The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 76

The Indianapolis Sllllday Star Amusements-Music Motion Pictures VOL. 42. XO. 188. 29 SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10, 1044.

15 CENTS. "The Patriots'' Rated Best New Play Seen On Local Stages This Year Plawm. Ill 1 WH' 'i T''--'' ,1.1 mm mi a V7 1 lisp 7V -7 "Othello" Memorable Revivals, Repeaters Dominate 1944 By COR BIN PATRICK. rpHE BOOK teems definitely cloted on the theatrical year 19U at far as the legitimate stag ii concerned. The next attraction pres-ntly on schedule at tht English is "Three Is a Family," the home front comedy left over from last season and now set for a return engagement Jan.

4, 5, 6 and 7. Tht Murat, which has played an increasingly Important part in our theatergoing this' season, will be home to "Porgy and Bess," George Gershwin's musical drama of life on Catfish Row, Jan. 11, 12 and 13. "Porgy," too, it a repeater. It was here two years ago, when it played the English.

Since there is nothing- more to be added, this teems to be the time to glance backward at tht wonders we have seen, matinee and night, sinct January and estimate their value for tht record. It hat not been a particularly brilliant year. Much of it has been worth while, but, on the whole, it has failed to takt full advantage of tht reawakened public Interest In tht stage and to cement that Interest with tht abundance of good things that make theatergoing a habit. Tht best of its attractions havt been show that were handed down from years past. It produced only one new play of real distinction Sidney Klngsley's drama of Jefferson's time, "The Patriots." L.

iv. Sv- iHv ivVi V) 4 GENE and "II Trovatore" in the spring and at the Murat in "Alda" and "RIgoletto" thlt fall. Charles L. Wagner's production of "Traviata," with Natalie Conner in the leading role, was better. The Monte Carlo ballet, led by Nathalie Krassovska and Alexandra Danilova, gave three brilliant performances at the Murat.

The Ballet Theater remains on the program in the Martens series, at tht English Tuesday night. The year's low, as usual, was struck by "Tobacco Road," It's so ornery and tough that it seems likely to last forever. In addition to the Ballet Theater, the Civlc's December production of Somerset Maugham's play, "Theater," offered each night until at. ANN SOTHERN at Loew'i Thursday in Gobi to Reno." TIERNEY In the mystery film, "Laura," opening Wednesday at the Indiana. AC ..7 fSipi' Jane Russell Actually Will Be Seen On the Screen First Film Since lll-Fated 'Outlaw' Is 'Young Widow' By RHEILAH GRAHAM.

Hollywood, Dec. 9. THE MOST publicized girl in Hollywood Is starting work in a picture that will actually be teen by audiences throughout tht nation. I refer to tuperduper Pin-Up Girl Jane Russell, who began a picture called "Tht Outlaw" four years ago and who in ont year received more publicity ihan any other woman In tht "world (Including Eleanor Roosevelt, Clara Boothe Luce and Mme. Chiang Kal-thek), and who Is now about to start work for Hunt Stromberg In "Young Widow." Thursday, merits consideration this week.

The war bond premiere of Abbott and Costello's "Lost In a Harem" at Loew's Wednesday night shouldn't be overlooked, either. Surprise! JOHN KRIZA and Janet Read, tens series. mmm-mmm iSMM miM i i i i sfijSsit 77 WHWI JrS WW rvnv It li V7 7 v'-x it wtf- -m. 7i' i 1 i i I 1 rVr i t. tii Thia work focused attention on the forces that shaped the destiny of tht nation in its early days and reminded its audiences that the country's founding fahers were men of stature who could bury their personal differences when the common good was at stake.

Walter Hampden gave one of tht most convincing performances of his career in the rolt of the great Democrat, Jefferson. Cecil Humphreyt as George Washington and Guy Sorel as Alexander Hamilton were pillars of strength in a superb cast. Robeson Impressive THE ONLY RIVAL of "Tht Patriots" as an lmpresaivt display of histrionic talent was tht Theater Guild's production of "Othello," by far the most substantial dramatic offering of the current season, to date. The Shakespearean classic, revitalized by Margaret Wtbtttr's Imaginative direction, had one of the great Othellos of all time in the powtrful Negro actor, Paul Robeson, whose simple magnificence dominated tht performance. Jose Ferrer madt an outstanding Iago in a portrayal tempered by sardonic humor.

It was a masterpiece of premeditated villainy. Bett of the comedies were our long-time friends, "Artenlc and Old Lace" and "Lift With Father," although Ruth Gordon pretented something bright and new in "Over and easily took tht prize for best ptrformanct by a comedienne by her virtuosity In the leading role. Her play was a light but amusing piece retailing the adventures of a wife who followed her husband to an officers' candidate school. "Life With Father," here this fall for its annua; visit, was as good as ever," thanks to a vigorous performance of the title role by Carl Benton Reid. The comedy is rapidly becoming an American classic, The 1944 "Arsenic and Old Lace" was distinguished by tht fact that Boris Karloff himself played, tht role of the gangster who looks like Boris Karloff.

On Lighter Side OTHER COMEDIES included "Good Night, Ladies," an old-time farce starring Skeets Gallagher and Stuart Erwinr "Three Is a Family," a home front show re membered for the funny old doc tor, played by Charles Burrows; "Kiss and Tell," F. Hugh Herbert's entertaining account of a domestic crisis involving the younger mem ber of a neighborhood group; and "Wallflower," more of the same, if not quite so funny, On the musical side, there was "Sons o' Fun," the Olsen and Johnson howling piece without Olsen and Johnson. The season's best musical attraction was the New Opera Company's production of "The Merry Widow," with Jan Kiepura and Wilma Spence, which closed last week at the Murat. It had class In all de partments and was several steps ahead or "me wauz Jung," an operetta based on tht music and romance of Johann Strauss with Richard Bonelli in the title role. Both "The Student Prince" and 'Blossom Time" came, as utual, within the year.

They are remembered for their imperishable tcores, if nothing more. Civic' Contribution IT SEEMS advisable at this time to mention the Civic Theater, which made two major contributions to the year. It pretented Charles Hedley's sparkling pro duction of "The Pirates of Penz ance" with such success that the operetta, with the cast largely 1ft tact, was chosen to inaugurate the city's first summer series of out' door musical shows at Garfield nark in July. The public respond ed with such enthusiasm to the Idea that plans were immediately started to establish opera under the stars as an annual feature here Tht plans still seem to be in the laboratory stags, but something must comt of them yet In addi tion, tht Civic, under the direction of Jack Hatfield, gave the city a truly notable oroductlon of "Ham' let" with Tom Ruthtrfurd of New York scoring personal triumph as the prince of Denmark. Mr.

Ruthtrfurd baa gone on to win international recognition in tht rolt and the vie Theater gave him his start The list at the English also bv Eluded eTnovelty attraction, Tropi cal Revue," in which Katherlne Dunham's Negro dancers traced today's primitive dance rhythms to their source. The year brought us a generous portion of opera, with two visits by the sen carlo com pany, at the English in "Carmen' PHYLLIS LYNEE, featured with on the stage at the Circle starting Miss Cummings Is Veteran of London Blitz Broadway Comedy Stars Veteran Halliwell Hobbes New York, Dec. 9. IT). HALLIWELL HOBBES was playing golf in Hollywood when the telegram came that offered him the leading role In the current Broadway mystery comedy, 'Ten Little Indians." "Darn It," he sighed, "there goes my golf match." But his regret faded once he had read Agatha Christie's script and 67-year-old Halli with the Ballet Theater, coming "I remember another line when I was playing in London.

An actor had Just remarked, 'It't a beastly bad night to go out when all Hades descended in the vicinity of the theater. Did the players beat it? Did the audience run out on Connie Shrugs at Threat Of V-3 Bomb In New York By LAWRENCE PERRY. New York, Dec. 9. JUST AS Constance Cummings was about to begin a day's rehenrt-J ing In tht leading role of Jed Harrit's projected comedy, "Ont Man Show," someone mentioned as having read in the papers a German1 threat that a V-3 bomb was going to bt shot overseas at New York about the time she will be acting on Broadway.

Connie smiled indifferently and shrugged. Both the smile and the shrug meant volumes to those who knew that very' recently she had been playing in London and the provinces when the Nazi robot bombs (V Frankie Carle and hit orchestra, Friday. the next plane for New York and trails, but mainly, he tayt, ht has "spent hit time commuting between London and New York." It alto hat supplied him with many, amusing epltodes. "Like the time I was with the F. R.

Benton company. We were playing In the old Shakespearean theater In Stratfard-on-Avon and one day I managed to obtain a rowboat. A whole lot of us went for a little) joyrlde on the river between acts. We hadn't changed our costumes and the business manager of the theater fined us half a crown for that little) escapade." Stratford-on-Avon Is his birthplace and the Shakespearean at mosphere created In him the determination to become an actor. His father had law ambitions for his ton, but "I told the governor, actor It had to be and actor it was." His Initial London appearance was as Tybalt In "Romeo and Juliet" In 1908 and since then he has been In 120 plays and over 200 films.

His full name Is Herbert Halliwell Hobbes, but he prefers to drop the Herbert because as a child, hla playmates chanted a little rhyme sbout "Erbert" which rankles still In his mind. "The name Halliwell was given to mt in courtesy to my godfather, Halliwell Phillips, who was a great Shakespearian scholar. It's quite chuckles. It has been four years since Hobbes hat appeared on Broadway, He says he is glad "Ten Little Indians" has brought him back to old familiar grounds, but in all probability at the end of the ru he will go back to Hollywood to complete hit golf match. '7 i r.lt X'y, I It Is two years now since the 111 fated "Outlaw" had its ione and only presentation in San Francisco.

The picture was panned by the critics, the public scrambled for seats, and the Hays ofllre set up a howl that effectively barred further release of the Howard Hughes production. "Howard Is an obstinate man," says Miss Russell to thlt reporter. "There was Just one scene that the Hays office wanted cut the part wbert I'm leaning over a bed." (And showing too much of her anatomy). But Hughet knew a good thine when he saw It, and refused point-blank to perform the minor film surgery that would have given his epic a clean bill of health and brought back (perhaps) some of tht millions Invested in it. Ui.f "Lost In a Haram," feature choien at Loew'i Wednesday night, Friday Reunited old.

They were teamed in Identical roles two years' ago in "Eyet In the Night." Before he played Friday in that plcturt tht dog was named Brave. He's tht ton of Flash, famed movie dog of 10 yean ago. Richard Whorf will direct "Tht Hidden Eyt" and Robert Slik will v. r.j. SB As year followed year and Mist Rustell received nothing but publicity on which to nourish her film star ambitlont, the lady of the out size sweather became a trifle bitter about her boss and plcturt lift in general.

But Jane It now a happy girl, and swears that Mr. Hughes knew what ha was don Is; all the time. "Ht was looking for a suitable movie for me," says Jane. In actual fact Hughes wanted to show Jane to the public In "The Outlaw" before any other picture. So I guess he has now decided "his baby," as Jane calls tht picture for him, is dead and burled.

Faid While Idle. "Howard hat been paying me for four years," Miss Russell tells me. "I started at $50 a week and now It's 1250. That's nice for doing nothing except living with my husband and mother-in-law on a ranch In the valley." Jane, as you may know, is mar ried to Bob Waterfleld, lately dis-chareed from the army and now continuing hit studies at U.C.L.A. whert ht wat captain of tht 1944 football team.

Tht couplt wtre married last Easter when Jane had given up hope of Introducing htrtelf to tht American film pub-11s at large. "Hit mother Is a good cook, but I hate cooking. Sht is definitely not the mother-in-law type," sumt up tht younger Mrs. Waterfleld. Returning to her plcturt career, Jant continues, "Howard told me ito havt faith In him, that he would eventually find mt Jt part." "Young Widow" is a postwar story of a war widow who adjusts herself to a new future.

"Just think," says Jane philosophically, "of all the bad movlet I might havt made in these four yeart If Howard hadn't been to careful of my Interests, and if I hadn't had faith In him." To the natural question of why Boss Hughet did not make himself a picture with Jane, tne lent me, "He's too busy making alrplanet. i That's why he's formed a picture company with Preston Sturges." i This Is a good thing because -Sturges will rllrert the pictures. Hughes directed "The Outlaw," and his perfectionist methods drove associates nearly crazy, with Mitchell so mad at one I point that a fist fight almost re-j suited. Also, Hughet did hit "shoot-Ung" at night. Jane lookt forward the odd experience of working by day.

Howard Keeps Head. But tht won't hear a word of criticism against her boss. "Howard is completely sincere and hon-ett," sht states. "I think it's amazing that even in New York society and Hollywood with Its fake scenery, Howard keept his head" (and his money). Thlt reporter has never yet met a mort cautious person than the multl-mllllonalre.

Many girls hav hoped to lead him altarward. And failed. At ont time it seemed that he'd pop tht ques-tion to Olivia DeHavilland. And sht would have made him a swell wlft. Ava Gardner Rooney almost became Mrs.

Hughts. "The girt whe geti him," eayi Tuesday to the English, in the Mar ABBOTT AND COSTELLO in for the bond premiere Arnold and Dog Triday, the police dog owned and trained by William 0. Steuer, hat been signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to repeat In "The Hidden Eye" tht role that gave him hit name. Tht canioa actor Is cast as tht seelng-eye dog of a blind de tecting portrayed Hwart Qui utr uid tne show stop: xna an-ig swers to these three questions runiR, well Hobbes was Impatient to hop start rehearsals. "Almost 42 years In tht theater Is no time to stop for a golf match," he smiles.

"Betides liking the play, I wat anxious to get back to the stagt. In front of an audience I feel I am flesh and blood again not just tomt person seen on tht screen." Tall and distinguished, Hobbes hat played lawyert, diplomats and bishops and likes to bt considered versatile In roles, but, he lamentt, "I havt played a butler to often on tht screen, I was afraid I would bt typed as such." Plays Sinister Judge. His character In "Ttn Little In. dlant" it that of a slightly sinister judge and he hopes the public will forget about his butler days. "Of course," ha says with a twinkle in his blue eytt, "my fondest ambition It to bt In musical comedy.

You know, tht top hat, tails, a tong and danca with six beautiful girls hanging onto my armt." Hit long theatrical career hat taken him to all parts of the world, Including South Africa and Aus- Jane, who hat studied him, "will havt to be a great beauty and one who will not be a doormat for him. That's the mistakt mott of tht girls who loved him havt made." In "Young Widow" Jant wears lots of nice clothes. "Probably the workt," she sayt which Indicates a negligee or two. Tht localt Is partly In Baltlmort (society), part ly on a farm, ana some in a Doc tor's office. Jane herself worked as a receptionist in a dentist's office befort the was ditcovered for Outlaw." forth Amtrteta tfamptptr Allltiw tartlet.

wert being sent against England. 'T was In Hull," she said, "when I got the worst of It We, the company, would speak our lines and between times, or even while speaking, we would listen to the approach of the robots. You could tell, of course, by the sound whether It was going to come near or miss us by a wide margin. In either case what was there to do? Had to Be Game. "You couldn't fall flat on the stage, or run for the wings while the audience sat In front of you as quiet and seemingly interested in tht show as though they were seated In a theater on 44th street In New York.

No, indeed, wt had to ba as game as tht audience and so the show went on." In Hull. Constance wat playing In a revival of 'Tht Outsider," and sht said there were a lot of lines that could not have fitted better into tht bombardment had they been written with the Idea of robot lsitatlonl fixed in tht mind of the author. "I rtmtmber ont lint I had, she said. "It called for this remark 'My dtar, there is something in the air tonight' WtlL inasmuch as there really was something la the air the appropriateness of the remark called forth a burst of laughter from the audience. Yet, that is the way audiences were, always.

They were out for a night of entertainment and, by goih, they were going to get It, bombs or no bombs. at iouows: iso no ye. irsi oi all, the actor above quoted, I forget his name and that is a crime on my1! part, stepped to the footlights. 'As I just he said, 'It's a beastly bad night to go out. So let's all stay where we Which is what happened, and while It happened the company abandoned tha play and did a lot of ad lib specialties until hell ceased to rain In our neighborhood." In all, Constance said a lot mort for which I havt no space she sava a very gallant picture not only of the players of England but of the audiences as well.

Married to an English playwright and producer, Miss Cummings did not run out on tht English theater because of bombs, but btcaust of the Illness of her mother In Westfleld, J. An American, born and raised in Seattle, Miss Cummings had been appearing In London tha last six years. Thai is how Jed Harrit got hold of her for tht play he will produce, written by Ruth Goodman and Auguttus Gottx. Meanwhile, sht will bt teen In tht forthcoming film, "Blitht Spirit." trwta AsiMina KtvtsMtt AJDaatt.