
notice and Last Yacht" desertion,
that there will be no more soggy films
at Keith's If he can prevent 1t. His
list of antidotes numbers such power
full ideas as "The Count of Monte
Cristo," with Robert Donat, ELISA
Landi ct al, John Boles and Irene
Dunno in The Age of Innocence"
another step in MIR. Boles' career as
NAAC AofOiAlC tASeOiAuAAy PiCWoA oAla
what not hero Of the hour, and Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers (the erst-
while Carioca maniacs) in the film
adaptation of THE Gay Divorce"
THE Roof Players THE Drunkard"
reopens tomorrow night in the
Willard Hotel ball room, reuniting
members of the cast, who have been
scattered in New York for a glimpse
of the Cherry Lane Theater produc-
ton of the same opus; in Baltimore to
talk over arrangements for the Mary
land premiere of the show one week
from tonight; in Warrenton, for a
little local color and character study.
X X \ X
MARIAN CHACE and a dance en-
N semble under her direction will
be featured tomorrow night at the
United States Marine Band concert
in Sylvan Theater; the Lisa Gardiner
dancers will appear in the Washington
Community Players production of