The Washington times., 1934-02-09

madly excited Negroes who cha
orgy Of religious frenzy will al
Next I met Director Mamoulian
at the Paramount Studio in Asto-
ria. He was directing Helen Nor
gan In a picture ca.4led Applause" "
I spent an entire day at the studio
while Mr.. Mamoulian had every
body standing around watching
him tell artisans how to get a
shadow effect on a convent wall.
Finally he achieved what he
wanted. When I saw the COM
pleted picture (Which was a sad
floppo), the scene he had spent all
Of his time and aesthetic express
sion upon was missing. The cut
ting editor had clipped it from the
completed feature.
In "Song Of Songs" with Diet
rich, Director Mamoulian gave us
the finest photography that came
from Hollywood in 1888. But he
tossed art in your eye until it be-
came tiresome.
With Garbo in "Queen Chris
tina" he presents the greatest
final closeup ever screened. He
shows the Swede as an unmatched
beauty. Great Is Mamoulian.
My point Is this. see Reuben
Mamoulian going dizzy on the art
question. He becomes so OBJ
sessed with presenting beauty he
forgetS sometimes he has q story
to tell. # he worked for me I
would lock him UP in q library
with the classics, keep him there
for at least six months or until
he became story conscious. Then
might let him take an hours
stroll through the Metropolitan
Museum of Art as a reward. Sam
Goldwyn may have this tip for
nothing. Otherwise he may get
an Anna Sten in Resurrection"
worthy Of the Corcoran Art Gal
lery, but not worth 10 cents at
the box office.
He's Moving Up
Look over this fellow, Ray Boil
ger, dancing at the Fox this week,
and see If you discern something
that the lamented Jack Donahue
had. Hard to describe it but a
sense Of comedy plus the ability
to express same with the feet in
motion comes near the mark.
Bolger comes from Dorchester,
Mass. My home town. That alone
would probably make me like him.
But can never forget the open
ing night Of Radio City Music
Hall. Roxy had assembled mil
lion dollars worth of talent for a
billion dollar audience. Singing
stars from the Metropolitan Opera
House, Harold Kreutzberg to dance
and names upon names to dazzle
and awe.
Roxy's program bored every
body stiff. It was too high brow
Too sedate and artistic. Too load
ed with talent outclassed and de-
feated trying to get across in this
stupendous auditorium. When
everybody was ready to 60 to sleep
out danced Ray Bolger. He had
nothing to say but a whole lot to
tell-With his hoofing.
# Ray Bolger becomes the
greatest dancer that ever lived
he can never surpass the recep-
ton Of December 81, 1882. On
that night he stole the entire
show before 5000 people who
counted. His spot was ideal.
Never again, probably, will he be
able to appear before an ennu1ed
crowd eager for just what he had
to offer. An occasion. An ova'
ton. A triumph.
This is his last week with Earl
Carroll's "Vanities. Next month
he will be starred by the Shu-
berts in q revue. Will he hit
again like the night Of December
az, 1882? I doubt it. Moments
like that come but once in a life
time. They are things to remem'
ber and put in the diary for your
grandchildren.
Puzzle On These
Things I find hard to under
stand:
Why some Of the brains which
20 into the making Of cartoon
comedies are not employed in the
two reelers with living actors.
You tell me.
Why Hollywood lets Betzi Bea-
ton Of the Follies escape a con-
tract. Here is a zeal beauty with
intellect. They so seldom go to-
gether.
Why Jean Parker isn't recog>
nized as an ingenue with not only
rare looks, but with a spiritual
quality that projects from the
screen. How many Little Wom-
en-" will she have to make before
this potential greatness is rec
ogniZed?
Why somebody doesn't give
Ruth Chatterton a real talking
to. In other words have her for
get that affected manner and
that Cupid's bow makeup for all
F0leS