Evening star., 1935-12-26
BY HARRY MacARTHUR.


- ONE of the gentlemen who re-
view the towns movies were
slightly unhappy over the fact
- that no preview of Sylvia
Scarlet" which opened yesterday at
Keiths Theater, could be arranged,
but Katherine Hepburn's performance
in the film is worth working Christ
mas night or any other night to see.
She exhibits in this picture a thor
ough mastery of the craft of light
comedy and a deft and delicate shad-
ing of emotions that is delight to
behold. Sylvia Scarlet is gay, i'm
petuous creature-Warm, hearty. gen.
erous, outspoken and truthful-and
Miss Hepburn brings her vitality to life.
Throughout the whole of the film
she is superb. She has "tipsy' scene
that is a masterpiece, and she is
nothing short of delightful in some
of the grand humor provided by her
scenes with Brian Aherne, where shes
first a boy, then a girl, placing the
exactly correct meaning on every
word, every move, every expression.
You'll know and like Sylvia Scarlet
when Katherine Hepburn gets through
with her.
The tale itself is a very pleasant
comedy. Masquerading as a boy
Sylvia sets out with her father, his
wife and another chap in wander
ing Pierrot show, meets handsome
artist CMr. Aherne) and then imme-
diately discards male clothing. The
artist has a fiancee, though, which Is
something of a complication, Sylvia
hopelessly resigning herself to hei
fate and almost entering upon matri-
mony with the slightly crude, if hand
some, chap with the show.
THIS chap, however, finally runs OF
L with the artists girl friend, Sylvia
dragging the artist in pursuit, think
ing he is In love with the gal. The
scenes where the two finally find theil
quarry are topping comedy. The whole
film, in fact, is done in the proper
light hearted manner and timed with
precision
Some of the sequences, of course
particularly those done by Eumune
Gwenn and the young lady who play'
the role of his wife, seem to be much
less funny than they were intended
(no fault, however, of Mr.. Gwenn's)
but Miss Hepburn and Mr.. Ahernt
gaily make up for it.
Other than Mr. Aherne, who turns
in a splendid performance, and Mr.
Gwenn, who never yet has let movie
down and does not this time, there
are Cary Grant and Natalie Paley x
contribute fine support to Miss Hep
burns excellent performance.
The holiday program at Keith'S alsC
includes films of the Dionne quin'
tuplets' current Christmas party anc
other short subjects.
CHIRLEY TEMPLES latest film
~ "The Littlest Rebel" which opened
Yesterday at Loew's Palace Theater
actually has an interesting and enter
tanning story. 1t naturally woulc
have, of course, being an adaptatiC,-
of a well-known Civil War play, but
the fact is deserving of comment wher
you recall a few of Shirley's recent
vehicles - rather vapid photoplays
which placed a terrific load on the
diminutive charmer's tiny but sturdy
shoulders.
The new Palace feature, however
does not make the baby Bernhardt dc
all the work. 1t would still be ar
entertaining story without her, so II
is that much better with her. The
tale, you know, concerns Southern
gentleman who goes of to the wars
becoming a rebel scout, getting into
the hair Of the Yankees, and dashing
home through the enemy lines when
ever possible to see his wife and little
daughter.
The little girls mother dies. papa
Is captured by an officer in blue, the
officer goes soft on the daughter and