Evening star., 1935-07-18
NOelCoward.
Makes Debut
At the Palace
Actor-P Playwright Ap-
pears in "The Scoun-
drel"- News.
BY e. de S. MELCHER.
lHE dialogue in The Scoundr

When you see the picture IL Is AAe
seeing a screen version of one OF your
favorite books. The dialogue has been
quoted and reprinted all over the place.
towards remark about "rattling six
times" is definitely on the 5-foot
shelf of learning. Other dialogue you
will remember as it is spoken in this
strangely tart and literary fllm, which
comes to the Palace tomorrow.
The screening yesterday at the Fox
Film Exchange proved not only that
Messrs. Hecht and Macarthur can
write very much like Mr.. Coward-tne
studio swears that Coward changed
only one word in the entire script
but that Coward is an excellent actor.
Those who saw Design for Living,
of course, know this. They know that
he has a curious fair for speaking his
own cock-eyed lines. They know. too.
that If he likes role he will play 1t
to the hilt.
He evidently liked 1.-THE Scoundrel."
His role In it-a bitter role that be-
comes softened only in the rather un-
believable finale-is straight up his
alley. He is hard working and hard
drinking and sophisticated and un-
pleasant publisher who has only to
look at girl to win her over to his
side. His love affairs last as long as
he wants them to last-about f1ve
minutes-and when he dies he is
mourned by no one.
The film, up until the breaking of
into that after-death ramble, Is Curl
ously effective. It is well acted lex
sepS for Hope Williams)-it is bright,
brittle, unpleasant and fascinating.
Mr.. Coward Is not shown as matinee
Idol, powdered and curled. His first
picture-showing him coming out OF
4 Showers far from complimentary.
Although meant to be a dandy, his
worst conceits are high balls and car
nations. He wears no silk hats-is
not snapped with Mrs. Astor at the
opera.
He does his work rather violently,
upsets the temperaments of tenn
peramental authors, makes love swiftly
and effectively to Julie Hayden ana
then drops her like a glove when
Mrs Chopin (Hope Williams) comes
back.
Eventually he meets his death in
q plane bound for Bermuda-grap-
pies sea waves and wind with
no success. When he comes back to
earth, a ghostly derelict, he is forced
to wander about for 80 days in order
to find some one who will shed tear
for him. When he gets that he
knows that he can rest in peace.
The tear is shed impulsively at the
last minute by Miss Hayden. Coward
Is saved.
These last few minutes OF "theater"
are out of keeping with the rest OF
the film. If the piece had been
spoken in that key all along they
might have been possible. As it is
they jar-and the ending hasn't the
punch that probably was anticipated.
Nevertheless, "The Scoundrel
should be seen. It is a rollicking
excursion into literary screen play
ing-brighter and bitterer than most
and not at all the sort of thing
that will prove popular. 1t is. how
ever, a thinking creation-and one
that you will either enjoy, or enjoy
hating. But the authors dialogue
and Coward's acting deserve definite
hearing.
OTHER events of the new week:
" mo More Ladies" continues for
q second week at the Columpla-a
very unusual state of affairs when
you consider that it has already played
two weeks up at the Palace.
1.-The Keeper Of the Bees" is Hardie
(Keith's) Meakin's entertainment for
the new week-including in its cast
. new and very young, young lady,
Edith Fellows, wno appears with Neil
Hamilton-probably the keeper him.
self. A nice array Of shorts" are
also added to the bill.
college Scandal at the Earle, is
that mystery film which had all the
reviewers ga-ga the other day when
Danny-boy Terrell switched on the
lights in the middle of it and asked
them to guess the solution. Wendy
Barrie. Britain's challenge to Katie
is in the cast, and others
include airline Judge, Kent Taylor and
q flock of Paramount juveniles. Ina
Ray Hutton heads the stage show with
her orchestra, composed mostly of also
good looking young ladies.
Paul Robeson's African film, "San-
ders of the River" opens at Loew's
Fox tomorrow, with jolly Coburn and
his Rainbow Room Orchestra as the
chief stage attraction. The picture,
positively taken in deepest and dark
est Africa, has a cast which includes
that excellent actor, Leslie Banks, and
Mona Mae Mckinney, a dusky
charmer, who is said to be very good,
indeed. Betty Boop" Questel, the
voice" Of those movie cartoons, will
be on hand, too.
'The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes"
is the Metropolitan's new attraction
starring Arthur Wontner, able British
actor, who goes merrily along being the
merry Sir Sherlock. The remainder of
the cast is straight British.
Don't forget that if you want to cool
OF you can get good ducking out at
Glen Echo in that million dollar pool
.or take that "streamliner" Potomac
IN the evening and waltz down the
river to the music of Bernie Jarboe's
Night Hawks.
At Little Theaters you will find
swell melodrama, "To Die at Dawn"
at the Roadside Playhouse, and if you
can find the Odeon Theater (and
great many people haven't had any
luck 80 far) you will come upon 'The
Bride the Sun Shines On" light
comedy played agreeably by an excel
lent local cast.