FEATURES Amusements-Radio Part Five F Music—Art—Books 9

Part 5—-8 Pages WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 26, 1937. PAGE F—1 “Snow White” Is Heralded The of Goes In for > Queen Taps Spectacle Comes Now a Dissenter As Picture to Make In the Annual Parade Movies Genuine Art Of “10»Best” Polls

Agnostics Capitulate Before Disney. ^ With Some Observations 'About National’s Leading Lady Known This Yearly Business of To Washington Society. Awarding Palms. By Jay Carmody. By Douglas W. Churchill. night some months when the ago, night breathed coldly on the HOLLYWOOD. hills the Hollywood (advt.), conversation drifted around to the sub- OEL! Noel! At tbla glad Christmas time when every one else is gay of ONEject the movies as an art. "Ha,” said the possessor of one of the and forgiving And trying to lead a life free from acrimony for at least film colony’s highest intelligence quotients, "all you have to do to N a few dAgs, this department has withdrawn from the throng around realise the movies are not an art is to see some old pictures. Art is. timeless, the wassail bowl and retired to a corner to do a little disagreeing. For but movies so are definitely of their period their life is as short as this. Bea- this is the season when the "bests” are selected. A thousand groups and ■on’s hats—women’s hats, of course.”" individuals will name the “best” picture, the "best” performances, the "best” As for carrying the same meaning from one generation to another, as direction and the like. The academy will hold a *10,000 banquet to unveil A great opera, a ballet, a play or a painting, it takes just one such picture as its opinions; the Screen Actors' Guild will do Its log-rolling and bestow the those being shown so popularly in Washington Film Society programs to make 1937 palm on its favorite member; the New York film critics who, irked at the man's point clear. The man, incidentally, was Delmer Daves, a screen Hollywood’s popularity contests, make their own nominations for immortality, writer whose genius had netted him enough to become a studious cosmopolite, will make some suggestions; columnists, fan magazines, radio commentators— An authority on a great many things other than the mechanics of film-drama every one who can get any one else to listen—will deposit a few laurels here writing. and there. Most will be orthodox selections; the choices made outside of In making his statement, however, Mr. Daves seems to have reckoned Hollywood will be honest and thoughtful but, for the most part, they will 1 lean toward Without an enterprise that was being pushed in Hollywood the very night the conventional. This which has been of his speech. The enterprise in question was the production of the first full- department described as having the weazened soul of an old order-buster length animated feature by the Walt Disney studios, "Snow White and the does not wish to quarrel with others. It merely wishes to point out to those who Seven Dwarfs.” The genius of Disney, three years and $1,600,000 were the name ’s work in "Camille” that her performance is identical with basic elements which went into the creation of the picture. It was released that of every other picture she has made and that if is to be in Hollywood last week and the gigantic repercussion of its first showing indi- recognition given the maxim that practice makes perfect, then by all means she should be honored. It cates quite emphatically that an imperishable triumph of the movies as an desires to observe that the work in the early reels of Paul Muni’s Art has been achieved. The complete capitulation of the. most stubborn and "Emile Zola” was identical with that in the first half of his "Good Earth” agnostic critics, plus recognition of Disney’s power to work miracles, makes and that if any medals are to be pinned on him, it should be for his role of the whole thing believable, even before one has seen the picture. Wang. It believes it was a little thoughtless of Metro not to have in "Good The Disney technique medium makes the predictions of imperishability in telephones Earth” so that Luise Rainer would have a some perfect score in rerendering her “Great scene this case plausible. His Snow White will be just Snow White, not rep- Ziegfeld" In every picture she has made. resentation of the character of an actress’ named Mary Smith, who was born Every one, of course, judges the screen his own In Illinois, who got a lot of publicity when she was named for the part, and by standards. Although the more mature minded may accept such a statement with an whom you might remember as having played many other roles if you were element of it is true skepticism, that there are millions in America who lead two lives_ so see the picture again in 1987. She will be the Snow White of the Grimm a drums in own .. mile-a-minute then Eleanor Powell dances one the most their and the character lives never will Pown siries °J taps, twirling through cellophane hoops, of of their favorite stars and of the two the brothers and of universal childhood. She will be that always, and numbers her career thrilling of in this spectacular moment from M-G-M’s in which she co-stars with Nelson Eddu. The is “Rosalie," imaginative life the more real, the more vivid. It is a She be anything "else. So will the dwarfs and the fierce huntsman and the picture is at Loew s Palace. reaction that ac- counts for the fantastic success of the medium. To the bangtailed buck and the other characters in what seems to be the movies’ followers of Robert Taylor, a performance—any performance—of that ’miracle for Christmas 1937! sterling trouper is regarded as a work of art. They would probably tell you that "This Is nor else really will see the film as a My Affair” as Washington, anywhere perhaps, not only worth sitting through, which is a It has been set for release for 25, when Hollywood’s and grave question to others, but it Christmas present. general February Tops Flops should win one of the little brass Oscars the puts out. it will come to Keith's to take up tenancy for as long as there are children, academy Worshipers of would insist that "The Bride Wore Red" was a better And adults with childlike hearts, to keep it there. “Tovarich” picture Of Given than "Birth of a Nation.” It is 1937 reported that there are people around the land who * thought that Marion Davies in "pRETTY Lillian Emerson will make her first professional appearance in "Ever Since Eve" was outstanding, Is but the studio has experienced some in Washington tomorrow night at the National in "Spring Thaw.” But by Coining Once-O ver difficulty locating them. no means her first personal appearance. Miss Emerson wandered prominently WHAT is “best” and what through the social life of the National Capital for years before the stage laid go is not is purely a matter of opinion. View- claim to her beauty and her talent In fact, Washington and Baltimore used And It Is Dared ing the screen solely as a medium of entertainment, this to lay a sort of joint claim to Miss Emerson. Even now, she still remains Heffernan Chooses department experiences considerable in the goddaughter of Mrs. Lawrence Townsend. To the difficulty finding a "best.” While it may not Surpass have Miss of Mr. Mrs. Neil Davis he Bests and Worsts excelled in all departments, "Make Emerson, daughter and Emerson, the Way for Tomorrow” might easily be named as former president of the Atlantic Coast Line, was born in Fayetteville, N. C„ Stage Version. one of the truly distinguished films of the In year. Putting it on made her bow at Marlborogh House, Canada, as a dancer when she was 4 years Hollywood. another basis, and it is really the one that impells our old, was introduced to in New later was at the Court reactions, on leaving society York, presented Mac Arthur. the theater it By Harry seems to have given more for Of St. James, and is a prominent member of the Junior League. By Harold Heffernan. the money than any other HEN Hollywood made "Stage Others gave more spectacle and But, socially active as she has been, she also has found time to appear HOLLYWOOD. higher paid actors but none equaled it in Door” into a motion pic- in an sum- honesty, rich human qualities or valid to even dozen Broadway productions. ture it there are oc- days more before the drama. It is that element of proved toat validity In "Spring Thaw,” a comedy by Clare Kummer, Miss Emerson will play casions when the cinema marizing season gets out ■ ol Prompts me to nominate Beulah Bondi as*the * outstanding performer of Roland Young, who once more is leaving the movies to lay his heart so there** still time to 1937. opposite can improve upon the stage. Now, hand, Certainly none of the glamour children and talent at the feet of his first love, the theater. Few have made sneak under the wire with a ppproached her. persons if you have kept your ear to the SIX w*tb the “be*ts" •*»«,««, 0, that Joan Crawford, tripped up by several awful stories this year, will start her wili be well handled. Then there drea Leeds, zooming to Instantaneous itztr?,f° 6" “”««<« lb« climb back to box office in "Mannikin” .. It’s her kind of advance will Basil Rathbone to the by glory story, be play recognition and a subsequent leading Herald. Those whoT p,„„„ the Side Streets ttJT Z read the names of the 10 reports go, which her last picture. "The Bride Wore Red.” definitely was not... Soviet commissar, and if you saw the role through outstanding bit in “Stage box office star* will r.m k. Up them to be Shirley remember Miss Bess Davis Schreiner gave up a box for "Spring Thaw” to attend tomor- play you can visualize the suave Mr. Door.” Temple, Clark Gable Robert^! vwx, Vv of the»1937 “The Other Wise Man”... a in the PhwelWane row night’s opening performance model, Rathbone doing topping job Find of the year (male)—John Hall, Withers, Astaire and Rogers, Sonja Henie, « " Miss Schreiner and "The Other Wise Man,” of course, are practically synony- part. New York’s Is handsome bit elevated to star Loy. Seven of these had Oary^£ ™"7R Mercury Group player, nothing to do with of We sometimes confused and think she wrote it Instead of ±5UL as ior in is Dusurcra ui uc tiering any the 24 film, nn mous get role in “The Hurricane” through one wait Just having directed it for 13 years .. Paramount, which said a few days ago the stage play—we shall and More Life Than of Samuel sudden hunches. Rogers-—largely »*—*• Showing Goldwyn’s 111 ^e first w that it was to send Cecil B. De Mille to town for the here of see. The celluloid version of "Stage S^rTth^’t11!!;string °nev;GinBer while was going showing the star of “Damsel in version P°or,ress and tv! "The Buccaneer,” seems now to have routed Mr. De Mille around the Capital. Door” topped the footlight Magnates. DEBT dressed feminine player—Lo- Cooper was head man in “Souls at Customary Sea,” both of which are in because the movie makers had the retta Young (previews of her second The th" group. conclusion is inescapable; either sense to use the story only as this department la good Richard Watts, Jr. new wearables are offered in fash- or some wrong* cast it By 80,000,000 customers are and you can the basis for an idea, then NEW ion magazines even before Loretta take your choice. YORK. Little Miss aside and write a human full of a to wear Temple retained her yarn are signs that khe theater is hiding out on the side streets these gets chance them). position with “We Willie wmin.- in the and But there’s star—Tex Cupid Spotlight feeling compassion. nights. It isn’t that the motion picture has given it an inferiority Busiest Ritter, Western pinurra *hfch"" ■>■*»■* - no call for doing anything of this who made 10 features in Gable Complex, since Broadway, as a show place for Hollywood's exhibits, hero, 1937 zt;rrrrkept his No. 2 spot with “Parnell” and "Tovarich.” “Saratoga,” both very oir- sort in the case of horrors rather than an and still found time to spend four bad THEREhas become a museum for cinema art gallery tures. Taylor moved from up number four of The play's the thing here. (And so, months on the road the previous vear to thiwi Matrimony Marks Hollywood’s for the demonstration of film wonder works. It certainly couldn’t be that a making personal ‘'Cami,le” of was the acting of “Broadway Melody,” course, superb have been so resplendent that they have embarrassed appearances. to “PeE “£££. few of the stage premieres My Affair” and certamly the last three were of 1937. Maria Abba.) If you saw “Tovarich” <9* Best discovery from radio—Charlie dreary offering, CrSfbt ™ High Lights the others by sheer glitter. Although out of the nowhere as a result at National must remember of “Double or and the you the anti-Roose- McCarthy, whose sensational rise Nothing” “Waikiki Weddin» “I’d Rather Be Right,” result of its combats with Hollywood, neiUier of which could be considered classics. that one scene which is an example made many stars wish were William Powell broke into the By Sheilah Graham. velt musical show given a pro-Roosevelt but it can still put on a good show they of "Double of the reason the stage is not going dummies. *0becau^ Wedding.” “Emperor's Candlesticks” and “Last of HOLLYWOOD. bias by George M. Cohan's incompar- from time to time. Mrs. Cheyney” and all but the to die and let the screen carry on Best box office first were bad films. high lights of 1937 Dan Cupid had his option taken able performance in the presidential picture—“Saratoga,” Jane Withers made the torch. It's that moment in the the last Jean Harlow which Shirley’s mother unhappy by crashing the wiert up in a big way, and joined in friendly—or a had one of the most luxurious it is film, with unfriendly—matrimony kitchen where the duchess role, those boys group four pictures that could hardly be called grand can ^NEVERTHELESS, cleaned up all its play dates in the inspired. The team of bumper crop of film celebrities. openings in theatrical history, it up the side of the drama Astaire and continued and the have taken to servitude, alleys Rogers in the first 10 although slipped from third Grable said "I do” to Jackie (“The prince has record time of 30 days and then went they HOLLYWOODBetty Kid”) Cooper in Novem- when hardly be said that the drama gone who seem at the moment to be most to seventh; it was their old and are altered; pictures “Shall We when ideals being out of circulation. Dance,” which WS a bit ber—culminating Hollywood’s longest (three years) engagement Miriam in for extravaganzas of the Ziegfeld- alive. First of all, there is the up repetitious, that them two nobles of ancient Russia, who Most unusual Roach’s kept going. Miss Henie, who is lovely and and Alice Faye preferred the quicker route and with Anatole White-Carroll ere this year. At the and picture—Hal charming Hopkins eloped new see the toorld coming Mercury Theater, with attained her fame through very bad of hate the regime, be production of “Topper," with Con- versons "Cinderella" but she did the Lltvak and Tony Martin, respectively, ❖--- same time it assuredly cannot its exciting production of “Julius character on which in a new light, put the fortune which stance Grant skates, apparently makes a difference. climbed over tne La Dor Day wees ena that the is in such a Caesar” and its Bennett Cary and Cooper up vorced Brent June intrusted to them at thought stage part-time presentation one place to ninth by his old and an Lang hardly the Czar has Roland a hither- pictures by excellent performance In As tor a fast one on the situation that it has been driven of Marc Blitzstein's Yjung—popularizing Mary pulled had time to get acclimated to being the of the Soviet peasants trying snarlingly humor- “Souls at Sea.” Miss Loy automatically belongs in the first 10 of disposal some- to banned subject, the ghost story. anything that mud-sl ingers with a sudden wedding called Mrs. Vic under cover and must hide out ous operetta “The Cradle Will Rock.” is delightful and and it is Orsatti—May 29— who used to be the Czar’s people. Most publicized star (favorably)— charming nice to know that “Parnell” did not injure to good-looking Manuel Del where in1 the suburbs. In a word or Then there is the revue her. youthful, when Mr. Orsatti set her free via the This is one of the electric moments delightful because of I cannot offer , two successive Carapo in February ... Arline Judge same its followers—a mo- two, you any simple that the members of the International As for Claudette Colbert painless method Ditto the stage gave smash hits and an avoidance of scan- falling from grace, there seems to be no good abandoned her career for Millionaire declarative reason why the theater this Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union offer Martha Raye and Buddy Westmore— ment which was human and warm dal gossip. reason, for she had some worthy and popular pictures during the season. Joan Dan in and is season should be at its most provocative under the title of "Pins and Needles." Topping April currently wedding, June 1; divorce, September 4. and throbbing with life. Crawford, on the other hand, had all bad ones as did Dick Powell and Joe E. Sir Stork back in its unostentatious bypaths. As final exhilaration, there is the stir- of the expecting Strip-teaser “Stage Door” (if we may go progress year— Brown. Jeanette MacDonald, however, was not a victim of a change in As a matter of it would be an if not ^JREATEST fare; Louise Hovick (Gypsy Rose Lee) once more) had its superb fact, ring, altogether satisfactory, Ritz Brothers, who came from she lost out because her formula was not BETTY FURNESS was the Novem- to that just up probably changed. for unpardonable exaggeration to make that the Federal Theater donned wedding finery Robert sequences, too, especially the one production nowhere to usurp Marx Brothers' spot It all goes to prove something but what eludes me at the moment. ber bride of Music Maestro such statement without careful us of John Missy in August. where Andrea Leeds, with the song any Project gives Howard as craziest and most popular zanies Johnny Green Eighteen-year-old reservation. For it that the Lawson’s now historic “Processional.” in her ears, climbed happens in films. Bride Virginia Bruce is still in a Anne lo6t her status of her yesterday Shirley spinster, best new play of the year was pre- Not only do* these provocative offer- Greatest comeback hase of wonder over her December 18 the stairs to her death by heartbreak. of the year— Film to John ... Schedule Payne, August 22 Paulette sented, not by a dramatic organization ings of provocative works add vigor, Today's with J. Walter Ruben But we still dare the cinema to 's fine performance nuptials Goddard broke her long-standing that in and luster to the season at that kitchen gop for ardent esthetic ideals, lmmagination in “True Confession” and in several KEITH’S-^—“Hitting a New High,” Lily Pons in a musical Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Ray- silence anent her make our spine tingle kidding Him: reported marriage but by a producer who, despite his in the drama, but they also suggest Drummond after a 2, 3:55, 5:55, 7:30 and 9:50 mond culminated their first meeting with scene of “Tovarich” the way the stage Bulldog pictures, p.m. Charlie Chaplin by saying "yes” superior taste and is a handsome warning to the theater’s ■* did. Intelligence, year's listless acting. new on the doorstep of a friend with a and then “no” when the was PALACE—“Rosalie," mammoth film musical, with Nelson Eddy story known chiefly for his commercially customary magnates. They hint to Best direction of the year—The wedding and honeymoon in June printed. and Eleanor Powell: 1:45, 4:20, 6:55 and 9:30 p.m. minded guile. It is hardly necessary them, rather openly, that in a pinch swift and all-around dramatic saw Pickford “HTOVARICH” af the Earle is about tempo The same month Mary In addition to those mentioned, us are EARLE—“Submarine D-l,” down to, and under, the sea in 1 to add that the producer is Sam H. all of who still enthusiastic results attained by John Cromwell in ships: 1:45, become Mrs. Buddy Rogers Luise there was one other divorce that the only thing clearly defined 4:40, 7:40 and 10:35. Stage with Brian: only Harris, and that his play is John Stein- for the theater could somehow or other “The Prisoner of Zenda.” shows, Mary 3:50, 6:45 has remained Mrs. Clifford in the mirror of the periscope we use Rainer hit the headlines—Mrs. Leopold beck’s brilliant “Of Mice and Men.” do without them. I certainly hope and 9:40 p.m. for cinema other Costliest picture—"Conquest.” Elab- Odets for a little more than ll months. Stokowski’s from her conductor hus- horizon-scanning, not have to do such Being grimly determined to be fair in that we will any orate sets and retakes ran CAPITOL—“Man Proof,” Myma Loy, in a romance seasoned with both the status of band. this have Him bookings being at the moment expensive Bob Burns changed And would passed almost all things, I should likewise thing, but at least we realize that any comedy and drama: 2, 4:25, 7:10 and 9:50 shows: a haze of this film’s total charge to $3,500,000— p.m. Stage 3:25, Secretary Harriet Foster to wife on the unnoticed—but for the romantic link- surrounded by uncertainty, will not report that such valuable contributions such lookout be necessarily a since the de- 6:10 and 8:55 p.m. of Stokowski’s name with which probably will be dispelled be- figure unapproached last day of May Anthony Quinn ing Spinster to the season as fatal. “Golden Boy” and bacle of “Ben-Hur.” METROPOLITAN—“Holy ’Em Navy,” Annapolis wins at took for better—and better—Kather- Sphinx Greta Garbo. fore this is in print, of course, making again football “Father Malachy’s Miracle” and such There is, however, one discouraging Best musical picture—Deanna Dur- and luhv 2, 3:45, 5:50, 7:50 and 9:50 De daughter of Death dealt sparingly with the movie us appear either nuts or a liar. Unless p.m. ine Mille, adopted entertaining presentations as “Am- note about any such challenge. Al- bin’s “100 Men and a treated in 1937—but settled his the are us in the dark, Girl,” COLUMBIA—“The Firefly,” Jeanette MacDonald and Friml Cecil (October 2) ... Two weeks later colony account boys keeping "The Cradle Will Rock” music: phitryon 38,” “Hooray for What!” and though both to the finest recording of any picture ended his of by taking Hollywood’s best-loved star however, and not letting us in on the 2:05, 4:30, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Francis Lederer game “French Without Tears" were offered and “Pins and Needles” are original to don’t know what date. marital hide and seek, marching altar- —youthful, popular Jean Harlow know, they Just they no contribution to LITTLE—“THEODORA GOES WILD,” revival of that by producers who, even though they works, they present Great picture song hit—“Moonlight gay comedy, with (June 7) Old-timer Ruth Roland will be showing a week from now. are with Irene Dunne, and “The River”: ward Margo. may represent such estimable organ- dramatic writing. They musical and Shadows,” by Frederick Hollander Continuous afternoon and * his mark with performed her final adventure In To be sure, you may depend on the I Cupid overshot izations as the Theater Guild and the shows and, although assuredly do and Leo Robin, written for “Jungle evening. October Director Richard Bole- fact that “Rosalie” is big enough to to be Georgs Brent and Constance Worth, Group Theater, now belong pretty not mean patronizing toward Princess,” starring Dorothy Lamour. TRANS-LUX—News and shorts. Shows run 1 hour and 16 minutes, slawskl away last ... ■tick around at the Palace and that May 10, and took back his love arrow passed January much to the stream of Broadway. This musicaLsay (ComlsM. 18S7, br tbs North Americas continuous from a p.m. December 7, when Miss Worth di- (See GRAHAM, Page F-3.) (Sea MAO ARTHUR, Faf* I*-2.) Broadway may ba a trifle groggy as a Jhmmvm AlHarme, tie.)