Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 234, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 1935 — Page 13

DEC. 9, 1935

SELECTION OF 10 BEST MOVIES HARD, REVIEWER FINDS

Industry Raised Standard of Films Several Notches During Year Just Closed ‘David Copperfield’ Chosen to Head List; Laughton’s Portrayals Place ‘Ruggles of Red Gap’ and ‘Les Miserabfes’ High on Roll of Honor. BY JOHN W. THOMPSON Comes again the time for cleaning out the files and picking a list of th° 10 best pictures of the year for the trade organ of the movie industry, Film Daily. These are chosen from the vast group generally released between Nov. 1, 1934, and Oct. 31. 1935.

We have chosen "David Copperfield,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film of the Charles Dickens' novel, to head the list. Not that it is so much better than the other nine in the “All-America'’ team, but it is, to our knowledge, the greatest contribution to the entire movie public that the film industry has to offer for the year. It is a fitting start for a list of the best pictures chosen from a crop that never has been equalled. The year just closed raised the standards for making motion pictures several notches. It is almost wrong to choose ten pictures when there are at least 20 which are very close to “ten best” rating. However, our other choices follow: “Ruggles” Ranks High 2. “The Informer,” because of its flawless production and the acting of Victor MacLaglen. An R-K-O production. 3. "Ruggles of Red Gap,” because of Charles Laughton’s comedy characterization. A Paramount production. 4. “Les Miserables, because, again, of Mr. Laughton’s fine work, and also for Fredric March’s portrayal of the lealing character. A United Artists production. 5. “The Dark Angel,’ because it was the best of the sentimentalities the screen offered, and was the upward turning point in the career of a great cinema actress, Merle Oberon. A United Artists production. “Bengal Lancer” Approved 6. “Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” because it was the most genuinely exciting picture of the season, due to the work of Sir Guy Standing, Franchot Tone and Gary Cooper. A Paramount production. 7. “Broadway Melody of 1936,” because it gave us Eleanor Powell, swell music, Jack Benny, and the “snore specialist.” A Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer production. 8. “Sequoia,” because it cointained the best animal photography yet seen, and was as refreshing a bit of celluloid as came out from the Coast last year. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. 9. “Roberta,” because it had the best musical comedy music of the year, and also Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Irene Dunne. An R-K-O production. “Scarlet Pimpernel” Tenth 10. “The Scarlet Pimpernel,,’ because of Leslie Howard. A United Artists production. Just as sports writers are up against it when they pick an All American team, the dramatic penmen are stumped more or less by the bountiful array of good movies. The honorable mention list should . be rated closer than it has ever been before. Here they are: “Accent On Youth,” “Alice Adams,” “Barbary Coast,” “Broadway Bill,’’ “China Seas,” “Diamond Jim,” “Escapade,” “Forsaking All Others,” “G-Men,” “Curly Top,” “The Good Fairy,” “Kid Millions,” “The Little Minister,” “Man Os Aran,” “The Merry Widow,” “The Mighty Barnum,” “Naughty Marietta,” “No More Ladies,” "Private Worlds,” “Rendezvous,” “The Scoundrel,” “Top Hat,” “Vanessa,” v and “We Live Again.” It’s a Good Test The annual poll taken by Film Daily is a good test of what the nation's critics and film writers think about Hollywood. Although the taste of the movie public varies in different sections of the country, the “ten best,” can be counted on to be a representative selection. It will be a high mark for the industry to shoot at for next year. However, picture makers have gotten off to a great start with such a picture as “Mutiny On The Bounty.”

Vidor Directs in Four Languages X imrs Special HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 9—T h e various nationalities in Hollywood's melting pot are all one to Charles Vidor, director of “The Green Shadow.” While making the film. Mr. Vidor gave directions in fluent Italian to Paul Poicasi, in Russian to Nicholas Soussanin, in French to John Carroll. who comes of an old Creole family in Louisiana and speaks the Gallic tongue fluently; and in German to Alex Kahle, cameraman. He used English to handle Preston Foster. Margaret Callahan, Allan Mowbray and the rest of the cast. Collier Is Cast in Raymond Picture Time* Special HOLLYWOOD. Dec. 9.—William Collier Sr. has been assigned to a prominent role in "Don't Bet On Love,” which stars Gene Raymond. For many years Mr. Collier was one of the great stars of the American stage, appearing with Lillian Russell, David Warfield, Sam Bernard, May Irwin and other notables. He also has played repeatedly in films, in addition to writing scenarios and handling dialogue direction. Played in 1911 Film Alan Hale, one of Hollywood's “old guard,” made his first picture In 1911. It was titled “Uncle Tom s Cabin in Ragtime," and Hale says he played Uncle Tom and one of the bloodhounds, and did a tap dance as well. Pets New Records “Hitch Hike Lady,” which stars Alison Skipworth, has established several new production records with 46 locations, 23 interior sets, 85 process scenes and more than 80 speaking parts.

Ballet Master Famed Dancer Massine Has Proven Ability in Productions. One of the most significant figures in the modern dance wcrld is Leonide Massine, maitre de ballet and leading dancer of Col. W. de Basil’s Ballet Russe, which the Junior Chamber of Commerce is to present at the Murat Dec. 25 and 26. He has created more than half the productions in the company's repertoire, amo;-.g them “The ThreeCornered Hat,” “Les Presages,” “Choreartium,” “Beautiful Danube,” “Union Pacific” and Public Gardens.” While acting a minor role in a Moscow theater, Mr. Massine was discovered by Diaghilev, who was impressed by his bearing as he walked across the stage. He joined the Diaghilev Ballet in 1916, when the breach between Nijinsky and the famous director had begun to widen. Massine’s artistic integrity and tremendous energy have been described by Arnold L. Haskell in his recent book, “Balletomania.” At Height of Power “Massine today is at the very height of his powers,” says the English ballet enthusiast. “He is the biggest personality I have seen in ballet, and certainly the most intelligent. Daighilev once told me that Massine was the only dancer who was his intellectual equal. He understands things before one says them. Coming from Diaghilev at a time when Massine was no longer in the company, and was actually promoting a rival ballet, it was the highest praise possible. “Massine’s knowledge in every branch of art is encyclopediac . . . He is exceptionally calm, with a quiet, dry humor, and is a very strong disciplinarian. I have seen him quell an extremely self-satisfied male dancer, leaving him in tears after a few short, quiet sentences. As he is today, his company loves him ... He does not command, but asks for things to be done, and they are. “I have seen him compose and rehearse on many occasions, sometimes seated quietly on a chair, at others m the front row of the dress circle, armed with a megaphone, shouting in three languages and actually dancing in the limited space, to illustrate some point.”

Penguin Isn't Bored With Theater, as His Artistic Jealousy Proves Pete Snubbed Admiral Byrd in St. Paul and Attacked Jimmy Durante’s Equally Large Nose. pETE the penguin peered out of his wooden box dressing room at the Lyric yesterday, and regarded his visitors with a cold, Antarctic stare. Apparently he doesn't like company, nor the glamor of the show business; he seemed to be muttering to himself the words of another theatrical personality, “Av vant to be a-lone.”

Headlined in “Bring On The Dames,” Pete is the pampered pet of the company. Johnny Regan, his valet, dietician and social secretary, is in constant attendance, chorus girls and comedians make a respectful detour around the range of his threatening proboscis, and Michael Todd, his owner, makes frequent visits to inquire into the state of Pete’s physical and emotional well-being: Pete has defied tradition by remaining alive in a world of summer sunshine and steaming backstage radiators. Since his purchase in Australia, he has been acclimated by a gradual process until he is able to survive with the help of cod liver oil and plenty of fish. Fish are Pete's passion. He prefers smelts, and he must have 10 a day, absolutely fresh, and with their heads on. tt a tt NOTHING but the best hotel accommodations will do for the world's only performing penguin. says Mr. Todd, and his room must have an extra large tub—for Pete drinks his bath water. These birds are so constructed that they can drink only while they are swimming. To watch Pete on the stage, one would imagine that his performance bored him excessively. But during the interview, it came out that he has felt the pangs of artistic jealousy. He snubbed Admiral Byrd shamefully in St. Paul, and on the occasion of his meeting with Jimmy Durante in New York, took one look at the famous comedian and launched a vicious attack upon the only beak in the theatrical world that rivals his own. When the feathered trouper heard the five-minute warning bell yesterday he dropped his apathetic air and. in a flurry of excitement, scuttled out of his cage and down one of the back stage corridors, his manager and interviewer in breathless pursuit. He disappeared into a dark room whence issued the ominous clank of machinery’. “Johnny, come quick,” shouted the frantic Mr. Todd. Johnny came, spoke a soothing word, and the temperamental artist emerged. Mr. Todd mopped his brow and the interviewer drew a breath of relief. But Pete, all unperturbed, paddled forth to meet his public. Treks in Sierras Mala, Eskimo star, keeps in physical condition during the California winters by long snowshoe treks into the high Sierras.

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Harlow Changes Platinum Locks ‘Brownette’ Tresses to Be N Seen in New Film. Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 9. —The world's most famous platinum locks are no more. Jean Harlow’s hair is now honey colored, a shade that has been christened “brownette,” and will be exhibited for the first time in "Riff Raff.” The change in hue is said to have effected also a decided change in Miss Harlow’s personality. Ray June, her cameraman, says, “Jean’s platinum hair was the problem child of cameramen. It required the most delicate and painstaking lighting. You never really saw Jean Harlow, you saw her hair. In order to photograph it, values were necessarily lost in the most photographically beautiful face in Hollywood.” “Now.” June adds, “instead of predominating, her hair acts as a frame for her face. She can have the full benefit of high lights, which bring out the true character of her face.”

Young Bartholomew Teamed With Tone Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 9.—Freddie Bartholomew, the British lad who scored in “David Copperfield,” is to be teamed with Franchot Tone in Kipling's “Captain Courageous.” This novel, one of the most widely read of Kipling's works, tells of the fishing fleets off the Grand Banks. A production unit is now located at Canso, Nova Scotia, filming exteriors and awaiting a storm, which is to be one of the picture's highlights. New Team to Be Shown “The Puzzle of the Briar Pipe,” which Stuart Palmer is adapting from his own novel, will bring forth a new’ comedy team in Helen Broderick and James Gleason. Production Started With the cast headed by Clyde Beatty. “Darkest Africa” went into production this week.

Play Leads in 'The Old Maid' at English's

WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO “In Old Kentucky,” last of the Will Rogers pictures, at 11:34, 1:34, 3:34, 5:34, 7:35 and 9:34. CIRCLE “Transatlantic Tunnel,” with Richard Dix, Madge Evans and Helen Vinson, at 11:25, 1:30, 3:35, 5:45, 7.50 and 10. ENGLISH’S “Tobacco Road,” Jack Kirkland's play of Erskine Caldwell's novel about Georgia “crackers.” with Charles Timblin, Maud Lambert, Tilden Davis, Robert Rose, Cynthia Arden and Elaine Ellis, at 8:15. INDIANA “Folies Bergeres,” French stage revue, featuring Emil Boreo, Gloria Gilbert and a ballet, at 12:35, 3:10, 6:55, 9:20. Also (on the screen), “Coronado,” musical fun picture with Jack Haley, Betty Burgess and Leon Errol, at 11:10, 1:35, 4:10, 5:25, 7:55 and 10:20. LOEWS “Splendor,” with Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea, at 11:14. 1:55, 4:40. 7:25, and 10:10. Also “Grand Exit,” with Edmund Lowe and Ann Southern, at 12:35, 3:20, 6, and 8:50. LYRIC “Bring on the Dames,” on stage, with Harry Savov and Muriel Page, at 1:10, 3:57, 6:53, 9:40. On screen. “Navy Wife,” at 11:34, 2:21, 5:17, 8:04 and 10:40. OHIO “Call of the Wild.” with Clark Gable and Loretta Young, at 10:20, 1:25, 4:20. 7:15 and 10:10. Also "The Meanest Gal in Town,” at 12:25, 3:20. 6:15 and 9:10.

Characterizer Waits Years for 'Destiny' Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 9.—Frank M'cGlynn Sr., the screen’s leading characterizer of Abraham Lincoln, claims he has waited iO years to fulfill his professional destiny and be assassinated. This came about the other day when Director John Ford ordered him shot in the authentic manner for a scene of “The Prisoner of Shark Island.” SLAST 2 DAYS? a RICHARDDIXj jjsf with iff MADGE EVANS HELEN VINSON naanm-ii THE PICTURE OF A LIFE TIME/ CONTINUOUS SHOW WITH 40 PEOPL€+4Q A WHALE OF A SHOW!

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

King, Dancers Enjoy Evening Crowd, Too Big for Dancing, Demands Autographs. Thousands of Indianapolis music lovers went to the Indiana Roof ballroom Saturday night to listen to Wayne King, the “waltz king.” Few of them had room to waltz. About all they could do was to lean against each other and listen and jam around the stage for autographs. Mr. King seemingly enjoyed the entire evening, which is not always the case with orchestra leaders, especially those of the over-worked variety. He tapped his feet, swung his body and waved his hands much like other band leaders. He is not as good looking as his pictures, but much more genial. He doesn’t look like the farmer he claims to be. His music on the stage has more personality than when heard over the radio. It iacks the soothing quality to some extent, perhaps because he varies his tempo more when playing for dancers in a ballroom. Mr. King’s saxophone solos were the most popular pert of his program. The way this young man handles the instrument is remarkable. He seems to be speaking to the audience, showing all the accompanying expression with his eyes. Morgan Can Not Swim Frank Morgan never has learned to sw’im. 3—FEATIRES—2 , Clark Gable-Lorftta Young •TALL OF THE WILD” -MEANEST GAL IN TOWN”

An old maid who really wasn’t an old maid, but had to act like one to spare her fatherless child the shame of it all, is the theme character of “The Old Maid,” the play which walked off with the Pulitzer prize honors. Judith Anderson, left, and Helen Menken, members of the New York cast, are to be seen in the play which opens Thursday at English’s for three days. Visits Many Movies According to legend, a postman goes hiking on his day off. On the same theory, Ann Shirley, 17-year-old star, spends much of her spare time in picture theaters, conscientiously checking up on the work of other screen heroines.

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Burleigh Cast in Lead for Civic's Portrayal | of Movie Press Agents Fanchon Fattig Is to Play Principal Feminine Role in Satire on Hollywood Publicity Men, Dec. 14-19: Sunday Audience Hears Russian Program. The Civic Theater’s production of "Louder Please” is to have Director Frederick Burleigh in the leading role, that of Herbert White. Hollywood publicity agent, while Fanchon Fattig as Polly Madison, movie star, will take the principal feminine part. Playing Dec. 14-19, it is to be the third production of the season. From the pen of Norman Krasna. this satire on the “colossal” efforts of moviedom s press agents is said to contain a rich array of farce types. In the cast announced for Saturday’s opening are Norman Buchan as an executive, Robert Hanika as a movie actor, Janet Fish-

man, a woman press agent, Eugene McManamon and Henry Jacoby, “cops,” and Robert Emhardt as Santa Claus. Last night the Civic management offered, in place of its usual Sunday night concert, an evening of variety, including music, dancing and drama of Russian origin. Featured were Kassoff’s Cossacks, a local instrumental ensemble. Music cf Homeland The Cossacks is one of the few organizations in Indianapolis that devote their efforts to music of the homeland. Louis Kassoff, the director, appeared also in roles of arranger and baritone soloist. With the orchestra were heard Marie Fleaka, soprano, and Ruth Smulyan, pianist. Henry Greenburg performed Russian dance steps with professional agility and grace, and his mastery of their difficulties won for him the major share of the evening’s applause. Although billed as a farce, Lajos Biro’s one act play, “The Bridegroom,” turned out to be a short, but pointed, commentary on human frailty. As the curtain lifted, Natalia, a bride on the morrow, was seen at the window bidding farewell to her beloved Carlos. Suddenly she screamed and fell unconscious. The family rushed in to learn the prospective bridegroom had been run over by a carriage, carried into the janitor’s flat and had died. Family Takes Stock The grief-stricken girl was put to bed and the family began to take stock of the situation. The wedding dinner must be canceled, the presents will be kept, for surely there will be a wedding some time. A baron, dear friend of Carlos, has been invited to the wedding, appeared and all began to extol the virtues of the handsome, gentlemanly, accomplished deceased. The baron departed and a physician entered to attend Natalia. He returned to inform the family that the girl has been betrayed. Bitter denunciation supplanted recent praise, but the baron, reappearing and learning of the situation, offered to marry Natalia that the child of his departed friend may have the protection of his name. Word is received that Carlos had MUSIC HALL Cincinnati Grand Opera Friday, Dec. 13 Saturday, Dec. 14 Evenings at 8 o’clock. TANNHAUSER (In English) Complete "Paris Version” With Florence Easton Arthur Gerry Boardman Margaret Halstead Dennis Noble Herbert Gould Splendid supporting cast. Full ballet. Chorus of 100. And Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Eugene Goossens, Conducting TICKETS S3, $2.50, S2, $1.50, SI, 50c Send mail orders to Jas. J. Faun, Wurlitzer's, 121 E. 4th st., Cincinn. ti. Tickets now also available for "Tr.staj. u P d Isolde" (Jan. 31-Feb. It ard Die Meistersinger" iMarch 20-21)

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WEST SIDE Sti 4 T* I? 2*02 W. 10th St. 1 A I JL Double Feature Ja"r Bennv "BROADWAY MELODY OF 1930” “AFFAIRS OF SUZAN” BELMONT “SHIPMATES FOREVER” “KING SOLOMON OF BROADWAY” _ Di it; 2540 W. Mich. St. A 5 Y *>*'* Jack Okie “BIG BROADCAST OF 193fi" “PUBLIC MENACE” NORTH SIDE IT'7 iilinoi*atS4th l 1 Will Rogers “STEAMBOAT ROUND THE BEND’-’ Color Cartoon UPTOWN D "uMo* F^r - Wallace Beery “O’SHAI'GHNESSY’S BOY” “GIRL FRIEND" o 4 7i n i i~\\T 30th and Illinois (jAKKICK Double Feature Wallace Beery "CHINA SEAS” “CHAMPAGNE FOR BREAKFAST” prp Nl Double Feature vii/iun will Rorer , “STEAMBOAT ROUND THE BEND” n p v 30th at l-’crtl western |Vr,X Double Feature Norman Foster “SUPER SPEED” “KEEPER OF THE HEEB” rp 4 f nrv'T'T Taloot it 22nd I ALdU 1 1 Double Feature 4 i * A Rette Davis “SPECIAL AGENT’ “BREWSTER’S MILLIONS” n, , r j I9th k Collere Stratford “THE BLACK ROOM" “BONNIE SCOTLAND” Mp p n i Noble St Mass. Ltt A Double Feature Dick Powell "BROADWAY GONDOLIER” “WEREWOLF OF LONDON" DREAM Loretta lounf “CALL OF THE WILD” EAST SIDE RI ir r\ ■ a Dearborn at lOth I V II L. I. Doable Feature Dick Powell "SHIPMATES FOREVER” “THUNDER IN THE EAST” TUXEDO "“‘SfcfiS* “HERE COMES THE BAND” “SHE MARRIED HER BOSS'

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made a will, leaving his large fortune to his betrothed. The curtain drops, but not before the family has agreed once more that Carlos was “a good, noble, a remarkably foresighted young man.” The direction of Dick Hoover was excellent and the sketch was played in a bright key and at a swift pace, although the cast was a bit shaky in of the matter of lines.—(By J. TANARUS.) Oratorios Mark Pre-Yule Rites ‘Messiah,’ Part of Bach, Given at Churches. Handel's “Messiah,” under direction of J. Russell Paxton, was sung for the fifth time in as many years, by a picked chorus yesterday afternoon at the Irvington M. E. Church. Soloists for the program were Jane Johnson Burroughs, soprano; Miss Maxine Moore, contralto; Farrel Scott, tenor, and John M. White, bass. Miss Dorothy Knight Greene accompanied at the piano. Another pre-Christmas song service was the second part of the Bach Christmas oratorio, presented yesterday afternoon by the combined choirs of the First Presbyterian Church, under the direction of George Frederick Holler. The 100-voice choir is to give one of the six parts of the oratorio each Sunday through Jan. 5. Soloists for yesterday’s music included Mrs. George Osborne and Virginia Coppes, sopranos; Gertrude West and Viola Cochran, contraltos; Robert Virden and Mr. Holler, tenors; George Osborne, Wallace Knapp and Louis Eggert, basses.

ENGLISH ! "TARTING THURSDAY Matinee Saturday at 2:20 P. M. | SEATS NOW ON SALEI PULITZER PRIZE PLAY JUDITH HELEN ANDERSON MENKEN THE OLD MAID MATINEE: 83e to $2.20 EVES.: 83c to $2.75, Incl. Tax I English Last 4 ! Theatre Times Tonight at 8:30 Matinee Wednesday Jack Kirkland and Sam H. Grisman Present The Play All America Is Talking About “TOBACCO ROAD" By Jack Kirkland Based on Erskine Caldwell’s Novel With An INCOMPARABLE BROADWAY CAST P R I P F *2.20. ■ It lUL U . Mat.. 65e, sl.lO, $1.05, Tax Inel.

EAST SIDE TACOMA Bine Crosby “TWO FOR TONIGHT” “FIGHTING YOUTH" I R VI N r 5,07 E w * h - TANARUS“ ll\ V Il> \jr Double Feature EMERSON Double Feature “THE DARK the RAINMAKERS” HAMILTON Double Feature "I LIVE MY J L?F n E’? r ‘ W,ord “HERE COMES COOKIE" PAR KER^ “GOOSE AND THE GANDER”** “WOMAN WANTED” STRAND • SHt MARRIED Frances Dee-Franrfs Lederer ’ THE GAY DECEPTION” Walt Disney silly Symphony roxy ’afc’sssy •TOR HA/”” “DON’T BET ON BLONDS” Paramount James Cagney “G-MEN” TAKES A WIFE” SOUTH SIDE FOUNTAIN SQUARE” Double Feature Wallace Beery “O'SHAUGFNESSY S BOY” “HERE CCMES COOKIE" SANDERS Eddie Cantor “KID MILLIONS” “PUBLIC HERO NO ONE” A V A LON 'tbse'skS 51 ' ADVENTURE”"" 11 “BONNIE SCOTLAND” ORIENTAL Dofbf;^“.^ _ . . Clark Gable “CALL OF THE WILD” "BONNIE SCOTLAND" GARFIELD “”§&?!&~ST Wallace Beery “CHINA SEAS" “THE SILVER STREAK” a