NEW FILM IS FARCICAL.; E.E. Horton Amuses in "Once a Gentleman" at the Beacon.

Strange and laughable situations in which a butler finds himself when mistaken for a colonel arriving in New York from India, created no small amount of merriment among auditors that watched Edward Everett Horton portray both rôles with equal finesse in "Once a Gentleman" at the Beacon Theatre yesterday.First as Oliver Carmichael, the perfect butler, who had never enjoyed a day away from his work in fifteen years, then, as Colonel Carmichael on his way to London after a long campaign in India, Mr. Horton manages to make many faintly humorous places in, the story really funny.The comedy begins when Carmichael, the butler, shows the exasperation of a perfect craftsman in the presence of a nervous slipshod worker, in this case, the man who will take Oliver's place while he is away on his holiday. Oliver leaves with the intention of enjoying himself, according to the wish of his employer, Mr. Warner. Mr. Warner also asks Oliver to deliver a message to his New York club and on his return to bring back a housekeeper.His attempt to comply with these requests results in Oliver becoming entangled in some genuinely farcical exploits. He makes and loses a fortune; he falls in love, and finally because his sense of humor fails him when the exposé takes place, the gentleman-colonel is permitted to return to the happy state of domestic service.In support of Mr. Horton's excellent work as Carmichael, Lois Wilson as the understanding housekeeper performs creditably. King Baggott in the role of Mr. Warner and Francis X. Bushman as Bannister, who entertains the butler at his Long Island estate believing him to be a Colonel in the British Army, merit praise for their acting.

ONCE A GENTLEMAN, with Edward Everett Horton, Lois Wilson, Francis X. Bushman, King Baggott, Emerson Treacy and George Fawcett; directed by James Cruze, from the story by George F. Worts; "A Private Engagement," a comedy with the Yacht Club Boys; news reels; Irving Aaronson and his orchestra in a stage presentation. At the Beacon.