The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 50

xf XT Si s' i- 9 0 1 MlllS STARS (Tfic iffulabclpfua Inquirer () SUNDAY, JANUARY 1041 1 Time Turned the Tabl 5 i rm VP Ulf 1 PM 1 I i Ay i ii J- -W a 7V i j.Ji For Katharine Hepburn in a sad little play known as "The Success in 'Philadelphia Story' Contrast to Unpromising Start Mildred Martin A mean old exhibitor came right out in print and called her "box By Broadway took one look at her Lake" and. among other unflattering things, said she couldn't act. Then Philip Barry wrote a comedy for her. The rest is history, the amazing history of "The Philadelphia Story" and of a deter-ir-ined red-head named Katharine Hepburn. If.

right now, Katie Isn't enjoying the last laugh on a lot of Teople, including the whole of Hollywood, It's because she's far too busy. For the rangy actress from Connecticut, whose abiliy to make folks cross amounts to genius, is entitled to her triumph. It's triple triumph, too. Kaue today is the toast instead of THE MECHANICAL BIRDIE! ALL READY. CHILDREN! WATCH to right), John Hubbard, Carole Landis, Charles Butter-worth, Margaret Roach, Patsy Kelly, George E.

Stone, Adolphe Menjou owns the trick camera in "Road ow," at the Aidine Thursday. Posing for him are (left SCARLETT O'HARA IS BACK Who? Vivien Leicth, of course, starred in 'Gone With the Wind," returning Martha Scott Scores Again, In 'Cheers for Miss Bishop1 Performance Inspired by Teacher In Kansas City Who Helped Her By Louella O. Parsons HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 18. Martha Scott might very easily be the girl we sat next to in school.

She might be the next-door neighbor who brings her books in to study her home work and to worry, as we have all done, over problems in algebra and compositions for our English classes. She is as real, as human arid as down-to-earth as any American girl who is seeking an education. Martha comes from Kansas City. She wanted an education and because her family was in moderate circumstances there didn't seem a chance for her to continue until an old maid school teacher, Ida B. Lilly, staked her.

Miss Lilly saw to it that Martha went to Ann Mr. Taurog Illiterate? Mickey Rooney Convinces lowans By Whitney Bolton HOLLYWOOD. Jan. 18 Nine visiting tourists from Iowa have gone back home now. But thev must still be stunned by the spectacle of one of Hollywood's biggest directors as a man who cannot read or write.

Ali of Iowa probably has heard by now that Norman Taurog is an ignorant man, although a talented one. Norm can thank Mickey Rooney for it. The visitors, distinguished lowans. were invited to visit the "Men of Boys' Town" set and did. Mickey was named their guide of honor.

He told them all they wanted to know, answered questions, explained things. He pointed out Taurog. 'Can't Read or Write' "He is a brilliant director," whispered Mickey, "but it's a strange thing he can't read or write." The visitors laughed, said they thought Rooney was kidding them. "Just to satisfy you. I'll prove it," said Mickey.

"Watch very closely when he gets ready to make the next scene." Taurog called for actors to take their places for the next scene. Then he turned to the script girl: "What's the dlaloKue in this one?" Dutifully, read it to him aloud. Taurog nodded, turned to start the scene and a messenger came up w.th a tele-aram for him. "Ycu sign it for he said to the script girl. She did.

The Denouement The visitors were convinced. What they didn't know is that it is a habit with Taurog to hear the dialogue read so he gets a feeling of its sound. The signing for the telegram-blank was an accident. But it helped con- vince the people from Iowa. They felt very bad about it.

Imagine, they said, a grown man of such fame making all that money and handicapped by ignorance. It was sad. really. Maybe the studio ought to get tutors lor him. Mickey said he didn't think Taurog would like that.

That he was sensitive about his lack of education. i f---- ILLAINS AWAY FROM Ride Again," at the Santon. range, and a tough customer HER GUNS WILL KEEP THE Akim Tamiroff (left) and Charley Grapewin trust in the marksmanship of May Robson, in "Texas Rangers on luocal Screens This Week Sh Films Shotving ALDINE "ROAD SHOW" is listed Thursday to replace "THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO," adventure drama playing a second week, with Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett and George Sanders. "Road Show'" is the name of Carole Landis's carnival, to which come Adolphe Menjou. wealthy eccentric, and John Hubbard, playboy, from a sanitorium.

There's a nice mixup between carnival, lions and socialites. Hal Roach directed, and the cast includes Charles But-terworth. Patsy Kelly, George E. Stone, Polly Ann Young, Margaret Roach. Willie Best.

Edward Norris. BOYD "THE PHILADELPHIA STORY," filmization of Philip Barry's stage comedy hit, stars Katharine Hepburn as the Main Line socialite, preparing for her second marriage, who is "humanized" by the visit of her ex-husband, Cary Grant, with a magazine reporter (James Stewart) and photocrapher (Ruth Hussev). George Cukor directed from Donald Ogden Stewart's screen play, and in supporting roles are John Howard, Virginia Weidler. Ro-i land Young, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Henry Daniell. 'GWTW to Return STANLEY "GONE WITH THE WIND' is scheduled to begin a popular-price return engagement Wednesday, replacing "COMRADE playing a second week, with Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr.

Mr. Gable also enacts Rhett Butler in Margaret Mitchells story of the Civil War, filmed in color by David O. Selzniclc with Victor Fleming directing from Sidney Howard's screenplay. Vivien Leigh portrays Scarlett O'Hara, and Olivia de Havilland heads the large supporting cast as Melanie. FOX "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" transfers from the radio to the screen the feud of Jack Benny and Fred Allen, in this musical comedy produced and directed by Mark Sand-rich.

The supporting cast includes Mary Martin, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Verree Teasdale, Virginia Dale, Theresa Harris. 'Invisible Woman'( Shown EARLE "THE INVISIBLE WOMAN" is enacted by Virginia Bruce, who is the Mib.lect of experiments by 'Gone With the Wind At Stanley Wednesday "Gone With the Wind" will begin a popular-priced engagement at the Stanley Wednesday, with continuous performances daily including Saturdays and Sundays. The film will be presented exactly as it was shown in its previous engagements at the Boyd and Earle, in its three hours and 45 minutes running time. Doors will open at 9.30 weekdays, and "Gone With the Wind" will be presented continously with the last complete performance starting at 9.15 P. M.

Sunday, doors will open at 2 1 with a linal showing at 9.15 P. M. jiiiiiTiMawiaaii "rt1fJ-JJH' the cp cf Broadway. She's making movie box offices she was once Eeecd to have poisoned ring merrily. thanks to her own f.air for recogft-rtng a Rood thing when f-he jt.

bhf is cleamriK up handsomely In a business way. From Footlights to Film From its opening In Philadelphia r'arly years eo. "The Philadelphia Story'' and Katie were tagged th ort of success one dreams hmit. Broadway found the pair If and ken; them for year. HMty end, eer Intent ujvjii pr-puiar plays into the movie :r.ed:um.

biddinc for tlic screen only to find Katie had had tire nl-dom to buy into the show and trrat where it went she went also, as star. The result was that Katie took time front her enormously profitable tour ith "The Philadelphia Story" summer to return to Hollywood, but r.or to RKO. and give what seems to us the performance of her career, assorted bv the fanciest, most cart M-G-M could Rive her, the direction of her old friend. Cukor. and the brilliant script Opden Stewart knowingly contrived from the Barry comedy.

Katharine Learned a Lot Kzt.e has learned a lot during her two years away from the movie lights and microphones. For "The Philadelphia Story" as a picture is by no rr eans merely a photographed version of the play. It has additional scenes. And its original three acts have been split into separate sequences, allowing the action to move freely through the room? and grounds of the Lord house rr th Mam Line, and even into a ib.rii.in public library. So St 1:.

ob- i- Ue it hrilfme Katie (i and perlected for her role Tri ry Lord cc-uld not be slavishly rriied upon to see her through the picur-. it becomes increasingly Epparnt as "The Philadelphia Story" ere? own blithe, witty way at the Bryti. Katie needed no such artistic blueprint, no such acting; prop. Her Tracy is even more captivating now, ore artfully drawn, more presented. Katie has sly-y employed her own more irritating mannerisms to emphasize the irritating qualities in the arrogant, too-rich cnob whose family find her difficult.

Assets as an Actress She has developed a warmth, a sen-eiuvity and an honerty that are indispensable in the closing scenes rhowir.g Tracy as a slightly pitiful person, shocked into human understanding of shortcomings in herself wfil as others. Batry's sprightly lines and the al-mot equally briKht additional Stewart dialogue, of course, make the play the t.hmg. But. frankly, it would be hard to imagine Philadelphia Story" without Katharine Hepburn. She is Tracy Lord or, one might say, Tracy Lord is Katharine Hepburn.

And when Katie plays herself, that ref-lh, 15 something. Thrrjgh Katie is the star, she outshine one of the finest supporting casts ever assembled for a picture. As the ex-husband who sneaks Spy's reporters into the Lord household to pet even with Tracy as Khe preparing a second marital leap. Cary Grant is perfect. On this ocrrvMnn he never lets the comedy got our cf hand, as has sometimes hap- Superb Supporting Cast If anything, his performance Is slight! underkeyed vastly to the benefit of both himself and the role.

But is JanTs Stewart whom, we thir.fc. you will find particularly de-lightlui as the snooping reporter who hatr his work and Tracy until champagne, that famous nocturnal swim and the girl's own basic qualities line him up on her side. Stewart's work "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" may have been more Fprtacular. but as much, if not more, understanding and genuine acting has sone into his rnaaKing characterization of MaeCaulay Connor.

Incidentally, for authentic Main Line fiavor. for wit. wisdom and for recocnizable portraits of Philadelphia aristocracy, there is no comparison between "The Philadelphia Story" nd "Kitty Foyle." The first i'i genuine. The M-cond was nearly phony as Dennis Morgan's of a Mam Line Romeo. 'Mannerhelm Line' Here Mannerheim Line," the Russian film showing Soviet troops fighting in the Russo-Finnish war of last winter, is now being shown at the Cinema Art Theatre, fith and Poplar us.

The Inquirers review of the fum mil appear tomorrow on the musemnt page. to the Stanley Wednesday. Miss Ida is such a mocest ccul, Martha went cn, "that she always refuses to discuss lending me money so I could go to Ann Arbor. I didn't make enough money to finish paying her until I came to Hollywood for Our Town. But money." said Martha, "could never adequately pay my debt to Miss Ida, to whom I owe Modeled From Teacher "Miss Lillv will love 'Cheers for Miss I said, i modeled my characterization from what I knew cf her.

When I first read the script," Martha said. "I told Richard Rowland I could (never look like a woman of seventy, He replied. "Do me a favor and make a So I nid and gradually I grew to love Miss Bishop and to feel I wanted to do justice to her fineness and to her integrity." "What about your teacher's certificate?" I asked. "Oh, I still have it. I didn't want to teach school after all.

I wanted to act but it wasn't as simple as all that. I worked in a candy shop and I was a salesgirl in a photograph gallery until I got a chance to go into stock. "Stock helped me, but It was th repertoire of Shakespearean plays at the Chicago World's Fair that gave me my best training. We did seven condensed versions of Shakes-I pearean plays each day one on the hour, and believe me. it was work.

I I couldn't do it now, but I wouldn't take anything for the training it i gave me." I She's Much Prettier I Martha has blos.somed out since her marriage to Carleton Alscp. She I is so much prettier. Three successes in a row are enough to make any I girl radiant. 1 "I never expected to make a pic- ture," she said. "My tests for Meianie were so awful that I wept when I saw myself.

I was so ugly and all the worst features of my face were brought out. I went back to New York convinced that Katharine Cornell was right a girl without great beauty should stay away from the movie camera. But when Sol Lessig came and talked to me about 'Our Town I came to Hollywood." She's the only girl I know who walked i right into three of the biggest pic-I tures of the year. They were birr I largely because she made them that I way. I Ted Weems Started Early as Band Leader Ted Weems, who is appearing with his orchestra on the Earle stage, exhibited the makings of a band leader when he was still In elementary school.

He organized a band to plav during fire drills. The principal paid Ted five cents a week for thfs and Ted charged the boys in the band a cent apiece for the privilege of playing with him! Both of Ted's parents were musical. His mother played the piano and his father and brother the trumpet. Young Ted himself took the best lessons his parents could afford, on the violin and trombone. But Ted was headed for a as a civil engineer.

During one summer vacation Ted organized a band which got a four-week engagement at the old L'Aiglon Cafe here. To keep t.hem there for IS months the proprietor made Ted a partner in the Arbor and obtained a teacher cer tificate. Jeanne Eagels, Ginger Rogers and Bill Powell all came from Kansas Citv. where Martha went to Junior College. She sat in the seat where Bill Powell studied his lessons and 1 she said to herself, "I am going to Hollywood and meet him." Powell Inspired Her "I never met him." Martha laughed, "until a few weeks ago.

Then I said. "You inspired me to become an He thought I was joking until I told him how I had sat in his seat at Junior Coiiege in Kansas City." I visited Martha on the set at Co- lumbia after I had seen "Cheers for Miss Bishop," I wanted her to know that I was so carried away with her performance as the teacher that I couldn't restrain the tears. After I had talked with her and she had told me how a teacher changed her whole life, I understood why she was able to put such feeling and such sympathy into a characterization. "You know," said Martha, with a tear glistening in her own dark eyes. "I felt I was repaying her for her faith in me." Ea rie, vy -4 111 5 1 111 Jgr A I I THEM Miss Robson is boss of the when she wants to be.

Canadian revolt of last century, with Gary Cooper. Madeleine Carroll. Paulette Goddard. Preston Foster. 'The -Champ' Revived NEWS "THE CHAMP" tomorrow will 'replace "LOVE BEFORE BREAKFAST," comedy romance starring Carole Lombard.

Wallace Beery portrays "The Champ." broken-down prize-fighter who attempts a comeback because his son, Jackie Cooper, prefers to be with him rather than with his rich mother (Irene Rich). King Vidor directed. TRANS LUX NEWSREELS share the hour-loiiR program with SHORTS on the U. S. Mint.

England's balloon barrage and billiards. The cartoon is "Snubbed by a Song." A KICK Bruce, who Virgin Jets John Barrymore know vn tv. ft 'j. V't A fe. -X Films Here Coming Soon TOMORROW NEWS "The Champ." return of the melodrama with Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper.

WEDNESDAY CAPITOL "Behind the News," melodrama, with Frank Albertson. STANLEY "Gone With the Wind." Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable in Margaret Mitchell's story of the Civil War. THURSDAY ALD1NE "Road Show," comedy with music, with Adolphe Menjou, Carole Landis and John Hubbard. FRIDAY FOX "Hudson's Bay." up North in Canada, with Paul Muni, Laird Cregar, Virginia Field, EARLK "Trail of the ViKilant.es." Western, with Franchot Tone, Broderick Crawford, Peggy Moran. On stage Erskine Hawkins and orchestra.

Four Ink Spots. PALACE "The Thief of Bagdad." SATURDAY STANTON "Tall, Dark and Handsome." gangster comedy, with Milton Berle. Cesar Romero, Virginia Gilmore, Charlotte Greenwood. MONDAY, JAN. 27 NEWS "They Gave Him a Gun," melodrama, with Spencer Tracy, Franchot Tone, Gladys George.

WEDNESDAY. FEB. 12 ALDINE "Fantasia." Walt Disney's i picturization of music played by Leopold Stokowski and the Phila- oelphia Orchestra. UNDATED BOYD "Victory," Joseph Conrad's adventure-romance, with Fredric Marc.i, Betty Field, Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Jerome Cowan. STUDIO "The Fight for Life." return of Pare Lorentz's documentary film about maternity care.

Refused Film Offer, Then Changed Mind "How would you like to go to Hollywood?" "Not interested." This conversation took place in the midst of a campus show at Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Oscar Serlin. Paramount scout, asked the question. It was John Howard wh9 gave the negative answer. Howard was then a very serious student with a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Returning home that night from his performance as star of the campus production. Howard learned that financial difficulties made it necessary for him to discontinue his schooling. So he called the Paramount scout on the phone and this time accepted his offer. Since then he has appeared in more than a score of pictures. His latest is "Texas Rangers Ride ARain." at the Stanton.

He's also in "The Invisible Woman," at the Earle. John Earrymore. scientist. Trouble ensues when gangsters steal the in-1 visibility machine. John Howard plays the hero.

A. Edward Suther- land directed. Ted Veems and his orchestra are on the stage. STANTON "TEXAS RANGERS RIDE AGAIN." and led by John How- ard and Broderick Crawford, take i care of the rustlers who are stealing I May Robron's cattle. Ellen Drew has i the romantic lead, and Akim Tami-i roff is also in the cast.

James Hogan directed. 'Ellery Queen' Bows CAPITOL "ELLERY QUEEN. MASTER DETECTIVE" is enacted by-Ralph Bellamy in the first of a series. The author and sleuth solves the mystery of Fred Niblo's death, and absolves Margaret Lindsay (Nikki Porter). Charley Grapewin is also in the cast.

Kurt Neumann di- rccted. STUDIO "THE BAKER'S WIFE." in its 15th week, stars Raimu as the baker who makes the town go hungry till his erring wife returns. Marcel Pagnol directed. Second-Run Films KARLTON "SANTA FE TRAIL" presents Raymond Massey as John I Brown, zealot who tried to rid Kan-I sas of slavery, and caused plenty of troubla for Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan, army officers. Olivia de Havilland and' Van Heflin are also i in the cast.

KEITH'S "KITTY FOYLE" stars GiiiRer Rogers as Christopher Mor-I ley's heroine who. facing a choice be- tween marrying a young doctor (James Craig) or remarrying a Philadelphia socialite (Dennis Mor-i pan), reviews her life since she was 15. Sam Wood directed. ARCADIA "NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE." is Cecil B. De-Mille's color adventure film of trtr Sund Cinemas ay A I "The Son of Monte Cristo." 2.05, 4.05, 6.05, 8.05, 10.05.

ARCADIA "North West Mounted Police," 2.15. 4.50, 7.25. 10. BOYD "The Philadelphia Story," 2.10, 4 10, 6.05. 8.05, 10.05.

CAPITOL "Ellery Queen. Ma-ster Detective," 2.20. 4.55. 7.35, 10.10. FOX "Love Thy Neighbor," 2.40, 4.30.

6.20, 8.15. 10.05. KARLTON "Santa Fe Trail," 2.05, 4. fi. 8, 1005.

KEITH'S "Kitty Foyle." NEWS "Love Before Breakfast," 2, 3.23. 4.52. 6.18. 7.44, 9.10. 1036.

PALACE "Four Mothers," 2.35, 4.25. 6.15. 8.05, 10. STANLEY "Comrade 2.40, 4.25, 6.15, 8.05, 10. STANTON "Texas Rangers Ride Again." 2.40.

4.30. 6.25, 8.15, 10.05. STUDIO "The Baker's Wife," 2.24. 4.33. 6.10.

8.10. 10. TRANS-LUX Nowsreel.i and shorts. VICTORIA "YouU Find Out, 4.05, 6.05, 8.05, 10.05. 2.05, sv-s' 1 A THAT'S FELT, BUT NOT SEEN p'avs "The Invisible Woman" in the film at the what she thinks of him..