You can almost call Chamberlain Brown’s “Flashes,” which is going on daily from noon to midnight at the Lyric, a revival-a revival not of an old play or operetta, but of talent which once shone in its own firmament. Supported by Fritzi Scheff, Ann Pennington, Ada May and Beverly Bayne, Mr. Brown has brought forth enough entertainment to satisfy even the most rabid vaudeville addict.
Under the auspices of the United Patriotic Society, Mr. Brown gathered together as many of the old time headliners as he could find, and although they are a trifle fluttery and heady from the excitement of again finding an audience, they manage to be gay and enjoyable.
In addition to the stars of other years, Mr. Brown has added to his company many young performers who are more familiar to radio listeners. It cannot be said they add much to the proceedings. I must also warn you that there are skits. One called “Criminal Courts” is particularly to be avoided.
By the way, Chamberlain Brown himself is master of ceremonies. He also plays the piano and sings in an ingratiating manner.
HE WAS HER MAN
A tragedy-yes, sir, an actual tragedy on the screen-with the hero ending up as a target for a gross or so of bullets, this amazing spectacle under the title of “He Was Her Man,” with James Cagney and Joan Blondell, is the Warner Brothers picture at the Strand this week. In it, woman-slapping Cagney takes the part of a stool pigeon.
Starting in New York, the film shows Cagney as a member of a mob of gangsters. On the side he keeps police informed of his pals’ activities. To make his part seem sympathetic and justifiable, Cagney is pictured as recently having been released from prison after having been double-crossed by these same pals. Comes the big robbery and acting on Cagney’s information police arrest his confederates. Cagney heads for the West Coast and on the way meets the gal (Joan Blondell). Of course they fall in love and are about to be joined in matrimony when the rest of the mob, having escaped police, trace Cagney and take him for the well known “ride.” He escapes, but only temporarily. He hears the gangsters are going to revenge themselves on his sweetheart and he, like a true knight, returns and allows himself to be neatly and thoroughly “erased.”
The cast is able, the direction up to par, but the picture as a whole is over-romantic and definitely Class B entertainment.
FROM STAGE AND SCREEN
Helen Hayes will leave the cast of Mary of Scotland in June and go west to make a few pictures. …Her husband, Charles Mac Arthur, has signed a contract with Paramount, and with Ben Hecht; his old collaborator, will write and direct four pictures for the company. Just a few months ago the boys were announcing formation of a new film company. This evidently is the result of their threat. …In Italy a playwright is given a certain rating by critics and on that basis he receives his royalties. If he is unknown he gets five per cent but if he is considered important he may get as much as twenty per cent. …A radio and stage rodeo will be held at the Seventy-first Regiment Armory Wednesday evening. Harpo Marx and Henry Hull will be among the entertainers. …Max Liebman will put on some new plays at Taminent, Pa., during the summer.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
