The Montreal Star from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 16

TOE MONTREAL DAILY STAR SATURDAY MAY 6 1939 16 Theatres Sherwood's "Ahc Lincoln With the Accent riiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininii CONFEDERATION THEATRES Avon In Gotham To Become Movie Shakespearean Section In New York World's Fair 1CEW YORK May 8 The hatred of war which has Inspired 11 some of the finest work of Robert Sherwood recipient of the it Mrrrir England Village Contains Replica Of Bard's Clolie Theatre Pulitzer Prize this week for his play Lincoln In Illinois" was acquired during his years of service In the Great War with the 42nd Highlanders the Black Watqji Regiment of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Sherwood was an undergraduate at Harvard when the war started In Europe He was impatient to see action nnd before the United States entered he went to Canada and Joined the Highlanders He returned In 1919 but it was some years before he was atria to look upon his experiences with sufficient de-W adian who created the role so vividly on Broadway recording the part on celluloid' The play show the stages over a period of 30 years In which Unite coin developed from a lanky postmaster in New 3alem 111 to the unhappy and harried statesman leaving Springfield for Washington to assume the presidency Hie stage biography is presented In 12 scenes As the scenes are enacted the democratic views of Lincoln significant eloquence The play are expressed with hovlng and has been called a testament of the democratic faith CANADIAN visitor to Now York World' Fair will be Interested to find that Shakespeare and Shakespeare's birthplace have established for themselves a position of pie-etnlnrnre in the fair's theatrical entertainment The Merrie England Village at the Fair Is one of the largest of the entertainment concessions just as it Is one of the most interesting Quite recently it was completed and dedicated The theatre Itself is an accurate reptoduction of the old Globe Theatre at Southwark and Godfrey Haggard British Consul-Cencral at New York performed the dedicatory ceremony by sprinkling earth from Stratford-upon-Avon on the boards of the theatre stage Then Grover Whelan president of the Fair poured some Avon water Into Flushing Creek which runs by the villnge and which has been re-christened for the time being Avon" Thg Earl of Gosford acting as master of ceremonies placed upon this little corner of Merrie England on friendly foreign soil the resxnsibillty of recapturing for the American people the peace and gaiety of an earlier England and expressed the hope that it would give visitors a better understanding of English customs and ideas MARGARET WEBSTER who made a big hit in New York by her JU direction of Maurice Evans's Shakespearean productions Is In full charge at The Globe and has been rehearsing seventeen actresses and actons In excerpts from Taming of the Shrew" You Uke Midsummer Night's Dream" and "A Comedy of Errors Four or five shows a day In the theatre which accommodates 550 people Is the addition to the theatre proper however features of Stratford In this Merrie England Village which should be of particular Interest to American visitors For Instance there are reconstructions of the Red Lion Inn (now renamed the George ashmg-ton) In Bridge Street with the rooms In which Washington worked and' slept of Harvard House the maiden home of John irvrd mother who was bom at Stratfonl and of Sulgrve Manor the home of Washington's family 25 miles from Stratford as well old Engllshfanises and inns Including the Cheshire Cheese and Dickens I- England of former days Is a particularly happy needed enthusiastic approval by the leading spirit of that vast Undertaking iS tachment and the proper perspective to transcribe them Into plays It Is Interesting that his two most powerful anti-war dramas Delight" for whirh he won the Pulitzer Prize In 1936 end the earlier Bridge" were made Inlo movies end given International circulation Bridge" written about 10 years ago portray the terror of the population of London when It I being bombed from the skies German planes during the war XGW Lincoln In BlnoU" la ay to have a screen production with Raymond Massey the Can mmmmm "if im-Xl SIR WE ARTHUR CONAN OKIE'S HOUND OF monsimmEs Above Wendy Barrie and Richard Greene obviously concerned about "The Hound of the Baskervilles" nt the Princess Below persuasive lx as persuasive does so to speak as Humphrey Bogart Alan Hole and Errol Flynn square off In City i Mill WINVV GREENE ItAJRgfiNf BARRIE Camera and Curtain Place For Both Motion And Emotion Pictures A FRIEND from very well then a friend who ha Just visited is the bearer of some news which might bo as encouraging aa it Is Interesting He went to that celluloid colon? for the first time with some very clear-cut preconceived pictures of what the Hollywoiodsmen are like and what they do The Holly-woodsmen largely due td their toleration of cheap fan magazines and the like would not hove been flattered hod they known At any rate my Informant ha returned with his eyes symptomatic of exopthalmlc goitre There workers In the studios form the larger portion of an audience properly constituted and organized which meets regularly to view films they make which they regard as being better than the ones they do make and which would not otherwise through the usual commercial channels be available for them on Drama Don Turner Leads Mount Royal Band T)ON "LAUGHING BOY TURNER Is probably the busiest man In the music business In Montreal these days for ho Is preparing a large group of new arrangements for the summer time radio programs and of course providing dance music in the Jacques Cartier Room of the Mount Royal HoteL Popular for hie personality as well as for the way he has of ing a humorous song Don Turner's appointment as temporary leader Of Ui loyri Huntley's orchestra at the Mount Royal Hotel hai been well received Ha has many bright new Ideas for arrangements and he la making sure that the music of the hand reflects his own high carefree spirits never realized that the job as leader took so much time he says "I am working eighteen hours on my short days and twenty hours on the long ones In fact when I come home my wife wonders Just who I am" But Don doesn't give up smiling the one thing that Is easiest to next to and either a smile or a laugh is always on his cheerful face "The best the year as the 1939 forth film" A fetching moment from Victory" with Bette Davis and George Brent as the principals The picture Is at the Palace Good Role Best Starter Superior to Second Straight Role For I'rogre A CTRESSES who play the kind of In their early pictures often arrive at stardom ahead of their more respectable screen sisters A good role is a better stepping stone to public favor nnd procurer attention than any good secondary straight role can be There are many Hollywood this rareers to prove Bette Davit was merely an aceept-woman until she able leading shocked both Hollywood and the movie-going public with her characterization of the despicable Mildred In Human Bondage" A thoroughly girl was Mildred and Miss David played the role for all It was worth In fact she played the unpleasant character eo whole-heartedly that the director after the first two days of oaken her not to watch shooting the "rushes" at night but to rely upon his Judgment in the cutting of the picture wu afraid If you saw yourself" he told her later you would unconsciously soften the characterization and spoil It" Bette didn't see the rushes end she attend the preview of the nlrture She first saw herself as Mildred tn a second run picture house and when the film ended she didn't go out Into the lobby She sat right In her seat her hat hiding her eyes and waited until the theatre was completely empty before leaving shocked myself terribly" she admits didn't think that my family would ever speak to me TJETTE continued to play ladles of questionable virtue In several pictures Including which won the Academy award for her and she has played such roles successfully on occasion since notably In the highly successful Since that picture however she has reformed In her sireen Ufa and has lately limited her screen sins to displays of high temper and selfishness In her latest picture for Warner Bros Victory" which la now showing she goes the whole way towards respectability and sympathy her first completely role In several yean One reason for the eventual success of young actresses who start out in their careers playing these kind of women" think Lloyd Bacon who directed Bette Davis in a year or so ago is that such roles demand real acting ability and the woman who can play them successfully can usually play almost any Is other sort of role convincingly JVcim- nUTREUOK 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i FfWPiRiEiSK fi'1 lull A I I MU nils tanyam at Ns tat it tti wtf-til Mm via was i ten ta kis Tint batfe Mart glnl 1ANV8TEJ -JOIN BARRYMORE PETER HOLDEN VIRGINIA VEIBLER DaaaU NaeMi Katkarin Muatiar toWfUINOTON ST VERDUN HJi I BIO hi Tf CHNICOtOft I Mw 1 TYRONE POWER HENRY FONDA NANCY KELLY RANDOLPH SG0T1 ALSO The JONES FAMILY on the FARM" Ml WCUm MiANOKR MAISOMNEUV SIAfflTsa 1UDAX -r 'MABOABET LOCKWOOD fora AH REDGRAVg ('fact LUKAS mLC TOUCH cm fH soccryszm WH lltUX VABBIHH ZAC BIB NKABI Kiln St CHATKAf -a (UABIES KTABBETT Si (WO BA 1)0 TBAII Extra at MAIMM-NEI "THE HAMS OF TINE" MOTRa-MMa COUViNT Ml MOTHS -MMS COUViNT I AST TIMES TODAY EB TABES ATSir- th BREAB" Extra OF A NrBMK" Tariff Xt It MPINBAU NONT-HIKM TODAY MONDAY BANTKMJI ItARRIEnt In attk JOHN 1XHIEB tin DB OtVrr a xlstN at 11 SB FIJIW ''Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll MAH COBFBIV" la Fawxlt I Cxrala Ixxtiit Cam Atrfal Tratb" Staten far Sprtl ante Uvra Hxxr Rian VUH LAVAL Mat DAT THE organization I a film 1 society which charges a virtually nominal sum for the privilege of seeing the world's bet ter pictures It is similar in many respects to the temporarily (We fondly hope) dormant Montreal Branch of the National Film Society of Canada That local body at present Inactive due to law about which they ran do nothing functioned for several years In the belief that there was a section of the population not nearly as limited as It first was inclined to think anxious to sec cinematic works which were not being brought Into Canada The reason for this chiefly was that they were not considered sulllc-icntly potent box-office magnets Now in this column last week a reader (we also fondly hope) advanced an argument that was not without considerable validity She contended that the rank and file of human beings want to be entertained and not much else by their photoplay fare She was inclined lo believe that the rank and filo of movie critic too often forget about this 1 admitted the case without a mur-mcr (well murmcr of only five hundred words) VET It Is highly significant to note In addition to the trend as evidenced hy the Hollywood Film Society a complementary move mode recently by members of the Industry Itself Several prominent actors writers dlrec-tu iors and photographers have created what they call the Motion Guild The original sponsors include Melvyn Dougins John Garfield Helen Gahagan Gale Sondcrgnard and her direr-lor-husband Herbert Blhcrman and the camera expert James Wong Howe The Guild's purpose la to make pictures for that limited audience which the Film Societies are serving so worthily In England and on this continent not to mention France Australia and about thirty other non-totnlitarlan points of the compass They do not plan (and how wisely!) to cnier Inlo open competition with the gigantic studios They intend to make films with social political and economic themes a policy that would he practically aulcldn! with the big concerns Broadway Chatter Fair Is Main Topic Wore! Yet To Come So Far A ihf Crowds Are Concerned NEW YORK May (Special Star Correspondence) Whether we Uke It or not we've just got to merttlon the World's Fair this week Because if It Broadway la doing boom-time business and looks like 'a holiday boulevard As if the Fair visitors enough to set Broadway buzzing 11500 ol Uncle Ram's sailors arrived in town last Saturday to take in the hap-Robert Nrwooinb pentflgi So with and tars milling about Broadway all smiles Restaurant hotel and theatre managers have brushed aside their Depression frowns to welcome the horde uf potential customers Night clubs art doing capacity business while several cabarets have been actually forced to turn away hundred ol patrons But thla goldmine of business is deserved The prr-Fuir lull was almost disastrous to many night spots but they all hope to more than make up for it now Several have opened new shows to attract customers La Conga Just opened recently on Fifty-first street near Broadway Fat profits are being made by the Stork Club Cam Manana Paradise Kestaursnt and Versailles' Restaurant to mention but a few During the first week of the Fair hotels have only made out so-so The larger ones have filled well hut there are still nty of ers don't really expect capacity rrowdx until mid-June July anil August They figure that most jieople won't get to New York unlit vocation lime The some holds true for theatre owner They ex perienced a particularly bad week uut figured that most of the people will go see the Fair first before they bother with the arts Many plays that would ordinarily lift up Makes at this time of year are holding grimly on until they see what summer has to offer One exception Is 'The White Steed" a swell Irlsn comedy that will leave next week for Boston But there'll S'l'l he plenty of good ones left All in nit liiwulway is more fascinating than ever Stranger staring nt tali huilillngs n'lilng questions and milling uhuut store windows anil Meat ns an- a welcome addition Hawkers nnd beggars of course ure having a heyday By way of warning if you come to (lutham beware of "gyp'1 joints anil strangers Otherwise you'll have a swell time WE are remlnlerl of on interview bail short while ago vih the famous piny wrlght Somerset Miiughnm If we hail never liked him nur his ilavs before iwhieh is downright bet we would hnve done nn in-tuntan-enus lurn-nhoui when he told ns thut he likes to "gad jIkwI lie Great White Way seems to lurid He- same fascination far him that it does for us Maugham is now past fin nnd expressed liinihelt ns content to sit on the side lines and watch life go by He nrny wi itc -some mere he con reared hut no mure plav This news will he a deep blow to many like oiii-slf who thniui-uhlv enjoyed Betters" "The nrcle" "The Constant Wife" and we the tlntfiy hard ban earned hi nst "I tome over to America to set the stink of the soil" lie wild "1 have been coming i Ameirrn far many years and each time 1 exhaust with happiness This visit free of effort and fraught with delight has noen of Interest and wh'n I board the Queen Mary 1 shall probably drop exhausted In mv sipii-rwim THOUGH Maugham may have retired fium the actual writing nf plays he xfiil has a keen interest in the theatre He is particularly impressed by the American heat re which ha says I a expression" Of the current I la mid-Morton To Show Sensations OVERS of wild animals and circus entertainment will be given real treat for seven days slatting Saturday May 20 at the Forum when the Hamid and Morton trained wild animal show combined with cirrus arts will make Its annual visit In this city The Hamid-Morton shows for the past 20 years have been a standard entertainment In every big key city of the United States and Canaria This season they will present the biggest and greatest show they have ever brought here for It goes direct to the New York Fair from Montreal One of the outstanding features Is the aerial art of the Three Waldos The high light of their performance Is saved until tne very end when two of the girls each hnngfng only by their feet from the lofty rigging grip opposite ends of steer cable In their teeth The third partner grips the cen tre of the wire and they their celebrated "cloud swing" This fat one of the most unusual and daring performances ever Maced alone hy girls It is marvellous demonstration of strength belying the appearance of the per-fn-mers Their only guarantee of safety Is their assurance and confidence In one another ns they lierform their hazardous routine A slip by either member of the troupe would send all of them hurtling to the ground THE Christy Elephunis feature rhythmic pyramids dance steps and unique formations topped by what is known In the parlance of the trade as "synchronized" constructions which never fall lo arouse enthusiasm His stallions pure white and full-blooded and known as Liberty Hitters (because they are not Intended to be mounted) will be seen In a cleverly enacted array of precision formations A spectacular military pony drill and pageant Is contribute! by eight heautiful Shell anils which ore specialists In preening carer n-tnfg nnd drill work Three svelte high-school horses In proceedings are coaxed Into their homework by two lovely girls An Incorrigible comedy mule and an explosive foothall-kirklng pony are njnfjng the many other gay and thrilling crent inns hy Christy Elfi fir he has been ITlillmiF hy Uncoln wonder" he said with a qulz-zlral expression those who see hal a skilled dramatist Kl'crwood is It Is remarkable how Mr Sherwood has fash-oned so fine a play from lJnc-oln'x own words The technique of the Play is potted It is a wonderful lrinhe0trhfcWh0 WOUW Wrlte Despite his years of experience i1 Maugham is still unable to fiitliom the solution of a "popular" play Plays may read well declared yet a failure aiuntry a sureexa in anil Fhc chief difficulty urL-c ne said in (U-lermining just what is a imucrsal theme 9 AUGI1AM who has repeatedly I'lfneil down offers to write for the films decidedly out-sNiken In his criticism of Holly-present technique hey not make adult picture he ik-inanded "It Is a rio n1 they ra i I wero sensible irt il-'11 budgeting make money too he population of America is so vast they could not lose Why bother ubout the foreign market mor''y matter of budgeting "And I venture to say that the fatniMuM ''hghtcrl to turn out tUiM Intelligence iloes nut eui much ond their Mve i sue prudjet ions ft would be the tlclinentiun of ilini niter In good Miiries rather than expensive mountings and sets It not neecary tn ii-sM-n me Ru'nllty to Wh far a 13-yenr-od audience when you vwt of 30 and (Communicftiious concerning this may be addressed to Rriliert Newramh 56 45th Street New York City) Takes its place most distinguished film that has' brought It is a great Wmaon Pool picture of 21 SMASH WEEK! EMOI HYMN SAMUEL CSlfrYYR prutnf From the Em3y Bronte novel Tha Nation JJY THEIR own admlalon they don't expect to make any money They are you see beginning with high hopes of doing good work nt the same time drawing their own livelihood from the popular picture front The revolutionary rharactcr of the venture can readily be realized when you consider that (ample are at work In Hollywood when they don't have to work and yet quite blandly don't expect to make any money for the trouble I submit that this is a most heartening indication how-wpr ill-starred the undertaking may or may not prove to be I have argued for years that (here are two distinct audiences available for the producers of motion pictures One audience and the inifinitoly major ono has made It wishes plain by tha mnnner in which It supports what like to call the emotion picture The other desiring more substance and conduhiveness In Its celluloid narratives has not had so far much choice or say Maybe the Guild Is the answer If they lose lot of money quickly I'll be wrong and they'll be wrong nnd the Guild must automatically become extinct if on the other hand they make a lot of money we'U all be right except perhaps the principles of the Guild There have been number of like examples in the past to show what money can do to rum a person or an Institution From purely personal standpoint of course I couldn't speak from experience DJU starring Merle OWn Lsnrsncn OUrUe Dsrid Niven Flora Rebeoa 3rd Week 3rd ISLAND- WMtan Sum Saar SCHOOL- Asm SMNW T-l(XL Swfcrall Wt" Swii Nash 4) TD-amiwi HMxJ VmMy ax WMi Sr KMarx- Lsw Anna -Amman Tllm I Tmt" JmS SrAta -vv.