Evening star., 1935-09-16

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crime.
1t is, therefore, necessary to warn
those who plan to enter the portals
of the Belasco this week that the
Gaumont-British product on display
therein is another surprise package.
Infinitely aided by the demoniac tech
nique peculiar to Teutonic gentle
man named Peter LORE, THE Man
Who Knew Too Much" occasionally
surpasses its American cousin, the
gangster film. in relating the horrors
and foibles of the snatch racket and
modernized murder.
While there are times when a
plethora of polite tea talk inspires a
growing suspicion that the authors
have decided to forget the seamier
side of life and proceed in the best
thought-of Lonsdale tradition, this
tale of lad who knew too much
for his health is in general superior
melodrama. BY that we mean 1t
boasts a plot of some originality, it
makes periodic and graphic explo-
rations in the realm Of human terror
end cruelty. and the performers
behave according to more or less cred
ible patterns.
DERHAPS the most interesting angle
= of the film is its slant on kid
naping, It's suggestions of the untold
agony suffered by parents who are
afraid to speak lest they harm their
child, afraid to be silent or inactive
for fear the loved one may suffer any
way. There is no torture so great as
the mind can imagine, no knowledge
of disaster so cruel as uncertainty. and
the director of The Man Who Knew
TOO Much" builds powerful dramatic
sequence around that truism.
Like most products from the same
source. this film lacks the technical
astuteness We habitually expect from
even Hollywood crime pot-boiler. In
lighting, scenery, continuity and pace
the reel cannot compare, for example,
with "Scarfare" or "G-Men," but the
lack is largely counterbalanced by a
fresh approach to the blood-and-
thunder yarn, and by the suavity Of
Peter Lorre's work. There is also
novel and rather fetching element of
mystery injected into the drama by
the apparent absence of any motive
whatever for its Villains crimes. LORE
goes about contriving homicides and
kidnapping. aSSassinations of important
persons and sundry other impolite acts,
but if he has any precise reason for
his conduct. it is cleverly concealed.
Although Peter Lore was not starred
In the production, his are the acting
honors. Leslie Banks acquits himself
we'll enough as the man who knew
you know what. Edna Best is Singu-
larily ineffective as his wife. Nova
Pilbeam is their offspring, and
right hysterical little female at that.
The Belasco program of short sub
3ects Is too long and moderately dull.
A L TRAHAN, who is one of the best
guns on the New York Athletic
Club trapshooting team, will tell how
he got that way during a sports in
terview with Bill Coyle over WMAL
tonight.
The Washington Community Play
ers want to know when, where and
by whom we're performances of Gill
bert and SullivanS Patience" given
first and last in Washington. The
first 10 persons Sending in this infor-
nation to Bess Davis Schreiner at
the Balfour Apartments will receive a
pair of tickets to the forthcoming
performance of Patience" at Central
High School on October 8. Letters
must be received by September %.
A RTHUR GODFREY and Arch Nc
Donald will headline a special
revue Of their own at Loew's Fox early
in October. The two popular radio
stars will be making their first ap-
pearance together on a local stage,
although Godfrey has been featured
at the Fox twice before. He will bring
with him his radio orchestra and all
the little Godfreys Gene Ford will
direct the production.
X x
"TRILBY" tonight opens one-week
return engagement at the Road
side Theater, with Dennis Connell
again playing Svengali to Carey
Lucas "Trilby,' and most of the origi-
nal cast in their original roles. The
play. which had a successful two