The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 60

Lii: DAILY K.UJl.!-, YOilK, Sl'SDAV. AUa'ai' 1928. 2 NEWS AND COMMENT OF CURRENT PLAYS AND FILMS Mary Dal and Slow Motion Plays and Things flj ARTHUR POLLOCK By EDWARD CUSH1NG: Crediting Emil Jannings, Lewis Stone and Ernst Lubitsch Once More With the Production of an Excellent Picture. Two Plays That Try to Make a Living Without Using Most Profitable Kind of Material, and an Actor Who Tries to Be Indignant Without Cause. -fk'-' utm mirk I MR.

JANNINGS' latest picture, "The Patriot," it one of the mosl satisfactory productions made by Hollywood within memory. The story is one for adults, the direction sophisticated and the acting excellent. Your most captious critic will with difficulty find, in it defecti of a serious nature. Though we have seen the picture twice, we recall no sequence either hackneyed, trivial or tedious. In all technical respects "The Patriot" Is equally satisfactory.

Its settings are dignified, solid and strikingly pictorial, Us photography is perfect, ard Its titles are couched precise, restrained and Impressive language. That other and less hones! pictures have Impressed us more deeply Is the fault of a temperament re pelled by the Impersonal nature of history, however graphic and dramatu the manner of its relation. We conclude, therefore, that "The Patriot must be even better than we think. IP "THE BIO POND," the comedy that came to the Bijou Theater last Tuesday evening, fails to remain there as long as its authors and producers hope, the likelihood Is that they will attribute Its failure to the fact that it is clean. They will be half right.

The canny dramatist those days knows that strict cleanliness is a handicap. Those for whom contemporary plays are written want a little kick of one kind or another. Light wines and beer are not enough. If a play has no thrills or novelties or surprises it had better shock Just a little if it wants to keep out of the poorhouse. A comedy that has not a few round nd realistic curses seems namby-pamby now.

"The Big Pond" Is as clean as a comedy of 15 years ago. But even 15 vears ago it would hardly have proved a good play. Its authors cannot complain moinst the sootiness of the drama's new vocabulary. Theirs Is the COLLABORATION, Mr. Lubitsch and Mr.

Jannings have given us II a number of fine historical films. The memory of "Pssslon" and "Deception," coupled with the recent experience of "The Patriot," leads us kind of play Arthur Hopkins had in mind when he said, apropos of "What Price Glory," that a play that cannot get along without damns Isn't worth a damn. "The Big Pond" In any other language would be Just what It now Is. It is not true and Ceorge Mlddleton and A. E.

Thomas, Its authors, have not tried to make It so. One cannot believe, even enough for purposes of comedy, In any of its characters. The authors had an idea, a good one, but were not true to It, They lacked the penetration necessary to a knowledge of the people they chose to depict and the cleverness to make them entertaining. And a number of the Jokes they hung their faith upon fell long ago beneath the faith of other playwrights. QUITE different was "Coin' Home," the play by Ransom Hideout, presented at the Hudson Theater on Thursday evening.

Here, too. Is a dramatist who spurn the superficial glitter of dialogue made realistic by damns and other Jeweled phrases. Mr. Rideout was clearly determined to catch no favor without earning it. He deliberately left out all those little things that would have revealed him an opportunist.

And he had all the reason In the world to turn his vocabulary loose and writ loose talk. His characters are soldiers. Instead, he wanted to write true character, I think, not merely true talk. He has a fine tale on which to hang his sincerity, the tale of a negro who would have liked to enjoy all the freedom so free a country as France afforded from the Impulses born of slavery but could not, and a white officer who had no conscious desire to free himself of prejudice, but did break free despite himself. to hope that the German director and the German actor will continue from time to time to produce dramatizations of the past.

Mr. George Goldsmith Is anxious to see Mr. Jannings as Pope Alexander III, but we Imagine him rather as Caesar Borgia. Veidt might then undertake the role of Pope Alexander, and Baclanova that of Lucrezia. With Mr.

Lu bltsch directing, the result could not fall to be a memorable exploitation of Seventeenth Century Florence. Or Mr. Jannings and Baclanova might appear as Claudius and Messalina, of whom long ago we had a tantalizing glimpse In Maurice Turner's "Women," an episodic screen morality fash loned after the model supplied by "Intolerance." Further possibilities disclose themselves to the imagination: Mr. Jannings as James the First; some one younger and handsomer ai Robert Carr, Viscount Rochester and Earl of Somerset; Conrad Veldt as Sir Thomas Overbury and Greta Garbo as the lovely and sinful Frances Howard, Countess of Essex. Again, Jannings as Falstaff.

He has already been Nero and Peter the Great; he might be them again, with the advantages of Mr. Lubltsch's direction and the Paramount treasury. One could go on Indefinitely listing potential roles for the greatest of screen character actors. Doubtless In time he will undertake them all, and others of which we have not thought, MEANWHILE, we are obliged to take exception to certain opinions which we expressed In our review of "The Patriot." It does not appear to us, on second thought, that Alfred Neumann's inaccurate version of the murder of Paul I of Russia Improves upon the trutli of that event. The facts are not less dramatic than the fiction of Heir Neumann's invention, and they have the advantage of being both more violent and more picturesque.

The assassination of Paul did not take place in the Winter Palace, but In a fortress which the Czar had had built and into which he retired with his court, fearful of the plotting that Th are enough oreenant situations in "Goin' Home" to make ft an tt jmfo, i excellent play. It Is as sound and moving and reticent as "Steamship Tenacity," that French play much admired several seasons back. But Mr. Rideout has trusted too heartily in a belief that the unadorned truth must prevail. So he has diligently eliminated all adornments.

His play Is simple, direct, Intensely sincere. But force is not always achieved by a shunning of the false. Mr. Rideout will not permit himself to write down in his play any of those things he despises In the theater. To replace them he offers to few of those he admires and is too little skillful in presenting them.

In addition, his play has been staged without resource, a fact which dims its unaggressive virtues. YOUR notice my play, "The Song writes Georgle Price, 'you went to great lengths and showed a deep resentment toward every I A one connected with this performance for what you practically termed 'a bold dramatization of the Berlln-Mackay "Feeling that your reactions were far-fetched and out of line, I at first Mitt Bolani will tttn toon in Manhattan in a play called "Heavy Traffic." he suspected on every hand. Edgar Saltus relates colorfully Paul's fear of death, his intuitive accusation of Pahlen, that worthy's answer, clearing himself and implicating the Czar's sons, and finally, Paul's murder. The conspirators broke into his bedroom, killing the guards at the door, saw the royal heels dangling from the chimney, pulled their victim down and strangled him without further ado. An abdication was probably flashed tactfully but not seriously before his starting eyes.

Even had he been willing to sign, his enemies would probably have told him that pen and Ink were not nandy. In "The Patriot," Paul dies somewhat conventionally, though certainly imperially. Pursued from room to room, he takes refuge at last upon his th'rone, proclaims himself emperor by God design and dares his enemies to shoot him. Mr. Jannings carries the scene off superbly, mingling abject terror and bravado In his attitudes and expressions.

But on second thought, as we have said, we think we should have preferred Mr. Saltus' barbarous version of the murder. MR. JANNINGS plays effectively Mn many other scenes of "The Patriot." What might in less accomplished hands be a rather crude study of mental and emotional instability is by Mr. Jannings made felt Inclined to Ignore these charges, but I now feel that an absolute denial is necessary in view of the fact that Mr.

and Mrs. Berlin have never entered the minds of the author or myself in the framing of this play. I also feel that them to nothing suggesting them directly or indirectly in plot, theme or Boulevard Theater Opens With "Hit the Deck" Majestic Starts New Season Labor Day With Madge Kennedy in "Peris Bound" Two Plays by Frank Craven Headed This Way Other News of Local Amusements. characterization. "Mr.

Berlin if a friend of mine and has been for many years, and I personally resent your championing his cause where It is not necessary. "In your comment on other plays, wherein an obvious attempt had been made to characterise certain contemporary luminaries, I have noticed that brings her to San Francisco, where I Was Rich," will top the coming week's program at the New Brighton a subtle and convincing portrait of the mad Czar. The detail? impress WITH the engagement of Vincent Youmans' company in you showed no wounded feelings and held no briefs for the luminaries them she falls in love with an American boy. Theater in a skit called "Just Dropped you most forcibly, for Instance: Th telltale play of expression upon Paul's his popular musical comedy, In." tions of Reading, Illinois, for the more metropolitan eenvironment of Joplin, Missouri. Kivera Reopens Labor Day.

The Rivera Theater, formerly known as Werba's Rivera, located at St. selves. Why particularly in my case? "I am positive that you cannot site one Instance wherein this play re features as he listens to Dahlen's account of an amorous adventure; the Frank and Milt Britton will "10th Hole" for Boulevard. "The 19th Hole," by and with Frank Craven, will, on Labor Day, begin its anoear with their Brown Derbv sembles Irving Berlin, other than the fact that the central character in my questioning and thrashing of a soldier whose leggings haven't enough buttons to suit Paul; the scene in which Paul examines the portraits of his Orchestra. Stuart Casey and Mildred play is a song writer, as Is Irving Berlin." "Hit the Deck," which comes to th; Boulevard Theater, Jackson Heights, tomorrow evening, will be Inaugurated a new policy at this playhouse.

Henceforth It will present only Important Broadway successes. Mr. Werba, In Inducing Mr. Youmans to open the season with this attraction, feels that he is establishing a stan ancestors and then offers Pahlen the opportunity to kill him. It Is all a very splendid piece of work on Mr.

Jannings' part. He has not often done belter. John's pi. near Kingston will open under the new name "Rivera Theater" Monday, Sept. 3, beginning with the matinee.

The only trouble with this letter is, I think, that Mr. Price wrote It to Warren in A Gem Jam," a playlet by William K. Wells, with song and dance trimmings; May Usher, character comedienne, offering studies in song, and Arthur Willard and Minna Martin In "College Capers," are someone else and mailed It my way by mistake. The first presentation will be "Lulu The Eagle's review of "The 8ong Writer" did not go to "great lengths" about anything and I haven't "showed deep resentment" in a terribly long rpHE PATRIOT" is also remarkable for the discreet and highly sue second season with a week's engagement at the Boulevard Theater, Jackson Heights. The story of the comedy revolves around a literary man, Vernon Chase iplayed by Mr.

Craveni, who takes up golf and has a hard but comical time of it. In the cast are Dorothy Blackburn. Rae Martin, Marion Abbott, Robert Wayne, Homer Barton. Walter Downing, Harry Lewellyn, Howard Sidney. also on the bill.

Others include Bobbie Johnstone in Belle." Irene Douglas and John Lorenzc will head the local company. "A Bit of Syncopation," Phillips and ccsuui manner in wnicn Mr. LuDitsch has introduced the elements of farce comedy Into an otherwise tragic story. Paul's scenes which will include M. Wcldon, Jolin Lott.

J. Paul Jones, Harry Stafford, dard for what is to follow that will have a strong appeal to the confidence of his patrons of this district. "Hit the Deck," played a whole year in New York City, six months in Chicago and record-making terms of with his mistress are as apropos as they are amusing, and with the aid of time, a alxtty that should be remaia vry soon, nor was air. rncs starring vehicle termed in these pages, "practically" or otherwise, "a bold dramatization," etc. It was very tame.

Mr. Price hasn't a thing to complain of. Upon receiving his hurt letter I read again the offending criticism of "The Song Writer" and it was so sweet I cried. It Is a cruel world and once more the feeding hand has been bitten. Lewis Stone, a capital comedian.

Mr. Lubitsch introduces his narrative with John Harwood. Jay Adair Russell Morrison and Bcecher Zcbbs. Sheldon, girl thrillers, Rekoma and Loretta in "You'd Be Surprised" ani the usual short screen subjects. Fulton Offers "Lilac Time." "Lilac Time" will be the offering by the Fulton Players at the Fulton.

The play was written by Jane Cowl ind Jane Murfln. Frances McGrath, Pierce Butler, the new leading man, a aengntrul sequence. The discovery of Count Pahlen unbuttoned and minus a boot in the boudoir of the Baroness Ostermann affords the cam "First Year" Coming. The attraction at Werba's Jamaica Helena Rapport and Geoerge Carlcton. The lecsses have secured and will present a number of Broadway successes.

The officers of the new Rivera. are G. Carleton, president: Noel Travers, vice president; S. M. Strausberg, treasurer, and Strausberg, secretary.

Joe Laurie Jr. Tops Brighton Bill. era opportunity to be as witty as the dialogue of our smartest dramatists. engagement, won favor in London for ten months. Its plot Is one of universal appeal, detailing with a liberal license in favor of humor incidents that might happen to the sailors of our navy.

Beginning with a scene Theater a week hence will be "The ine more serious scene In which Paul presses attentions on the Baroness Is also effectively handled; the camera here is placed under the bed Twice First Year," Frank Craven's comedy and Janet Merle will be seen In the Paul's whip Is given prominence, and sadism gets its laugh. Mr. Lubitsch is of domestic life, which arrives at that play. "Guns," at Wallack's Theater, Manhattan. All he had to do was shoot a fellow but he did it under the cast.

Joe Laurie the pint-size name of "Stink-foot Louie." expert at tnis sort of thing, as you know if you saw either "The Marriage Circle" or "Kiss Me Again," but he handles tragedy no less capably. Of his versatility "The Patriot" gives impressive proof. We ar grateful, too for playhouse on Labor Day afternoon. The piece concerns Itself with the marital trials of the Tommy Tuckers, who cast off the small town limita Luna Gets Ready. comedian and star of "Plain Ho Worked Himself Up From the Very Bottom Everybody knows the handicap ol being the son of a great man.

Being the brother of some one famous is Just as bad that is If you ask Teddy Hart. For years, Teddy was always in "Weather Clear, Track Fast" and "If Herbert Evans, Luna Park's new emusement manager, has been ap in a popular littlt coffee house on the Naval Dock at Newport, R. I one is made acquainted with its popular young proprietor. Looloo. and its "gob" patrons notably "Bile" Smith.

Mr. Vincent Youmans wrote the score, which includes "Hallelujah" and "Sometimes I'm Happy." The company that will be seen here is headed by Queenie Smith and Wil pointed Grand Marshal of Conev Is his willingness to tell his story In a fashion technically simple and straightforward. There Is in "The Patriot" no straining for novel camera erfecU. Its scenes are shot directly and realistically and not from odd or ronfusini? land's Mardl Gras, to be held during "What a part! raved Lorem. "What a name!" Can't you shoot under any other name?" "A shot by another name would not smell as sweet," retorted Teddy, like Tunney, remembering his Shakespeare.

The plain facta are that all Teddy did have were three words to say and then fire a revolver. What happened angles. The camera does its part modestly and well, and a coherent series of beautiful pictures Is the result. troduced with: "You know, he's the brother of Lorens Hart." Now if you he week of Sept. 10-15.

Elaborate preparations are already under wny to make Luna Park's participation in this year's carnival the most elaborate in the history of the famous amuse- liam McGurn. Others in the cast don't know, Lorens Hart is the lyrical are Josephine Sabel, Helen Lavontie member of the Fields Rogers Hart Iment park, which, like Coney Island's Polly Mara, "Jackie" Paige. Mary after he did this on the opening night is strange. So well did this Actors of "Coin' Home" trio, with any number of musical Marai uras, is ceieoraung its silver ihe French army of occupation, and Russell Hicks, who portrays a major of the United States exneditlonarv juDiiee or Z5tn anniversary. hits to Its credit.

Jenkins, Charles Mitchell, Charles Fowler, Eddie Russell Jack Willis, Janes Dempsey, Hal Gibson and Lee Were All Soldiers It Is fitting that for an after-the- scene go, so well did the three words speak, so well did the pistol also speak, that the shot was heard round all the newspaper criticisms the next New Plays of the Week Monday. "The Money Lender," a play by Roy Horniman, at the Ambassador Theater. "Gentlemen of the Tress," by Ward Morehouse, at the Henry Miller Theater. Tuesday. "Ringside," a play by Edward Paramorc Hyatt Dash and George Abbott, at the Broadhurst.

"Eva the Fifth," by Kenyon Nicholson and John Golden, at the Little Theater. Claiborne Foster heads the cast. Wednesday. "Caravan," presented by Richard Hemdon, at the Klaw Theater. Fung Foo.

A feature of the Luna Division In this year's Mardl Gras, Mr. Evans announced, will be seven entirely new floats in the parade. To be sure, Teddy had some things to his credit, too, chiefly from stores that sell on the dollar-down plan. If war play such as "uoin Home, day. Madge Kennedy to Open Majestic In Here's what that shot did.

It scared John Morev, ringmaster at Luna's the audience, for they thought they free circus for the past IS years, and cne of the most popular and oldest ringmasters In the country, will head the Luna Division of the parade and will be followed by Adele Nelson's he were put on the stand and asked: "What's your business?" Teddy would answer: "None I'm an actor." Lorens has a perpetual argument with Teddy. Minus necessary swear words, It runs as follows: "Why don't you go to work and earn an honest living?" Teddy's retort to this in: "That's a poor lyric. Work doesn't rhyme with me." This pleasant family situation came elephants and the rest of the Luna "Paris Bound." For the opening of the season of 29 at the Majestic Theater Arthur Hopkins will present Marigj Kennedy in Philip Barry's successful ccmsdy, "Paris Bound," Mondav evening, Sept. 3 (Labor Dayi. This Is Miss Kennedy's first appearance with her cast since they completed their lon run at the Music Box Theater In Manhattan late in July.

Mr. Hopkins dismissed the cast then for a were in cnicago. It got nine shudders with one hysterics at the end. It got a groan, a screen and an echo. Incidentally, it killed a man on the stage.

Lorenz said he never heard of anyone, not even a brother, getting notices from so small a part. The producer said he never heard Teddv was an actor, so he didn't raise his salary but gave him more work. Teddy got another entrance in the forces In "Goin' Home," emerged from the war a lieutenant. In the play he wears his own uniform, a relic of war days and not such an ancient relic at that, Arvld Paulson, the young Swedish actor who speake only French lines in "Goin' Home," fought with the 27th Division overseas and also wltii the French Army. Thus he learned his French in preparation for tha part that was to come his way ten years later.

John Irwin served on an army transport, and Ralph Culli-nan was wounded while fightuig with the 9th Infantry. Ransom Rideout, the young Call-fornian who wrote "Goin' Home," was engaged in Y. M. C. A.

work and it was while he wsji In France that he heard the true story which has now become the play known as "Goin' Home." circus menagerie. At Stceplcrhau. Brock Pemberton should assemble a group of actors who not only are skilled in their particular field, but who can point with a certain amount of pride to having participated In the late and not very lamented hostilities which came to a close with the signing of the Versailles Treaty, nearly 10 years ago. Practically everybody In "Goin' Home," at the Hudson Theater, saw active service abroad, and this Includes the entire cast, with the exception of Barbara Bulgakov, the only woman in the company. Georges George C.

Tilyou's Steeplechase is prepared for the Metropolitan canoe to a climax when Teddy got angry and started shooting things up tilting championships scheduled for the outdoor swimming pool beginning Wednesday evening, Sept. 5. Avery vacation during August and has now reassembled it for another season. really, actually, melodramatically and otherwise. Listen, my children and you shall hear.

"Paris Bound" won high critical Gould of tne Shecpshead Bay Club, next act and one more line. So now the Harts can be proud of their two sons one Is a rhymster and the other a gangster on the stage. acclaim when it opened on Broadway. Teddy got a part, not much but present champion, will again be seen in action and many look for him to fa' really a "bit" in the comedy gang it Deiongs in tnat small and select group of "smart" plays, dealing with repeat his victory of 1927. Renevant, Commandant Juneste of the French army on the stage, was in wou-Drca, winy people.

Donn Cook is still Miss Kennedy's leaclin-j man. In the cast with them From Nun to Gypsy appear Martha Mayo, Jane Seymour, Elsa Shelley, who used to be Bertha Xt, i Jcanna Roos, Edward Fielding, Johi. Broad before she changed her name 1 Mr.roney, Herbert Yost and Agnes Scott. Mr. Hopkins has staged the l.lav.

Robert Edmond Jones has dc- professionally to escape the colloquialism of her surname, will appear i i sipmed the leautlful settings. There will be no Labor Day matinee in the role of a gypsy In Richard Hcrndon's production of "Caravan" at the Klaw Theater, opening Monday at tne Majestic, but the usual Wednesday and Saturday "popular" matinees will be given. The seat sale will open at the box office tomorrow Aug. 27 and will be open daily from a to p.m. "East Is West" at Jamaica.

By special permission of Florcnz Ziegfcld, who is preparing a musical version of It, "East Is West," the original romantic comedy by Samuel Khipman and John B. Hymer, will be night. This nomad character is a far cry from the dual role of nun and street-walker which Miss Shelley had In "Veils" which played the Forrest Theater. Elsa Shelley has been extremely fortunate in her choice of roles. In contrast to the gypsy, nun and bad girl roles, Miss Shelley played Juliet opposite Walter Hampden at the Brooklyn Academy of Music some years ago, and she played the Russian girl lead In the Theater Guild's Tolstoian drama, "The Power of Darkness," and the betrayed bride in "Peer Gynt" opposite Joseph Schlldkraut.

When "Veils," rewritten by the author, reopens early In October at a 42d st. theater, Miss Shelley will be asked to resume hoc arigtnal dual role in that play. 1 i presented at Werba Jamaica The ater this week. "East Is West" Is the story of Ming Tov, the little Chinese singing girl. witn ner curious instrument, singing quaint love songs on a love boat In China.

About to be sold to a Chinese mrrrhant with five wives, Ming Toy is bid in by another merchant, who Th, Pmlti Trutman and Harold Minjir, young and animated actor in Grand Strict Foltict" at tht Booth Thiattr. George Heller and Joanna Root, two more of th lutty participants iii "The Grand Street Follie:" ul A Adelaide Hall, in "3iackbirJt of 1028" at th Liberty Theater,.