Inside facts of stage and screen (Jan 11 1930)

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE FIVE Legitimate Theatres ‘THE CAT AND THE CANARY’ PRESIDENT THEATRE LOS ANGELES (Reviewed Dec. 5) While most everybody has seen this thriller in one form or an- other during the past years, as Duffy presents it it loses none of its eerie power to jar shrieks and screams from the hysterical folks in the audience. This comedy by John Willard has been a polished horseshoe for the Duffys, for it was their open- ing bill at the Alcazar in San Francisco and the one that started their careers towards the first mil- lion. Notwithstanding the fact that the picture as well as frequent stage presentations of the opus have been given here, a packed house greeted Dale Winter and Henry Duffy on their first appear- ance in their dQwntown theatre and enjoyed a particularly well played performance. This play, built upon the legend, partly true, of the Bell Estate of San Francisco, a famous old man- sion that was considered haunted and which was presided over by a real Mammy Pleasant upon whose death was made public many of the facts which have been woven into the comedy, is unquestionably the best one of its cycle. Played entirely in weird lighting effects it gets the shivers to run up and down the spines of the most blase. The specially selected cast which has been gathered for the pres- ent production would be difficult to improve upon. Most of them have played their parts before and show the polish of familiarity, tak- ing advantage of little opportuni- ties which obviously could not have been the work of the dra- matist. Henry Duffy in the role of the stuttering cousin who wins the heiress was splendid. He gave an exhibition of cowardice and bravery that brought thrills and shrieks from the audience time after time. Dale Winter looking particularly fetching played the role of the demure but harassed heroine, in a very understanding manner. The part is very difficult because of the unusual emotions it calls for but Dale was equal to its demands and played with fine repression. Sue Van Duzer, as Mammy Pleasant, gave one „of the best performances of a voodoo East Indian woman we have been privi- leged to witness. Her voice and acting was as spooky and un- nerving as could be imagined. George Leffingwell gave an out- standing performance among the RUSS COLLER And His CELLAR SHAKERS Join B. B. B. in Wishing All A Happy New Year men. His part, which threatened to be a heavy was the role that deflected the audience from an- ticipating the solution. He looked and played the character to per- fection. Marian Lord as the talkative relative was likewise excellent. Others in the cast were Anderson Lawler, Harry Hollingsworth, William Gould, William Macauley and Claranita Burt. The setting, appurtenances and direction satisfactorily filled the requirements. Jacobs. ‘THE RINGER’ METROPOLITAN SEATTLE (Reviewed Dec. 29) It is a far cry from the West End of London to Seattle, and yet we have been dependent on the British metropolis for at least half of our dramatic fare this sea- son. We have seen all-British companies in “Bird In Hand” and “Journey’s End.” We have Shake- speare direct from his home town. Bernard Shaw is delivering his various messages at close hand, and now we have the London cast and production of “The Ringer,” Edgar Wallace’s greatest mystery play, here at this house for a week. Within two or three years the plays and novels of Edgar Wal- lace, an Englishman who has en- joyed a life experience as adven- turous as that of the late Jack London, have attained an enor- mous vogue. Mr. Wallace special- izes in thrillers and his first hand knowledge of the criminal classes has been an aid to his lurid and facile imagination. “The Ringer” is presented by the distinguished actor, Gordon McLeod, and will subsequently be seen in many parts of this country. “The Ringer” differs in style from the type of mastery plays familiar in America like “The Bat” and “The Cat and the Ca- nary” in that the pace is slower and there is some attempt to in- fuse humor and characterization into the narrative instead of rely- ing on the shadows, banging doors and corpses in unexpected places. There is plenty of sus- pense and mystification, however. A considerable part of the action takes place in Scotland Yard it- self and a divisional police station in London; and Mr. Wallace fol- lows as faithfully as the circum- stances will allow, London police methods. The title character is a homicidal person of a somewhat different order than the average murderer. Just as the late great Robin Hood never robbed the poor, he kills persons that the world is well rid of; though of course, the English criminal code does not take into consideration the motives of a destroying angel. The success of “The Ringer,” in his hobby of what might be termed selective homicide, is due to his skill in disguise and other chame- leon-like characteristics which keep EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont Phone Exposition 1196 Los Angeles, Calif. BUb MURRAY HOOL^STAGC A5SOCIAT ES- r Lon Mure ay GL ADYS ly WJRRA Y 3636 BEVERLY BLVD. — Los Angeles — Tel. DU. 6721 PRACTICAL STAGE TRAINING STAGE TAP DANCING (In All Its Branches) BALLET Technique) By SIGNOR G. V. ROS1 Picture Reviews DERR IS NEW CHIEF AT PATHE STUDIOS E. B. Derr is the new chief at Pathe, taking the place of William Sistrom, whose contract expired the first of the year. Simultaneously with the eleva- tion of Derr, who has been execu- tive vice-president at the Culver City plant, Harvey Leavitt, who has been acting in the capacity of studio superisor for some time, was given the title of that job as well as the duties. Sis'trom has joined William Le- Baron at RKO studios. The two have been . in close personal and business association for a long time. With the advent of the new ex- ecutives, Pathe has put into effect a change of program whereby they will concentrate on a limited number of specials during the coming year instead of the full program of program features which was formerly the schedule there. EDWIN CAREWE TO DO ‘SPOILERS’ FOR F-P-L Edwin Carewe, former irnpres- sario for Dolores Del Rio’s pic- tures and more recently in negotia- tions to become production chief at Pathe, is now definitely aligned to produce for Paramount. His first will be “The Spoilers,” which was to have been his first for Pathe. “The Spoilers” was produced by Fox in silent version several years ago, and was big boxoffice. Among other things it marked the first picture where the .hero and heavy really went after each other in a knockdown-drag-’em-out fight. Wil- liam Farnum was the hero and Tom Santchi the heavy. George Bancroft, _ premier he-man of the talkies will have the starring role in the Carewe version. LOEW’S LATE SHOW Fox Loew’s State Theatre has started the policy of giving mid- night shows every Saturday night. The show is the same as the regu- lar daliy show including a Fan- chon and Marco idea and picture. the police of the world guessing. The_ object of the hatred in this play is a bounder criminal law- yer, who is not only a fence, a leecher and a morphine addict, but also finds relaxation in playing Chopin, which latter he does quite well, and might hail from anv con- cert stage. _ If the “Ringer” had chosen to kill him swiftly and at once there would have been no play. But he prefers to play cat and mouse with the lawyer in or- der that his victim mav suffer the tortures of fear. When he does decide on the happy dispatch, it is performed in a most sensational manner. Needless to say, he again eludes the _ police and his escape makes an interesting climax. The leading characters are near- ly all detectives and criminals; and Gordon McLeod as a. Scot- tish criminologist called in by Scotland Yard, who proves to be much more than a mere academic authority, is capital in humor and finished in his handling of sensa- tional episodes. He . is well-sup- ported by Lillian Christine, who as the wife of “The Ringer” is both handsome and talented. Ernest Bodkin, who plays the villainous solicitor, is a graphic and inter- esting actor. ' Excellent support is also rendered by Earnest Metcalf, Jr., as a cokney thief and source of most of the humor, and Eric Noels and Claude Bailey as Scot- land Yard officers. The scenery showed signs of use, and all it takes is. two hours of watching them use it to realize why. Roberts. (Continued from Page 4) Frank Fay master-of-ceremonies neatly. Names worked into the picture, many showing what they can do and a few showing what they can’t do, are: John Barrymore, Frank Fay, Richard Barthelmess, Beatrice Lillie, Ted Lewis, Alice White, Nick Lucas, Georges Car- pentier, Winnie Lightner, Irene Bordoni, Dolores Costello, Grant Withers, Loretta Young, Ben Tur- pin, Lupino Lane, Jack Mulhall, Betty Compson, Lila Lee, Patsy Ruth Miller, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Louise Fazenda, Myrna Loy, Marian Nixon, Sally O’Neil Ches- ter Morris, Monte Blue, Lloyd Hamilton, Alice Day, Viola Dana, Bert Roach, H. B. Warner, Will- iam Courtenay, Rin-Tin-Tin, Lois Wilson, Alexander Gray, Chester Conklin, Hobart Bosworth, Lee Moran, Tully Marshall, Bull Mon- tana, Helens Costello, Molly O’Day, Marceline Day, William Collier, Jr„ Jacqueline Logan, Edna Murphy, William Bakewell, Pauline Garon, Sally Eilers, Sally Blane, Alberta Vaughn, Armida, Shirley Mason, Carmel Myers, Marian Byron, Johnny Arthur, Sojin., Ruth Clifford, Heinie Conk- lin, Ethlyne Claire, Albert Gran, Frances Lee, Gertrude Olmstead, Anthony Bushel 1, Adamae Vaughan, Anders Randolf, Wheel- er Oakman, Otto Matiesen, Philo McCullough, Kalla Pasha, Jimmy Clemons, E. J. Ratcliffe, Sid Sil- vers, Lola Vendrill, Hariette Lake and Williams Adagio Dancers. ‘THE DUKE OF DUBLIN’ Christie Comedy (Reviewed at U. A.) With a good story for a back- ground, giving him opportunity for the line of comedy which has made him a screen personality, Charlie Murray scores heavily ill this two reeler. Story relates how Murray, a ditch-digger, inherits a million dol- lars and straightaway puts on the dog. Included in his purchases is a class apartment house, and the troubles of a landlord are included thereafter. The last sequences of the pic- ture get back to the old stereo- typed comedy gag of the com- edian in a woman’s apartment with her husband returning un- expectedly, and, for those who still can find anything refreshing in this situation, it is well done. Charlie Murray proves himself a good one for the two reelers, and for the parts requiring broad treatment in the features. Monte Carter plays opposite him in the early sequences, and shows both ability and talkie finish. Mary Gordon has the role of Murray’s wife, and is excellent as a foil and also can handle comedy in her own right. Carroll Wines is the girl and is both pretty to look at and good. ‘SKY BOY’ Roach Two-Reel Comedy (Reviewed at Loew’s State) Harry Langdon comes among us in this, his first talkie as an entrant among the limited few who can really be funny on the talking screen. Harry brings all his pantomimic ability to the aid of a highly dis- tinctive talking voice, and given him for his first vehicle is a well- gagged laughfest that gives the star ample opportunity to do his stuff. The scenes are mainly laid in a frozen, Arctic country, with a heavy who is trying to make the girl (played by Thelma Todd) marry him and Harry her sole protection against the threat of the other’s presence. There are menacing bears, over-size fish that threaten and a whole series of well-conceived mishaps to make the laughs come rapidly. Exhibitors’ will find this first Harry Langdon comedy a good booking for the short end of their programs. It is guaranteed to get the laughs. IN ROMANTIC LEADS June Clyde and Hugh Trevor will play the romantic leads in a new musical comedy—as yet un- titled—to start production soon at the Radio Pictures’ studios. Paul Sloan will direct, with Victor Baravalle as musical director and Pearl Eaton as dance director. Jobyna Howland, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and Ivan Lebe- deff are in featured roles. HERBERT'S Good Food With Courtesy OPEN ALL NIGHT 745-749 South Hill Street Los Angeles Bachelor Hotel & Grill 151-159 Powell Street San Francisco ALLES print ME. 4872—224 E. 4th St., Los Angeles—ME. 4873 WHEN IN TIJUANA Visit the Rendezvous of the Profession ALEX BAR and RESTAURANT Opposite the Foreign Club FRENCH AND ITALIAN CUISINE PAR EXCELLENCE FINEST IMPORTED LIQUORS AND WINES Proprietors—Alex Cardini and Johnnie Montepagno Playing “TECOLERO” and the “SHIP OFFICER” in “OH, SUSANNA!” With Thanx to GEORGE ROSENER, a REAL Director, BUD MURRAY, FRANKLIN WARNER and GERHOLD DAVIS