The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • 64

THE 1 I I I ATI, 5 I) A 10 2 Cortnne xiUii) ffiavits walking--wit'aw emit 3m "aturbap'S (Ojtlbreif fOOQOTHY.MACjfjAlLl. Ta 4 1' "lV JUrtJU JOSEPH StfILt32AUT; VZllj) Vfc jicfl 'On-jJ if fen VV By 10UELLA 0. PARSOXS, 11' 1 gTTV CT Xw.li StMU ilotion Picture Editor 0f Universal Service. SPECIAL DISrATCH 10 III E.NQCIREH. Los Angeles, June 1 Broadway's stage darlings who come to Hollywood filled with the beautiful notion mitt as vwJiK ities that first brought our screen favorites into prominence cannot be discarded so easily.

Personality, and a knowledge of camera requirements are aces in the hole that are too valuable to be lost overnight. The three song writers hit the keynote when they say it will take more than a mere good voice to get a stage star very far in the talkies. Read that and laugh. is a pleasant little thought that our good friends In Hollywood might pin on the bedroom wall and say over each morning before the breakfast calisthenics, 1 So Declares Pathe Director, Whose Opinion Is Verified By Robert Armstrong Sex Ap- -WHviv JM-mULx 4:111 Now Is Vocal Rather Than Anatomical Talking Pictures Will Bring About Many Drastic Changes In Film Colony Personnel rr v. v.

-iv KINGMAN TAt-'ACaE. 3-R OAD wa Ym Melody Keiths as follows: Tonight, Madge Bellamy in "Fugitives;" Monday, Tom Tyler in "Pride of Pawnee;" Virginia Valli in "Behind Closed Doors;" Wednesday, Olive Borden In "The Eternal Woman;" Thursday, Jacqueline Logan in "The Faker;" Friday, Bob Steele in "Laughing at Death;" Saturday, Douglas Fairbanks in "The Jazz Age." that all of the best motion picture plays wIlL be handed to them on a silver platter are doomed to disappointment. B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, the three Musketeers brought here by Winfield Sheehan, say right out loud that the "movie people who have made good In silent pictures are better fitted for the talkies than most stage stars." These1 three lads, who work trio style, are Broadway show writers who have won fame and fortune with their musical comedies.

Four of their productions, "Three Cheers," "Hold Everything," "George White Scandals'' and "Follow Thru," are listed among this past season's successes. Moreover, these three wrote the song, "Sonny Boy," for Al Jolson." But that shouldn't be held against, them. It's not their fault that it has become one of the nation'B best pests. Can they help its universal popularity? Certainly not, 1 Now that I have Identified fhe De Sylva, Brown and Henderson triumvirate, let me further quote from their pearls of wisdom. They talk as they write, In a threesome.

"We have made hundreds of tests, ranging from Broadway favorites to Hollywood iblt players," they told me, "and we have reached the conclusion that movie folk who can sing a letter are superior in musical pictures to Broadway stars who photograph poorly or donlt know how to act be fore the camera. There is a polish and finish to the completed talking-pictures when made by Hollywood actors that is missing as a rule when Broadway people enact the same roles, even though the voices of the latter may be better." This definite, unqualified statement, coming from such a distinguished source, will be interesting news to the hundreds of fans throughout the coun try who have been in doubt over the fate of their favorites. They have not only been In doubt, but absolutely The printed story that Rich-urd Barthelmess did not sing "Weary River" was an unfortunate piece of publicity, because it caused a feeling of suspicion. The Barthelmess pub lic wanted to believe that the tuneful words really came from the movie star's mouth and were not put there by some one they didn't know and didn't want to know. Voice is so much a part of one's personality that It would be far better to have less perfect synchronization than one offered by a substitute.

The stage stars In many cases will be looked upon as unwanted substitutes unless the performance Is so flawless and so intriguing that the audience is completely captivated. Ruth Chatterton has been in Hollywood so long that she is looked upon as a movie star. Jeanne Eagels, too, Is really a pioneer screen actress. I can remember interviewing her seven years ago when she was playing In "One Wonderful Thing." She was making a picture while she was playing on the stage. She played opposite John Gilbert, too, before the talkies gave Hollywood a Broadway atmosr phere.

The De Sylva, Brown, Henderson triplets seem to have a remarkably keen insight int-the heartaches', the worries and the unhappiness that the talkies havecreated in Hollywood. Summing up the situation, they "There has been great unrest in Hollywood, but it is a situation that will take care of itself. After all. It is talent the public wants, and if movie actors adapt themselves to the, talking pictures they will be the ones in demand." "We do not mean to say that all Broadway performers are impossible In talking pictures. Perish the thought! Producers will continue to draw upon the stag as they have in the past for outstanding performers.

But a mere good voice is not going to get a stage star very far In the talkies unless she has good looks and technique to go with them. The majority of talking picture players will continue to come from the ranks of those who have prepared themselves through a long apprenticeship of silent pictures." The three musical musketeers might have added that the personal Forest Today and Monday, Ronald Colman in Joseph Conrad's "The Rescues-Tuesday and Wednesday, Milton Sills and Betty Compson in "The Barker;" Thursday and Friday, Reginald Denny in "That's My Daddy," also Love," short drama in color; Saturday, "Seven Footprints To Satan." STAGE PLAY ACQUIRED, -In line with the pretentious plana of its great expansion program, Columbia Tlctures announces the acquis sition of the dialogue and motion-picture rights to tho Belasco stage production, "Ladies of the Evening." Written by Milton Herbert Gropper, one of the country's most prominent playwrights, and presented by David Belasco, dean of American' producers, "Ladles of the Evening" was the sensation of its season on Broadway, because of its highly absorbing human interest drama. It played to capacity houses for more than a year on Broadway, and its run was only-interrupted because of previously signed contracts to present it out of town. As a road-show attraction, It ran for a number of years and equalled the sensation It had created in New York. Comedy Prevails In New Romance' On Albee Screen bUTER kATOKI What appears at first glance to ba Kelly," giving a flagpola a dash of red, Is Buster Keaton perched on a seat of vantage, high, up in the rigging of an ocean yacht so that he can keep an eye on hi sea-going bride in "Spite Marriage," his latest feature comedy, to be of fered with synchronization at tha Albee Theater six days, starting Sun day, June 9, The Saturday opening policy will be inaugurated with an entire change of program, both stage and screen, June 15.

"Spite Marriage" deals with a clothes presser and repairman, who falls In love with a sWk company' leading lady, and masquerades in the garments of wealthy customers, to convince her of his high social and financial standing. A chase between rum runners aboard a launch and a luxurious yacht, aboard which Keaton smuggles his refractory bride, buildi up to an amusing conclusion. Leils Hyami and Edward Earle head thl cast which supports. O' ly By Carl B. Adams.

AV what you will nbuut talking pictures, they have performed one very valuable service by reestablish ing the dignity of the human voice. Bo true Is this that, If we are to accept the statement of E. H. Griffith, Pathe Director, sex appeal now Is vocal, rather than merely anatomical or facial. This is nothing new.

It Is only rediscsvery of an old and, apparently, forgotten truth. Male birds from time immemorial have realized the eeductive power of their vocal efforts in winning mates for themselves. Even the lowly cricket, as was proved by some recent experiments, sings his humble pong partly to attract the attention of the lady crickets. Whether the bark of the dog, or the crowing of the rooster, the roar of the lion and the whinney of the horse may be considered as manifestations of "It" has not been fully established, but talking pictures certainly have re-emphasized the emo-tinal possibilities of tile human voice, jvhether male or female. A good voice will not entirely counteract the effect of a Cyrano de Bergerae nose, nor will it prop up a pair of floppy ears.

News Gatherers Are Characters In Film Story VALTE Wustoh Paramount all-dialogue picture, With a strong climax, will be offered at the Lyric Theater beginning Saturday, June 8, in "Gentlemen of the Press," talking romance of men who gather the news, and their weak moments. Walter Huston, starred on the Ptage. In this Wurd Morehouse narrative, enacts the Intriguing role of a news-gathering "star," whose devotion to an only daughter is his biggest joy ntxt to scoring a news "scoop." His prestige dissipated by many affairs, outstanding in which is an intimate relation with a clever and pretty lady ecretary, and with a dying request from his daughter guiding: his steps toward a hospital, he is galvanizjd Into an electrifying dramatic reaction. It is said, by the "break" of a big tory which, after all. proves to be the big thrill in his life.

Katherine Francis, Norman Foster, Lawrence Leslie, Betty Lawford. Charles Ruggles and others with talking and stage experience, compose the principals in his supporting cast. IS "But," says Hubert Armstrong, Pathe player, "the acriuisition of a beautiful voice jean be the first step toward cheating such an appealing personality that the size of a nose or the angle of an ear will be forgotten. "Stage actors till know that It is possible to change one's personality through the use of different kinds of voices. The shape of our features eantnit be changed without plastic surgery.

But a pleasing voice is possible to everyone who cares to give little study and practise to it. "A good voice is just as Important to the person In the business world as It is on the stage and In talking pictures. If you have a musical, well-modulated voice, you have a better chance of holding a hearer's attention and making others interested in you. Why does the telephone company give voice tests to switchboard operators? Why do department stores instruct their employees in the correct way to address a Because they know a beautiful voice has a psychological effect that means better busi- ness and a pleasant atmosphere." Heretofore, in point of physical beauty, It must be admitted that motion pucture actors were more attractive than stage actors as a pen-eial rule. George Arliss, Jiavid War-field, Holhrook Blynn, Richard Ilen-nett and many other luminaries of the stage were not noted for their Apollonian physiques or adonis-like features.

They became successful chiefly because they possessed mellow and flexible speaking voices, which they knew how to use for the expression of emotion and to arouse similar emotion In their audience. As talking pictures become more mature artistically if they ever do, there will be ipany changes in the personnel of the screen. No matter how good-looking a man or woman may be in a elose-up, one's interest will wane if the accompanying dialogue is a series of squeaks, sqawks, wheezes and grunts. On the other hand, since the is more exacting than the footlights, it will continue to he necessary for film to be moderately pleasing to look at, or at least to have screen personality, the basis of which Is appearance. In the mad attempt to sign up prominent stars of the stage, this little element of screen personality frequently has been ignored, and the result has been unsatisfactory despite the artistry and vocal skill of the actor.

The successful motion picture actor of the future probably will be a happy compromise an agreeable blending of good looks and vocal ability. This rediscovery of the human voice even may affect the nation as a whole. Europeans have been in the habit of criticizing Americans because of their harsh and even prating voices, and the persistence of this criticism would indicate that it was more or less justifiable. It is not wholly unlikely that this condition was due to the prevalence of the silent drama as the great American entertainment. A constant diet of mute motion pictures might have been responsible for our deplorable indifference to vocal beauty.

The advent of talking pictures may remedy this defect. By constantly hearing beautiful voices on the screen our ears in time will -become more and more sensitive to vocal modulations, and this, in turn, may transform us into a mellow-voiced and soft-speaking people. Politicians, please take note! What are the essentials of an Ideal motion picture? Emil Janning has some Ideas of his own on this subject, and he postulates five essentials human interest, comedy, some pathos, logical suspense building situations and beauty. First of all. the star places human interest.

The ideal story must be about natural people and have a fundamental appeal that goes straight to the heart Wholesome comedy and a few tears Jemima and the Plantation Singers and Jules Bledsoe. The dramatic trend of Its love theme, dealing with the romance of a showboat girl frustrated by the antipathy of a puritanical lady skipper, is relieved by colorful river scenes, and the gayety of night life In a Chicago that was sowing its "wild oats." B. F. Keith's Metro-Goldwyn's all-singing, talking and dancing revue romance, "Broadway Melody," is playing an engagement of one week at the Keith's Theater, which opened Saturday, and will terminate Friday night. It is Identical with its premier presentation, when it ran three weeks at the Capitol Theater.

Bessie Love, Anita Page, Charles King, Kenneth Thomson and Jed Prouty are supported by a "tin pan alley" full of songs, and an artistically draped chorus. A syncopated novelty, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," done in natural colors, headlines a galaxy of musical charms especially created for the film. The direction is by Harry Beaumont. It deals with the ro mances, thrills and heartaches of sister show girls In New York City. Strand An errant son, 15 years absent from home, and who steels himself In a climatic moment for death as a confessed murderer, rather than share with his mother and sister a reunion under scandal, is the central figure of the Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass story, "The Valiant," now being offered as an' all-talking movietone feature, and ending Friday at the Strand Theater.

Paul Muni, young thespian of the New York stage, starred in "We Americans" and "Four Walls" on Broadway, enacts the dramatic titular role. John Mack Brown, Marguerite Churchill, Edith Yorke, Rich ard Carlyle and Don Terry head a cast of Fox players In support. William K. Howard, former Ciricln-natlan, directed. Facing in his cell, a sister who tries to clinch the belief that he is her brother by analyzing his reaction tn a childhood bedtime play, a young man triumphs In convincing her that her loved one died a hero's death in battle.

He surrenders himself to the death penalty rather than shake the story that he has given the girl to carry heme to her mother. Orpheum Sue Carol in "Girls Gone Wild," synchronized feature, will be the attraction at the Orpheum Theater today. A Vitaphone act, a Movietone act. Fox News and Movietone News also will be on the program. Fannie Brice In "My Man" will be the attraction for four days starting tomorrow.

It is a song ana uiaiu6uc picture, described as relating a story of "laughing eyes and a breaking heart." The film drama is based on a story by Mark Canfield. Movietone News and a Movietone act also are on tho program. Victor McLaglen In "Strong Boy" will be the offering Friday and Saturday. Leatrice Joy heads the supporting cast. The picture also is synchronized.

Two Vita-phone acts. Fox News and a color classic will be additional features on the bill. The Sky. Theatej rrogram will be am i4 Palace The first picture In which the voice of Corinna Griffith is heard, is that which oponed an engagement of one week at the Palace Theater, Saturday, titled 'Saturday's Children," and i Vitnphonsd from the play by Maxwell Anderson, who collaborated with Laurence Stallings on "What Price Glory." Miss Griffith, who was featured In "The Divine Lady," is cast as a typical young lady who discovers a man for whom she is willing to soil her orchidlike fingers in a normal domestic whirl. When their love seems blighted by the routine, she leaves her adoring swain, thinking to make him happy in new freedom.

The gloom that surrounds the lovers in their separation ultimately is broken by the unwavering beau, who fathoms the drab lodging place of his mate, and re-establishes hi betrothal in strong-arm tactics of the love-burglar variety, Grant Withers, Albert Conti, Luclen Littleficld, Charles Lane and Anne Schneffer support. Gregory La Cava directed, Capitol Norma Shearer, starring In her first all-talking picture, enacts the title role in the Metro Movietone version of Bayard Veiller's play, "The Trial of Mary Dugan," directed by tho author, and which opened Its Cincinnati premier showing Saturday at the Capitol Theater. So exactly has the writer followed his original script in depicting by flashbacks much of the testimony that the cinema edition runs two hours and one minute, just five minutes longer than the stage production. A noteworthy cast supports Miss Shearer, with Lewis Stone as the secretive defense attorney; and H. B.

Warner, brilliant and sarcastic in the chief prosecuting role. Raymond Hackett, who for six months portrayed the part in the original cast, is seen and heard as Mary Dugan's younger brother, whose education has depended on gentlemanly favors bestowed on his sister, end who turns up at the trial to pillory her past In a dramatic effort to win her acquittal. Lilyan Tashman is chief "gold digger," Olive Tell is Mrs. Rice and Adrienne D'Ambricourt portrays the affectionate French maid. Lyric Patronage accorded "Show Boat," talking and singing movietone version of the Edna Ferber novel and Flo Ziegfeld extravaganza, in its two weeks' premier offering at the Lyric Theater, justifies the extension of the engagement into a third and final week, which will terminate Friday night.

Laura La Tlante, Joseph Schild-kraut, Emiff- Fitzroy. Otis Harlan Jane La Verne and Alma Rubens head a big Universal cast. A pro logue of numbers and artists from the Ziegfeld revue, introduced by Harlan, presents Helen Morgan; Aunt iTnii i w'tfjyv njnfyDFhf TV VALAttj come next Comedy and tragedy are closely allied In life, and they should be so In drama. There must be strong situations that build up suspense, and these situations, furthermore, should be logical. There should he beauty picturesque background, colorful wardrobe.

The eye must be pleased as well as the mind and the emotions. of us might be Inclined to add one more essential of the Ideal motion picture, and that would be silence! Graduate Engineer Reaches Attainment As Photoplay Star Paul. Page. Another handsome young man, tilted into photoplay featuredom with a speed that surprised the player himself, is Paul Page, who will be featured opposite Lola Lane, of "Greenwich Village Follies." and George Jes-sel's "War Song," in "Speakeasy," a love story with underworld and pu gilistic settings coming Saturday, June 8. to the Keith Theater.

Page, a graduate engineer of St. John's College at Annapolis, determined upon a stage career the minute he received his diploma. He gained a foothold in New York night life entertaining, and eventually won in the Manhattan productions of "Music Box r.evue" and Ritz Revue." Benjamin Stoloff. Fox director, seeing his Work during a visit to Gotham, immediately placed him under contract. The girl, showing how a girl newspaper writer restores the health and verve of declining boxing champion is presented with cnmpleto dialogue vi movjeton.

ALL; sw fix Nordland Today and Monday George Sidney and Vera Gordon, in "The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City," and two movietone acts; Tuesday and Wednesday, Milton Sills in "Love and the Devil," with Maria 'Corda (synchron ized with music and sound); Thursday and Friday, Rln Tin Tin in "The Million Dollar Collar," with talking sequences; Saturday, "The Seven Foot prints of and two vitaphone acts. Success In "Talkie" Ascribed By Actress To Stuay Of Singing WOQHk Hailed in her first talking role, that for "The Trial of Mary Dugan," now playing its first Cincinnati week at the Capitol Theater, as the girl with the "100 per cent talking voice," Norma Shearer, in a brief Interview, recently credited her vocal compliment to her liking for singing, private rather than professional. Said Miss Shearer: "In 'The Trial of Mary I had my first occasion to speak for the microphone. and I am more than thankful that the task was made easier by the voice culture which I have been studying for years. In studying singing, I was only following an Inclination of personal taste, for public appearances In song never once sug gested themselves to me.

Practising the scales, however, taught me cor rect breathing. This, I am told, com pletely eliminates the gasping nois to which the microphone Is bo sensitive, and which lrequently occurs when players under nervous tension. attempt to draw their breath In a quick little stifle through the mouth." i 1 1.