The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • Page 11

THE GAZLTTE, "MONTREAL, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1939. 11 FRANK CAPRA AGAIN PROVIDES TOPNOTCH SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT VOL. CLXVIII. No. 270 Nan Blakstonc Stars Director Shows Democratic Idea Conflicting With U.S.

Politics In Film Masterpiece at Loew's Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Head Cast of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" "On Your Toes" at Princess Lloyd Douglas Film at Palace Parker as comedian and rr.aster of ceremonies. For between-shows diversion, Chez Maurice has installed a phono- graphic recording machine by which members of the audienca who wish to have a record of their voices may do so. Jack Bain's or-crestra will accompany those whi wish to record a The recording instrument is equipped with a hand microphone attached to an ex-, tension cord in orri- that records may be made from the tables. Adolph Zukor, pioneer motion picture leader who is now serving chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures was notified recently that he has been mada honorary doctor of motion pictur science by the Universite Libre de Academia Aslatica of India.

At the same time the famous film executive was made an honorary member of tho Federation International Corps dc Rcchcrches, also ct India. I 1 WAfl i itf I ')yvc4cT' 't NfM-v I- jf 1 For Final Week Here Nan Blakstone will begin the final week of her engagement as star of the Chez Maurice revue tomorrow evening. The singing is reported to be unable to extend her stay in Montreal beyond that date havin" received word from her manager that she must be New York within the next ten days to confer 'i the producers of "A Garden of Weeds," the play in which she is scheduled to moko her debut on Broadway before tho end of the year. For her final week at Chez Mau rice, which may also be her farewell cabaret appearance, Miss Blakstone has arranged a special program of songs. Next week will also see the final performances of tho Sidney Taploy revue.

"Hit Parade," with Murray "Hats'" FRANK CAPRAV GREATEST The gay, exciting, touch-ingly emotional story of a homespun youth catapulted into a position of great power, and head over heels in love! NOW From A Great as des i 7 jWl mmmi i ill i II UiiMuilWteAai 1 S-oHUu At the top left, James Stewart and Jean Arthur put their heads together for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," which is now at Loew's. Immediately below them, Dorothy Lamour, who is In "Disputed Passage," at the Palace. And below again, a flash of the finale of "Babes in Arms," which is running into its second week at the Capitol. On the right arc at the top Zorina, star of "On Your Toes." at the Princess, and down under Andrea Leeds, leading lady of Mr.

Goldwyn's "The Real Glory," in its third week at the Orpheum. 1 I WHO'S WHO IN FILMS Joe Moran Charles Wlnningr Judge Black Guy Kibbee Rosalie F.ssex Prevost Florrie Moran Grace Hayea Molly Moran Betty Jaynes Don Brice Douglas McPhail Jeff Rand Brooks Doriy Martini Leni Lynn Bobs John Sheffield By HERBERT Frank Capra' latest. "Mr. Smith Ct to Washington." ii the kind of that demands only tho most cnthutiaiUc of reviewi. It reminds us with a bang of the ability of this director to build a film situation to a point of emotional impact that can leave no member of its audience unmoved.

-Mr. Smith" is a better picture than its immediate Capra predecessor. "You Can't Take It With You." being more of a piece with the Capra methods. It might be considered the equal of the famous "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," and even its sequel.

For "Mr. Smith" l.ke "Mr. Deeds" and like you and 1 is an honest, straightforward person with great qualities which come to light when he is forced into a ntuation of prominence. The well-deserved publicity attend, r-g the film must turely have made story known to most people. In it one Jefferson Smith is elected to serve out the term of senator of a western state following the death of its holder.

Expected to be a tool of a sullied political machine in Washington, he instead els himself to fight it. He is almost crushed but manages to filibuster his way to victory. Perhaps the greatest effectiveness of the picture is its utilization of the democratic no. the universal impulse to "ten 'em." Senator Smith 3 given the opportunity in his film J.fe to do what most of in achieve nnjy in our fondest day-dream. Jie is able to ri.e.

before all the people Hid to tell them, aunpiy but with an irresistible glowing honesty, just what is wrong with the country. The ingenious habit of the filibuster provides this opportunity and the climax of the picture. Smith, nymbolizmg all the democratic ideals with a touch of the old Lincoln, is tricked to the point of being expelled from the august body of the Senate. He then stands arid talks, talks, talks until he drives his opponent to the distraction of confession and suicide. Much has been reported about the reception of thii film in Washington.

It was evidently frowned upon by the entire senatorial body, vhich supposedly felt that its vivid picture of a crooked political machine at work might instill a certain lack of confidence in the xnmds of the voters. It is true that for purposes dramatic and mmt people will a tree that they a-rt sufficiently dramatic to justify a great deal a one-sided picture of Washington ways is prented. But Mr. Capra might remark in a disrespectful Xir.t: that only if the shoe pinches is it necessarv to exclaim. Across the border here we can er.j-y "Mr.

Smith dors to Wnsh-iiigt n' without bothering about knowing parallels. Wc know that the dome of the Capitol in Washington is ouite a different shape from the Victory Tower in Ottawa. And we can sit rmuglv before the screens showing "Mr. Smith." happily imagining that it can't happen here, CATRA AT HIS BEST. The picture is one of Mr.

Canra's bet to date. It has. perhaps, fewer fir tne Capra "human touches than "Mr. Deeds" and far less romantic interest than "It Happened One Night," but it has a beautifully calculated conflict between "home principles" and mounting odds. And it has a script by Sidney Buehman that gives Mr.

Capra every opportunity to display his directorial abilities. Observe the frugality with which he handles his opening scenes, in which he must first bring Mr. Smith to the seats of the mighty. A series of telephone announcements of the death of a western senator introduces us to the leading members of the state political machine. And at the same time we are told just what its members expect of the dead man's successor.

This is followed by brief indications of the trouble in finding that successcr. In a comedy scene the weak-kneed Governor of the State is bullwd by his children into recognizing the merits of the local Boy Ranger leader. Then comes our first glimpse of Mr. Smith at the banquet in honor of his appointment. AH this has happened without a wasted moment, yet we are in possesion of all the ingredients which plus the atmosphere and traditions rf Washington, make up the story This sequence must be recognized as film story-telling at its most direct.

And so it goes all the way through the adventures of Mr. Smith jr. Washington. His awe of the place and its meaning, his simplicity in the face of Washington ways, later the clumsiness of his honesty, his apparent defeat and disgrace, and finally his use WHITTAKER. of the senatorial conventions to confound his opponents, all this ia told with the sure march i tnc Capra method, sharpened by cunn ing small touches ana wen- exploited appeals to the emotions.

Naturauy the director and nis story are at all times bigger than the players. Yet for all that there are some excellent people helping to push the story ahead by sharply detailed, and comprehensive performances. James Stewart seems Ideal as Mr. Smith, the fact that his "boyish charm" has been exploited for many less worthy causes before in nt way detracting from its useful ness here. Jean Arthur, who never plays in a role that is not perfect for her, is again as ir.

"Mr. Deeds" the wise girl who finds ideals in the pursuit of happiness. Claude Rains has another part worthy of him, as has Edward Arnold and a long list of people which includes more especially Thomas Mitchell, Harry Carey, Guy Kibbee and Eugene BALLET At the height of the balletomanla which swept the United States recently, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and George Abbott, three of Broadway's ablest citizens, took the toe-dancing profession for a ride in a musical comedy Called "On Your Toes." Now Warner Brothers have made a film version of "On Your Toea," to be een at the Princess with Vera Zorina, as star. They present it as a straight farce, leaving out all the Rodgers and Hart songs, although there is a haunting refrain of the show's hit tune, "There's A Small Hotel," running wistfully through its sound-track. As a screen farce, however, "On Your Toes" seems to miss out on its main reason for being satire on matters ballet.

There's plenty to make fun of in this subject, whether you serve it ud as a Broadway mu sical hit or a Hollywood farce. But the mm "On Your Toes avoids it Because it retains so much re spect for the ballet, those scenes In which Zorina plants her toes in the centre of the spot-light are the best in the film, if not the funniest. And what remains of the Rodgers-Hart-Abbott malicious intent comes as mere intrusion here. But there are long stretches of celluloid when "On Your Toes sits back on its heels and tells a rambling story of a rebellious vaudeville hoofer, a lazy composer, a oanKrupt Daiiet troupe and a faint smattering of White Russian piottings. Here Zorina Is out of her depth, una taaie AiDert lanes over as with Alan Hale and Leonid Kinsley supplying most of the comedy.

Mr. Albert looks as pro mising here as he did as the cadet with the baby In "Brother Rat." and with much less help from his ma tcrial. He even gets In a spot of dancing in a iort of jazz ballet that supplies tne climax, holding the camera's eye even in Zorina's own territory. There's also some amusing nhoto montage bringing the boyhood of me nero up to the date of the story. It's good stuff, if you're not tired of seeing the 1929 crash, the death or vaudeville and the last three European crises tied up with every simpie siory you see on the screen incse days.

TOUJOURS LAMOUR. Dorothy Lamour comes out of her Jungle to play a leading role in the screen version of one of Lloyd C. Douglas's moral tales. And for those wno find the combination of iamour and Dr. Douglas a trifle startling, let it be said that the star seems perfectly at home as Audrey Hilton of "Disputed Passage," which is now at ine t'aiace.

Readers of the book providing that this work of Dr. Douglas has received tne same careful transla tion to the screen that his others had will see that Mks Lamour's exotreism can be applied quite eas ily to this part of a girl who is American by birth, but Chinese by environment ana inclination. "Disputed Passage" opens with the entry of its hero, one John Wesley Bevan, into medical school There he comes under the influence of Dr. Forster, eminent surgeon and preacher or the scientific ideal After graduation. Bevan continues as I orster's assistant.

Comes Lamour, and the older man tries to break up an affair which he believes can only harm the career of his pupil. So the girl returns to the China she was willing to cive up for love. The final scenes of the film are set in China. Dr. Bevan follows the girl and falls victim to Japanese shrapnel.

Dr. Forster goes to operate upon his assistant. The scene of the operation with the silent watching Chinese faces, is I' a m. to 1 m. Hiindy It Noon to m.

30e. SHOWINGMN LI Novel Comzs The Screens Greatest Lovb Stow Henry Hull William. Parker Mrs Barton Martha Steele. Mi. F.yex Briec Shaw Mrs.

Brtce Shoemaker Hamilton Joseph Crehan George McKay Hoquemoie Lelah Tyler AT CINEMA DE PARIS "ORAGE." Andre Daven production, directed by Marc Allegret. Based on the play Venin," by Henri Bernstein. Characters. Players. Andre Paseaud Charles Boyer Pi-Ancolpn Masnard Michele Morgan Glsrle PsRcaud Ltsette Lanvtn L'Afrlcain Jean-Loula Barrault Gilbert Robert Manuel Lepere de Goerge Joffra Le chef de gar Rene Genin La concierge Jeanne Lory Vermorel Pons Olivier Jean Hugued Boyer Stars in 'Orage' "Orage," the screen version of "Le Venin," the play by Henri Bernstein, opens today at the Cinema de Paris with Charles Boyer in the leading role.

Heading the supporting cast are Michele Morgan, Lisette Lanvin, Jean-Louis Barrault, Robert Manuel of the Comedie Francaite, Joffre, Rene Genin and Jeanne Lory. 1 "Orage" tells the story of a tial AnnrtnAA. a w. man naval t-iijucd, a iJintl.ci, matt, who falls in love with the girl who is engaged to his younger brother. His infatuation for the girl and her love for him provides the theme of a story set against typical back-grounds of the Left Bank in Paris.

JUDY MUSICAL1 Young Ideas! oy St" AT THE PALACE "DISPUTED PASSAGE." Paramount picture directed by Frank Borzace. Screenplay by Anthony Veil-lor, Sheridan Glbney from novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. Photography by William Mellor. Characters Players Audrey Hilton Dorothy Lamour Dr, "Tubby" Forster.

Tamiroff John Wesley Bcaven. John Howard "Hill" Anderson Gordon Jones Winifred Blane Judith Harrett Dr. CunnlnRham Collier, sr. Mrs. Cunningham Elisabeth Risrion Mr.

Merkle William J'awiey Abbott Billy Cook Aviatrix Keve I Mrs Riley Lee Ya-rhing Terrence Renia Kiano AT ThFoRPHEUM "THE REAL GLORY." United Artists release of Samuel Goldwyn production directed by Henry Hathaway. Screenplay by Jo Swelling and Robert Presnell. From novel by Charles L. Clifford. Photography by Ralph Mate, Character.

Players. Doctor Canavan Gary Cooper Linda Hartley Andrea Leeds Lieut. McCool David Niven Capt. Hartley Reginald Owen Lieut. Larson Broderick Crawford Mrs.

Manning Kay Johnson Capt. Manning Russell Hicks The Datu Vladimir Sokololf Miguel Benny Inocencio Lieut. Yabo Ruby Robles Alipang Ketsu Komal AT THE CAPITOL "BABES IN ARMS." MGM picture directed by Busby Berkeley. Screenplay by Jack Mc-Gowan and Kay Van Riper, based on play by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Photography by Ray June.

Characters. Players. Mickey Moran Mickey Rooney Patsy Judy Garland MICKEY IN SMASH Fun! Stars! Songs! And ROOOEY-GA with AT LOEW'S THEATRE "MB. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON." Columbia releniM! of frank Capra production directed hy Capra Screenplay by Sidney fltithman. Photography by Joseph Walker, Slavko Vorka-plch.

Characters. Players. Saunders Jean Arthur fp moil Smith Jamea Stewart Senator Joseph Paine Claude Rains Jim Taylor Edward Arnold Governor Kibbee Diz Moore Thomas Mitchell Chirk McGann jEuRene Palletto Ma Smith Beulah Hondi Senate Majority H. H. Warner President of Senate Harry Carey Sudan Palim AMrirl Allwvn Mr, Hopper Dnnnellv Senator MacPheron.

Grant Mitchell Senator Monroe Porter Hall Senate Minority Leader. Watkin Nosey Charles Lane Bill Griffith William Demai-est Carl Cook Dick Elliott The Hopper Bovs Billy Watson Delmar Watson John Bufarll Harry Watson Gary Watson Baby Dumpling AT THE PRINCESS "ON YOUR TOES." Warner Brothers picture directed by Ray Enright. Screenplay by Jerry Wald and Richard Macauley. Based on show by Richard Rodgers, Loreni Hart and George Abbott. Photography by James Wong Howe.

Characters. Players. Vera Zorina Phil Dolan, Jr Eddie Albert Sergei Alexandrovitch Alan Hale Paddy Reilly McHugh Gleason Kinsley Dickson Smith Rhodes Churchill prill Dolan, sr Ivan Boultonoff Peggy Porterfield Mrs. Dolan Konstantin Morrlsine Donald Vera, as a girl Wootan Phil, as a boy Donald O'Connor NOW PLAYING. JOHN GARFIELD and PRISCILLA LANE in "Dust DRW Be My Destiny." "HOTEL FOR WOMEN" with Ann Sothern, Lynn Bari James Ellison, rUT2P NOW PLAYING.

I MrPTIinii" II tAMARR vlYtSIHOIIHT The Tropirs." CHARLIE RLGGLES MARY BOLAND in "Night Work NOW PLAYING. DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS" with PrUrilla. ONHLflND Roaemary A Lola Lane, John Garfield tr Gale ra. GRA IE FIELD In 'Rmlllni Along." Rhorls, "INSIDE THE MAGINOT LINE" France's underground fortifications. NOW FLAYING.

BING CROSBY In "The Star Make with VIVIEN LEIGH Si Louise Campbell. Conrad Veldt in "Dark Journey." NOW PLAYING II if ITirsF 'INU MAYERuNG" I mm' zx. it handled with a nice suspense, and is perhaps the best moment of the film. The operation is a success but the patient lives only when love (Lamour) flies to his bedside. Neither John Howard, who is Dr.

Bevan, nor Miss Lamour can manage to make us care deeply about their plight. These characters gain such interest as they have largely through Dr. Forster's concern in them, because Akim Tamiroff can make u.s believe in this bad-tempered, strong-minded man. There arc occasional references to the soul throughout, and whether the complete doctor is better off with or without one. But in the telling of the story of "Disputed Passage" no particular answer seems to have been made.

Perhaps the picture has its chief value as an illustration of the book and will best please those who come already armwd with a knowledge of Dr. Douglas's conclusions. ON THE SCREEN (Saturday schedules only.) CAPITOL "Babes in Arms," at 10.00, 12.15. 2.40, 5.05. 7.30, 10.00; "Crime Doesn't Pay." at 11.40, 2.05, 4.30.

7.00. 9.25. LOEWS "Mr. Smith Goes Washington," at 10.40, 1.20, 4.00, 6.40, 920. PRINCESS "On Your Toes," at 10.20.

1.10, 4.05, 7.00, 9.50; "Pride of the Bluegrass," at 12.00, 2.55, 5.50, 8.40. ORPHEUM "The Real Glory" at 10.15. 12.30. 2.45. 5.05, 7.20.

9.40. PALACE "Disputed Passage," at 10.00, 12.15, 2.40, 5.10, 7.35, 10.00. IMPERIAL "The Man They Could Not Hang" and "Blondie Takes a Vacation." CINEMA DE PARIS "Nulls Silencieuse," at 11.15. 1.40, 4.10, 635, 9.00; "Oragc," at 12.15, 2.45, 5.10, 7.40, 10.10, YORK "Dust Be My Destiny" and "Hotel For Women." WESTMOUNT "Lady of The Tropics" and "Night Work." MONKLAND "Smiling Along" and "Daughters Courageous." SNOWDON "The Star Maker" and "Dark Journey." CABARET. CHEZ MAURICE Revue twice nightlv SAMOVAR Revue twice nightly.

NORMANDIE ROOF Revue twice nigntiy. Opens Film Club L. V. Rechendorff, Danish Vice-Consul to Canada, will open a series of foreign motion pictures to be shown at the Y.M.K.A., when he addresses the first meeting of the Cinema Club today. The first film of the series, to be shown at this meeting, is to be "Wedding of Palo," a Danish film made in Greenland.

Among the films to be shown to members of the club are "Kathleen Mavourneen," "En Saga," "The Wave." "La Maternelle," and "Jan-osik." Today Tomorrow BORIS KARLOFF "THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG" 2nd Featur "BLONDIE TAKES A VACATION" Guide to Theatres tj lv art t' DOROTHY LAMOUR AKIM TAMIROFF JOHN HOWARD mum I Daily 10 urn. I if Now Sundfly 12 noun P.m., Showing 1 1 Chas. WINN1NGER Guy KIBBEE June Prdssar Batty Jaynes Hug Sintfne Placing Cait Dlr7ttf bf BUSBY BERKELEY 3rd ROARING WEEK! 1 'it, 4V v- -'S TCP I '1 1 -r I iwnffi rwrwliallfi dJfcit lit, i.til i.i.'j;a-; Inri inO "OROUR iAtBERTWiS, 1' AtANHAlE. FRANK McHUGH 1 ltPr4Vl 1 riaity 1 rn-. JAMCS CLtAiON u.1 ICtSffS''? Charles Boyer, French film star, whose value as an international sset has recently been recognized by his government, is here seen with Michele Morgan in a scene from "Orage," now at the Cinema de Paris.

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