Daily News from Los Angeles, California • 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER' 4, 193? Dear Octopus deals kindly with its family -problems By HARRY MINES In Dear Octopus, Dodie Smith writes affectionately of that Institution known as family. Miss Smiths concern rests not with a screwball family or a. villainously tyrannical family, but remains lavlsbed upon the thoughts and emotions of an everyday English clan Inhabited- by intelligent, kindly souls who gather under the ancestral roof to celebrate the occasion of the parents golden, wedding' anniversary. V. As the children, now at ripe age and keenly aware of the incredible rush of years, trod familiar hearthstone 'haunts, their reflections are many.

Of these- Miss deals with shrewd compassion, There is' also the problem of Uncle pUcholaaf romance with, nice Miss Penning. Thats taken care of along with Cynthias resumption of home ties after seven years away in Paris. Cynthia is the familys nearest well executed characterization. As jhe erring Cynthia, Faith Bennett proves herself an accom-pushed actress. Dana Andrews, 'Mary Todd, Julia Gage, Ola Lorraine, Robert Carleton, Richard' Lane, Peter Engle and Stella Rae are all ably cast as Randolphs.

Patricia Corelli Is Miss Fen- ning, Robert Christian Leefelt, Teresa Stam Sholes and Shirley Ann -Stents the grandchildren. approach to a scarlet woman aa and. Ann Melvin and Kate Har-" rlngton the faithful servants. iomas Browne Henry's direction puts Into a static script and maintains an even balance of drama, and laughter. The opening night performance could be easily speeded up as It is a lengthy evening of family foibles that Miss Smith chose to dwell upon with a cheery thoroughness that is frankly -tedious at moments.

she has beenT living' devotedly all this while with a married man. The Pasadena Community Playhouse currently showers Miss. Smiths nostalgic humor upon audiences. It la a quiet, sentimental, appealing treatise' she has fashioned. In fact, the details are so painstakingly rendered as to almost amount to the' The playwright, ac- cordlngly, often emerges a gentle -bore, When theres not too much of the family's chit 'Chat la pleasantly amusing aa it responds to the lack -of central heating in the old house, tea and muffins, autumn leaves and life, love and happiness In general.

Over all the collection' of grandchildren and. In laws presides Dora Randolph and her devoted husband, Hugh. Always an odd Job around the house finder, it isnt long before. Dora has fallen back Into old habits and has tha brood running here and there following out her orders to put another log on the fire, help cook In the kitchen or hurrying to.the dairy for some eggs. Lenora Shanewlse' brings warmth and understanding to role of Dora, It la a smooth.

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tat. Sato PAR-PACIFKS ICE ABENA VM IM aw: Hi Ma, Me at VM PJL A I I A enos "au quiit as TODAY A JACKIE COOPER Is seen in a favorite pose es Henry AMridi, the youngster who's etweys getting -into trouble, in VWhat a Life." The screen version of the Broadway stage show -end- radio character opens tomorrow at tha Paramount theater, with Count Basia and orchestra and tha Daad End Kids heeding the stageshow. REINHARDT IN ROAD DEAL Henry New York, producer, hae completed negotiations and signed contracts with Max Reinhardt, whereby he will produce a series of plays to be personally staged and directed by Reinhardt. This arrangement will follow jfO fitZY Hollywoods smartest younger set is going formal next matters -By VIRSINIAWRISHT Drama Editor BEGINNING their fifteenth year, Columbia Pictures Corp. prepares to release the greatest production in its history, Frank Capra's Mr.

Smith. Goes to and the day of the preview of that picture Frank Capra prepared to go into business for him-, self-. -1 Yesterday, writer. Robert Riskin and attorney Loyd Wright, he filed articles of incorporation in Sacramentofor the Capra product' tions. Last night at Pannages the picture-was shown which he hopes may intensify and confirm a prideful consciousness of what' being an American entails in sence." Extravagant praise is all I can think of now for Mr.

Smith Goes to Washington." It is the perfect American propaganda film, in its expose of the corrupt forces that might destroy, the freedom of our -government, fearless, in its attack on any press that would withhold the truth. Only in these United States could such -insinuations be made with impunity, and Frank Capra could make them in a comedy. For Mr. Smith Goes to is -brilliantly amusing. It presents a pride of Country amidst typically American self conscious laughter.

Its flag waving is of the most subtle kind, be-cause it makes you laugh. The film's dramatic structure is a perfect piece of craftsmanship. The story of an innocent among the politicians never falters for a moment It gathers speed and momentum all along the way until it bursts into the rousing crescendo of 72 hour filibuster on' the stable floor, as Mr. Smith, Xfrione, crushes a corrupt political machine that has flourished throughout the land for 20 years. DOtt the last few years Jimmy A Stewart has been wavering on the edge of the Ideal screen role.

He has found it now In the character of Jeff 1 Smith, the leader of the Boy Rangers who suddenly finds himself appointed to the senate to fill a vacancy. Aa tha idealist face to face with the great monuments of Washington, and carried off his feet with excitement; aa the dupe of reporters, and the laughing stock of the senate, aa the enthusiastic promulgator of a bill or a boys camp, and as the disillusioned dreamer who leans that there are powers greater than the vote of the people, he is in perfect stride. But once his ire is up, and he learns enough about tha rules of order to stand up in his own defense against tha framed evidence against him, ha exceeds in power anything he has done on the screen before, That filibuster acena li a magnificent blend of humor, pathos and tense Jean Arthur, too, aa the wise capitol secretary who la first bored with her Don Quixote senator, then drunkenly sorry for him, and finally his teacher In all the senate tricks, is In her element, and a distinct addition to the-proceedings. -There are also many fine momenta, in the part of Claud Rains, aa tha distinguished, ambitious Senator Iine, caught in the wheels of a crooked political machine. Guy Klbbee Is the flurried governor who must replace a dead senator -with a safe.

Incurious man and gets, instead, a passionate crusader. Edward Arnold, aa the corrupt publisher and party -boss, who backs the grafting appropriations bill, and hires Eugene Pallette, a ward boas, to keep Senator Smith from prying, la also an Integral part of this penetrating study of democracy at work, aa- are Harry the vice president, and Thomas ltchclL a correspondent. 1 3M0C portedly Introduce! a new theatrical technique to the legitimate theater, carries a musical score Involving a combination of the themes of Rossini and Erich Wolfgang KorngokL Stage settings win be by Remlsoff and era described as spectacular." Adrian believes that tha theatergoers of this country are ready for a new order of stage presents tions, and In this combination with Reinhardt, intends to provide them with it. Proteges at Universal Two Ben Bard proteges are now working at Universal. Gordon Jones and Gene Rlzd.

play the hero and villain, respectively, of The Green Hornet," a serial. out the plan of the former Reinhardt European circuit, with Adrian producing tha Reinhardt shows here on this continent and playing all major cities of America and Canada, with New York the ultimate goal of each of the productions. Adrian and Reinhardt will try but all plays In Hollywood before sending them on the road. This, according to tha producers spokesman, la planned aa another step in making the film capital a legitimate theater center. first ihow to be effected by this merger, will be Carlo Goldinls musical farce, At Your Service," which is now In rehearsal and which will have a midwestern opening about October 15.

At Your Service," which re Tuesday night, With the announcement of the premiere of Babes In Arms at Graumana the brightest socialites of the Hollywood youngsters ranks started a rush for the young mens shops and, misses ready to wear department! of tha Hollywood stores. Mickey Rooney la expected to set the fashion for the film city lads with white tie and tails unless the advice of a number of his friends prevails and he arrives in a- double breasted tuxedo. Judy Garland has already had the last fitting for a new evening dress for this, her first premiere in Hollywood. Other film youngsters who will give the grownups something to compete with are Bonita Granville, June Freisser, Virginia Weldler, Gene Reynolds, Freddie Bartholomew, Ann Rutherford and Katherine Grayson. i Extensive plans are under way to make the premiere of Babes in Arms" an outstanding event of the season.

Tha picture- atari Rooney and Mias Garland, with' Betty Jaynes, Douglas McPhail, June Prelsser, -Charles Win-ninger, Henry Hull and Grace Hayes. --J It was produced for MGM by Arthur' Freed the Lorens and Hart Broadway musical and was directed by Busby Berkeley. 5BSBSP -ass STAGE ATTRACTIONS OPENING BEHYMER SEASON STAGE ATTRACTIONS XI I nr I Tsis. Eva Bthymcr GALA ENUHIN Oet. 10, Pbllkinaisla Aifitsriia Tickets: $1.10.

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