January 12, 1935 The Literary Digest 31

On the Current Screen

± he transcendent Katharine Hepburn "Don Quixote" (AAA)—A touching and makes her latest screen appearance in a beautiful cinema transcription of the Cer­ gentle, wistful, and handsomely produced vantes classic, with Chaliapine giving a version of Sir James M. Barrie's "The Little magnificent performance in the title role. Minister" (AAA*). In the role which Maude George Robey is a far from satisfactory Adams made famous on the stage, Miss Sancho Panza, and the picture perhaps is Hepburn plays with hu- mor, directness, and genu­ ine poignancy, providing the work with a vigor and a dramatic directness sometimes missing from the Barrie whimsies. The 29 picture concentrates with skill and prettiness on the DAYS quaintness and the quiet humors of life in the Scot­ land of 1840. Its recrea­ tion of Barrie's beloved village of Thrums is graceful and undeniably charming, as are the ro­ CRUISE ^t mance and the occasional tame drama of the tender story of the gipsy and the min­ ister. At the same time there is grave danger that John Beal and Katharine Hepburn in "The Little Minister" the archness of the story, and the production, may grow unhappily HOLY LAND . , . EGYPT a bit lacking in imagination, but the beauty excessive, and cause the more rebellious of the photography, the work of the star, ESS than a month—that's all you need among the filmgoers to revolt against the and the sensitive direction of G. W. Pabst, * for the whole Mediterranean, if you outburst of saccharinity. I the exiled German, make the photoplay a cruise on the brilliant Rex or Conte di It is at these moments that the magic of worthy account of the great tragedy, which Savoia! Their brilliant speed makes it Miss Hepburn makes its fortunate dash to manages to seem a touching parable of the possible—allows you to see all the im­ the rescue, in the manner of a whole regi­ plight of a sentimental liberal in an unfeel­ portant ports, enjoy all the thrills of a ment of marines. She never loses the ing world. Altho the picture was made in Mediterranean Cruise in 29 days. Or quaint and graceful whimsicality necessary France, the dialog is in English. take six full weeks if you can spare the to the role, and to the film, but she does w w w w time—cruising on the Saturnia, with add to it a saving quality of vitality and "Forsaking All Others" (AA)—Joan her famous deck of private verandah- gaiety. Vitality not being one of Sir James's Crawford as a dashing debutante, who is suites. Fascinating itineraries . . . en­ strong points, the addition of such a qual­ jilted at the altar by the heedless Robert tertainment, gracious courtesy, delicious ity is enormously helpful in a dramatic Montgomery, and eventually wins the meals. medium which must have its share of it. grimly masculine Clark Gable, after many FEB. 13 . . Conte di SAVOIA . . (only gyro-stabilized liner.) The supporting cast is headed by John reels of roguishness. Altho the determined Beal, who is admirably grave and bewil­ archness of all the characters is hard to FEB. 27 . . REX . . (Fastest liner afloat) bear, the picture at least is lively, and filled IDENTICAL CRUISES on Italy's premier dered as the youthful minister of the fable. liners with great Lido Decks, swimming pools, with the romantic qualities regarded in All of the roles, for that matter, are cast sports facilities! 29 Days, 12 Calls. $560 properly, from Alan Hale, as the village Hollywood as those of the box-office. Charles up First Class, $330 up Special Class, $285 drunkard, Rob Dow, to Andy Clyde, as the Butterworth, as a comic friend of the lead­ up Tourist. forlorn policeman, Wearyworld. The direc­ ing trio, and Frances Drake, as the woman MAR. 27 . . SATURNIA . . Famous tion of Richard Wallace is faithful and who steals Miss Crawford's fiance from her, Cosulich liner offering a six weeks' itinerary! are helpful members of the cast. 42 Days, 19 Calls. $485 up First Class, $275 atmospheric, and the musical score in­ up Tourist. * * * •» cludes frequent enough renditions of "Loch Mid-Winter Cruise to the Lomond" to give the photoplay official "I Sell Anything" (AA)—A moderately status as a film about Scotland. It will be amusing expose of the business of making WEST INDIES only some of those gruff and insensitive and selling antiques. Pat O'Brien is cred­ FEB. 9 . . SATURNIA . . Stretch your fellows who will have the audacity to sus­ ible as a glib auctioneer, and Claire Dodd is Lincoln's Birthday holiday to a real mid­ pect that, despite its charm, "The Little handsome and humorous as a blonde with winter vacation on this popular Cosulich Minister" is, among other things, just a well developed larcenous instincts. cruise liner. To Kingston (Jamaica) Havana and Nassau. 10 Days, $122.50 up. little bit of a bore. * -jf * •» "West of the Pecos" (AA*)—Richard Regular Sailings to All EUROPE Dix as a dashing Indian fighter in the latest CURRENT FILM RATINGS film melodrama to be made from Zane For illustvated literature and information apply local agent or, New York: 1 State St.; AAAA AAA Grey's inexhaustible supply of Western 'Cradle Song-, Cathe­ •Kid Millions.The Gay Philadelphia: 1601 Walnut St.; Boston: 86 rine the Great, 'The Divorcee, Broadway tales. * 4t * * Arlington St.; Cleveland: 944 Arcade, Union House of Rothschild, Bill, •Flirtation Walk, Trust Bldg,; Chicago: 333 N. Michigan Ave,; •You're Telling- Me, •The President Van­ San Francisco: 386 Post St.; New Orleans; *Tarzan and His ishes, *The Mig-hty "Murder in the Clouds" (AA*)—A 1806 American Bank Building; Montreal: Archi­ Mate, The Barretts oi Barnum,*Brig-ht Eyes, tects Bldg., 1133 Beaver Hall Hill; Toronto: l'}9 Wimpole Street. The •Babes in Toyland, lively, noisy, and reasonably exciting melo­ Bay St. Merry Widow, The •The Little Minister, First World War. Don Quixote. drama about dirty work in the sky that AAAA—Outstanding- films adopts Wild-West film-technique to aviation AAA—Recommended films drama. Ann Dvorak and Lyle Talbot have ITALIAN LINE •Films suitable for children the leading roles. ARGUS.

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED P I a y i n g the Game Pruning the Profits in Amateur Tilden Made Tennis Popular, Then Made the Competitive Professional Product Profitable- a Development Which May Make Amateurism Mean Sport for Sport's Sake

By ARTHUR N. CHAMBEKLIN HEN George M. Lott, Jr., and his nis bum." The "bum" followed the tourna­ handsome lawn-tennis playing part­ ment trail from Florida to Maine to Cali- Wner, Lester Stoefen, decided re­ (fornia ten months of the year, living on the cently to play professional tennis in 1935, "expenses" which he was allowed and "pick­ they may have materially lessened this coun­ ings." The expedients by which promoters try's chances for the immediate recapture and pseudo-amateurs evade the rules cover­ of the . The lone point scored ing the offering and taking of money are by the in its unsuccessful !too well-known to those with even a reading attempt last summer to regain this trophy knowledge of amateur sport to need review­ from England, was won by Messrs. Lott and ing here. There is nothing edifying in the Stoefen playing doubles. They were re­ process, however. Too often the "bum," garded as almost certain to repeat this vic­ who was a nice boy when he started, didn't tory in 1935, while Stoefen, who was ranked remain so long. third nationally in 1933, was expected to He was graduated, very frequently, into improve sufficiently in his singles play to another character with which many clubs win at least another point for America. still are afflicted. I refer to the member, Whatever dent Lott and Stoefen may have once a star, who still retains enough of his placed in America's Davis Cup hopes, they former skill to beat any dub, even a pretty have rendered valiant service to the cause good one. The ex-star, whose dues always of true sport by frankly becoming profes­ were two years in arrears, had no recognized sionals. Their action—following that of : occupation. He always was at the club­ H. , Jr., American 1932 sin­ house, and virtually at the command of any­ gles champion, in joining the organization one who would buy him a drink after a of William T. Tilden, 2d., seven times na­ match. When his usefulness, even as an tional champion, must result in several im­ opponent for dubs, was ended, the club provements in the status of both amateur directors more likely than not viewed his and professional tennis as the United States chronic indebtedness in a new light, and knows these games. dropped him from membership. Tennis Made Popular Honest professionalism is certainly to be preferred to such a career, if career it can Lawn-tennis always has occupied a be called. If a player has sufficient confi­ unique position in the United States. Be­ O liueniatiuiul dence in his skill at tennis, or any other fore the time, nearly a quarter of a century Tilden, "Old Man of Tennis," is still as ^sport, to enter it professionally, he should ago, when Maurice E. McLoughlin, the graceful as the palm-trees in the back­ be privileged to do so. When he does so "California Comet," flashed like a red streak ground frankly, and openly, every true sportsman across the horizon, it was a game played will wish him well. If an amateur player only by the well-to-do. The force and vigor The gentlemen in control of American regards himself highly enough to wish to of McLoughlin's service and smash on the amateur tennis presented a curiously two- compete against a professional, then he tennis-court, equaled only by the dynamic faced view-point toward the ensuing great should be allowed to do so in an open personality of the man, focused the atten­ increase in public interest. They liked the tournament, such as golf now provides. tion of America's youth on a game which monetary receipts which came with it, but previously had been virtually unknown to they hated to relinquish their theory that Clearing Up Amateurism them. Since McLoughlin's time only one tennis really was a game for the upper If the chairman of a club's tournament American champion has come from that classes. They built a stadium to accommo­ committee wishes to hire players for a tennis class of people so loosely cataloged as, date 15,000 at Forest Hills, ten minutes dis­ exhibition, he will be better off engaging a "wealthy." He was R. Norris Williams, tant from New York City, then indignantly professional troupe than by obtaining 4th. hushed the spectator—whose previous ex­ pseudo-amateurs with inducements, such as perience may have been limited to baseball William T. Tilden, 2d., whose reign as a wagers that to-morrow will not be the day and football games—if he cheered an excit­ tennis-champion began in 1920, and who is of the week the calendar foretells. Tennis ing rally. The newspaper reporters and the employer of Vines, Lott, and Stoefen, enthusiasts then would not be treated to the cameramen whose writings and pictures is, in the writer's opinion, the man chiefly charming spectacle of a famous club notify­ helped to increase the tournament revenue responsible for the popularization of lawn- ing "invited" player guests that its hospi­ were shooed around like insects. tennis in the United States. He had his de­ tality ended with the defeat of the player, fects of temperament, and they were many, What was important was that American and the "guests" then displaying their or few, according to one's personal opinion lawn-tennis clubs whose tournaments pre­ "amateur" spirit by signing a round-robin of him, but he had a genuine love of tennis, viously were played for the pleasure of boycott threat against their "hosts." and an equally real desire to have American the contestants, the members, and their No sportsman begrudges a victory to an boys of all classes enjoy the game. friends, and without an admission charge, opponent against whom he competes on He traveled throughout the nation at his suddenly became aware of these events as a equal terms. However, a man who plays own expense, spreading the gospel of ten­ source of revenue. Since any purchaser games for his own amusement seldom can nis, giving exhibitions and presenting prizes wants value for his money, the clubs sought compete evenly with the man who plays before boys' schools and clubs. I have seen the leading players to justify the ticket-fee. them as his real, even if disguised, occupa­ small boys scuff the polish from his shoes, The star performers, in turn, played for the tion, because of the latter's greater skill and spill ice cream on his clothing, and bombard clubs which offered, let us say, the nicest experience. When, two such players meet, him endlessly with questions, but the cham­ food and the best rooms. the result hardly ever is satisfactory to pion whose temper flared so quickly at adult Thus there sprang into being that strange either. criticism took it all with a smile. person called by the frank Mr. Lott, "a ten­ (Continued on page 34) 32

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED