Judge — April 20, 1929 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

oxce overheard the author of “The Trial of I Mary Dugan" say that he had made it actor- p ; that no matter who acted in it the play would remain a good show. As the author, Bayard Veiller, directed the movie he probably proceeded on that theory; you could not imagine a more pathetic cast. There is Norma Shearer trying despe assure her wistful public that the not going to throw her out of a job Hackett trying to prove by alternate erying that he is yers H. B. Warner belying the fact that he ever stepped in front of the footlights by giggling sardonically at Mr. Hackett in an effort to convince’you he is a hard- boiled district attorney. Nevertheless, [ can support Mr. Veiller’s formula and you that, if the squawking mechanism of the movietone does not harass you, and if Miss Shearer's facial contortions your digestive system functioning normally, then “The Trial of Mary Dugan” is a good show. Having seen the late Rex Cherryman and Ann Harding do an able job in the stage production of this play, I am prejudiced, but even that does not excuse the fact that Miss Shearer should be allowed to practise her elocution lessons in a very difficult part. Perhaps it can be accounted for by the fact that she is the wife of a movie executive. The play, should you be unfamiliar with it, deals with a chorus girl who is accused of killing her fi cial advisor and closest friend. With no evidence for her defense, her brother gallops out of the West, dismisses her attorney, and conducts the very sordid nd realistic case to triumphant conclusion. — I merely mention again that the technical limitations of the movictone greatly diminish the possibilities of suspense in this play ing this, the author proved to be a very good direct If you saw “The Bellamy you will recall that the action in this movie also took place in a courtroom, and I think on the whole it was much more isfactory. “The Trial of Mary Dugan” has much tely to assure leave + but consi more sex appeal because it discloses the life and methods of a successful kept woman, and it will ne doubt be received hungrily by a studious public. [ tive made several bitter enemies because of any rit of entering strange homes and dropping into a y chair to spend an hour or two cursing Clara Bow to the best of my ability. She se ms to apy to men of many kinds, particularly th Se possessit wives who suffer from strange religions and chronic hes, but that is really no excuse for that young s existence. I have no objection to the hot-baby parts Miss Bow is called upon to do, but [I have never seen her so much as indicate a shop-girl’s ability at acting. In “The Wild Party” we are given the unexpected delight of hearing the “it” girl speak, and as you might expect, she is more coarse, vulgar, and re pulsive than ever when she The opening scene, supposedly taking place in a girls’ school, will remind you of those sex pictures sent out as warning tracts by the overnment during the war. In the movies in which I have been for to see her, Clara Bow has never been anything but affected and vulgar in her manner, coarse and unkempt in appearance, and manifesting in general the emotional characteristics of a railroad waitress. If she is still regarded by her producers as the “it” girl of Holly- wood I humbly request them to relegate her movies to water-front houses and stag parties, where they will be properly appreciated. Vrera Ganno did T Affairs,” but there in “Wild Orchids,” ast being good job in “A Woman of is lit pportunity for her one of those formula movies about fast and West being West, and blood is thicker than dollar-and-a-half gin, A very competent performance was given by 4 tiger who unfortunately was prevented from wholly destroying Nils Asther. the making eyes at our Garbo, recommend “Wild Orchids.” stern prince who was ut there is little else to The Movie Guide “A Woman of Aft St Petersburg”—The fn through Michael Arien’s green time the Russians have been intelligent “Lucky Bay"—But not so lucky “My Maa" —A noo-stop record of the theme song. “The Man In The tren Mask” —WWirh "—The director the man with the iron body, Fairbank Doa't believe the notice —it’s lonry “Case of Lena 5 of “Underworld” serves at pictures. “Shadows jpite Marriage” 13 French movie ese shi bis best “Trial of Mary Dugan” —In this issve “The Singing Feet —A1 Jolson still making Warner Bes. a good buy The Wild Party"*—I Je. “The Woll Song’—Died in transit “Wild Orchids” movies have liked the pictures “The River —Excele novel “Outeast”—Very entertaining. In this ive comicbooks.com