The Washington times., 1936-02-10

notices say that it is. Indeed the
Rivoh Theater where it is show.
ing on Broadway will be disap-
pointed If the picture doesn't ring
the bell for 100000 in its first
week. 1t is showing from nine
in the morning until $3.50 o'clock
the next morning to accommodate
the crowds.
VERSATILE MR.. COHAN
When you see George M. Cohan
in Dear Old Darling" this week
at the National Theater you will
be watching the fiftieth play he
has written. Besides that he has
collaborated on 81 others.
There is only one other Amer"
ican playwright who can equal
that record, Owen Davis. Though
Mr.. Davis has never acted in one
Of his plays, let alone produced
or directed. Oh yes, Mr.. Cohan
has also been the author Of IL
musical comedies and has had
his name as composer on more
than 800 songs, including the i'm
mortal war song, "Over There"
A versatile fellow this Mr..
Cohan. And he will present you
with a game of Monopoly or
something, if you can show by
fact or the record that he ever
waved the flag in any more than
one Of his plays or musicals.
That wave-the-flag legend, like
Topsy, has just growed, and moth
ing George M. can do or say
seems to stop it.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH RUTH
Something is wrong with Ruth
Chatterton, for while Lady OF
Secrets" has the potentialitieS for
yelling up tears they just don't
seem to come. At least not for
me.
I concede that the story has
its banal points, that Katherine
Brush and Zoe Akins combined
might have done better since the
theme is similar to that Of THE
Old Maid" However, the real
faults Of the picture must rest
with Miss Chatterton and I trace
them to her terribly affected
speech.
Don't tell me that Ruth Chat
terton always talked that way be-
cause I know better. It's an ac-
quired method that indicates she
envies the English actresses who
talk that way naturally. can
forgive the star her permanent
cupid bows mouth and her eye
rolling, but that artificial speech
makes one conscious she Is always
acting. So instead of being emo
tionally moving in Lady Of Sc.
crets" she left me dry-eyed.
The late news is that Ruth
Chatterton will play Sam Dods-
worth's wife in the Goldwyn pro-
duction Of Sinclair Lewis "Dods-
worth" I sincerely trust a good
director will have the courage to
say BE Yourself" and mean it.
Thus ending the affected actress
and bringing out again the powers
revealed in Madame K" Sarah
and Son" and '"The Doctors Sc
cret," pictures which brought the
star to eminence in Hollywood.
DE TITTA.RICARDO
Reunion at Wardman Park:
Ten years ago Arthur De Titta
of Fox Movietone was the studio
camera man for Ricardo CorteZ.
On Saturday night star and
lenSe wizard got together again
with Mrs. Helen De Titta as
hostess. Quite a party and only
illness precluded my presence.
Ricardo told one and all he hopes
soon to quit acting for directing.
It's his first visit to Washing
ton and his one regret is that
four shows a day at the Earle
doesn't permit enough time for
sightseeing. In three weeks at
Chicago he gets a fancy new
car and will take the overland
route for Hollywood and more
pictures.
CALLING ROSE-MARIES
Calling all Rose Maries Regis
ter your name, address and age
with Loew'S Palace Theater when
you see Rose Marie" Then be-
ginning Frida.' night, the genial
Angie Ratio will run through the
list of the Roses, pick out the
youngest and oldest, each day
send a $40 bunch Of two dozen
roses. A sweet promotion idea.