Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-21
"THE KEY" HAS
AID OF GOOD
PLAYER CAST
Otherwise il Might Hare
Turned Out Differently.
Will Osborne on Stage.

II needs the best OF all Holly
woods CAV dog mpersonators-whn
is william Powell. Of course-to carry
of such fiin1Sy stuff A. The Key"
but given the aid of that gentle
mans talents end an apt supporting
cast. the film at Warner Bros. Earle
this week gets along very nicely.
thank you.
In the recent days OF his screen
career Mr.. Powell has been. sue
cessively, a worthy district attorney
and a shiftless but charming detec-
tive. He proved thereupon his ability
10 make virtue attractive and vice
amusing. and now he manages to
carry of with some aplomb the role
OF a light hearted soldier OF fortune
all tangled up in ladies dreams and
a Sim Fem uprising in Dublin.
Capt. Tenant was fellow ad-
dicted to distant lands and strange
adventures. 10 breaking hearts and
skipping on to break some more Be-
meath his flip exterior, however, he
possessed a heart of purest gold and
gaIlantry-an embarrassing circum-
stance which his mimic Mr.. Powell
overcomes courageously in The Key"
These sophisticated dare-devils OF the
screen who underneath 1t all are
really just sentimental little boys
ready TO die for dear old Rutgers,
or Aunt Lucy, or a sweetheart of
childhood DAYS, are apt to make one
fidget painfully unless they are played
with the utmost competence and care
MIR. Powell devotes all that to Capt.
Tenant and contrives to come out
on top, despite the apparent enmity
of the dialogue writer. That artisan
was working with story Of q young
British intelligence officer who was
madly in love with a girl and married
her, although he knew she still cher
ished in her memory an AFFAIR she
once had with another man. Andrew
Kerr Colin C1ive) and his wife Norah
Edna Best) went to Dublin when
Kerr's services were needed In flght-
ing a Sim Fem rebellion. Shortly
afterward Capt. Tenant showed up
and there began the trouble because
he was Noran'S one-time lover. One
evening when Andrew went out to
search for the Sim Fem leader,
Peader Conlan. Capt. Tenant stayed
with Norah. Andrew returned early
after capturing the culprit.
As sample of the way the dia-
logue writer felt about this situation
you have: When Norah is trying to
tell her husband the why and where
fore. he looks at her solemnly and
remarks, 81 can't understand it."
After Andrew leaves the apartment.
Norah says to Tenant. When he
went out of here. a part Of me went
with him." And. telling Tenant that
she was only fascinated by a romantic
dream of him, and really loves her
husband, Norsh begins Il don't know
how to tell you this"
These trite offenses against time and
cobwebs have little effect, however. on
the suave histrionics of Miss Best.
Mr.. Give and, as perhaps you have
heard. Mr.. Powell They carry along
the tale blithely and put 1t to its own
best uses, although you may be rather
sorry it turns out that Capt. Tenant
incurs a three-year prison sentence at
the end, sacrificing himself to return
Andrew safely to Norah.
Halliwell Hobbies, Donald Crisp and
]. M. Kerrigan deserve mention for
their supporting work and Maxine
Doyle also appears briefly to give the
local fans a thrill. Miss Doyle comes
around again in a short subject with
Leon Enrol, of which 1t Is no exae-
geration to say that she is the best
that is in 1t.
On the stage this week the Earle
has Will Osborne and his excellent
band. Paul Sydell with q top-hole
animal act, Belett and Lamb, come
dams and three dancing gals. Jean,
Ruth and Gail. There is also a news
reel. r. B. p, jr.