The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 61

The Indianapolis Sunday Star PART SIX VOL. 34. XO. 79. SUXDAY MORNING, AUGUST 23, 193G.

TRICE TEN CENTS. Prospect of WPA 'Macbeth' Before Returning Vacationer This Week Two Years Make Marked Change In Cast of Film "Anthony Adverse" TWO GREAT STARS IN ROYAL ROMANCE But Final List Undoubtedly Gains In Balance OverSelections of 1934 BY COKBIXI PATRICK. ET'S TURN time back in its flight to December, 1934. That's easy, because we have at hand a prominent film fan magazine of that month. Even then as now, "Anthony Adverse" was a topic of anticipatlve comment.

Haitian Version of Shakespeare's Play Due at Keith's Tuesday Night BY KOBEKT G. TICKER. There Is Serious Question Whether Vi Vacations Actually 7- Are Worthwhile wmOTORIXQ over three hundred miles or so of blazing and JUyj blistering roads between here and Cleveland, and land-4fc? ing at home base more dead than alive, we began to ponder TT7ll the utter vagaries and shams of vacations. Xfter all, why should one cease the eternal grind in the office when it is obvious he must return to it that is unless the well-known general managing editor should have other notions. Those gentlemen count on members of the staff returning brimful of the old "pep," which re-suits usually for a limited period in the copy containing the spark which enables one to remain on the pay roll for considerable But what changes the passing years have made in fond plans for it ns the Warner henchmen grappled with the tremendous task of adapting Hervey Allen's monumental novel.

Warners, by the contost route, had given the people a voice ia casting the principal parts and the magazine that month named the winners based on conformity to a tentative cast announced by the Lo, and behold! the name of Leslie Howard leads all the rest, la the role of Anthony himself. Edward G. Itobinson Is Napoleon, Kohert Barrat is Carlo Clbo, Warren William is Brother Francois, Uotte Davis Is Angela, George Brent Is Vincent Nolte, Ann Dvorak Is Noleta, Kay Francis is Senorita Dolores, Guy Kibbee Is John Bon noyfeathcr, Aline McMahon is Faith ralcologus and Henry O'Neill periods. y7 'f i CXI Somehow we recalled shoving off for the mysterious and fascinating woods and ocean beaches of Maine. Actually it wasn't so long ago we headed in that direction quite, quite gallantly we thought, although in truth we were Just another of the vast army of tourists who turn annually to that region of superb and invigorating climate.

It was nice to attempt to conjure some of the lovely ylstas presented so constantly at Kenny-Hunk-port, Ogunquit and, above all, at Booth Bay, one of the most beau-tiful spots on the entire Atlantic coast. At any rate, we were 1 there for time which in the superheat we encounter back in this no mean city seems aeons ten very successful weeks in New York. This production of "Macbeth," which was witnessed by more than one hundred thousand persons during its sensational New York run, is strange and exciting Shakespeare. The play's locale has been moved from Scotland to Haiti, the characters are native Haitians and the familiar lamentations of the three witches now assault the auditor's ear in the form of a jungle voodoo chorus. Director Orson Welles calls to mind, however, that this treatment does not rob "Macbeth" of its significance as a play, it remains basically the tragedy of a man and a woman In whom ambition works, uncontrolled, through mounting crimes to their defeat.

A good portion of the critical and popular acclaim that has heralded "Macbeth" has been aimed at Its magnificent pageantry, with Its costumes that range is Don Luis. On Its Gmird. The studio certainly was on Its guard whnn It stated In a subtitle "subject to chnngo If production conditions warrant." Let's look at the picture as it has actually been made two years later. The only name of the whole outfit that appears in the llnal cast Is Henry O'Neill and he's Father Xavler, not Don Luis. Fredrio March Is Anthony; Hollo Lloyd, a tine but comparatively unknown diameter actor, is Nnpolcon; Aklm TninnrolT is Carlo Clbo; Olivia De-Jlavillnnd In Angola; Donald Woods Is Vincent Nolle; Stoffa Dunl Is Ne-Inta; Edmund (iwonn is John Bonny-feather; Gale Sonilergaard (a newcomer who is said to make her part outstanding) is Faith and Calude Rains is Don Luis.

So what? We give the studio credit for making up its own mind on casting problems when the time came. Every member of that contest cast of 3034 was a top-notch tar at the time, but popularity does not qualify actors for particular parts; nor does an all-star complex ion assuro perfect ensemble. Too Many fiturs. Wo havo an idea that aggregation would have been like Stephen Lea-cock's man who mounted his horse and rode off furiously in all directions. But the most Important Justification of all is the fact that the past two years have brought forth fine young players who could not have been considered in J931 because nobody knew them then.

Olivia De-Havllland, for instance, had yet to make her debut In "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Anita Louise, who plays Maria, Anthony's young mother, was hardly out of the child star class. We have a strong hunch that the "Anthony Adverse" to come soon will be a better balanced production than it could have been if ail those fancy names of 1934 had been vielng for top billing. Each part of the play is a character study and that calls for actors, which does not necessarily moan names. But if you Insist on names, Warners give you Frcdrlc March and try to top that. Man-A bout-Town.

Because March is such a potent name In cinema circles, there seems to be a momentary doubt as to Just when he can appear at the Circle In "Anthony Adverse" without playing FREDRIC MARCH as the Earl of Bothwell and Katharine Hepburn in the title role of "Mary of Scotland" at the Circle. ACTORS VS. ROLES. Few Players Now Closely Identified by Public With Noted Parts They've Played. and aeons ago.

sweltering wo tried to figure it all out whether it would have been better to have remained at home or to "have ventured so far from the old Watchtower. The problem was too, too much. Always there will be vacations which at the outset loom as the portal to an-other and far more charming existence and always there will be the finish, which comes far too soon, especially when the weather man is determined to stage one of the longest and severest heat waves on record. We sought to place the responsibility for the weather breaks which came at the BY MARK B.AKKOV. NEW YOniC, Aug.

22. (P). THE THEATER, hardly ever a steady profession, is drifting away from that gilt-edged, assured era when stars became so closely identified with a single role that It Is almost impossible to separate In the against nimsoil. He's here at the Circle this week in "Mary of Scotland" and he will come to the Lyrle the week of Labor day in "The Road to Glory." "Anthony Adverso" may be delayed until March gets out of his own way. The casting of lesser roles In the film version of the Allen novel is interesting to those who know the story.

Billy Mauch, the drummer boy of "The White Angel," playa Anthony as a lad; George E. Stone Is Don Luls's catlike coachman, Saneho; Alma Lloyd appears as Florence Udney. Louis Hayward the impetuous Denis Moore, Maria's hapless lover. fa fcf- I A public mind the character from the actor. Such were the careers of Joe Jefferson in "Rip Van Winkle," Frank Bacon In "Llghtnln' and James O'Ncll (father of Tlaywright Eugene) in "The Count of Monte Cristo." Sir Henry Lytton, who died the other day, was seen In many roles but he is best remembered as "The Mikado" of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta which he played 5,000 times.

1 4J stage and then he took the same part to pictures, a part with which he was so forcibly identified that his audiences frequently found It diffi Here's Free Lunch. IF YOU GO to the Apollo Tuesday afternoon you needn't take your lunch with you. You will be served on the mezzanine, in celebration of the current aviation thriller, "China Clipper." In fact, it will be called a China Clipper luncheon. Col. Collins, manager of the theater, makes public an Invitation to partake of tho same sort of Iced drinks, sandwiches and pastries that are served Kaglcs Is "Sadie." And even so recently, If ten years ago is recent, there was Jeanne Eagles as the Immortal, ubiquitous waif of all ports, the Sadie Thompson of "Rain." It web Sadie that brought her sta'rdom and continued with her almost to the day of her death.

It is this sentimentality of play cult to recognize him in the kindly, humorous English nobility roles which ha played in his later shows. Karely was there a production of "Hamlet" that the manager did not hurriedly summon Whitford Kane to his old role of tho first grave digger. Jane Cowl has given many striking performances, but she in known in this generation and probably will bo known in others chiefly as the on one of the groat transcontinental airliners by experienced flying host goers for an actress in a favorite part, rather than that the play ehmiM ha iha thin? thflt makes esses. end of such a perfect day, dim there was no definite answer. No one in particular seemed to be to blame, but of a sudden like we grew extremely resentful of the handsome thermometer which perches day in and day out on the Pennsylvania and Kew York street corner of The Star building.

Throughout the hot summer we had done unusually well by that thermometer. We directed the attention of the passers-by to it with the best of our well-chosen words, although true enough the worn-out folk probably would have hunted it up on their own account to see Just how hot it was. But why, we thought, couldn't that thermometer have chased the red line down into tho early seventies and held it there until we had a chance to become accustomed to the routine of the office. We certainly gave the thermometer a dirty and vengeful look, but blandly it continued right ahead with its preference for 100 above or better. Nothing we could do would change its course or policies, so limp with exhaustion from the heat after In fact, a hostess of that very de Maggie Katharine Cornell still as well known I'art Bhe P'ayed so long, 1 In "MIIMn Tn.

Turner in "Within the scription will be present to do tha Law." honors. Tho refreshments will be MARY ASTOR in "Trapped by Television," at Loew's. served by Mary Baker at a table ap 4. i propriately decorated. the heroic vision that has made possible the efficiency and comfort Denman Thompson made father sentimental for months in "The Old Homestead," Just as Richard Mansfield ran grandmother happily berserk with his seemingly never ending engagement en I'rl'ice Karl ii "Old Heidelberg," also "Beau Brummel." Karely now Is there seen on Broadway such happenings as the months and months when Edwin Booth was of modern air travel is dramatically pictured in 'China Clipper' by WARNER OLAND in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," on the Lyric Screen.

tor ner ins Marcn or ine ureen Hat" as for her more recent performances as Elizabeth Barrett Browning and St. Joan. Florence Reed, long a distinguished actress, became best known aa Mother Goddam in "The Shanghai Gesture," which she played for about two years. Then she went on to be lauded with further critical acclaim in O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes plectra," but it still is as Mother Goddam that she is best known to her audiences. George Arliss was "The Green a cast that includes Pat Brien.

Rows Alexander, Humphrey Bogart and Joseph King," says Col. Collins, putting in a plug for the house. "Richelieu" and DeWolfe Hopper long repeated his Gilbert and Sullivan operetta performances, notably in "The Mikado." UOuaesH year axicr em uu mnj i ii 1. (,, the entire chromatic scale and its THEY FLY. Did You Notice? ON13 WHO SIGNS herself "An Old Maid Who Must Set Things Bight" suggests that we see "Piccadilly Jim" (and now it's too late) a second time to get the complete story of Bob Montgomery's amazing change of scenery.

"When Mr. Montgomery rushed out of his apartment in the particular scene referred to, he was wearing a pray suit along with ths Panama and the scene in the Pett'a apartment faded out shortly after our hero had slipped on the polished floor," our correspondent declares. In the scene where he picks up the stiff straw from the cabinet by the BEVERLY'S SORROW. She Wants to Play Slinky Siren, But Nature Made Her Just Too Wholesome. scenery that is at one time both beautiful and terrifying.

This last holds true for the Jungle scene with its mighty skeleton dominant. Perhaps the most Impressive thing to note of this production Is its universal appeal. A reporter from a New York newspaper, passing along the lengthy line before the box office one evening and interrogating many of the waiting persons, found that a large number of them had never seen a play previously. Simultaneously classes in metropolitan door, he is in dinner clothes and is the rest in Maine, we put the shoulder to the wheel not with courage or eclat, but Just because It had to be that way. The calm Mr.

Patrick, who had his vacation a month ago and who had reached the point where a few degrees above a hundred didn't amount to anything in particular, extended the cordial welcome. He was politely Interested in what we had to recount about the trip, but Just when it seemed the breaks might be our way he raised the question of whether there would be a column or so for the Sunday section. There Just had to be and here it is. But as to whether vacations are the beginning or the end, determine it for yourself. A Xegro "Macbeth" by the WPA There was an interesting piece of news in the booking of the HOLLYWOOD, Aug.

22. SPEAKEASY PALLOR and the siren slink are regarded with antipathy by modern girls. After a late night they peer anxiously at circles under their eyes and bounce away to beach or bridle path for nature's restoratives. All but Beverly Roberts, that Is. She wants to appear wicked.

But she can't. The enviably wholesome appear- cigarettes and brooding on the In-ance of the First National featured Justice of It all. She wants to topple empires and lure diplomats to ruin, player elicits nothing from Miss Rob- break up homeH witn smoldering erts but lamentation. Shaking hereye3j or appear lolling languorously preparing to lcsve the dinner party to which Mrs. Pett had invited him that afternoon.

(Incidentally, Mr. Partlck, he rushes from his apartment to tell Anne, not The situation, you see, is this. Bob calls on the Pett.s wearing a Panama and a gray suit. Invited to stay for dinner, he stays and reappears wearing a Btiff straw and a dinner suit-without going home to change. Our correspondent remarks sagely that "few men notice details of dress, not even among their own sex." -s-The Main Issue.

hrlcht hlnnrla heart comnlains i on a Nile barge while a few Mark Antonys succumb. schools and colleges were visiting the play and holding classroom discussions anent Its startling production. John Ersklne, noted lecturer, novelist and musician, appearing on a recent radio program broadcast nationally, stated that "American art will get on faster when we have the courage to lay hands on all traditional material Took Rough Road. ASIDE from the question whether Frederic March should or shouldn't Miss Roberts can't blame her woe that she looks like a color advertisement for Oxygenized Oats or Winsome Wheatdreams. Featured with Pat O'Brien in "China Clipper," the sensational transoceanic flight picture, Miss lioberts still finds her vamplrish proclivities unsatisfied.

on environment influences. Her he- gira to Hollywood followed a round about, rough road. Graduating from high school in New York seven years It Puzzles Her. i and refashion It according to the "I'm always cast as the little girl; ago, she scudded across to London WPA version of "Macbeth wear a moustache (he doesn't), the big problem confronting the producers of "Mary of Scotland" wa the casting of Queen EJIzabeth. Everybody from Helen Menken to Ginger Rogers was tested for the part.

They offered it to Bankhead, but she turned it down. They tried to get Bette Davis, but Warners wouldn't loan her out "and that's one reason why she's mad at Warners now. finftllv SUffCpgtea fori ideals of our day. That Is what an engagement of five perform-1 the Federal Theater Project Is ances at B. F.

Keith's, beginning doing Just now with "Macbeth." Tuesday night. Antinew dealers It now has rhythm and pace, may rant and they do, about 1 Generally It has been Just elocu-the Federal government entering tlon and piety." the show business, but for several I Writing In the New York weeks some of the big New York (Times, Brooks Atkinson said, newspapers have been devoting 'Macbeth' merited the excite-more space in their amusements ment that fairly rocked the Lafa-eections to the WPA plays than to yette Theater. If it Is witches Florence Eldridge, his wife, and she from back home, with rosy cheeks and stage success, became a chant-and a twenty-four-karat heart," she I euse in Paris cabarets, and was wails. "And it's all because I look finally spotted by a Warner Bros, so wholesome. How I got that ap-j scout while appearing in New York pearance in New York theaters and at Maurice Chalom's Le Boeuf sur cabarets and in London and Paris Toit.

night clubs, I don't know. I look 1 "1 guess I'll Just have to go on in my mirror in the morning and being unhappily wholesome," she there I am, bright and shining. It's Then, rebelliously, "But Just enough to break a wouid-be siren once I'd like to be a villainess. heart!" I I've got a little private slogan- While other girls are turning in 'Girls too darned hearty get shunned early for their beauty sleep. Miss at a And who wants to be Roberts is sitting up smoking endless shunned?" got the part ana gives a spienam performance, too, in the finished of tho nlrelo "Marv of Scotland," incidentally, has the same writer-director comDination as tns Drize winning picture, "The Inform BEVERLY ROBERTS and Pat O'Brien In "China Clipper," drama of aviation's trans-Pacific triumph, at the Apollo.

the regular commercial attrac-lyou want. Harlem knows how to 1 tions. overwhelm you with their fury Th WPA "Macbeth" ran for and phantom iplendt i.w- er" Dudley Nichols and John Ford. 1.