WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1925 18 HERE AND THERE ON STAGE AND SCREEN | Reviews of the Week By Thespian. STAGE EARL CARROLL'S VANITIES Selwyn Theatre Joe Cook is in town again. To those who know Mr. Cook that statement should be reason enough for trying to get seats at the Selwyn. But for the benefit of those who are not entirely familiar with that gentleman, let me explain that he is without doubt the most versatile performer now appear- ing before the public and the one en- tertainer to whom all critics seem per- fectly willing and anxious to extend copious editorial praise. Mr. Cook dominates this, the sec- ond of Farl Carroll's Vanities. But surrounding and helping him in his many endeavors are several clever comedians, some excellent dancers, a singer or two and several dozen young women who do most of the things ex- pected in entertainment of this kind. Scene follows scene in rapid succes- sion, there being some 30 in all, and each has its point of fun or beauty. In several are found two or three clever comedians, Dave Chasen and Al K. Hall being especially efficient in extracting laughs. Miller and Mack are fine when they dance, and Dare and Wahl are not only screamingly funny as burlesque acrobats, but equally good when they show their "straight" stunts. There are skits about a "Steamship Office," a travesty called "The Law of Truth," a beautiful scene called "Counting the Hours," and another "The Ballad of the Winds." And early and late there is Joe Cook, doing two or three mono- logues, managing a scene or two, proving that he is a lightning calcula- tor or an electrical wizard, and gen- erally making you wonder how one man can do so many different things and do them so well and with so little effort. This second version of the Vanities is different from most all the revues, It has some of the things the others have but many they might well wish they had. All the way through it you unconsciously feel you are having a bully time, without being able to put your finger on any one specific item which might cause that feeling. That's the way I like my revues; chances are you do, too. Consequently, after you have seen this one, you will prob- ably agree with me that it's a bully good show. SCREEN ENTICEMENT Chicago Theatre Several beautiful scenes, including bits from the Swiss Alps, together with some capable acting, combine to off- set what the plot of this story may lack in plausibility. The story is of a spirited young miss who enjoys a wholesome, if un- conventional, friendship with a fam- ous musician. After a lapse of a few years she meets him again at a Swiss resort where they hike in the deep snow, encounter an avalanche and apparently develop some compromis- ing situations at the mountain inn where only the inn-keeper and his wife are in evidence. Just what does happen I can only guess but apparent- ly everything is O. K. until some years later when she marries an English- man of standing. Then the tbngues start wagging, the musician's wife threatens to name the girl in divorce proceedings, the husband starts a riot of his own and the girl flees to the musician, The latter, realizing that she still loves her husband, sends her back to him and then deliberately kills himself by falling in front an auto- mobile. Not so good as a story, perhaps, but Mary Astor gives a very good ac- count of herself as the girl and has capable assistance from Clive Brook as the husband. Ian Keith is the musician and he is just Tan Keith,-- you like him or you don't and there doesn't seem to be any half-way about it. Crowds packed the Chicago all week, but my guess is that they liked the splendid jazz stage show far better than the picture. It proved to be one of the best shows of this variety Balaban and Katz has had in some time. QUO VADIS Roosevelt Theatre Here is a very large and dramatic production which takes you back to the days of Nero, shows you all the things which took place during his time and gives you a pretty fair idea of the general characteristics of that celebrity. I scarcely remember the original filming of this subject some 12 years ago but I do know that it did not in any way approach this version. Here we have Emil Jannings portray- ing Nero and showing every side of that character. At least every side most of us have heard about and some that are, perhaps, new. He shows how crafty he was, how vicious he could be and what a perfect fool he made of himself when flattered. The picture includes many spectacu- lar scenes; Christians dragged out and \ turned over to the lions, dragged be- hind chariot wheels and tied to wild animals. Rome burns and Nero fiddles. Wild thousands flee from the burning city and congregate before Nero's palace. Orgies in the palace are displayed in all their gorgeous luxury. Through it there runs a ro- mantic tale concerning Lygia, the Christian captive and Vinicius the Ro- man. The thing which will stand out par- ticularly in your memory regarding this picture is the remarkable acting on the part of Mr. Jannings. He gives the part everything imaginable. You will, of course, be decidedly impressed with the splendid photography, lux- urious settings and the thousands of people used in many of the scenes. Little has been omitted in the show- ing and there is much that is tragic and terrible but it makes one of the best of the historical films. Lillian Davis is Lygia, Bruto Castellani plays Ursus and Andree Habay handles Petronious in a manner to warrant admiration. Neighboring Theaters VILLAGE THEATRE "The Tomboy," featuring Dorothy Devore, is coming to the Village thea- tre Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. This is the latest and snap- piest picture in which the little star is seen, and as an added attraction the popular Mr. Herbert Rawlison plays opposite Miss Devore. As to the story, it was written by Frank Dazey, author of the stage suc- cess "Peter Weston," so that should be "nuff said." Dazey is well known to most movie audiences and has writ- ten plays for some if most noted ac- tors and actresses on the screen. This story is a fast moving tale of a girl and a boy, rum-runners and plots, filled with breathless suspense and hair-raising stunts. One of the most exciting parts of the picture ended in a real accident as it was being filmed, according to news reports. It was during a stirring chase of a bootleggers' truck over winding moun- tain roads, with other cars in hot pursuit, that the thrilling accident oc- curred. The driver, in negotiating a sharp hairpin turn on the mountain road, lost control if the car, and it plunged up the steep bank on the side of the road and turned completely over. Ten players who were playing as members of the rum runners, were riding on the truck during its mad dash down the mountain side, and when the car climbed the bank, every one of them made a flying leap for safety. Fortun- ately they all succeeded in avoiding the truck as it turned turtle, and the only casualty was a sprained ankle suffered by one of the players when he landed in a deep hole on the side of the road. During all of the excitement, the cameraman kept grinding away, with the result that one of the most spon- taneous thrills ever filmed finds its way into the production of "The Tom- boy." It is a Chadwick picture, di- rected by David Kirkland for the Mis- sion Film Corporation. The rest of the week at the Village theatre will be divided between "Loves Wilderness," starring Corrine Griffith, which will be shown Wednesday and Thursday, and "On Thin Ice," with Tom Moore which is coming Friday and Saturday. Corrine Griffith is one of the most delightful women on the screen. When she stars in a picture it is certain to be good. In "Love's Wilderness," she is supported by an excellent cast, including Ivan Keith and David Torrence. "On Thin Ice" is another first class production which has received enthusiastic applause wherever it has been shown. Coming to the Howard ' SER MARION DAVIES w JANICE MEREDITH THE HOWARD When the Ince organization bought screen rights to "Playing With Souls," which will play at the Howard, Sun- day, March 15, they entrusted the adaptation to C. Gardner Sullivan, whose name for years has been a positive guarantee of a sure fire audi- ence picture. : Mary Astor was naturally the choice for a lovely Parisienne. Dark, petite, of a beauty sometimes described as spiritual, she was the ideal Margo Florian, Mat Dale's faithful sweet- heart. Jacqueline Logan, on the other hand, was as well suited to the very different type she was to portray. Vivacious Jacqueline, slim, quick, responsive, temperamentally was the perfect per- sonality for the role of Bricotte, the Montmartre dancer. Clive Brook, with his gift of poise, was the excellent foil for the youth- ful tempests caused by one boy with two sweethearts. That boy, young Mat Dale, vigorous, high-tempered, tragic in lost pride, found his ideal characterization in "Buster" Collier. Belle Bennett, as the finished pro- duction reveals, was a splendid selec- tion for the difficult mother role. On the 149th anniversary of the "shot that was heard around the world" at Lexington in 1775, the scene was filmed at Hunter Island, New York, for Cosmopolitan's production of "Janice Meredith," which comes to the Howard theatre on Monday, Tues- day and Wednesday, March 16, 17 and 18, with Marios Davies in the title role. Mines and mining camps--that's the background of Thomas Meighan's latest Paramount picture, "Coming Through," adapted from Jack Bethea's novel, "Bed Rock," a picturesque story of the Alabama coal mines, directed by Edward Sutherland as his first work for the screen. The picture, which opens a three day engagement, Thursday, March 19, at the Howard theatre, brings the star to the screen in the role of Tom Blackford, employed in the offices of a big steel corporation. THE NEW EVANSTON "The Swan," written for the screen and produced by Dimitri Buchowetzki from Ferenc Molnar's stage sucess of the same name, will be the feature at the New Evanston theatre on Monday. It's a Paramount picture featuring Adolphe Menjou, Ricardo Cortez and Frances Howard. The picture is a satirical high comedy that tells of the efforts of Princess Beatrice, scheming mother of Alexandra, the Swan, to marry her daughter to Prince Albert, heir-ap- New Evanston Starting Monday ADOLPH MENJOU FRANCES HOWARD RICARDO CORTEZ "THE SWAN" also Glenn Thyon "WAGES OF TIN" Pathe Review News Hoyburn Mon.--Tues..--Wed DOROTHY MACKAILL CREIGHTON HALE "BRIDGE OF SIGHS" Comedy News Thurs.--Fri.--Sat. AGNES AYRES "Her Market Value" Comedy News Daily Shows at 2, 4, 7 and 9--Saturday Continuous 2 to 11 P. M parent to the most powerful throne in all Europe. A meeting is effected, but the prince, an irresponsible fellow with an eye for beautiful women, takes a fancy to Wanda von Guck, a lady-in-waiting, and sees Alexandra only through an impersonal monocle. This does not agitate Alexandra, however, for she has eyes and heart for the young tutor, Dr. Walter, only. The situation does rankle the two mothers, who have schemed for the match. They contrive to make the prince jealous by having the princess carry on a flirtation with the tutor, the outcome of which only tends to cement stronger the love of the lovely Alexandra and the unassuming tutor. At the betrothal dinner the tutor in- discreetly declares his love for the princess to the consternation of all the royal guests. A duel follows between the tutor and the Prince's chief aid. The tutor is wounded but receives a kiss of love from Alexandra. The girl then declares to her mother her in- tention of breaking off the engage- ment to the prince and marrying the tutor. The prince, who takes the entire af- fair lightly, is caught practicing dance steps with the ladies-in-waiting and is led gently but firmly away by his mother. Frances Howard, Paramount's new star "find," plays the role of the Swan. Adolphe Menjou is the irresponsible prince and Ricardo Cortez is cast as the tutor who dares to aspire to the hand of the princess. THE ADELPHI Bebe Daniels will be featured in "Miss Bluebeard" at the Adelphi theatre next Sunday and Monday, March 15 and 16. Tuesday, March 17, the Adelphi will offer "The Bridge of Sighs" as a St. Patrick's day attraction. Antonio Moreno and Patsy Ruth Miller will play in "Her Husband's Secret" next Wednesday and Thurs- day, March 18 and 19, at the popular Clark street movie theatre. And on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21, "Idle Tongues" featuring Doris Kenyon and Percy Marmont will be the attraction. "Beloved Brute" will play at the Saturday matinee. THE HOYBURN Dorothy Mackaill has the featured role in "The Bridge of Sighs," the Warner Bros. "Classic of the Screen," which will be the feature attraction at the Hoyburn theatre, next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 16, 17 and 18. This popular favorite is supported by a cast that includes Creighton Hale, Alec B. Francis, Richard Tucker and Ralph Lewis. Two other factors make this an- nouncement an outstanding one. First, the fact that the story is from the pen of the famous song composer, Charles . K. Harris, author of "Just Break the News to Mother" and "After the Ball Was Over;" second, the fact that the director is no less a personal- ity than Phil Rosen, who ranks among the stellar directors of the country. MARRIED ONLY 23 TIMES! Charles Ogle and Lillian Leighton became screen husband and wife for the twenty-third time when they as- sumed the roles of the sheriff and his Alan Cros- spouse in "Contraband," land's newest production for Para- mount. "It has become a habit, Charley and I being husband and wife on the screen," said Miss Leighton. "Some- times we're shown getting along as pleasantly and happily as all married people should. Sometimes I'm the nag- ging wife. Sometimes Charley is the fault finding husband. "I guess we've shown married help- mates in every phase of their joys and sorrows but this will be the first time that Charley has made me a widow." Village Theatre Your Home Theatre J. B. Koppel Managing Director Mon. & Tues, March 16 & 17 Evenings, 7:30 and 9 Matinee, Tuesday, 3:30 Dorothy Devore and Herbert Rawlinson " THE TOM BOY" Pathe News and "Why Hurry" Two reel Christie Comedy Wednesday and Thursday Corrine Griffith "LOVE'S WILDERNESS" Crossword Puzzle-Pathe Review Comedy Friday and Saturday, 7:30 & 9 Matinees Saturday, 2 and 4 P. M. Tom Moore and Edith Roberts "ON THIN ICE" Pathe News and "Dirty Hands" Two reel Comedy | COMMUNITY HOUSE Pine at Lincoln Winnetka TUESDAY MAR. 17 NN BOOTH TARKINGTON'S Story of American Iife { "THE TURMOIL" { The Gumps Fox News FRI-SAT. MARCH 20-21 We're Proud -- to offer the greatest picture of the times SIX SHOWINGS SATURDAY 2:30, 7:15 and 9 FRIDAY 4, 7:15 and 9 NEWELL HOWARD Continuous Every Day--2:15 to 11:15 N. W. "L" Station at Howard RETCHIN ! Pick of the oH] Saturdays. Sundays, Holidays Matinees 7074 North Clark St. Sunday, March 15 William Collier, Jr. and Jacqueline Logan "Playing with Souls" Mon., Tues., Wed., Mar. 16, 17, 18 Marion Davies "Janice Meredith" Thurs., Fri, Sat, Mar. 19, 20, 21 Thomas Meighan "Coming Through" Saturday Matinee Only "Saddle Hawk" Sun., Mon,, Mar. 15, 16 Bebe Daniels "MISS BLUEBEARD" Tuesday, March 17 "THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS" Wed., Thurs, Mar. 18, 19 Antonio Moreno and Patsy Ruth Miller "HER HUSBAND'S SECRET" Fri, Sat, Mar. 20, 21 Doris Kenyon and Percy Marmont "IDLE TONGUES" Saturday Matinee Only "BELOVED BRUTE" ALL NORTH SHORE TRAINS STOP AT HOWARD