The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-11
BOWes Crowd.
Comedy at
The Fox

I'VE Went to College," featured
screen play at the Fox Theater
this week, is fair hot weather en-
tertainment. It is a farce, aiming
at uproarious humor which 1t
achieves only in spots; but is is
funny and interesting enough for
all that. AS a matter of fact, it
does present an element of suS-
pense rarely seen in farces.
The idea behind all the fol-de-rol
prese n ed by Hugh Herbert,
Charles Butterworth and Una
Merkel-elegant Hollywood fun
sterS-iS that complications uSu-
ally enSue when a slightly giddy
and romantic dame attempts to
rekindle the puppy love Of a long
gone year.
The film does not stick to this
idea consistently. There are giddy
excursions into the realm of pure
slapstick, roaring sidelights on the
drunken old grads at a college
homecoming, flashes Of the windy
Senator and, of all things, Charles
Butterworth as a heavy drinker!
GOOD LIGHT COMEDY
There is some delightful light
comedy in the scene where the
professors wife begins to make
overtures (probably should say a
bold attack to her sweetheart of
former years. And he, just like a
man, doesn't get the idea at all!
Hugh Herbert does a simply
grand job as the happy and alb
sentminded professor. This is a
role made to tailored measure for
the Herbert talents and the grand
old actor goes right to town with
it.
Una Merkel, as the romantic
wife Of the professor trying to
kindle the ashes of an old desire,
presents a delightful, if somewhat
less than plausible characterize.
ton.
Mr.. Butterworth is happily cast
in role somewhat more robust
than usual Butterworth roles, and
seems to enjoy the experience. He
does a good chore.
Walter Abel, in the heavy role,
does a splendid evenings work
and contributes to the gayety of
the occasion when he enters the
college football game. This, in.
cidentally, is one of the high spots
Of the picture.
BOWES UNIT ON STAGE
A unit of Major Bowes' anna
tours occupy the stage and pre-
sent an hours entertainment Of
which any professional troupe
might be justly proud. The pre-
sentation is varied and uniformly
excellent.
Bill Badway, a 19-year-old young
Ster with a beautiful soprano
voice, seemed to hold slight edge
on the affections Of the audience,
and even threatened to stop the
show. His singing is truly de-
lightful experience.
SANTA ana Mummy Caracla put
on a swift tap dancing routine
that brought down the house.
The Dixie Trio, three young ladies
from North Carolina, harmonic;
and the Eagle Harmonica Quin-
tette did some extra-special things
with harmonicaS.
There also are the 300-pound
boy who sings delightfully."-, the
man who formerly worked in a
candy factory but now draws ele-
CANT music from ordinary drink
ing glasses, a youny lady who
does a swirling buck and wing on
her toes and songSters galore.
Among those featured are:
Marshall Rogers, Johnny Powell,
Windy Jack, Parker Eberly,
Michael Cunningham, Garcia An
drews, Pearl Robins and Bette
Hirschi.
Many subsidiary film features
are shown including an excellent
travelogue of st. Helena, where
Napoleon spent the last six years
of his life as a prisoner of Great
Britain. I missed our old friend
Lew Lehr in the news reel.
j. W. B,