Alton Evening Telegraph from Alton, Illinois • Page 12

FLASH PREVIEW of "This Gun for Hire" Paramount's new thriller stars Veronica Lake and Robert Preston, with Alan Ladd and Laird Cregar. Obtaining certain papers by a double murder, Alan Ladd sells them to Laird Cregar, who him. When Oregar hires Veronica Lake for his Angeles nightclub, says goodbye to Robert Preston, police lieutenant In Los Angeles she afoul of the killer, who holds'her prisoner In a factory boiler-room. In close pursuit, Preston later learns from Veronica where the killer to hiding. Before he IB shot by police, Ladd a confession from a dangerous sabotage ring.

THE STARS VIC BOCSEN WITH VIC BOESEN One memorable day when he was twelve years old, bock In his home town of Kansas City, Robert Lowery was demonstrating to some fascinated young friends the technique of self-suspension unto death. The purpose of this somewhat macabre proceeding, whether bore any relation to the "slings and arrows of outrageous tune" that beset boys of Penrod age, or If it were considered a good thing to know about for future reference, is not clear, even to Mr. Lowery those few years later: but, at any rate, the box on which he was standing suddenly turned under his weight, pitching forward against the rope, so that the experiment took on rather more realism than wlis desirable at that particular time. As young Robert grew older, he encountered sucli scries of unhappy misfortunes that be could bo patxloncd a measure of cynicism toward the hope of ever living to reach voting age, let alone patriarchal thirty. He developed Into a considerable athlete, being equally good at swimming, diving, archery, fencing, tennis, boxing, baseball and football.

He won a state championship In tennis and did well enough in boxing to become a Golden Gloves contender. But it WHS athletics that brought misfortune. First, he broke a leg. Then he broke the other leg. The same thing happened to his arms, one at a time.

Ho broke a shoulder. a collarbone, halved three ribs, an ankle and an unspecified number of fingers and toes. When he wasn't breaking something, he was spraining it, doing better on the next try. In'View of this not Inconsiderable wreckage, It will come as a surprise to you that Robert is able to take solid food, without help; that he is, in fact, as fine a physical specimen as you would want to find. He is six feet and a bit more, and weighs 185 pounds.

Robert, whose full name is Robert Larkln Lowery Hanks, is a great grandson of Louis Larkln Hanks, brother of Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln. He has had experience traveling with a band, Jn pursuit of an early notion that he wanted to sing; a master of ceremonies, and ax an actor In Little Theater and summer stock. It no Idea of his to come to Hollywood, but Men Lulu McCxjnnell, one-time Zlogfeld ster, thought persuasively $Wft he should, ho found It easier to do so than to argue about It. didn't lose much, as it turned out, for ho has been in 25 pictures since his arrival in 1037, not counting the time he put in as A Paper BtUwnafl. His next will be "My Gal Sal," the story of PauJ Dresser, of "On The Banks of the Wabash" and brother of Theodora Dreiser.

(Besides a good Lowcry Is finding another oowpen- in It ajwres the bones. Fashion Scene By MARGARET McKAY PaUlette Goddard was on my list of the ten best-dressed stars of 1841 and out of that scintillating group she has probably Introduced most of the novelty fashions. Paulette Is a vibrant, original per- ison who isn't I afraid to take (chances with Jher clothes (ideas and most (of them catch (on just as suc- Icessfully as fPaulette has (caught the (fancy of the movie going public. MARGARET MCKAY She was one of the first to wear pigtail hairdresses, a fashion which was taken up enthusiastically, and she brought back Mexican peasant garb from her holiday south of the border, which Is now In the fashion news. At the recent buyers' shows here on the West Coast the Mexican theme was predominant and so it seems Paulette has launched another big trend.

describing a few of the new tricks in Paulette's current wardrobe, we are more peeking at tomorrow's fashions. First, she has a white fur felt hat. In a Dutch bonnet style, which probably mftans fur felt for fiat material will be a fashion priority. It also means that our courageous-allies, the Dutch, influencing our costumes. She' Is also wearing her white bonnet with dark dresses and touching off the ensemble with white suede that have huge turn-batek cuffs.

'It looks as though the front slit skirt Is very, much "in" again, 'being-used for as well as evening. In one of Paulette's evening dresses of frosty silver lame, the skirt Is to the knee. This gown also has a heat double-duty tie-on peplum of lane encircles her waist, but may removed and worn as a tiny shoulder cane when a covered-up look is desired. BEST DRESSED GIRL OF THE WEEK: The first best- dressed play clothes girl we have found this year was Phyllis Brooks, resting up from her acting chores in "Shanghai Gesture" at El Rancho Vegas. Lunching at the swimming pool, she wore one of the new resort black casual play frocks.

It was a black pique, dirndl with cap sleeves and hemline accented in the new manner with Dink cotton rickrack. A big-brimmed black pique hat with pink flowers and black linen sandals made a stunning outfit. Record Review By'WAX MAN Good news to record collectors is the flash that Columbia's 1942 catalog is off the press and being delivered. The new edition is completely restyled and 100 pages larger than the previous book. Those of you who have started collections during the past year and have not yet discovered the aid that can be obtained from using this excellent information source should do so i is, if you are sincere in your hobby.

The new edition contains so many new features that it is impossible to enumerate them in this suffice to say: It Is invaluable. Songwriters Stanley Cowan nnd Sidney Miller spent a profitable evening last week listening to Tommy Dorsey at the Palladium. After a joined the team at their table and heard Sidney humming a new tune of theirs, I Realize Now. So impressed was the maestro with the melody that he called In his sax man nnd had the tune impressed on his mind. The rest 'of the men picked up the tempo and the same night the organization played the entire tune with Sidney getting In for the vocal.

Those who know tfie difficulty in getting a "name" band to play a new tune will realize the break for the writers. Bluebird is so confident that Freddie Martin's wax of Grieg's Piano Concerto will top the record of Freddie's phenomenal disc based on Tschalkowsky's Concerto that an extra pressing will be ordered on the initial job. The wax is excellent In its execution as it follows closely the original theme plus a smooth dance tempo and gives pianist Jack Fina another opportunity to display his artistry. Victor gets a plum I Executives have just signed that sensational young harpist, Gale Lawton, to an exclusive recording contract. Gale will soon get a session for an album.

That excellent pianist Hal Borne will team with him. Interesting fact about this 19 year old harp genius is that he has been secretly coaching Harpo Marx for three years. Joe Relchman, the piano man. bids fair to capture national attention if his wax of Autumn Nocturne catches on with the record buying public. Victor hag given him the spring-board and Joe does the opportunity to a faretheewellannabelle.

It's soft and smooth and the vocal jwcko. Peggy Drake dons a popular South Sea garment for her role in RKO's "Tuttles of Tahiti," with Charles Laughton and )on Hall. ATTENTION MOVIE FANS The untimely death of Carole Lombard brings 11,1 a flood, of requests for, her. photograph to. be kept as a permanent souvenir.

To fill this request we have arranged for a photograph to be sent to all readers of Hollywood Simply write to Hollywood Today, Crossroads of the World, Hollywood California, enclosing for handling and mailing, and YOU MUST MENTION THIS NEWSPAPER. JOE FISHER'S Reviews of Previews Unjyersars "BOMBAY CLIPPER" is the firstJn a rather long list or pictures previewed in Hollywood this past. week. This film, starring William Gargan and Irene Hervey, is the sort of movie melodrama that audiences eat up. Gargan, a foreign newspaper correspondent, is.all set to marry the lovely Irene Hervey when he receives a final assignment before he is to be allowed to settle down.

He is to learn of the destination of a million dollars worth of diamonds which William Gargan and Irene Hervey in a scene from "Bombay Clipper." are being shipped via Clipper by an Indian potentate. From the moment a motley assortment of passengers and board the Clipper the action starts, with the finger being put on one person after another in typical movie fashion. But there is nothing dull about it all: rather the reverse as Director John Rawllns has timed the action to a split second. If you like fast-moving melodrama with never a letdown you're sure to enjoy "BOMBAY CLIPPER." Paramount producers Pine and Thomas presented another of their right out of the headlines RICHARD ARLEN pictures, "TORPEDO BOAT," and once again this up-and-coming team have hit the ball right on the nose. The story is of Arlen's trials and tribulations In getting a new type mosquito torpedo boat manufactured, all very much complicated by the romantic tendencies of Arlen and his co-worker Phillip, Terry.

Arlen is his usual hard-hitting self, with the very glamorous Jean Parker giving strong support as his ex-sweetheart. And don't overlook Miss Parker's ability to put over a torch song, Her one 'number, "Heaven Is a Moment In Your Arms," is indeed well done- It was a 1oy to see blonde, Mary Carlisle again. She looks and does a fine job. Up-and-coming PhUlp Terry, in a sympathetic role, adds to his stature and Dick Purcell takes his role of the boy jvho loses the girl in stride. "TORPEDO BOAT 1 is entertainment for any moviegoer and well worth seeing.

Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr's "DESIGN FOR SCANDAL," starring Rosalind Russell and Walter Pldgeon, is one of those sprite- ly romantic comedies that carry a real lift to allot us. immersed in a workaday world. Syndicate Tycoon Edward Arnold is assessed a tremendous sum for alimony by Judge Rosalind Russell when beauteous Mary Beth Hughes sues him for divorce. Inasmuch as no one but the judge who granted the alimony can grant him an appeal, which she refuses to do, he enlists the services of his ace man, Walter Pidgeon, to get her involved in a breach-of-promise suit and thereby discredit her as a judge. How it all works out makes for a barrel of fun and a wealth of romance til played by an outstanding cast under Norman Taurofr's expert direction.

For an evening of laughs with never a dull moment, "DESIGN FOR SCANDAL" curries your reviewer's hearty endorsement. ON THE SETS WITH REED JOHNSON Well, fellows, for a while there it looked as if they were deliberately hiding all the comeller young ladies when this observer set foot on a sound stage, but noW at last it can be reported that these eyes jhave been re- I warded. And 1 mighty hand- I somely, too. For Miss Joan Bennett, wear-, ing the flirrisl- est of blue slips topped with lacework, was doing an Intimate scene I for "Highly Irregular" and REED IOHNSTON Director Richard Wallace showed a gratifying tendency to rehearse the business over and over. In contrast to Miss Bennett, Mr.

Franchot Tone, feigning sleep on a four-poster bed, was fully dressed and covered with a counterpane. This would have made things all right except it was the same bed she was preparing to get into, and as I say these preparations had reached the point where not only her slip, but a good deul of Miss Bennett, was showing. "Oh!" she exclaimed in pretty surprise, taking refuge behind a curtain while he sat up and. blinked. "How did you get in here?" "The Countess let me in to wait for you," he replied.

And then, jumping up and holding out the counterpane, with his head turned to one side, he added: "Here, put this on. I'm not looking." In this last statement Mr. Tone represented a minority, group of exactly one among the masculine contingent, whose'at- titude can best be summed up in the statement that they were all eyes. But from there on things took a decided turn for the possibly for the better from viewpoint of Miss Bennett, who might have been getting she stepped out of sight for a moment and returned in a long dressing-gown which covered her entirely. This had the single advantage of making it possible to concentrate on the story for a- while, and so it can be reported that "Highly Irregular" concerns the somewhat -unconventional efforts of an R.A.F.

pilot to escape from occupied Holland with information about a submarine base and, incidentally, a brand new wife. It will-scarcely be necessary add that Mr. Tone and Miss Bennett represent the flier and the wife, respectively, but before -the escape is effected the two of them are put through some hilarious escapades in which the Nazis are not only niade to look stupid but downright funny. All right, so maybe they're not funny in real life, but who cares? The people over on the Columbia lot quite properly feel that it's high time we enjoyed a few good laughs at the expense of a gang who have done -their level best to abolish laughter in their own part of the world. And once they begin to look funny to us, maybe.they won't look so tough.

Perched becomingly above is Betty Wells, recently recruited from the to toil hereafter for MGM. ERSKINE JOHNSON'S HOLLYWOOD EXCLUSIVELY YOURS; The most tlonaV and noisiest, dance Astalre ever devised will be Pararrfount's new fllmuslcal, a firecracker number hoofer and thousands of firecrackers torpedoes. Astalre will tap his way throSS a field of exploding cannon crackers ing torpedoes to the floor In time wiuYtD rhythm of the dance. A total of 300 cfoff ers and torpedoes will be used In the her, for which Irving Berlin wrote lAuutau The routine Is one of elrht IRSKINI IOHNSON Astn)re a nc es in the picture if DeaBhn next picture is "Boy Meets as planned, she will be the "baby" and it will be her ni glamourous screen role. She'll Wear pigtails, horn rlmmM glasses and braces on her teeth for a portion of the film Swell line in "Wliistling in the Dark." Looking at a rmoni mummies, Red Skelton comments: "Looks like they through a double feature." wt Hedy Lamarr was recently reunited with her mother, Gertrmi.

Kiesler for the first time in five years. She's been living in Lon don ever since Hedy came to Hollywood RKO would like to borrow Vic Mature from 20th Century-Fox for "Arms and the Man" Add minor mysteries: Paramount filming a mnv. titled "My Heart Belongs to Mary Martin Brenda Joyce's husband, Owen Ward, donned army khaki Vivien Mason, prettiest of the Fox Stock, girls, arid Stephen Crane, a New York oilman, are an item Paul Muni has the inside trade on the role Fredric March played on Broadway In the film version of "The American Way" Lou Costelln seriously ill with the flu Ih Miai.il. Yoo-hoo, Mr. Hays! For a -scene in "Forest Rangers," Vred MaoMurrdy wtll spend a night in the forest with Paulette Ooddard sleeping on onto side'of him, Susan Hayward on the other.

And NO sleeping bag. After writing a takeoff on "Your Income Tax," Gronclio Marx was asked by the publishers, Simon and Schuster, for an autographed picture. "To Simon and Schuster," he wrote, "whom I will probably end by suing." Helen Thimig, who is Mrs. Max Reinhardt in private life is testing for the role of Pilar in "For Whom the Bell Susan Peters, the, Warner cutie, And Pvt. Jim Corner are a dark corner twosome Gene Tierney and her husband are liying in the servant quarters of their new the servants are living in the house.

They haven't had time to furnish the place Leo Carrillo has turned his Santa Monica home into a Red Cross emergency station Sondra Rogers, an eyeful from the New.York stage, town to consider several movie offers Helen Gilbert and Raymond Hakim arc a new Mocarribo twosome. It's Jerry Bergen's story about -the insomnia sufferer wlto was advised by his doctor a pint of milk every night. Next day he returned to the that it didn't work. "Did you drink a pint of milkT" asked the doctor. "Yes," was "and it certainly took lot of coffee to do it." 1 Orson Welles' description of an actor, name deleted by censor: "He's a 10th columnist.

He Is not only boring from within, he Is also boring from without." NOT IN THE SCRIPT: A scene for "Tortilla Flat" required five dogs to on Frank Morgan simultaneously while he was sitting in church. For a time it seemed" like an impossibility until director.Victor Fleming started "hiding things in the beard Morgan wears for the role. Bits of meat, a rubber mouse, fish and bacon were trle'd. The.meat trick. "How do you feel," Fleming asked Morgan whert a good "take" was finally made.

"With five dogs getting a lunch out of my beard," said Morgan, "I feel like an automat" "He's not really a producer. He just says he has ulcers." KEN MORGAN'S HOLLYWOOD KEYHOLF Columbia Studios has completed arrangements with MGM for'the loan of Joan Crawford, who will move off her home lot to appear in the lead opposite Melvyn Douglas in "He Kissed the "Bride." The above announcement is a straight item and would probably be of little news for the circumstances. The part was originally slated for Carole Lombard, whose life was so tragically snuffed a few weeks ago. Secondly, the entire proceeds for Miss Crawford's chore will be turned over to charities. Arrangements have already been completed with the tTreasury Dept.

Beneficiaries of the $112,500 fee will be the Red Cross, S50.000; Motion Picture Rellof Fund. Navy Relief Fund, and several others. Now in New York, Joan Will return for the start of the picture, which will be directed by Alexander Hall, noted for a series pi recent comedy smash The romance between (Singer and Jean Gabin, the great French dramatic star now under contract at 20th Century- Fox, used to be kidded by paoyle gosslpers. Initialing the friendship with a at the request of Monsieur Gabin, Miss Rogers was a bit befuddled due to the inability of Gabin to speak English and the resultant denouement appealed to the members of the "Fourth But'that condition has been altered. Gabin can now talk Gingefta language.

Latest turn in the lives of these two Is the desire of Gabin to have'a head of GlnRcr sculped by Phillippa Brooks'Edel. whose bust of Gabin prompted the romantic gesture, First the shock of the separation between Ann Shirley and John Payne, a pair considered by even Hollywood gossip mongers as ideal, and now comes word that the rift of the Frankle Albertsons has been This separation Is even more surprising than the first as the couple have been married for years and have two children which are the prideful Joy or their parents. Frankie has been prominent in motion pictures alnce 1922. THJP OOOD RUMOR MAN: Hear that 20th Century-Fox will make a film the and career of Glenn Miller, America's number one band leader, who debuted In pictures with "Sun Valley Grable will play the fcmme lead have been deluging Lynn Bar! with requests for bathing suit next Sunday the cooperative will pose all day for photographers to get exclusive art for the soldier boys Hottest foursome town is Hedy Lamarr- George Montgomery and An.n Sothem-Robert Sterline Ann Miller and Blake Garner are hot engaged--just good Elleri Drew has left for Washington and husband Sy BarUeti Frances Glfford and Ph.fi Terry are thataway Marina Raye's slater, Melodye, Blue Heaven" Austin a term contract i sing Comic Jerry Birgeri says, there will be only four of brassieres in the medium, large and are you kidding i Qene Tierney and husband Olce Cossln shortly for New York for the fjlhftj efcapter of the family rll swan Brenfe wtefl the most beautlfuljlfj In Shanghai, Is seeing bulldupfsoon at MOM child, mose fee for his a dollar for a sketch of Wi Olvera Tony Ma: on leave trim Studio has a com in miniature In prder to i Urtol Flynn and offer his services to tlf the iervlce needs men KEN MORGAN rry telodye, to.do a radio show with Gene ustln Vallee Itarts a new career wlft he doesn have to ttn, SQng umua oroiit. riifiGB vuica ino mvoi uu Shanghai, Is seeing a lot tf Van flefjln, Who gets a terrtW llrfsoon jit MOM setting artist WerJJg ruwHnto lour fteures.

payine into tpur Barrie by a Mexican saw a lot of Carole Landli. it lh San FtanclBco studio for most effective caroouflBW branch oente cover service costs. bjr la sendlaf twwt wrlte.