Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 23, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 April 1935 — Page 9
!AFIUL 6,19 So
RUN OF 'THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN' WILL START HERE TONIGHT
Melodies as Herbert Composed Them Offered in Film Version of 'Naughty Marietta/ Palace Show Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy Display Singing Abilities: W. C. Fields Triumphs at Indiana:* Will Rogers Stars at Apollo. BY WALTER D. HICKMAN HOLLYWOOD has done simply grand with Victor Herbert's “Naughty Marietta.” The fact is that here is one grand job of bringing {o the soured screen lom* of the most melodious music that Herbert iver wrote. In the last version of "The Merry Widow" many of its most important tunes were c.irnged and not given their proper place in the story. Not so with “Naughty Marietta” as all of the melodies such as “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life ’ and “I’m Falling in Live With Some One" have been correctly placed and developed in the story and beautifully sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.
I am placing “Naughty Marietta" Ih a list as one of the ten best sing-
ing pictures ever made. That is as far as my experience goes in seeing them and I haven't missed many of the important ones since sound came into existence. Study and training both as to singing and acting have had their effect in a most satisfactory man-
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Nelson Eddy
ner upon Miss MacDonald. Her Marietta, a princess who escapes from a loveless marriage in France and goes as a casquette girl to New Orleans to seek love and adventure, is the crowning role of this star's career. Her voice is in better condition than ever before and she makes Marietta a sweet and intelligent girl of fine breeding as easily as she makes her a spitfire when she fights the love of Warrington, a captain in the Yankee Scouts in New Orleans. Os course, Nelson Eddy is Capt. Warrington, and he puts life and rugged charm in everything tha}, he does. Here is one of the few really ” fine singing voices on the screen today. The women in the audience will go wild over him and he deserves all the admiration and praise. Frank Morgan makes Gov. D. Annard. the French Governor of New Orleans, a highly amusing and effective comedy character. His foil or the cause of most of his comedy is Elsa Lanchester (in private life Mrs. Charles Laughton), who does a splendid job of being a vinegar wife who is always suspicious of her husband. The movie has a splendid male Hinging chorus. This one is not to be missed. Now at Loew s Palace. ’ itun Another Fields Triumph WITH Bing Crosb> f in a grand singing and acting role and with W. C. Fields in one of the fattest and most individual comedy parts he has had on the screen, DANCE! Ladies Irce TUBS. & THURS. NIGHTS FALLS CITY CASINO 3547 E. WASH. ST. DANCING SUNDAY NIGHT IV Hefnro *:.to I*. M. HEAR BERNICE LEA Vocalist with Hal Bailey's Rand I Dine & Dance! TO BILL MOON TATTLER CLUB ORCHESTRA I Lee Cox, Vocalist | Leonard Varner, M. C. Helen Durante ® Blues Singer Indianapolis' Newest “Night Spot" Excellent Food I NO COVER CHARGE | The TATTLER 1610 Lafayette Road Just North of 16th St. on Road 52 | Reservation. Call BE. 1246 g
ETA Dl EC Beer Carden I U* No Cover or Minimum ■ mm mm mm +0 Charge at Any Time FLOOR SHOW TONiGHT Joan Adair—Hyida Hamilton—Hally Woods and Other \rts. Flrit Show 11:00 Second Show 12:31 JERRY ROGERS’ ORCHESTRA tattirda.T. !k Per Saturday Mtht Danoln. 9 W to ? ? K Daarini Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday Capacity 430 G i a MATE Free Dancing Sunday Night lERS iUC HU I E““ Soft Drinks Served Only. nnppi| DINE DANCE 111 •JB ★★★ ★ ★ All Star Floor Show > I -R-l-N-C | "7 / DEROSA / ° / /.Sf* / I / I dancf than j k matin. Youthful p.neyrs K sOF THREE BIG SHOWS |I BHNPWHfW
guess who walks away with “Mississippi"? The answer in my opinion Is Fields and this is no reflection upon the singing and acting of the croon-
er who this time does a magnificent job in each department. Fields Is cast as Commodore Jackson as captain of The River Queen, a showboat on the Mississippi many years ago. At the very beginning of the picture you will want to fall out of your seat when you see
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Fields at the wheel of the trying to steer it. He makes a comedy riot out of this simple scene and his every appearance in “Mississippi" is one comedy triumph after another. Crosby is cast as Tom Grayson of Boston who goes to the Old South to court and wed Elvira Rumford, the proud and haughty daughter of Gen. Rumford of Magnolia Plantation. * Tom sees no reuson why he should fight a duel with another suitor of Elvira whom he had never seen before. In the eyes of Elvira (Gail Patrick) and Gen. Rumford (Claude Gillingwater) Tom is a coward, but in the eyes of Lucy Rumford. youngest daughter of the general, he is different and a fine man. Tom seeks refuge on the showboat of Commodore Jackson- and becomes a member of the troupe. Os course he is a singer. Jackson decides to make a bad man and a killer out of Tom and then the trouble and the fun starts. In these scenes, Crosby and Fields are at their best. Crosby finds time to sing many songs. Among the hits are “Soon," “Down by the River,” and “It’s Easy to Remember.” Joan Bennett is cast as Lucy* Queenie Smith and John M.:jan are in the lengthy and splendid atmospheric cast. “Mississippi” is based upon “Magnolia,” a stage play by Booth Tarkington. Here is a lovely picture, tunefully and beautifully made. Now at the Indiana. a a a Some Grand Hog Calling AFTER you get through laughing with Will Rogers in “Life-Be-gins at 40,” you will remember until your last conscious moment his grand hog calling efforts with Slim Summerville’s gang, headed by Roger Imhoff as Pappy Smithers.
This hog calling episode and when Rogers • wins a duel with pistols by wisecracking instead of shooting his opponent are the two chief scenes which put, this picture in the same entertaining class as was “Judge Priest.” “Life Begins at 40" is miles ahead of Rogers’ “Coun-
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Will Rogers
ty Chairman" which I thought was one of his weak pictures. The new film Is a natural for Will and it is an eccentric comedy triumph for Slim Summerville. This is Slim’s main effort to date at being a successful comedian and he 'comes mighty near to stealing the picture but Will is such an artist that he always comes out the winner. The hog calling scene happens when Will, as a small town editor, decides to break up a campaign picnic dinner of Col. Abercrombie (George Barbier). The tables are groaning with good food but the colonel decides to make a spellbinder oration before the food is attacked. It is then that Rogers, Summer-
Entertain Theatergoers and Dancers
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I—Rudy Bundy and his ba/id are providing the music for the dancers on the Indiana Roof. 2. Paul Schort, Jack Druley and Francia Schneider, known as the Radio Rogers, are appearing on the current stage bill at the Lyric.
ville, Roger Imhoff and his large family of relative and friends start the hog calling contest. Hundreds of hogs and pigs are on exhibition and they obey the strange calls of the hog-callers. When the hogs go on a rampage there is no food left, not even the colonel’s speaking stand. Richard Cromwell and Rochelle Hudson carry the romance of the story nicely along. There is a lot of action and manyfine comedy and dramatic situations in “Life Begins at 40.” Now at the Apollo. a a a Here Is Splendid Theater IT certainly would be an awful feeling to look exactly like any Public Enemy No. 1. Edward G. Robinson realizes that also as he plays such a role In “The Whole Town’s Talking.” As Arthur Jones, Robinson is cast as a
meek and efficient clerk for a large bond ing company and who lives at the Y. M. C. A. For eight years he has not been late to work, but others have, and so it was ordered that the first man late the next m o r ning would be fired. And Arthur Jones overslept for the
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Mr. Robinson
first time. Before the firing orders could become effective, Jones found himself suddenly jerked from a table in a case while he was lunching with Jean Arthur as Bill, another who was late on the fatal working morning. Bill knew that Arthur was a dead ringer in appearance to Killer Mannion, a bank bandit and the country’s leading criminal as far as the story is concerned and she was not surprised when the police pulled a magnificent error. The story from then on is so arranged that Mannion himself uses Jones’ police passport and with that he is able to rob one institution after another. There arc many surprises in “The Whole Town's Talking.” Here is splendid melodramatic theater with Robinson playing dual roles, both in a most convincing manner. Both roles are definite characterizations. Here is one movie that will keep you on the edge of your theater chair from the very start to the end. I know that I had one of the most exciting times seeing this picture that I have had for years. Now at the Circle. ana 'Scandals’ Score Hit GEORGE WHITE, whose “Scandals” have become an institution in the show world, has done himself proud with this year’s movie of the show which stars, besides Mr. White, comely Alice Faye, James Dunn. Cliff Edwards, Lyda Roberti and Ned Sparks.
The picture is spl e n didly designed and admirably acted. The music has rightly been emphasized for '.here are at least three striking hit tunes. “It's An Old Southern Cus t o m.” “According To How I Love You.” and Cliff Edwa r and s’ speciality. “I Was
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George White
Bom Too Late,” stand out from the group. The story concerns a hick boy and girl. Honey and Eddie, who are performing in a tank town theater in Crossways. Ga„ when Impresario White, on way to vacation, stops off to investigate the show s title, which DANCE I JF HAROLD SaL-Swi. K X CORK'S A Thur. |\ | Orchestra HARBOR TABLES—BOOTHS Saturday. sße Couple Before 9:So—7se Couple 9:M to IS—ode Couple IS to 1— SSe Couple After 1. Sunday, SOe Couple. Thursday, !ie Couple. One Block South Municipal Airport THE CARS I Indianapolis' Largest Nite Club Southeastern at Emerson DINE, DANCE, 9 TO ? A n Henry Moffett *1 U c and His Band Cover OPEN SUNDAY THRKF. BIG FLOOR SHOWS DANCING C 9to 1 o’clock SUNDAY Floor Show 1
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
is “White’s Scandals.” But it turns out to be Elmer White, and Elmer (Ned Sparks) turns out to be not only theater manager, but mayor, police and politician of the town. The boy and girl are taken to New York for Mr. White’s new show and become distinct hits. But the mud of Broadway gets splashed around a bit and danger looms when each falls for another. But all comes out in the wash. The dancing of Eleanor Powell is a highlight of the show, she does everything with her feet and the difficult twirl rhythm is exceptional. The comedy of Sparks. Edwards and Roberti keeps the show from going sour although there doesn’t seem to be any chance of that with such music and girls. The choral routines are not overdone as has been the case in some recent musicals. and are of the satisfying George White brand. Jackie Green, youthful impersonator, shines in the stage offering, with his deft portrayals of Joe Penner, George Jessel, George Arliss, Eddie Cantor. A1 Jolson and Jimmie Durante. The changes are made right on the stage and the resemblances are remarkable. The soft shoe dancing of the White, Lee and Sue act is only exceeded by the acrobatics of Miss Lyda Sue who shows great promise in her solo numbers. Others on the bill include Tenkai and Okinu, Oriental magicians; the Three Radio Rogues, local radio boys, whose offering includes several snappy tunes sung via Microphone; Brems Fitz and the Murphy Brothers in an act of song and slapstick which has its moments, and Bell’s “Hawaiian Follies,” which closes the show with hula and shimmy dancing and some very good Hawaiian music. Now at Lyric. (By J. W. TANARUS.) Here Tomorrow The Indianapolis Maenerchor will present the Budapest String Quartet in recital at 3:15 tomorrow afternoon at the Academy of Music. Jose Reismann, first violinist; Alexander Schneider, second violinist; Stefen Ipolyi, violist, and Mischa Schneider, cellist, compose the quartet. The program will be as follows: Beethoven. "Op. 18, No. 6. B flat Major.” Aleitro con brio. Adagio ma non troppo. Scherzo (Allegrol. “La Malinconia (Adagio)— Alleffrette Quasi allegro , Schumann. "Op. 41. A major." Adanta expressive—Allegro molto moderato. Aeagl agitato. Adagio molto. Finale (Allegro molto vivacoU Reger "Op. 5.09 109. E Flat major.^ Allegro moderato. (Quasi presto. f Larghetto. Allegro con gazla a con spirite. At Ambassador Tomorrow and Monday, the Ambassador will present a double feature program with Ronald Colman and Loretta Young in “Clive of India,” and “The Rented Bride,” starring Neil Hamiton, Marian Nixon and Raymond Hatton, a first Indianapolis run feature. “Clive of India” is an exciting drama of the rise of a $25-a-week clerk to the ruler of India, who accomplishes power through the aid of a clever woman. “The Rented Bride” is a story of an experience that happens once to every bachelor, in which the question arises “Is marriage a convenience or is it the result of love?” Drama, comedy and excitement are blended in the story. Short reels will complete the program. Travels East Frances Drake, under contract to Paramount, has left Hollywood for a surprise visit with her parents in Toronto.
Dance Tonight 9 Till ? ? ? RUDY BUNDY And Hie Orchestra featuring Marlene Gilbert 40e all erenin. Dance Sunday SSe before 9 p. m. INDIANA ROOF im The I SHOW BOAT H Presents AL SCHENK E In Perann il The Kin. of Lauths. Ameriea's M Greatest F.eeentrle Dancer as H Master of Ceremonies. I All-Star Floor Show I Morrey Brennan's Orchestra j- Keyetun* at Allispneill* Bd.
3. Walter Jackson has a prominent role In "The Late Christopher Bean,” which will open tonight a five-night engagement at the Playhouse of the Civic Theater.
American Type of Love Making Upheld by Claudette Colbert
Charles Boyer, French Star, Takes Opposite Stand in Argument.
Even the French can’t agree among themselves on the age-old subject of wooing and being wooed! Charles Boyer, recently arrived French star, and Claudette Colfcert, a Parisian born, but American by adoption, are the disputants. The two stars had occasion to air their views on this always interesting subject during the production of Walter Wanger’s Paramount picture, "Private Worlds,” in which Claudette Colbert stars with Boyer in a featured role. Boyer holds that not one Amerl-
Studio Promotions Imminent as Ranks of Directors Dwindle
Producers Hurry to Sign Top-Notch Men for Long Periods. Hollywood has suddenly awakened to the fact that it is facing a famine in first line directors, and there is a mad scramble among the various studios to place the various 4opnotchers under long term contracts. Ranks of the directors were decimated when talkies first came in. many of the first line/ producers of silent epics finding themselves utterly unable to cope with dialogue. A few recruits were drafted from the stage, but there has been a growing shortage of directors for several years which now. with England grabbing off a number of firstclass men from Hollywood, has become acute. Fox Film is meeting the threat of a director drought by lining up a half dozen of its bright young men for promotion. They are to be given a chance to direct program pictures. If they make good they will be promoted to the first rank with great rapidity. Two assistant directors, two writers, an art director and a film cutter or editor, have been designated for promotion and are now under serious consideration. On their 1 first pictures they will be teamed—that is, an assistant director and the art director will codirect a film; the other assistant and a writer will be paired, and the second writer and the film editor will work together. If the first experiment is a success. each man will get a chance to direct a program picture on his own. If he makes good on that he'll get a crack at a feature. Promotions from the ranks in the past have been rare, and this is the first concerted move for a studio to develop its own directing talent. Jack Courts Joan Joan Crawford was Jack Oakie’s first girl friend, the Paramount comedian revealed. They met while both were members of the same chorus in New York.
LAST TtMES TODAY ■ 1. lames Cagney 1 “ST. LOUIS KlD** § Slim Summertllle-Zasu Pitts “They Just Had to Get Married” | rv.UMi f.rrm 2 FEATURES! 15c to P ’ M . Bn. PfeoCOLMIM W LORETTA YOUNC PLUS FIRST SHOWING “A RENTED BRIDE” It Happens Once to Every Bachelor! NEIL d§J| II \ 'll I ton MARION * t YM O V n h \ t is W, mm / mm r m urn
can girl out of a thousand lias the I proper talent for receiving demon-' strations of affection, whereas, the French girl, inheriting a skill from ancient ancestry and precedent, knows just how far to go. American girls, according to Boyer, for lack of experience and precedent, are either too backward or entirely too forward. Replied Miss Colbert: “Frenchmen do their wooing most artfully, but alas, they all do it alike. Americans on the other hand, with no precedents to live up to, are distinctive, personable and different in their methods of approach and in demonstrating their devotion. No two Americans have the same ‘line’ and one is always assured, 1 at least, of variation and novelty.”
Gets Copy Cecil B De Mille, Paramount director, has received from New York an authentic copy of a Saracen scimitar which will be worn by lan Keith in the role of Saladin in “The Crusades,” soon to go into production with Henry Wilcoxon in the leading role. The scabbard fs encrusted with imitations of precious stones such as are in the original now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Alison Skipworth Playing Old Role Alison Skipworth, who created role of Mrs. Pampinelli in “The Torch Bearers” at its premiere in 1922, is re-enacting the same part in the screen version which Fox Film is making as a Will Rogers starring vehicle under the title of “Doubting Thomas.” ' Billie Burke is playing the role of the slightly dizzy wife which Mary Boland created when the play was first presented. Claudette Goes East With an academy statuette under her arm, Claudette Colbert has left Hollywood for a five weeks vacation in New York. She just finished “Private Worlds” for Walter Wanger. IV||S. jT m 4 M > \ jjß \ k lihp swell® 3 1. e enterfeu *3 r \ l lt HapPV® UU m \One X —i j BJBB w.
Role of Abby in Civic Play, by Margaret Williams Mead, Deemed Fine Characterization Sidney Howard’s Work Will Bring Return of Actress Popu. ’ lar With Audiences; Last Seen in ‘Hotel Universe.’ MARGARET WILLIAMS MEAD, who will play the role of Abby in “The Late Christopher Bean.” Sidney Howard's domestic comedy, which opens tonight for five nights at the Civic Theater, has long been a favorite with Civic audiences though she has not appeared lately. Her last role was that of Ann In “Hotel Universe." The part of .bby is one of Mr. Howard’s best characterizations. “Hired help" of the Haggetts. she knows her place and her family, even to the extent of saving her morning coffee in order to take it out to Christopher Bean, a sick artist, and the only man who ever asked her to marry him. She worked even while posing for her portrait, and the
furore created by the discovery that it is Bean’s masterpiece almost ruins the Haggett family. Even honest Dr. laggett becomes a wily ’’fixer” in * ie attempt to gain possession of the portrait so he may sell it for many thousands, but Abby remains loyal to her love and refuses to part with anything that Chris Bean painted. Her gentle stubbornness finally wins and she departs triumphant in her retention of all his works. There is the same fundamental honesty about Abby as there was about Carrie in Mr. Howard's “Ned McCob’s Daughter,” but the grim quality is missing, and a pleasantly regretful, but none the less firm determination to retain all the paintings because she alone loved Chris, gives her an heroic stature among a group of greedy people.
Indiana Roof Dancing Nightly Except Monday and Thursday. Tonight—“ Naughty Marietta” waltz contest. Dance from 9 till ? to the mus'c of Rudy Bundy and his orchestra. Sunday—Dance from 8:30 till 12:30. Rudy Bundy and his orchestra. Tuesday—Women free. Dance from 8:30 till 12:30. Rudy Bundy and his orchestra. Wednesday Waltz night. Free tap instruction s under direction of Louis S.ockman from 7:45 til! 8:45. Dance from 8:45 till 12:30 to music of Rudy Bundy and his orchestra. Friday—Women free. Dance from 8:30 till 12:30 to the music of Rudy Bundy and his orchestra.
Chateau Lido Offers Clevenger's Music The Chateau Lido, gay north side pleasure place, is continuing its policy of offering something new for the spring program.This time its anew orchestra. Augie Clevenger, Indiana University student, has brought his aggregation to the Chateau Lido for an extended engagement. He recently played at the Indiana Roof. With the new orchestra will be a new showgirl chorus of six Don Hall and Jean Ward "Debutantes.” Others on the floor show for the week will include Miss Patsy Ruth Snyder, blues singer, and De Rosa and Cerita, ballroom specialty dancers. Statues in Gold Eighteen young dancers, coated from head to foot in “breathing" gold paint, feature the night club scenes of Paramount’s “Paris in Spring" featuring Mary Ellis with Tullio Carminati.
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Actors Shiver in 'Summer* Script Calls for Heat as Mercury Drops. By Time Special HOLLYWOOD, April 6.—Trying to “look warm” while their teeth chattered and their breath steamed on the frigid air, was the toughest acting assignment handed 1000 extras who took part in the open air crowd scenes of B. and D.’s “Th Runaway Queen,” starring Ana Neagle and scheduled for release through United Artists. For although the script read “good old summertime,” and the shooting schedule read, “fire away!"—the mercury read practically nothing at all. A ring of braziers was provided out of camera range and between shots the extras crowded eagerly around them, muffled up to their eyes in scarves and overcoats that nad to be reluctantly laid aside when the call came for the next ‘take.” Bundy's Orchestra Plays for Dancers Indiana Roof ballroom patrons are being treated these days to the music of Rudy Bundy and his orchestra. Mr. Bundy, whose clarinet specialties are becoming more and more popular with roof patrons, waa a member of George Olsen’s orchestra before organizing his own unit. The finals of the “Naughty Marietta" waltz contest will be held on the roof floor tonight. The competition is being held in conjunction with the Loew’a Palace celebration of the Victor Herbert silver jubilee. The winners of the finals will awarded cash awards totaling $lO.
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