Evening star., 1935-10-07

heart and held 1t 1or years Is pltIly
theater.
Nell Gwyn" is, however, richer
and more fruitful in its conception
than in the interpretations given 1t
by Anna Neagle and her colleagues
with the exception of Sir Cedric
Hardwicke, who is a totally satisfac-
tory king. There is an overabundance
Of staggering, tossing Of heads and
general high jinks, it seemed to US,
and If British and dominions would
defend their product on the grounds
that 1t Is historically accurate in
the spirit and conduct of the times,
we think there Is still an answer.
To wit, no film attains its purpose,
no matter how factually correct, If
it fails tc be convincing in depicting
the people who lived in certain era.
While the dialogue, costumes and
actions in Nell Gwyn" doubtless
looked fine on paper, translated into
the behavior of players before the
camera, they are occasionally ex-
ceedingly artificial and inept. We
repeat that Cedric Hardwicke's Charles
Is a complete exception to this rule.
He is thoroughly credible as the
amiable, fun-loving regent who scan
dalized his court by preferring a
husky-voiced cpmmoner to the finer
ladies of the day, and who amused
himself heartily by watching the rol-
licking Nell make faces at the naughty
Duchess of Portsmouth.
The other performers, and Miss
Neagle particularly, too closely re-
semble the wags in high school
pageant when they attempt to get
gay with the Merrie England stun.
That Is rather pity, because Miss
Neagle shows rare charm and appear
in her quieter scenes, suggesting that
she would have been far happier in a
less sinewy role.
Nevertheless she IS handsome
woman; she indicates she is a trouper
by allowing herself to be Socked in
the eye with ripe old fruit in one
scene (can you imagine an American
flicker queen submitting to such an
tndignity for anybody's storyO and
we predict she will some day mean
things at the box Office in less hey
nonny-nonny characterizations.
The Belasco also has short subjects
on the program.
X X
THE remodeled Circle Theater, at
= 2l05 Pennsylvania avenue, reopens
tomorrow night with Marion Davies
In Page Miss Glory" The house
was closed recently and done over In
thorough, modern style.
Y
THE Pierce Hall Players are re-
L hearsing Ibsen's "The Wild Dyck'
for their first presentation OF the
season. The play will open for a
two-night run on october %. George
Harrington is directing.
X X y X
EDwnNA WISE, VINO last Spring
IL played ingenue roles with the Ma
tional Players, comes back to town In
lust two weeks to embark on her
broadway career at that same Ma
tional. Miss Wise makes her profes-
sional debut in the Max Gordon pro-
duction of pride and Prejudice,
which has its premiere on E street
October 81.
N7HEN Midsummer Nights Dream" :"
w the Warner Bros expedition into
Shakespeare, opens in New York
Wednesday. the premiere performance
will be sponsored by the English
Speaking Union of the United States,
which organization has purchased the
entire capacity of the Hollywood Thea
ter, reselling the tickets as benefit.
This is the first time motion pic
ture has been actually sponsored by
the union, q national organization
devoted to better understanding be-
tween the English-speaking nations,
and H. M. Warner, president OF the
producing company, says 1t is "one OF
the greatest tributes that possibly
could be paid to Max Reinhardt and
his production Of Shakespeare's COM
edy."
Midsummer Nights Dream" will
have its Washington premiere Sun
day evening, October 81, at the Ma
tional.
THE boys in the National box office
- are working overtime to fill the
mail orders for seats to Katharine
Cornell's Romeo and Juliet" Already
the supply of 81 and s1.50 tickets has
been exhausted.
Miss Cornell and her company of
so players leave New York today for
Baltimore, where she will hold three
strictly private dress rehearsals Of
''Romeo and Juliet" prior to opening
her tour at the Lyric Theater there
Thursday night. The play opsns at
the National next Monday.
THE radio, stage and screen have
= contributed a wealth Of talent to
make Broadway Melody Of 1885,"
M-G-M-'s successor to its highly sue
cessful Broadway Melody" which
has been six years in the planning
Headed by Jack Benny, number one
clown Of the air waves, the cast Is
studded with such stars as Eleanor
Powell, ace tap dancer just "discov-
cred" by Hollywood; Robert Taylor,
Una Merkel, June knight, Nick Long,
jr.; Wilma and Buddy Ebsen, Robert
Wildhack. "snore" specialist, who was
one Of the hits Of Life Begins at
s:4o";; Frances Langford, Harry Stock
well and Sid Silvers.
Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur