Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

SAVES YOUR PICTURE TIME AND MONEY The Best Pictures of the Month THE VAGABOND KING SARAH AND SON HAPPY DAYS PARAMOUNT ON PARADE FREE AND EASY THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS The Best Performances of the Month Dennis King in "The Vagabond King" O. P. Heggie in "The Vagabond King" Ruth Chatterton in "Sarah and Son" Philippe De Lacy in "Sarah and Son" Marjorie White in "Happy Days" Maurice Chevalier in "Paramount on Parade" Jack Oakie in "Paramount on Parade" Buster Keaton in "Free and Easy" Richard Arlen in "The Light of Western Stars" Harry Green in "The Light of Western Stars" George Arliss in "The Green Goddess" Ramon Novarro in "Gay Madrid" Victor McLaglen in "On the Level" Marjorie Beebe in "He Trumped Her Ace" Sue Carol in "The Golden Calf" Casts of all photoplays reviewed will be found on page 160 •k SARAH AND SON— Paramount IT gets almost monotonous, this repetition after each new Chatterton picture: "What a splendid actress she is!" Here Ruth gives the character of Sarah Storm a force that lifts this none too extraordinary picture above the ruck and makes it an extraordinary talkie. Noteworthy, too, is this: while foreign stais have been thrown helter-skelter into pictures artificially fitted to their irremediable accents, here Chatteron plays a role that requires a Teutonic accent throughout — and does it better. Chosen with fine discrimination, the rest of the cast will win your comment, "How natural they all were." There's a love scene between Chatterton and Frederic March — not a chest-heave, not a clinch, not a kiss — that leaves one happily misty-eyed. This child, Philippe De Lacy, does another lovely piece of acting, too. Gilbert Emery, Doris Lloyd and the late Fuller Mellish, Jr., lend distinguished support; Dorothy Arzner's direction is sound. You'll probably have a lovely cry over " Sarah and Son." With " Sarah and Son," Ruth Chatterton's position in the van of talking picture actresses is consolidated. She conquers not only by charm of voice and developed talent, but by her amazing versatility. If the talking pictures needed but one reason for being, it could be that they brought this brilliant woman to your screen and mine. ft FREE AND EASY—M-G-M BUSTER KEATON'S first big talkie is in the bag— on ice — over the top with a large, vociferous bang. Little Frosty Face makes his audible debut in a whizzing comedy that has everything — from earthquaking laughter to a lot of interesting peeks beyond the watchman on the sound stages. Keaton plays the manager of a beauty contest winner who brings his belle to Hollywood to crash pictures. Their adventures fill the film with screams and howls of joy. Wandering around the studio you'll see, for the same admission price, Lionel Barrymore, Cecil De Mille, Gwen Lee, Fred Niblo and lots of others of note at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Anita Page is the girl, and Robert Montgomery is excellent as the romantic leading man. Keaton Kops, or No Busts for Buster! ft THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS— Paramount IT is amazing what can be done with that old reliable plot when a few good actors are turned loose on it. Even the horses seem to feel better about it. "The Light of Western Stars,'' from the pen of the prolific Zane Grey, is grand entertainment, thanks to the up and coming trouping of Richard Arlen, Mary Brian, Harry Green, Regis Toomey and Fred Kohler. How's that for a cast sheet? This horse opera served Jack Holt as a vehicle in the silent days, but you'd never recognize your old friend all dressed up in snappy dialogue. Richard Arlen and Harry Green do the outstanding work, but they have all the gravy. Not another "Virginian," but it does very nicely. Again the tremendous demand for big outdoor Western is proved. 55