1939-12-24 [P ]

Theaters—Radio—Music Pimday Jite Junior Star—Art—Books EIGHT PAGES. WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 24, 1939. x Merry Yule to You, and You, and Many Others A Year and Its People Give a Drama Department the Occasion For Many a Grateful Wish During Christmas Season By Jay Carmody.

For another year. Merry Christmas: the New Yorker for having the same low opinion we did of plays which To Southern India for having been the birthplace of Vivien Leigh, other reviewers praised highly. (Such as “Margin for Error.”) who plays Scarlett O'Hara to the satisfaction of every one who thought To Laurette Taylor in the hope that she still will complete that no one could Scarlett O'Hara to the satisfaction of one. play any anecdote which she has started no less than 20 times to tell this depart- ment. To Vivien Leigh, practically ditto. (Miss Taylor also gives autographs, so her stories are interrupted.) To Lamour for maintaining her for another year Dorothy position Elsa Maxwell Touch Makes as this department's least favorite actress. Frolic of Little Previews. To Ann Sheridan for being just a bright, breezy and beautiful Texas girl in spite of all that oomph blah. To Louise Noonan Miller and Abe Tolkins of the Little Theater, Who * To Edmund Plohn. manager of the National, for disagreeing with have an Elsa Maxwell flair for turning a critics’ screening into a frolic— this department only about matters that were comparatively unimportant. with veal steaks. To Zanuck for with the Ritz Brothers, thus Darryl breaking exiling To Gertrude Lawrence for riding down to get the keys to the city them to a kind of so tar as the better movie screens of the Siberia, in the front seat of her Rolls Royce (it rattles) with the chauffeur. And are concerned. country for remembering to wear a hat on .that occasion! To Shirley Temple for dropping only to fifth in box-office standing To Helen Hamilton, Troika’s pretty mistress, and to Mischa, its in spite of the scripts the studio has given her within the last 12 months. military for another happy season of borscht, shaslik and To the Lunts for demonstrating in “The Taming of the Shrew" that maitre, caprici- ous Muscovite entertainment.- Olsen and Johnson are not the only masters of the “Hellzapoppin' spirit. To Gardner Moore. Maxim Lowe, Barnee, Robert and others of the Olivier Shows Critics Talent Shoreham staff for giving the warmth of hospitality to such a large piece For More Than Mere Acting. of real estate. that he To Laurence Olivier, who proved to the local drama press To "Johnny" Johnson and his aides, especially Theon, for doing the ran play the horses at Bowie with the same skill that he brought to the same around the corner where Wardman sits on the hill. of Heathcliffe in wuthering Heights." interpretation To Frank Swadley, whose Carlton is such an excellent place to meet for the of Rufus Blair as ambassador To Paramount being employer screen celebrities. to the country's film editors. And Bob Denton as the boss man of its To Madeleine Carroll for the most and local newsreel staff being intelligent gracious celebrity met at the Carlton in 1939. To Deanna Durbin for being Deanna Durbin To Anna Neagle, who was the loveliest. To Frank Capra for being one of the most sincere, unaffected people To Andrea Leeds, who had enough energy to play quiz games at who ever consistently made good pictures, and the money which de- breakfast the morning she arrived to become the belle of the President's servedly comes from making good pictures. Birthday Ball. To Carter Barron, Gene Ford, Angie Ratto. Ray Bell and others of j To George Brent's agent on the same occasion for being the stuffiest the local Locw staff who facilitated this work at all times, department's functionaire of the year. even when it did not agree down to the dotting of the last “i.” (The To Vera Zorina for the year's biggest surprise, when she got up "I" never gets into the column * capital voluntarily to speak at a Civic Theater luncheon after swearing to this of To John Payette. Frank La Falce. Dan Terrell and the staff department she would hate it all her (and its) life if it even suggested Warner's, ditto. she would speak. To Hardie Meakin. Keith's little big man. another ditto. To Rudulf (Bud) Watson for being an actor who does not mind To Sam Galanty, Columbia's Washington gallant, for the best desk even a typographical error that turns a blurb blah. set that ever landed on a drama editor's bench. To orchestra leaders who play “I Didn't Know What Time It Was” To Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times and Wollcott Gibbs of in a tempo which indicates they know what waltz time is. To the child who felt so sorry for its late-working critic father that one night it put out his bedroom slippers. (One night out of 365.) To Western High School's Drama Club for being such a good Customer Not Always Right, audience, and such a quizzical one, for a drama and movie reviewer who does not relish the idea ot speaking to any kind of audience. A good He’s Close one is a God-send, however. But This Year Saroyan's “Different” Play Reviewer Finds People Are Liking Makes Audiences Like It. To William Saroyan for giving a different kind of play, “The Time Those Plays They Should Like of Your Life.’’ to people who clamor for a different kind of play. And making them like it! Account LAURELS ON As Broadway Takes To Bill and Kay Hill, who introduced this department to Somerset THEIR BROWS—Bette Davis the best actress. Robert Donat the best actor and Frank Capra the best director, is the verdict of the committee stars who looked over the Maugham, who, in turn, provided the year's most pleasant evening of of film past year. Jeffrey Lynn (up in the corner) is the star critic whose score By Ira Walfert. topped all the others. conversation. (We almost said "shop talk," but he works for a far NEW YORK. different kind of shop.) The customers haven't been making fools of themselves theater's To Father Gilbert V. Hartke, head of Catholic U. s drama customers depart- this year Nothing irritates a reviewer so much as to find the ment, for the most ambitious amateur dramatic undertaking we en- turning sucker on him and paying out money to see the things he told them Stars Turn Critics to Hand Out Laurels for the Year 1939 countered, the musical biography of George M. Cohan. they hadn't ought to. But your reviewer is only mildly irritated this year. To Oscar Doob. Loews New York Of the 10 attractions most in demand at the ticket brokers, only one isn't publicist, for the most dramatic Vote Goes to Bette Davis, Robert Donat, Frank Capra and Mr. worth the price charged. matinee of the year, the Notre Dame-Army game. ‘Goodbye Chips’ According to current information, the 10 shows most in demand for To Wendy Hiller for her portrait of Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion,” In Annual Poll of Cinema Personalities’ Favorites ~ Christmas are: * which gave an entirely new meaning to the phrase "elfin charm.” "Du Was a cember 10. 1939—as seen the1 1. Md. (78 >. Barry Lady. “Du Barry Was a Lady.” is a dirty To Robert Sherwood, whose best writing of the year was not “Abe By Harold Heffernan. by “Goodbye. Chips" feature nuisance in theaters. Eve: “Too Many Girls." boys and girls who act in Hollywood 2. “Mr. Smith Goes to elimination of joke dressed up beautifully, and "Too Lincoln in Illinois," but a letter to this department. (Can't we have HOLLYWOOD. : Washing- though bargain bills ta new edi- motion You must remem- ton" (77). would "Hellzapoppin" fairly Many Girls" and "Streets of Paris" an opinion of our own?) Hail the victors of 1939! pictures. throw thousands of their fel- tion i. ber. the movie actors are great movie 3. “Pygmalion" (64). low actors out of work, are routine, meaning acceptable, ar- To the, people who have not sung "Jingle Bells” on the radio The North American Newspaper they "The Man Who Came to Dinner.” fans. They don’t merely act in 4. “Wuthering Heights”- (44). whacked down the duals a rangements of pretty girls that are this Christmas. Alliance's second annual “stars turn pic- by count see 5. “Ninotchka" (43). “Life With Father." vice versa. “Hell- critics" tures: they go to scores of other of 72 to 17. Significantly, only the like melodies and To of survey has been completed “Streets of Paris." Napoleon Napoleon 'ecially to George, who make the pictures in which their 6-7. “Dark Victory" (42). stars and featured zapoppin," as you must have heard and the winners established. colleagues players who ap- place a favorite detour on the \...y Chevy Chase. 6-7. “Love Affair” (42). “Skylark.'1 time unless have appear. So they're all pretty Well pear steadily in “B" pictures cast by this you spent Just as they did one year Story.” To the nameless individual, who wishes every one would us ago, equipped to vote on who's who and 8. “Babes in Arms" (37). votes in favor of double “Philadelphia the last 20 years under a pillow, is give bills. For when the idea of the actors’ own 9. (34). “Key Largo." combina- champagne, because we do not like champagn and turn it over to him what's what in the film business. “Stagecoach” instance, Jed Prouty. father of the a special kind of howl—a survey was inaugurated by the N. A. “Hamlet." with the webs unbroken. To each of the random-picked i 10. “Bachelor Mother” <29 >. famous Jones Family series. in> tion of elks kicking one another in spider N. A.. 100 Holvwood stars, featured list is the first concrete evi- voters was given a printed ballot Competition in the best actor and scribed a large “Yes" on his ballot This the pants with iron shoes while girls And last, but not least, to every one who has read this column and and small part players—picked at been able to containing space for selection of the best actress was not and added “Or where would w* dence anybody has get dance and a violin plays and Joe others written by this written always with the best of random from the | departments department, contract lists of actor's choices for 10 best as to how climactic tragedy pictures | nearly so close As in 1938. Bette Joneses be?" Europe's Miller jokes thud softly through the intentions, if not the best of results. five major studios—went to the polls habits of of the year, for best performance Davis made a runaway race of the Some stars color, is affecting American air. this cast preferred many week and their votes for an act'r. for can by :st performance feminine jivishi (coring 37 others did not. The vote in favor thought. However, if anybody “7..e Man Who Came to Dinner” the points, outstanding production achieve- an actress and for best from it. he is by achieve- to 12 for Greta Garbo ("Ninotchka"), of tinted pictures—43 to 29—was draw a conclusion and "Life With Father" are un- ments of the year. Film Schedules ment in directing. her nearest much closer than welcome. The list includes some pleasant comedies. The first named Today's '■’omp'titor. Wendy you'd expect, be- PALACE—"Ninotchka.” Garbo goes gay in Paris: 2. 4:30. 7 and 9:35 When the smoke of close and Two added resulted in Hiller, memorable heroine of “Pyg- cause Hollywood is a where sense and some nonsense. It has is a compilation of insults and the questions place p.m. lively competition cleared and the I an One malion.” wasn’t overlooked even love to the tragedy, comedy, bedroom last named revolves around the an- interesting symposium. they gild lily. But, parlor results were EARLE—"On Dress the "Dead End” kids confirmed by Cecil B. asked. “Do you favor double fea- though that picture was released 11 surprisingly, 11 stars who have re- comedy, kitchen comedy, slapstick tics at home of a bully. I found Parade.”, go to military De Mille. James Roosevelt and Win- tures?" and the other. “Do you ; months ago. She was only a point cently in colored farce, smut and the gentle kind of “Life With Father" especially pain- school: 2. 4:40, 7:35 and 10:30 p.m. Stage shows: 3:45, 6:30 and pre- appeared pictures field R. Sheehan, a trio of industry fer color or black and white behind Garbo for third place. either themselves as fa- wit that tickles church festivals. ful and sat while the theater 9:15 p.m. pho- expressed moodily leaders who acted as the fol- to judges, tography?" Bette had three in the voring black and white or only spar- Perhaps it would be reasonable about me rocked with laughter. A CAPITOL—"Everything Happens at Night." including another Sonja 1 pictures lowing results in the principal divi- The 10 best motion pictures of the race—"Dark “The Old ing use of color. decide that the war as yet has not subscriber reports to me where I Henie lesson in grace on ice: 2. 4:40. 7:35 and 10:30 p.m. Stage j Victory.” sions were flung up on the score- i year, as tabulated from the number Maid" and "The Private Lives of touched off any single mood in this erred. shows: 3:35. 6:30 and 9:20 p.m. Now, then, who is 1939's champion board: of times each was mentioned on the still Elizabeth and Essex"—and her fol- critic the stars? country. The American is "I would agree." he says, “that Rides Marlene Dietrich makes the wild j among Hollywood KEITH'S—"Destry Again,” Best motion picture of 1939: actors' ballots, developed the most lowers scattered their ballots as he has—about among The judges decided to settle that thinking always ‘Life With Father' is a distasteful West wilder: 2. 3:55. 5:55. 7:55 and 9:55 p.m. "March of Time": Mr. | “Goodbye, Chips." spirited competition of the survey. all three, an unusual tribute which I little matter back everything there is—and reacting experience in the theater if the 3:40, 5:35. 7:35 and 9:35 by checking p.m. Best performance by an actor: The breath-taking finish found shows the actors think Bette is I as he has—in as direc- in were realistic. But through the returns and singling always many characters it 5:35, 7:35 and 9:35 p.m. Robert Donat in Mr. “Goodbye, "Goodbye. Mr. Chips” leading “Mr. in she does. out tions as a its tour are such cardboard oretty good everything the player's ballot that came pinwheel during they obviously Laurel and Goes to the METROPOLITAN—“Flying Deuces.” Hardy in the For- Chips.” Smith Washington” by Her “Dark Victory" got the most closest to the final re- of duty. folk that you can’t get hurt at matching eign Legion: 2, 3:50, 5:50, 7:45 and 9:45 p.m. Best performance by an actress: hairline margin of exactly one vote! votes, however. what do. You have to sults on all questions. This was Well, those are the results of half they laugh." Bette Davis in “Dark The British-made “Pygmalion.” in COLUMBIA—"Drums Along the Mohawk.” pre-Revolution adventure Victory.” Donat's over James Stew- done. And meet the winner: the current season, and. while What he means is that if it were Best victory they in the Colonies: 7:10 and 9 35 achievement in directing: third place, was 13 markers behind a 2:25, 4:50, p.m. art (“Mr. Smith Goes to Washing- Jeffrey Lynn. are not remarkable, they are not a better play it would be lot worse, Frank for “Mr. Smith Goes “Mr. Smith.” Capra a for each of and the reason the is so is LITTLE—“Rembrandt,” the Charles 3:35, 6:40 ton") provoked some surprise. Counting point the bad either. They show a Broadway play good Laughton portrait: to Washington.” The 10 best pictures of the year, that it’s so bad. No it is a and 9:50 p.m. “Dawn Over Ireland”: 2, 5:10 and 8:20 Every one had looked for a stretch 10 pictures finally named, and 1 that is in full stride and competent doubt, p.m. These are the 1939 “bests” of all as decreed by the actors, together to be but, run in the “best actor" division, point each for the 5 added ques- in its way of going. point considered, being TRANS-LUX—News and shorts; continuous from 2 pm. pictures released in Hollywood be- with the number of votes each re- but the Englishman defeated tions Mr. Lynn came through w’ith In the top 10, 4 are musical shows. (See WOLFERT, Page D-2.) tween December 10, 1938, and De- ceived, follow: Jimmy handily for first place by a i the astonishing total of 13 out of a vote of 42 to 21—or a 2-to-l ratio. j possible 15 points—the champion Henry Fonda’s “Young Mr. Lincoln” : star critic of Hollywood. was liked by five balloters—and that Last year the N. A. N. A. poll A Note on the Chin forecast Leading With gave Omaha's pride third position. accurately every subsequent Oddly (but that’s Hollywood for victor in the academy award com- Columnist Steps Right Out and Names Some of Year’s you), last year's poll winner, Spen- petitions—but it cannot be depend- cei Tracy, received only 4 votes for ed on to repeat that feat. That's Best Films and Best Performances his single performance in “Stanley because a picture named “Gone and Livingstone.” Which seems, to j With the Wind.” unseen out here By Sheilah Graham. cine among Robert Donat tor bis prove the old filmtown axiom: as yet, will be released December “Mr. Chips,” Mickey Rooney for You’re as as last 28. thus making it eligible for the HOLLYWOOD. only good your his performance in “Babes in Arms.” picture. 12.000 voters of the academy to I'm going to stick my neck out and answer the batch of perennial Lawrence Olivier in “Wuthering over. And there's a Among the directors, Capra and ponder possi- querries that comes to my desk at this time of the year—which is the James Stewart's “Mr. the be showered Heights,” his “Mr. Smith" led a widely scat- bility epic may best of the the Smith" and Spencer Tracy's “Stan- with statuettes. a tre- picture year?—which worst?—which actor and actress tered field by a comfortable mar- Anyway, and Livingstone.” But, if I mendous battle is foreseen between gave the best performance?—which filmite made most progress this ley gin. By drawing 20 votes, against year?— for Donat. must. I'll put my “yes" 11 for his closest Ed- Bette Davis and Vivien (Scarlett) which of the has proved the divorce was contender. marriage year happiest?—which Leigh for that feminine acting the biggest surprise? I suppose one should say that mund Goulding, (“Dark Victory”), was to “Oscar." have been a lot of this a Vivien has made the most Capra able repeat his 1938 There good pictures year—and lot of bad Leigh The voters in this __ year's poll feminine film progress in 1939. From triumph. John Ford ("Stagecoach") ones, its interesting to see now were: being practically unknown to Amer- and Sam Wood (“Mr. Chips") were the various studios rate their own of which cost from to Charley Grapewin. Mary Healy, $1,000,000 ican film audiences at the begin- tied for third place, with 10 each. $2,000,000. Nancy Kelly, Dorothy Lamour. Jed product. Warners consider their ning of the year, she ends it with a Getting down to the two little Twentieth Century-Fox is back- Prouty. Linda Darnell, Robert Shaw, in studio this blaze of glory as the aforementioned side issues stuck on the 1939 ballot, tops product year— “Jessie James,” which that Richard Greene. Byington, ing But Miss was a star it was registered in no uncertain Spring “The Private Scarlett, Leigh “Dodge City,” “Juarez,” studip says was the biggest money- terms that the artists of Eddie Collins, Joan Valeri. Sidney in her own right in England, before Hollywood ~ Lives of Elizabeth and Essex,” “Dark maker released by any company in coming to Hollywood, and she has are vigorously opposed to the double See"‘HEFFERNAN71iaie D-2.) 1939; “The Rains Came.” “Stanley Victory,” “We Are Not Alone,” “Each merely fulfilled the predictions of ~l and Livingstone" and “Drums Along dawn I Die.” Of this batch of mil- those who had seen her previous the Mohawk" (I liked two of the Attractions lion-dollar movies, I did not like and plays. Coming four—can you Colum- picture® “Juarez.” I would have liked “We guess?). bia executives believe that, when the Jane Bryan is something else Stage. Are Not Alone" if Paul had Until she Bette Davis’ Nfuni prizes are handed out they will get again. played NATIONAL—'“The White-Plume," new musical version of "Cyrano concentrated more on acting and Old Jane them all with “Mr. Smith Goes to daughter in “The Maid,” de (instead of Monday) to run through less on his accent. I liked the Bergerac,” opens Tuesday English believes was ranked little better than a stock which is and Essex” Washington.” Goldwyn Saturday night. The cost of the elaborate show, being pageantry of “Elizabeth saw her out- he has the winner in “Wuthering player, and you rarely the Shuberts, includes Nina Olivette, Ruby Mercer and went in a way for the rest, presented by big Heights.” side of a “B” picture. With the and Houston. with a for “Dark Vic- George preference And now for the picture I liked role opposite Paul Muni in “We Are Screen. tory.” the best. I’ll play safe and give you Not Alone,” she not only stole the its best 1939 Universal rates pic- three—"Gone With the Wind,” picture from him, but she put her- KEITH’S—“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” the famed horror tale tures—“First Love,” “Destry Rides “Dark Victory” and “Wuthering self into the major rank of stardom. which once served Lon Chaney so well, now serve* Charles and “The Per- Again” Under-Pup.” Heights.” The worst picture of Keep an eye on Jane. She is def- Laughton. Maureen O’Hara, the lovely rish lass who was with I “First Love” the sonally, thought the year, in my opinion—“Our Lead- initely going places. Mr. Laughton in “Jamaica Inn. "plays the leading feminine role weakest to date of the Durbin ve- in which ing Citizen.” The year 1939 saw 80 per cent of “Hunchback,” opens tomorrow. hicles. The other two were swell— I wouldn’t like the Academy take the mat- PALACE—"Gulliver’s Travels," the Max Fleischer full-length color Dietrich Hollywood’s eligibles particularly “Destry,” with cartoon on Lemuel's visit to the is Award Committee’s job of deciding rimonial plunge. Not only am I report Lilliputians, set to fol- making the most surprising come- low Garbo’s “Ninotchka." between the best-acting-of-the-year sticking out my neck in naming the happy Among other things it has back of the year. (Last year she Jessica and claims of Vivien Leigh and Bette couple with the best chance of per- songs by Dragonette Lanny Ross. was listed as “box-office poison.” Davis. Bette was superb in "Dark permanence togehter, but they will EARLE—“Four Wives," the chapter in which wedlock overtakes the There are now more pictures in Victory.” So is Vivien in “Gone sue for dfvorce the last of those popular “Four Daughters,” opens Friday. The cast Marlene’s schedule than at any probably day With the Wind.” In fact, these after this column So I will is the same as in the original, with the Lane Sisters. Rosemary, other time since she came to Holly- appears. two—with perhaps the addition of tread Priscilla and Lola, and Gale Page playing the daughters who wood.) warily. Ingrid Bergman—are the only ab- become wives. There will be a new stage show, headed by Martha Metro's nominations for the big- solutely top performers among the There's Hedy Lamarr-Gene Mar- Raye. Brian gest and best pictures of the year female emoters of 1939. I think key, Tyrone Power-Annabella, CAPITOL—“The Secret of Dr. Kildare,” new adventure of Dr. Lew Aheme-Joan Fontaine, Ronald Col- are “Wizard of Oz,” “Goodbye, Mr. Vivien Leigh should get the award, Ayres and Dr. Lionel Barrymore, is next Friday’s attraction. man-Benita Hume, the Chips.” “Gone With the Wind” and but only because Bette has had it Douglas Helen Gilbert is part of the secret and Laraine Day is again Robert “Babes in Arms.” Paramount twice before and because Scarlett Fairbanks, juniors, Taylor- on hand. There will be a new stage show, too. Barbara Stanwick, Florence Rice- names “Union Pacific,” "Gulliver’s was the hardest and most exacting METROPOLITAN—“Invisible Stripes.” story of the difficulties of Travels,” “Man About Town.” of this—or Robert Wilcox, Merle Oberon-Alex- a part any other—year, living down criminal past, is scheduled for Friday. People in R-K-O is ar.der Korda, Clark Gable-Carole DECORATE A NEW MUSICAL—Nina Olivette and Ruby Mercer play leading feminine roles standing pat on “Gunga and she came through—how she involved in the drama are Jane Bryan, William Holden,, and dozens of lesser lead- George "The White Plume" musical version of “Cyrano de Bergeracwhich opens at the National Din,” “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” and came through! Lombard, Raft and Humphrey Bogart, Theater Tuesday (not tomorrow) night. "Hunchback of Notre Dame”—each Now for the boys. It's hard to de- (See GRAHAM, Page D-2.) k \ « 'I ,4 $