The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 25

BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE, NEW YORK, SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 1930. 9 Edmund Lowe and Dorothy Mackaill Star in New Photoplays Here This Week 4 I V' yr Kenneth Thornton and Bebe Dan- 1 1 XJ Regit Toomey and Marguerite Churchill in 'Good thm 4 jfV'''- i 1 current film at the Fox TheaUr I jJ I vK Stfla Slow Motion toklC ir nmHWrt' i I By MARTIN DICKSTEIN Dorothy Machaill and Ba.il Rathbone in 'The Flirting Strand. Intet, lefti Jack Holt in 'Hell'e fT Ji YJ sKull tf 1 at the Patio. Intet, tight! Doloret Dml Rio in 'Thm Bad Loew'e theatere iL iV' jl Ijf VyS if Next Season's Schedules Call for Fewer Pictures With Music as Talkies Meet Demand for Better Stories Other Screen Comment New Pictures on Nearby Screens GLANCING throueh the list of pictures announced for release next season, one cannot fall to observe that the movie operetta (Hollywood used to refer to them as "musical will occupy 1 VPi Moran and Mack, a the two black doughboy in 'Anybody'. at the Brooklyn Paramount thit week a far less prominent position on the production schedule than at any time since the birth of the talkies.

As a matter of fact, less than one out of every ten productions will be fashioned along purely musical lines, A year or so ago, when the movie musical comedy and operetta were thought to be at the height of their popularity, pictures of this type represented probably more than half of the weekly celluloid entertainment In the Broadway cinema theaters. It is not difficult to understand the sudden reversal of what used to be a mounting trend In the so-called "talkie-singles." In the first place, the movie operettas were thrown upon the curtains with such alarming frequency that plcturegoers were bound to quickly grow tired of what was virtually the same kind of entertainment. Secondly, the librettos and story construction encountered In these pictures ere usually so stupid, so utterly devoid of dramatic intelligence that they defeated whatever other purposo they might have had in the way of bringing good music and attractive singing voices to the screen. In the third place, the operatic form of entertainment was ostensibly so Stage and Screen Features At Loew's Houses This Week and tomorrow; "The Lady of Scandal," Tuesday and Wednesday; "With Byrd At the South Pole," Thursday and Friday. KAMEO AND ROOF "Shadow of the Law" and an Eddie Lambert comedy, today and tomorrow; "Strictly Modern," Tuesday and Wednesday; "Hell Harbor," Thursday and Friday.

MELBA "Hell Harbor," today; "MidnlRht Mystery" and "A Notorious Affair," tomorrow: "The Lady of Scandal" and "Temptation," Tuesday and Wednesday: "The Social Mon," Thursday nnd Friday. ORIENTAL "The Lady of Pcan-dal," today to Tuesday; "With Byrd At the South Pole" and a Laurel and Hardy comedy, Wednesday to Frldav. PREMIER "The Lady of Scandal," today and tomorrow; "Mam-ba" and "The Rounder," Tuesdav and Wednesday; "With Byrd At the South Pole" and a Laurel and Hardy comedy, Thursday and Frldav. WARWICK "Shadow of the Law" and an Eddie Lambert, comedy, today; "Hell Harbor" and "Tne Rounder," tomorrow and Tueday; "He Knew Women," Wednesday; "Dude Wrannlcr." Thursday; "Strictly Modern," Friday. WILLARD The Lady of Scandal," today to Tuesday; "With Bvrd at the South Pole" and "The Rounder," Wednesday to Friday.

New Films Hold Screens At the Century Houses The Patio's film feature today to Tuesday, Is "Hell's Island," with Jack Holt, Ralph Oraves and Dorothy Sebastian. Holt and Graves A Publisher Looks to Movie H' ORACE LIVERIGI 1' publisher, has unde't, new career in the mov.cv.it time when other men ar jr-al beginning to look around fi" cozy nook In which to Though still young, he had already achieved such a nice niche of his own in the book world that one would fancy he'd be glad to turn Into a composed and quiet bookworm for the rest of his days. That is. one would fancy that if one didn't know Horace Llverlght. Instead he has thrown in his lot with Paramount, venturing forth into a new medium in Hollywood shortly and bringing to the audible screen a j-cstless energy which has taken him into some btrange places.

Including particularly the homes of literary geniuses. Here is a man who refuses to let his spirit be tamed by smug success. Starting his career with very ad vanced views of human brotherhood, his outlook changed to the point where he admitted with a cheerful grin a couple of years aigo that he lay awake nights thinking of schemes to outdo his competitors. He has always been known for hi readiness to take a chance and this, coupled with a shrewd insight into human tustes enabled him to accumulate a fortune where other publishers were barely subsisting on, the crumbs dropped from Parnassus, He brought out "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" when an older and apparently seasoned publishing houe had pompously turned it down, and cleaned up on that sufficiently to satisfy any Broadway blonde. He figured that such high-brow authors as Theodore Dreiser and Sherwood Anderson had at least on popular success concealed some, whede about their person.

So virtually grub-staked them in their eariier works until they both blew him a windfall wu.h "An American Tragedy" and "Dark Laughter." Deciding that he had some still unfettered vitality, he decided to unleash It at the drama. Here, again, he displayed the same willingness to try anything if the portents and the horoscopes seemed against it. When "The Firebrand" opened out of town It looked like a sure-fire flop. It was played in the romantic, high-flown manner of a generation with every one In the cat taking his art very seriously. Thereupon Liverixht decided to take a chance by changing the accent and the tempo of the playing and the play breezed throuah a long run as an airy larce which spoofed the costume drama.

In the same way he was the first manager to star a colored actor In a full-length presentation on Broadway when he presented Paul Robeson in "Black Biy." and the first to offer a dramatization of "Dracula" when this weird tale had been lying ready i to hand fur many years with Its oruerrq me nouse man anement at the winter Garden, where Richard Banhelmess' aviation picture. "The Dawn Patrol." Is flitting about, to take down a couple of full-sized airplanes which wer using the entrance roof for a perch. Simi arly. when one of the Broadway theaters a couple of years ago tunced a lare model of a sailing on the marquee, the authorities quickly had the ship scuttled out of t.ght. Nancy Carroll's new production, "Launhter," Is unusual In that it actually contains two screen players who are natives of Los Angeles.

Ordinarily film actors come from everywhere else, like typical New Yorkers. The Carroll vehicle not only has Diane Ellis, the first homegrown product among femlnm thesplans to work her wav to distinction on the screen, but also Glenn Anders. Broadway stage stac vh virtiwlly worked Ms wav lnU pictures at the point of a gun. Anders, who s'a-ted life In t''s California city and then roam'. about as an actor, killed himw if with such rclat in the Theater Guild production of "Htel Universe!" lat season that he mas immediately engaged to die gracefully, by his own hand for the benefit 'of Mc Carroll.

'The Flirting Widow' Arrives at tions New "Flirting Widow," a I Warner Vitaphone production, based on A. E. W. Mason's stage play, "Green Stockings," is the current film at the Brooklyn Warner Strand Theater. It brings to the screen a sophisticated comedy of manners which draws its characters from the English nobility.

The story deals with three daughters, the eldest of whom is unmarried and displays no inclination to enter the matrimonial field. The father declines to give consent to the marriage of the youngest until the eldest is married. The situations which ensue are said to provide sparkling comedy. Dorothy Mackaill and Basil Rath-bone head the cast, with Leila Hyams, William Austin, Claude Gllllngwater, Emily Fltzroy, Flora Bramley, Anthony Bushell and Wilfred Noy in the supporting roles. William A.

Belter was the director. On the Strand's surrounding program this week are "Road Knights," a one-act musical comedy of Hobohemia; "Yamekraw," a rhapsody of the emotional mood of the Negro; "The Voice of Hollywood," Introducing Mary Plckford, Colleen Moore and other stars of filmdom; "Temple of Silence," another adventure with the Vagabond Director, Tom Terrlss, and the Strand News. At the Paramount This Is "Laugh Week" at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater. An elaborate stage show, full of humor, and the two black crows, Moran and Mack, In "Anybody's War," on the screen, are the featured attractions. In "Anybody's War" Mack plays the part of a dog catcher in a small Tennessee town.

However, he Is n6t the regular dog catcher of fiction, but Is so kindhearted that rather than kill any dogs he picks up ne takes them home. One of them, "Deep Stuff," is his favorite and pal. When Mack decides to join the army and go to France, he Is rejected for his Ct feet, but he gathers up "Deep Stuff," dons an old uniform and boards the ship anyway. On shipboard he is again examined but as they start at his ankles and go up he Is accepted for service. The adventures of Mack and Moran, to say nothing of "Deep Stuff," in the World War, are said to furnish many laughs.

Unlike their first starring picture, Mack and Moran retain their blackface make-up throughout. Joan Peers and Nell Hamilton supply the love interest. The stage theme Is called "Noah's Lark." Paul Ash again appears with his gang, which includes Ethel Merman, Al Slegel, Jo Besser, Paul Small, Billy Farrell and Dad, Berl-noff and Eulalie, Margaret "Mickey" McKee. and -Merry Maids. New Fox Bill A new program which embraces several stage and screen Incidents may be seen at the Fox Theater this week.

The main screen attraction is the Movietone drama, "Good Intentions," in which Edmund Lowe, Regis Toomey, Marguerite Churchill and Earle Foxe occupy the principal roles. Headlining the surrounding stage bill is Frank Richardson, the screen actor, who is making his first personal appearance in person. "Good Intentions." Is all about a sllk-hatted gang leader who talis In love with a society girl, tries to reform for her sake and is finally "put on the spot" by his former pals. Edmund Lowe has the role of the crook with the good intentions, Marguerite Churchill is the girl. Regis Toomey appears as a wealthy young polo player and Earle Foxe Is ttie proprietor of the night club In which most of the action takes Dlace.

Zn bla first jntoai appearance.) the Strand Paramount Offers Fox Feature 'Lawful Larceny' The New Films E. F. ALBEE "Lawful Larceny," screen version of the-play, with Bebe Daniels, Lowell Sherman and Kenneth Thomson. BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT "Anybody's War," farce comedy, with Moran and Mack. BROOKLYN STRAND "The Flirting Widow," comedy, featuring Dorothy Mackaill, Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams, William Austin and Claude Glllingwater.

CAPITOL "Our Blushing Brides," with Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Robert Mont- gomery, Dorothy Sebastian and Raymond Hackett. FOX "Good Intentions," melodrama, with Edmund Lowe, Marguerite Churchill, Regis Toomey and Earle Foxe. GLOBE "Little Accident," film version of the play, with Douglas Fairbanks Anita Page, Sally Blane and Zasu Pitts. LOEWS METROPOLITAN "The Bad One," romantic drama, featuring Dolores Del Rio and Edmund Lowe. PARAMOUNT (Manhattan! "Grumpy." with Cyril Maude, Paul Lukas, Phillip Holmes and Francis Dade.

ROXY "Common Clay," Movietone transcription of the play, featuring Constance Bennett, 1 1 Marshall, Beryl Mercer and Hale Hamilton. at the Fox, Frank Richardson slugs a medley of popular songs and otherwise brings to the stage the amusing antics which have made him popular with moviegoers. Fanchon and Marco's new revue, "Trees," la another prominent feature on the current program at the Fox. In this presentation Sam Jack Kaufman makes his debut as the new master of ceremonies. Others In the cast are Jack McBrlde, as 'MOBY John Barrymoro, mt ho will appear MaloilU't nale "mint to 'Anybody's War' 'Good Inten at the Albee sisted by Flora Clark and Kathleen Goodwin; Terrell and Hanley, Rel-card and La Vine and the Sunklst Beauties.

Bob West continues his recitals and songfests at the organ and the Fox Concert Orchestra Is heard In a specially arranged overture. At the Albee A feature of the stage entertainment at the Albee Theater this week is the Curtiss-Wrlght Flying Band. The 11 men comprising this organization are registered student pilots in the Curtiss-Wrlght Flying School. The engagement at the Albee this week Is part of their transcontinental entertainment flying tour. "Lawful Larceny," with Bebe Daniels and Lowell Sherman In the principal roles, Is the current screen attraction at the Albee.

Miss Daniels, since her performance in "Rio Rita," has been catalogued as a singing comedienne, but in this characterization she portrays her first straight dramatic role. The locale of "Lawful Larceny" is New York City, with most of the action taking place in an exclusive gambling house. The supporting cast Includes Kenneth Thomson, Olive Tell, Purnell Pratt, Lou Payne and Bert Roach. Other acts on the Albee vaudeville program are Walter "Dare" Wahl. In "Ambitions of Youth," with Emmett Oldfleld.

and Helena Justa and Charlie, dancing team. 'Common Rosy "Common Clay," a Fox Movietone production based on the play of the same name, Is on view at the Roxy Theater this week. Constance Bennett and Lew Ayres have the feature roles. Miss Bennett appears in successive characterizations of nldht club entertainer, servant in a luxurious household and courageous defender of her own honor in a court of law. The locale of the film moves through the high and low strata of society, finding its climax In the court scene.

The supporting cast includes Tully Marshall. Beryl Mercer, Matty Kemp, Hale Hamilton DICK' in the Vitaphone vertien of Herman th HoUjw4 TfiE talking film attraction at Loew's Metropolitan and Valencia Theaters this week is Dolores Del Rlo's latest starring vehicle, "The Bad One." The picture may be seen also at Loew's Pitkin and Kings Theaters today, tomorrow and Tuesday. A comedy-drama of the French waterfront cafes, it reveals Miss Del Rio in the character of a cabaret entertainer who falls in love With an American seaman (Edmund Lowe). In "The Bad One" Mr. Lowe appears opposite Del Rio for the first time since they wera co-featured in "What Price Olory." Heading the vaudeville program at the Metropolitan this week is Trlxie Prtganza, the "grand duchess of comedy." Ben Blue, the dancer and comedian; Les Ohessis, Smith and Hart, and Watts and Day are other attractions on the Metropolitan's new bill.

Supplementing the feature film at the Valencia this week is a Chester Hale revue called "Dizzy Days," featuring Herman Tlmberg, Leo Chazel and Oliver Harris. The current vaudeville programs at Loew neighborhood theaters follow: BAY RIDGE Abe Reynolds and comedy skit; Harry and Frank Seamon; Knick-Knacks; Lynn Cantor and Co, Helen and Ralph Stenard. 46TH STVirglnla Rucker in a musical revue, "Heart Primrose Seamon, comedienne: Coogan and Casey In a comedy skit; Alfredo Chlgi, baritone; Paul Kodak and Sister. OATES Suck and Bubbles In "When Spades Are Vernon Rathburn and a saxophone act; John R. Walsh, baritone; Nell-fon and Warden; Don Julian, the "Kontlnenta! Komedy Kartoonist." PITKIN Oriental Sketches; Barry and Lancaster In "The Little Keith Wilbur, "The New Zealand Allan Corelll and Jeannlne.

Films showing at other Loew houses this week Include: BEDFORD "The Lady of Scandal," today to Tuesday; "With Bvrd At the South Pole" and "The Rounder," Wednesday to Friday. BORO PARK "The Social I.ion," today and tomorrow; "A Notorious Adair" and "Sons of the Saddle," Tuesday and Wednesday; "Beau Bandit" and a Laurel and Hardv comedy, Thursday and Friday. BREVOOHT "The Social Lion." today; "Runaway Bride" and "Girl of the Port," tomorrow and Tuesday; "The Lady of Scandal," Wednesday and Thursday; "With Byrd At the South Pole" and 'The Rounder." Friday. CENTURY "In Gay Madrid" and an Our Oang comedy," today and tomorrow; "Strictly Unconventional" and "Dud Wranaler," Tuesday and Wednevlay; "Show Olrl In Hollywood," Thursdny; "Ladles of Leisure" and a Laurel and Hardy comedy." Friday snd Saturday. CONEY ISLAND "The LadV of Frandal," today and tomorrow; "Msmba," Tuesday and Wednesday; "With Byrd At the South Polo" and "The Rounder," Thursday and Friday toSUIDZ-lkl Harbor today unsuited to the cinematic medium f.

that it was practically impossible to present it on the screen and still retain such important features good photography and pictorial animation. Probably the fact that the movie-going public had begun to manifest a complete indifference toward the musical films was more responsible than any of the other reasons for the producers' decision to bring fewer orettas to the screen this season. Certainly, there was nothing in the box-office returns from such elaborate musical productions as "Song of the West," "Bride of the Regiment," "Song of the Flame" and "Married in Hollywood" to justify continued output of exhibitions of that type. More recently (last week, to be exact) the newest of the Ror.iberg-Hammerstein compositions, "Golden Dawn," was revealed at the Strand and turned out to possess all the crudities and absurdities which were to be found In most of the other movie operettas In the past. A few more pictures like "Golden Dawn" and it is conceivable that the producers must, for the sake of pure commercial expedience, abandon the screen operetta entirely.

If the talkies are to develop into anything like a permanent fixture, it will be mainly by virtue of their efficacy as a medium of dramatic or comedlo (not musical) entertainment. They must have good stories to tell and they must be told In a natural, believable manner. The requirements of operetta or musical comedy, as it happens, do not include that Illusion of realism which is necessary in the average drama. Hence the fantastic and absurd situations which have served as the groundwork for "Bride of the Regiment," "Oolden Dawn" and the other musical vehicles which have adorned the screens in recent months. In these cases the realistic Illusion created by a well developed plot was sacrificed for the less natural elements of vocal (musical) xprf Jon, dynce Interpolations snd Slltterlng settings, none 'o wnlch'is compatible with a medium that was orlptnc'Iy interred to tell a story entirely in words and pictures.

Just now the pictures which are constructed primarily around good stories or fresh comedy ideas are proving the most popular with movli'Koers. The melodramas featuring William Powell and Edmund Lowe, the sophisticated vehicles of Ruth Chatterton and Norma Shearer, and the resourceful comedies of the type characterized by jRck Oakle and Charles Ruggles are aciUevlng the greatest successes at the box offices throughout the country. On the other hand, the musicals (with a few exceptional are falling to draw as well as their producers had hoped. In the final analysis It is the pub-llo which dictates the trends of movie fashions, and right now the public prefers good dramas and comedies to the good, bad and In herent "talkie singles." po mucb Xot movio operettas, la Fair Enough The keenness with which theatrical producers of Broadway tch the screen for personable new faces to snatch up for stage productions is exceeded only by the keenness with which film producers watch the stage for personable new fac-s to snatch up for screen For instance, Cart.1 Lombard, who recently appeared with Charles Rogers in "Safety In Numbers" as the- climax to a brief film career which began as a Mack Bennett bathing beauty, no sooner reaches New York for studio work in the East than A. H.

Woods lays siege to her for his stage production of "Farewell to Arms." Miss Lombard, however, thinks she won't say to the studio. On the other hand, Gina Malo, having Just tripped over from France to prance about in Lily Damita's slippers in Jack Donahue's musical comedy, "Sons o' Guns," finds them suddenly turned Into Cinderella slippers which transport her Immediately to the Paramount Astoria studio for work in a short subject that may promise to spread her charm eventually through six reels or even more. the fields of melodrama and light farce the local audible screens were considerably more successful last week, what with "Good Intentions" attracting satisfied audiences to the Roxy and 'The Sap From Syracuse" drawing an enthusiastic reception at the Paramount. The Roxy feature, while not entirely unique as a melodrama of the underworld, was, nevertheless, a picture which combined such assets as an Intelligently developed story and clever direction. William K.

Howard responsible for both the jrd.A'ja.cSiJrM.Uzjg.c?. VOryjrt Intentions." Edmund Lowe appeared in the role of the polished gang leader who met an untimely end when he attempted to reform for the sake of the rich and beautiful heroine. "Good Intentions," in spite of its somewhat familiar plot, managed to create and sustain a certain amount of interest mainly because It embodied such cinematic essentials as a workmanlike narrative, pace and imaginative photography. "The Sap From Syracuse," thanks to a more than usually amusing idea and Jack Oakle's, precious Impersonation of an up-State hick who was mistaken for an eminent engineer, was good fun. Here was a rase of the movies taking a play that had been only moderately successful on the suige and turning it into something representing a really superior farce.

Both of these pictures are recommended to moviegoers when and If the opportunity arises to Ins pea than at thuli aclidiborhood wwatws, Wednesday to Friday, the Putlowill. present Jean Hersholt. Fleanor Boardman and Ralph Orave, in "Mamba." a drama of German East Africa roosting on tneatrr marquees either The Klngsway and Merrick I alrsn'P A "Hell Island" from today to Tuesday. Wednesday to Friday the feature at these houses will be "The Czar of Broadway," with Betty Comp-son. John Wrav and John Harron.

Other at Cr.ot wry theaters tills follow: ALBEMARLE Today to Tuesdav. Al Jolson In "Msmmv." Wednesday to Friday, "Worldly Ooods." RIALTO Todav. "The Social Mondny to Wednesday, A Notorious Thursday and Friday. "In the Room" FARRAGUT Today, "Young Monday and Tuesdav, "Ha This Is Wednesday to Friday, "Love Among the Millionaires." MARIN-Tody. "The Big Monday to Wednesday.

"The Social Thursday and Friday. "Midnight Mystery." AVALON Today, "Young Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday to Friday, MIDWOOD-Todnv, "Young Mondav and Tue.lav, "A Notorious Wednesday to Friday. "Safety Numbers." MANOR Todsy. "Girl of the Monday and "Sec ond noor.

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