The Washington times., 1935-09-03

chael Arlen'S Iris March" remains
as a fragrant memory because
last year l saw Constance Ber nett
in a pretty gosh-awful modern
edition of the same story. They |
blamed the Bennett failure on the
necessity of meeting the require
ments of censorship, but neither
the direction nor the acting was
inspired, and, when all Is said and
done, Constance Bennett, even at
her best, isn't within sight OF
Garbo.
You will find a good many more
Garbo fans who will nominate
her first talking picture, Anna
Christie" as her superlative screen
achievement, although more will
recall it as the feature that made
the screen world conscious that
Marie Dressler was a great dra-
matte actress.
However, I think that Garbo
understood, and put more into
the character of Iris March Tin
the silent version) than In any
screen heroine she has yet been
called upon to portray. Director
Clarence Brown, too, reached
new heights in this picture.
There was the chance also to
compare Katharine Cornell and
Carlo, for the stage actress also
appeared in Arlen's story, called
by it's book title. THE Green
Hat" The glamorous Swede
aidn't suffer by the comparison,
in fact Woman of Affairs" was
the first movie that made New
York critics aware that the
Hollywood queen, in her partic-
ular sphere, was the equal, if
not the superior of the mighty
Cornell.
Marie's Successor
Amusing, are the nominations
made from time to time, for the
vacant niche left by the lamented
Marie Dressler.
Latest to be put forward in
New York, is Helen Broderick, of
Top Hat" l doubt whether
Miss Broderick will consider this
a compliment since she is of the
crisp and dry wisecracking school
of the drama. Her speciality on
the stage has been smart comedy,
rather than mother and grand
mother roles.
Judging her on her performance
in Top Hat" is not giving Helen
Broderick any the best of it.
Since she happened to have been
pretty we'll neglected by the au-
thors and only has 6 couple OF
good sarcastic niftieS to bounce
against the wall. Nothing like
the grand opportunity in "As
Thousands Cheer" a part which
landed her the Hollywood job.
No. I'll have to say 1 can't see
Helen Broderick as the successor
to Marie Dressler.
Neither will I second Jesse
Laskys prediction that Madame
Schumann-Heink can be developed
by his company to take Marie
Dressler's place. Mamma Schu-
mann-Heink has an accent a foot
and one-half thick. That alone
will stop her from putting even
one foot in the DresSler shoes.
When Jane Darwell flashed a
fine performance in The White
Parade" a good many critics said:
Here's the character actress that
can do it," However. since then.
a strange silence. For the truth
is Jane Darwell has yet to prove
she can shine as comedienne.
Summing it all up you arrive
at the conclusion that nobody will
take Marie'S place. She was dis
tinctiVe in method and unique
in her particular talent. Some
body may come along who will
eventually command as much
worldwide popularity but this
success goal will be reached by
acting arts and technique other
than a carbon of the things that
won Marie DresSler her place in
the acting Hall of Fame.
Romaine Out West
Romaine Calender writes me
from Glitch Gardens, Denver. that
he has gone to Hollywood for a
vacation. He has. it seems, worked
48 weeks of the last So, with en-
gagements in Judgment Day"
and Post Road" preceding his
ten weeks in the famous stock |
This is a working rec
ord that any actor will envy. More |
are "at liberty" for 48 weeks Of |
the year than are continuously |
like Mr.. Calender.
] expect to hear any day now |
that Romaine Calender has been |
cast in a Hollywood picture. For |
he's q very good actor and Holly.
wood can still use that kind.
I DOTTED the panama for an iron
hat this morning. rolling down to
work find Arthur Godfrey selling |
Christmas jewelry over the radio.
1t looks as though summer has
come and gone. |