The Cinema

Cinema entertainment this week ranges from France in the latter part of the nineteenth century to a modern version of what goes on behind the telephone switchboard.

At the Music Hall, Samuel Goldwyn, via United Artists, presents “Nana” which apologetically purports to have been suggested by that vibrant realistic novel of Emil Zola’s of the same name. When the great French novelist set out to write his compendium of French life he picked “Nana” to represent the sensuality of Paris. His character was a woman whose touch was fatal. She brought nothing but ruin to the men she knew and she was dobviouly the symbol of lust. In this picture, in which the Russian star, Anna Sten, plays the leading role, Nana is made into nothing more than a typical movie “bad woman” who, when she is confronted with the love of two brothers, conveniently shoots herself, after which she makes a speech uniting these two lovelorn gentsand then dies. It is a soppy, sentimental piece, marvelously directed, and well acted.

It catches the spirit of Paris realistically. The dialogue, what little there is of it, is particularly flat and uninspired. Anna Sten, however is charming as herself but to anyone who has read “Nana”, must come the realization that she never should have been cast for this part. The original Nana was a robust, sexy, Junoesque type of woman. Miss Sten is slight, delicate and at times almost spiritual.

Before we get to that telephone switchboard drama mentioned above, I must report that paul Muni’s new picture “Hi Nellie” now at the Strand, is a rather entertaining comedy of newspaper life with Muni playing the part of the harassed but fearless “advice to the lobe-lorn” editor. In substaince, the picture takes somewhat the same form as Lee Tracy’s “Advice to the Love-lorn” but Muni’s fine acting, spirit and competence in the more intense moments saves the somewhat feeble story from mediocrity. It is quite melodramatic, with gangsters, fires, murders all working into the general plot. Mervyn Le Roy is responsible for the directing which is another way of saying that it is a well-made picture, but I do wish a story could be found for Muni in which his great talents as an actor might find freer play.

At the Capitol, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offer “You Can’t Have Everything”. May Robson, a veteran with fifty years of stage and screen experience behind her, is given the lead. She plays the part of a parsimonious old women who although enormously wealthym, is so stingy that she even makes her son’s clothes. What plot there is concerns this young man’s love for the daughter of one of his mother’s girlhood sweethearts. She, of course is outraged by her son’s attempt a# independence but in the end she loosens up and the spirit of good will prevails. It is not a really bad picture. The acting, especially by Miss Robson, is above par but the story is after all nothing more than a variation of the old Hetty Green theme.

“I’ve Got Your Number”, which Warner Brothers produced and which is the feature at the Roxy is the screen version of what goes on in the technical departments of a telephone company. It is a good idea, and well done. Through the eyes of two repair men you are shown a sort of birds-eye view of life in a great city. These fellows go about breaking into all sorts of private places to fix telephones. Pat O’Brien, as one of these “fixers” is responsible for the comedy and his fast and lively acting keeps the audience’s interst. There are a great many complications in the story including the plight of one of the telephone perators (Joan Blondell) who is accused of stealing bonds and how she is vindicated is reasonably well worked out.

THEATRE AND CINEMA NOTES

“The Ghoul”, starring Boris Karloff, has been held over for another week at the Rialto. This is the “horron” story of what happened to an old Egyptologist when he found himself in possession of what is supposed to be a magic jewel.

Although they have threatened to close a number of times, it is now officially announced that this will be the last final (positively) week in New York of the Monte Carlo Ballet Russe. The season of Russian ballet has been unusually successful and the only reason Mr. Hurok is closing the run is because the ballet is scheduled to make a tour of the country and must be back in Europe by April.

The stage show at the Music Hall is one of the best that has sppeared in that little house for some time but why the audience is not iformed who the performers are is a trifle difficult to figure out.

Benny Ross, the mimic, heads the entertainment on the stage at the Roxy this week. Other performers on the bill are Barney Grant, the Hill Billy, Hope Minor and Edward Root, dancers and the St. Regis Troupe.

HEBREW MUSIC DISCUSSED

“Ancient Hebrew Music”, by Dr. Benno Gruenberg, Cantor of the Temple of the Convenant, tracing the origin, religious development, and traditions of Hebrew music, constitutes one of the leading articles in the February issue of Tempo.

ARTISTS TO HONOR LOBLOV

Bela Loblov, popular Hungarian-Jewish violinist, will be guest of honor at the Hungarian Artists Ball, to be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania, on February 10. Loblov will appear with his “Reunion in Vienna” ensemble.