The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 15

"1 East Thinks Letter Fine JIIM1IE FID IN HOLLYWOOD Family Life Well Shown BY KATHERINE VON BLON Tracing the fortunes and failures of one family through in Revival BY RICHARD GRIFFITH NEW YORK, Dec. 1. (Exclu Ken Murray's close pals ln-(Rooney's pep and no 'sense cf sist he's 'married to 17-y ear-old responsibility GrowU Bing oi r. Crosby 13 so lucky, if he lost Cletus Caldwell. Is casting of sive) Since Jeanne Eagels' version of "The Letter" is only a ",1 home with a prize for handsome film a skid move? Enrol.

little more than 10 years old, Frantic urge: To tell tn comparison with the Bette Davis 'several generations, "Into Each Hour" by Marguerite Pearson, presented by Robert Johnson at the Hollytown Theater, roused a nostalgia for other days and also managed to evoke considerable drama, spiced with comedy during the course of the evening. There were moments when the rynn is going 10 De raaae nun-, a ri orary member of the New Mex- picturization now at the Strand is comparatively easy for New ico State Mounted Police PAGE 13 MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1940 PART 1 York reviewers, even those still Mary Livingstone Benny vowsi that the Dove of Love roosts ih Robinson to Portray Amnesia Victim Actor the Benny home R.K.O.'s new importation, Signe Hasso, almost severed a finger peeling a potato; it's sewed in place and doctors say she won't lose it Shirley Ross and Warners have Hollywood night clubs they should be home with their mammas, instead of gallivanting with their "daddies" Silly notion: Elsa Maxwell in slacks! MINUTE INTERVIEW: (Madeleine Carroll.) "I used to think that professional success was the most important thing in the world. But this war and my constant worry about th safety of those I love have taught me that the relationship of on human being to another is tha fundamental basis for real hap- thing moved slowly and seemed slightly unwieldy, yet the characters were drawn with conviction and verity, and much of the dialogue carried a certain gayety and at the same time amused through its stilted leaning toward the period represented. OLDEN DAYS Especially was this noted in their pens dangling over a term contract How soon will Di-J rector Busby Berkeley and Claire James be seeing a preacher? All that reported candlelight dating of Arline Judge and Jack Dempsey will add up to exactly serving their critical novitiate. It isn't often they have an op-porturv like this, and they embrace it With' gusto.

There's no slaughter, however, for the two films are singularly alike and there is little to prefer between them. The more captious point out that the beginning of the new Warner may confuse those unfamiliar with the story; it isn't clear what Miss Davis' motives are or whether her guilt is justified. They also find the new ending an unsatisfying concession to the Hays code, though it doesn't by any means destroy the strange power of this slight story. MODERN TECHNIQUE On the other hand the picture Ipiness. nothing Did Quentin (Col the '80s and '90s.

Kent Thur-ber's direction contributed greatly to this end, and was at all times provocative and well taken. Starting with the lovely Julie Wicoxon Loder Double Lab G-Men Heroized 'Sierra' Bids for Award Paulette Wafer' Signed Mexico Preview Hinted lier's writer) Reynolds suffer three broken ribs in a London bombing? Rosemary Lane and Buddy Westmore are taking flying lessons together. The Countess di Frasso, who was given the Hollywood rib Howard's graduation, and the ball, and later the courtship and marriage, the play related the when she sold her Italian villa to Mussolini and got nothing, has the advantage of modern technique, a very great advantage, indeed, when it is remem Hit Parade The SCREEN: "Melody Ranch" (Republic.) Cowboy Gene Autry ropes himself a star supporting cast and moves into big time DISCS: "Summit Ridge Drive" and (over) "Cross Your Heart" (Victor.) Even Lana Turner will find these Artie Shaw recordings irresistible. Also, "Frenesi" and (over) "A Song of Old Hawaii" (Decca.) Woody Herman's band makes these old favorites new favorites MAGAZINE PICTORIAL LAYOUT: The Linda Darnell photographic spread in Look. If you've doubted Linda's star potentialities, see these pictures and be converted BOOK: Kenneth Roberts "Oliver Wiswell" (Doubleday-Doran.) bered that the Jeanne Eagels' Edwin Schallert By course of events uniu cieam finally overtakes Julie, now a grandmother and the widow of Michael Evaps.

Marrying a ne'er-do-well usually strengthens the character of any woman, and Julie was no exception to the rule. Her gallant spirit and loyalty carried mi version was one of the first talkies, with all the crudities and downright absurdities of that difficult transition period. has the last laugh. Benito (whose countrymen are going hungry) paid the countess one million cash the other day. The Hollywood Touch C.

W. Coughlin, Richfield Oil Co. executive whose hilltop mansion is in the heart of one of her through sorrow and financial reverses, and though the radiance of youth dimmed, the flower our swankier residential districts, of her soul never lost its delicate effluvia. tells it: The other evening, answering CONVINCING PORTRAYAIi The author of "Northwest Passage" again tingles pulses with another flashing flash of Revolutionary War days SONG: "Who Am Granting I heard Frances Langford sing it (she his doorbell, he found outside a small boy who beseeched him to buy a subscription to a weekly magazine. "I'm trying to sell enough of them to get me a bicycle," the tyke explained.

Coughlin replied that he was So far as the pictures themselves are concerned, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The same may be said of the leading actresses. Try as they will, the reviewers cannot honestly prefer Eagels to Davis or the reverse. The truth is that these stars, like their separate picturizations of the same story, are remarkably similar. DYNAMIC WOMAN Like Miss Davis, the late Jeanne Eagels made her reputation by portraying dynamic women who break the laws of God and man to get what they want, and who meet ends as NEW PERSONALITY More vivacious and glamorous than ever is Hedy Lamarr in "Comrade due Wednesday at Loew's and Chinese theaters.

Clark Gable costars. Children Require Rhythm, Noted Educator Declares Betty Barlow, as the heroine Julie, played with charm and grace, and aged convincingly and sympathetically. Eric Efron, has poise and a forthright style which stood him in good stead as the gallivanting husband. Elaine Lockridge, carried off the-part of the predatory Linda Gilbert in fine style. Gilbert Fryd as the disappointed suitor played with sympathy and makes any number sound good,) I think you'll be singing it, too MAGAZINE STORY: Paul Gallico's "It Happened on Christ already a subscriber, and the boy turned away sadly so sadly that! Coughlin, repenting, decided to call him back.

He was too late. The young subscription agent was already clambering into a $5000 limou mas Eve" (January Cosmopolitan.) More stimulating than a Christmas Tom-and-Jerry. Distributed by the McNaught Syndicate, Ine. BY ISABEL MORSE JONES tet with "En Bateau" from his shastlv as their lives are un sine, with the aid of a uniformed Louise McDonald and Doug Rutherford brought color and "Petite Suite" closed. be afraid of rhythm; give children plenty of it in their music," said H.

E. Chamberlain, scrupulous. Similarly, the key chauffeur! note of Miss Davis' acting is me reuigdiineu filing Kwuy.u. -mpriv tfl srpnp van. led by that fine musician and- nt M.D., in a brilliant talk on "Mu frustration multiplied to the de- sic and Mental Hygiene" at the -executant, Ferl Roth, is becoming Mufferings To the hot oil vats with Holly dean Walters, Elsie Shaw, California-Western unit.

Their work is of the ut Martha Cabaniss, Arnold Hart I i 1 7.1. 1 II. I trrsi III 1 cators Conference in Pasadena's; most refinement and widely and Bobby Walberg were pleas wood cynics who sneeringly "believe the worst" about every successful young actress' Secret Junior College Saturday morn-, The tone shadings are gree of tragedy, portrayed with relentless insight, shocking in its surface details, deeply moving in its basic humanity. So it's no wonder that "The Letter" proves as good a vehicle for Miss Davis as for her prede nig. in sr.

varied but music is not sacri- i ambition: To have half of Mickey "The emotions, are about 50 ficed for misplaced dramatic times more powerful than the effects or showmanship. There. Sfranae Tested Those who govern the fate of Edward G. Robinson seem to be going the gamut with him these days in film assignments, and certainly he's likely to need some lighter relief following the grim maritime tale, "The Sea Wolf" grim, at least, as far as his role of Wolf Larsen is concerned. Picture which is up next for him is "The Man They Couldn't Kill," a comedy thriller written by Sidney Biddell and Frederick Frank.

Warner studio has just closed a deal for the subject for Robinson. Chief part is that of an actor who portrays gangster characters on the stage. He suffers a head injury, becomes an amnesia victim and then imagines himself a real gangster. It will be treated in the brighter mood of, say, a "Brother Orchid," which turned out to be very popular. As things stand, the picture will start the middle of January.

It's not the only film with an amnesia motif. William Powell did one not so long ago "I Love You Again." Wicoxon to Double for Loder in 'Uncensored' While the presentation of a dual role by a single actor long ago became a familiar of the screen, the cases where one actor impersonates another during the unfoldment of a story are comparatively rare. Hence when fans see Henry Wilcoxon taking the place of John Loder for a time in "Uncensored," 20th Century-Fox feature, they will be viewing a real cinematic novelty. Wilcoxon has just been signed for the part a top one of Loder's war buddy in the Flanders campaign. When the hero gets lost during the action, Wilcoxon is prevailed on to undergo plastic surgery and pose as his friend.

He is also under the necessity of studying Loder's voice and mannerisms. It is said that they photograph more alike than might be judged at first observation. 'laboratory G-Men' Named for MacMurray A unique picture is in sight for Fred MacMurray if all the arrangements are carried out. It's a Howard Estabrook story titled "Laboratory G-Men," which is being considered by Arthur Hornblow producer at Paramount, and concerns dramatic phases of the discovery of the efficiency of cobra snake venom as a cure for sleeping sickness. Stellar male role will possess much more serious attributes than are typical of MacMurray features, since he's remained a comedy adherent much of the time.

Movieland Jottings and Castings Report will be made on the motion-picture industry's accomplishments in behalf of the Community Chest tomorrow at a luncheon at the Biltmore Bowl, and the record is expected far to surpass any other year. Louis B. Mayer, various executives and prominent stars will be present, it is announced. "High Sierra" will be made a candidate for Academy award attention, it is announced by Warners as a result of the sneak preview at Huntington Park. This means it will be released late in December rather than early in January.

Mary Gordon has been signed for Jimmy Roosevelt's "Pot o' Gold" production, starring James Stewart and Paulette Goddard. She will be seen as Miss Goddard's mother in the story. is plenty of virtuoso technique if cessor. And vehicle the picture mental processes andby means of music we master emotions," Edward H. Griffith has tested Herbert Strange for a role in his next production for Paramount, "One Night in Lisbon." For the past year.

Strange has played leads with the Travers Show Boat Troupe plying between cities on the Mississippi. it seems to belong. The Schubert Octet is a little symphony with almost operatic qualities. The ensemble proceeded carefully for many measures in the Adagio, because of nervous tension. Stagliano's French horn was the first to is.

Its careful, studied presentation of a warped woman's defeat would seem meaningless without the great gifts the star brings to it. For the nonce, she makes It seem important to the reviewers, even though there are few Dr. Chamberlain, consulting psychiatrist and chief of child welfare services cf the California State Department of Social Welfare at Sacramento, expect adjustments of adolescents that they don't experience themselves. Through warm up to the w-ork and take who will name it among the 10 music, balance, emotional outlet, te difficult turns with freedom. the very important involuntary WUSC-UCLA UZJ" TOOTBAlt CAME! lid 1 Ba a JS ANGELS ONE NSGHT (no mmi nmplj BROADWAY TROPICS Clifford cnHi -ItUT LmmP lilt MTNOIIK UIOIIltOSIEUI tl I JTTJ4 jQtm mmy I Jy, CAPABLE ARTISTS Clarinetist Peterson is a quiet, unassuming player who, counts enormously in the success of a II presentation like this.

eiss best of the year. It may be remembered longer than some of those 10 by however. THOROUGH JOB Miss Davis holds nothing back, and the very thoroughness of her portrayal of evil (to say nothing of expert technique and sound sense of dramatic values) is likely to reach audiences far more than any of the supposedly uuitntuic' Kimunauixi' handled the bassoon with skill and Lipschuts' bass was' heard Keur to advantage, often doubling JUDY GARLAND i tm-CMMTi Mtia nciHl attractive parts she has played. with the clever cellist, Oliver Edel. The octet has long been a request number in Pasadena and Founder and Program Maker Alice Coleman Batchelder is to be congratuated on producing it as part of this series.

The meticulous production and the intelligent acting of Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson and Cfjeatcrsf Spoken Drama Gale Sondergaard will support (7:30 9:151 0117 OPEBS TOHIGHT Warners' slogan, "Bette Davis' greatest." Always merry and bright, "Tin physical motors of life, such as the breathing and the beating of the heart, are influenced," Dr. Chamberlain suggested. WELFARE WORK During his talk, the principal address of the general session, he gave case history and findings on the value of music in the welfare work of all ages, and its efficacy in "preserving inner stability of the individual." During earlier section meetings, John M. Holmes of Warner Bros, discussed the problem of "making a voice a commercial success;" Ernst Toch of the music faculty of S.C. spoke on "Utilization of Film Music to Develop Music Appreciation" and there was a discussion and demonstration by Dahl and John Crown, pianists, of "What's New in Modern Piano Music?" CHRISTMAS THEME Leslie P.

Clausen, president of the southern'' district, presided over the general session which closed with a remarkably finished and moving theatrical and musical presentation of the Christmas story by the Pasadena Junior College department of music and students of drama. IIIS1TIS nxus Pan Alley" is a welcome and Str TIIK BETTER1 surprising relief from the sev eral films which have solemnly chronicled the rise to fame of CrxXt I song-writing hacks. Surprising, too, is the freshness and variety of background in a picture which deals with a milieu every moviegoer knows well. Here Tin Pan Alley becomes a delightful place, the characters as engaging a group of semi-nitwits as the screen has shown in a long time. Alice Faye, Betty Grable and Pageant of the Film World Darryl Zanuck and Director John Ford are keeping their promise of presenting the cast in "Tobacco Road" without the conventional array of so-called stellar "names." Dana Andrews has been borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn to appear as Capt.

Tim, "The Three Scratches' will be the second of the "Ellery Queen" mystery stores and will star Ralph Bellamy, with Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin and James Burke. Eric Taylor is writing the screen play for Larry Darmour. 1 0 1 fcv. John Payne are all better than Mexico for "Come Live With Me" because of the probable appeal JJZ competition to Jack Oakie as un 4 Liz of the picture in Latin American countries. official star, and riotously funny he BEHYMER ATTRACTIONS PHILHARMONIC AUDITORIUM Schubert Octet This is a picture all New York Pasadena Event The Roth String Quartet likes, and it has caused more ARGENTINITA and her Spanish Dancer and Musicians Tomorrow Cvt.

or Tickttt SSc, ISc, $1.10, $1.65. $2.20, $2.75. tax inct. Bfhymar Boxtfflc. Phil.

Aul. MU. 1983-MI. 3730; Cl. Muii TU.

IU4 A AgcneiM enthusiasm than more pretentious offerings, besides being one played an unusual chamber music program in the Coleman con Thr'i Action mry Drama vtry East of the Rverl JOHN GARFIELD BRENDA MARSHALL MARJORIE RAMBEAU I WARHIR Oi. HIT cert series at the Pasadena Com of the Roxy's most successful films in recent months. THIN STORY munity Playhouse last night. The Forum Letturo Philhor. Aud.

Dec. 2 at 8:1 Pickup Shots Along Cinema Way "Open Sesame," written by Jack Preston, will be given a special one-performance production at the Daly Theater in New York Dec. 24 by Chamberlain Brown for talent scouts. It's a story concerning Hollywood. Vera Lewis, who just completed the CQmedy role in "She Couldn't Say No," will next act in "Here Comes Happiness," and play a "snoopy," too, as she does in the "Four Daughters" series.

Keye Luke, who starred in "Phantom of Chinatown" (Monogram) as Detective Jimmy Wong, will make personal appearances with the Count Bernivici show opening in St. Louis Dec. 13. Max Reinhardt is opening a new play department at his Work-chop under the supervision of Meyer Leving. This is aimed at discovering new theatrical' subjects.

"Bitter Sweet" was a critical favorite on the stage, one is told, MIL.LUO-W1 but the new version at Radio Schubert Octet, with assisting artists, Alfred Peterson, clari-; net; Adolf Weiss, bassoon; James Stagliano, horn, and Schull schuts, double-bass (the last two are members of the Philhar-" monic) was the center, of interest. The Schumann A Minor I I 1 1 1 1 "THE REVOLUTION IN ELTIOPE" 50e to $2 at 432 Philhor. MU. 0048, TU. 1M4 and all City Music Hall 5s nobody's darling.

And the fault lies not at all with Hollywood but with elegant Noel Coward, whose operetta has the thinnest, tritest story possi A SWELL TIME TO ARRANGE THAT PARTT It 1 Quartet began the event and the ble to imagine. Andantino from Debussy's Quar i r'r nn finPMi lit 1 In fact, there's nothing there Paramount Books Revue SiMVVfik VA lUUy UliUi 'k 'J A THRILL FOR YOUR GUESTS A ftAUX ARTS I at "all except Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, looking exceedingly prosperous in one of tine of songs and dances; Gloria Gilbert, the whirling beauty; the most comfortable attics a Lily Sandan, Wences, pair of penniless musicians ever starved in. Snanish ventriloquist; Red Dona i i ii.ir jnr m. i tr The settings are handsome, the hue and his mule Uno; Myrtill, the silver statue, and others. direction vigorous, but it isn't W.

S. Van Dyke's sort of thing Clifford C. Fischer's "Folies Bergere of 1941" will open on the stage of the Paramount Theater Thursday. It recently closed at El Capitan In Hollywood. Eleven colorful acts are into this fast-moving revue.

Special music, effects and unusual lighting highlight the production. Company includes the Wiere brothers with their nit-wit rou On the screen will be "Dancing Philharmonic Orchestra (3 at all. And nobody else's either. on a Dime." with Grace McDon BRUII97AlTEfl aid, -Robert Paige, Dale, William Frawley, Peter Hayes, Lillian Cornell, Eddie Quillan Conductor and Frank Jenks. II fe9 -mmm tjji Vf Mjfi '1 ROBERT STACK fA I( FilWiM Thurs.

8:30 FrI. 2:30 Hundel 5th Concerto Giumo Stnurn Drmh TrnflBuriin Curpenter nymphony Schumonn 50o $1 $1.50 $2 $2.50 $3 Tickets: TR-8961 or So. CoHt. Mutic Co. TU-1 1 44 (r Mutual Tickot OHicm SSBS luaMMnMHMMMBMV I I 1,1 nnil vs r1 TKf III ft 7 1 IIW II I 111 mm- acre.

Carroll Show, to Close Soon Earl Carroll's "World of Pleasure" revue will close soon at the Hollywood Theater on Sunset Blvd. Next Carroll theatrical offering Is slated for a Christmas premiere. hour nit. iwk no variety. Tfclllll lid 0 I by aneio kMullu.

A tiiintia now rovti Ihif (0tm morry thia. Don't mill BttJ Bow. londl rl EUGENE PALLETTE t.tcur.yt mooucm JP Rw.lS jM SHOWS .1 II A M. ipt. I BUTCH A BUDDl MaWWI 1 HOUR Of WORLD-WIDE NEWS NV SET 25c ANY TIMC-PttH TO AH Smi ttumi IC.Ul WTTStl II.SIIM rWwWEMa Till hi KM triad no TIMES CLASSIFIED ADS FOR RESULTS II tumliHutM-KTB II I 1 iff JiiiiiitiM ni'MavWif.

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