The Washington times., 1936-01-08

JULIO AO NoCSAS0s
TRACY AS mo GOOD"
Jean Harlow as Hattie marries
Dutch and the fighting begins
before the orange blossoms have
wilted and long before the install
ment furniture Is carted away.
In the end the authors leave url'
happy Hattie with the police hot
on her trail for breaking jail.
It's a queer and unsatisfactory
finale for q picture in which
brownette Jean is invariably up
to her neck in trouble. AS q
matter of fact she's no wharf
angel in this Frances Marion
story.
Some contend Spencer Tracy Is
the best actor in Hollywood. rate
him Grade A, but not wizard
enough to generate any appeal tor
Dutch Miller.
Sometimes I'm inclined to be
Ieve good actors waste their tai
ents on such characters as Dutcn.
Then Gyppo Nolan, OF the In,
former" comes up to confound
me, FOR Gyppo was the lowest
of scomdrels and deserved the
violent death which caught up
with him. It happened that VIC
tor MacIaglen made Gyppo SO
real he has added medals and
highest honors for his 1895 Holly
wood achievement.
riff Raft" comes into the Fox
Friday and in case you are
among those who feel brownette
Jean lacks the power to stir you
emotionally, watch closely her
scenes with a darling baby. It's
her one great big moment and
she makes it count.
WHY "FOLLIES" PASSED
One of the reasons that the new
Ziegfeld Follies did not book a try
out week in Washington is again
the child labor law, which has de-
MED Capital playgoerS many a
good show, including The Ola
Maid"
Among the important principals
in the Follies are the Nicholas
brothers, colored juveniles and
sizzling dancers whom you may re-
call from Paramount'S big
Broadcast" Because Of their youth
they could not appear here al
though they have been seen in
two earlier engagements at the
Howard Theater.
The Howard, incidentally,
played several times the show
stealing dance team Of George
Whites Scandals" then working
under the name of Tip, Tap, Toe.
In Scandals they do terpsichore
satire on Halle SelaSSie.
BELASCO'S NEW ONE
Probably the most interesting
motion picture that will reach
Washington in 1896 opened last
night at the Belasco Theater. It
is called la Maternelle" and has
been running continuously at the
Fifty-fifth Street Playhouse in
New York since last october. A
long run American record for a
so-called grind picture, or one
which plays continuously.
La Maternelle was made in
France two years ago with Jean
Benoit-Levy as director. It is
adapted from Leon Frapie's novel.
The exciting and unusual fea-
ture Of this movie is that the
French children play entirely
without makeup, came from the
Slums and had never before
faced q camera. Their contribu-
ton to the picture gives it a
quality of sincerity and tender.
ness that makes la Maternelle"
powerfully appealing.
There are 1853 explanatory titles
in English which tell the story.
Madeline Renaud gives a splendid
performance as the teacher.
A little Sad-eyed tike without
beauty but tremendously wistful
and emotionally stirring takes
the high honors, Paulette Elam'
bert.
This pastel Of school teach
erS and their tiny charges Of
the Montmarte slums, spotlightS
the affection and love bestowed
upon Marie, child Of a French
Magdalene, by Rose, a sympa-
thetic housemaid. The reactions
Of the children to certain inter.
esting Psychological experiments
make fascinating screen Incl.
dents, full of dramatic wallop>
La Maternelle" is cordially
recommended to those who enjoy
the unusual on the screen. The
New York World -Telegram'S critic
grew so ecstatic under its charm
he said:
ETA Maternelle' should win
the worlds cinema prize"
The French Ambassador and