Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 September 1936 — Page 9
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Is Basis of Play's Plot
Federal Players Present Good Entertainment, Reviewer Says.
BY JOE COLLIER If you can get away from
the “calling all cars” sort of ‘thing, and realize that in Indianapolis’ own jail rests a - 28-year-old killer, you can figure “Blind Alley,” presented this week at Keith's
by the Federal Players.
Take a police report. “John Doe, 23, of 0000 S. Missis-
sippi-pl, today was held by police in connection with the murder of Richard Roe.” You go to see John Doe.
make me,” he says. At 23 does he have the worldly 4 wisdom that makes him know that he won't be convicted if he doesn’t talk? More likely he doesn’t talk for fear. That's what the play Alley” is about.
Good Entertainment
As it was presented last night by the Federal Players, “Blind Alley” was good entertainment and a social ghot-in-the-arm. I suppose there were lots of things wrong with the actual acting. Ned LeFevre, for instance, was too much the ganster: Betty Anne Brown too ~ much the moll. I never have entertained a Killer and his girl-friend in my home. But I have seen killers in jail and they acted a good deal like the early Ned LeFevre. He should have softened sooner in the play. They don’t shoot their girls; their girls have them shot.
Make Denials Later
Anyway, you go to interview one of them, and he says, if he says anything: “Yes. I killed him. I did it because’—and their reasons trail off into this and that. Always later, they repudiate them. A lawyer tells theifir~tg. “Blind Alley” goes thus... A notorious killer enters the home of Prof. Anthony Shelby to seek refuge. The professor and his wife are frightened, but the professor decides to try psychology on the 23-year-old criminal. The criminal goes on shooting people and the professor goes on pointing out why he shot them. In the end the criminal is a craven coward, and the play ends on that.
Hit on Broadway
‘Most criminals, finding their com-
‘panions have left them, turn out to be cowards. This one, finding his senses had left him, wound up the same way. I think the sheriff should take that 23-year-old person accused of murder to see the show. He should have a lot to learn from Dr. Shelby. ~ Top honors for acting in the play g0 to Jack Duval as Dr. Shelby. Next go to the contained acting of Ruth King as Mrs. Shelby. The play was a hit on Broadway last season. It was purchased, I understand, by the Federal Players -of the nation and is to be presented in. all Operating Federal theaters.
Finds Greater
Field in Films Actress Cites Differences From Stage Work.
By United Press HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29. — The question of whether the stage or the screen offers the greatest art possibilities has been decided in the ‘mind of young Muriel Roberts. The New York stage actress, who recently completed her first motion picture part, believes screen acting is by far the greatest and most difficult art. “It is a complex composite of all the other arts. In screen work literature, stagecraft, painting, sculpture, poetry, music all are intricately welded together. “The very broadness of the ‘§creen’s scope makes subtleties more vital and a thousand times more * difficult,” declares the young theatrical veteran. ‘Miss Roberts, in addition to being able to speak from a film players’ . point of view, also has a number of years on the stage to her credit and is a competent stage director, ~ costumer and set designer. “Aside from production differ- . ences and difficulties,” she says, “the actress’ viewpoint and technique must undergo a tremendous readJustment for screen work. “On the legitimate stage, she plays to both the first and last row, and must exaggerate and frequently overact to reach both. For the screen, there is only one row—the ra, which magnifies any over4 other great difference is the Act that motion pictures apparently p made without regard to story ‘ Whereas on the stage player achieves a continuity of the motion picture pron schedule virtually disrethis buildup. a certain group of actors are cl used only in certain sescenes are made conply without regard to emoand plot evolution, 0 siim2&8 many people from possible. pay result is that the actress
Ne
on
“Blind
CRITICS SPEAK HIGHLY
OF MOVIE DODSWORTH, COMING HERE FRIDAY
HEN “Dodsworth” moves to Loew's’ screen Friday to. replace “The Great Ziegfeld, ” the foyer will’ echo with
Eastern praises of the film.
¥ w
Practically every New York movie critic has lot down
his hair over the screen version of the Sinclair Lewis
novel,
which became a Sydney Howard play, which became a Samuel
Goldwyn movie.
Many critics said it was better on the screen than on the stage. All seemed to agree that Mr. Walter Huston was at least as powerful in the screen role as he was on the stage.
“On the screen as on the stage,” said one New movie critic, “ ‘Dodsworth’ belongs to the Sinclair Lewis who P created him and to the Walter Huston whose blood ‘To come right out and say so, Walter
through his veins.
York
runs
Huston and Sam Dodsworth are one.”
# 2
s
HATEVER may come of “It Can't Happen Here,’ in its Hollywood meanderings, and however upset Mr. lewis gets when he thinks of any alleged distortion of his latest novel, apparently-he can say nothing about “Dodsworih except that it was done right on film.
The cast includes Ruth Chatterton, Mary Astor
Paul Lucas among the leads.
and
For the last seven years, “Dodsworth, ” as novel and “I'm not a gonta talk. You can’t | Play, has created a sensation in this country, and Indianapolis play-goers have had the opportunity of seeing it enacted by
Mr. Huston, himself.
You'll practically have to brush the Pulitzer prizes out
of your hair when you leave the show.
Mr. Howard have won them.
” o
Both Mr. Lewis and
HOLLYWOOD advices give Goldwyn la good deal of credit for his handling of the play. Certain it is that more than one good stage piece has been spoiled by Hollywood,
Studios in Britain Ready to Bid for Screen Talent, Lasky Says
| Encouraging Picture of Stars’ Future Is Presented by Producer on Return from Abroad.
f | |
(Copyright, 1936, by United Press) HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29.—A rose-colored picture of what the futur holds for Hollywood actors was painted today by Jesse L. Lasky, vetera > producer, who declared English studios were starting a battle of gold for
services of established stars.
Mr. Lasky, just returned from England, said that studios there were ready to begin competitive bidding for actors who draw at the box office and would raise the salaries of good players to the new high levels.
“The prices they are prepared to pay for talent will enable them to attract some of this country’s best actors,” he .predicted. Mr. Lasky himself is considering an offer to produce under the auspices of a British studio. He said that production facilities around London are the equal of those in Hollywood. “You would think you are in Hollywood when you visit these new British studios millions of dollars.” British actors, he said, have welcomed the addition of Hollywood personalities to their ranks, feeling that all would benefit if pictures were made that could comspete in the world market with the Hollywood product.
Studio Buys More Land
Consolidation of its production lots and the demand for more pictures today led Twentieth CenturyFox studio to announce the purchase of a 66-acre tract adjoining its Westwood studio.
The real estate deal is part of a $3,000,000 expansion program for the studio which was approved by executives recently. The studio paid $600,000 for the tract and plans to move its construction departments there. The Westwood studio, several miles from the center of Hollywood, recently ' absorbed the production activities carried on at the old lot in the midst of the film colony. A new office building which has been erected at a cost of $500,000 is to be occupied next week, studio officials said.
‘Flier Gets Contract
Even the airways furnish talent to Holywood, it was ledrned today as B. signing of Laverne Brown, transport pilot, to a long-term film contract. — producer decided Mr. Brown was goa film material after viewing him for several hours during
8 fligh t East. Brown took a screen
which have cost :
P. Schulberg announced the |
test and filmed well, it was reported. As the first step toward build. ing up the aviator as an actor, th@ producer changed his name to Joh Trent, which he believed would bi remembered more easily by the public.
Feted in Home Town
Jeane Madden, youthful leading lady, was back in Hollywood today after a visit to Scranton, Pa. her home town, where she virtually was given the keys to the city.
“I don’t know why, but the entire town turned out to welcome me,” she said. | “It was a wonderful experience, considering that
‘only my family saw me off six
months before when I went to New York to study voice.”
LIKES SERIOUS PLAYS
Plays in which he appears as characters facing deep problems are . preferred by young Onslow Stevens, who has an outstanding part in “Murder with Pictures.”
PLAYERS TEAMED AGAIN
Barbara Stanwyck and Preston Foster, romantically teamed in “Annie Oakley,” are together again in “The Plough and the Stars.”
Debut Announced
By United Press CHICAGO, Sept. 20.—Grace Moore, screen and stage singstar, is to make her Chioperatic debut this winter e of Manon in the that name, Civic The
opens Oct. Si. who are to sp-
Holland marketplace.
and, IF Toparts of this ome are
true, the producers are to be
commended for the honesty with .which they followed the
drama.
As has been said, “Dodsworth” is to follow “The Great Ziegfeld,” which has been held over another week. One item of the current Loew’s show has not been given as much prominence as it perhaps deserves.
That is the extraordinary
dancing of Ray Bolger in the
roof garden scene. Word has come to this department that people have gone time gfter time to see that impudent dance.
t 4 sn EOPLE come out saying, “Why haven't we heard of him before?” “Where has he been?” and so forth.
Chances are that he will be seen more often on the screen from now on. If there ever was a pair of inspired and flip-
cracking feet, Ray Bolger has them.
His pantomime is
splendid and his costume couldn’t have been more sagaciously
chosen. (J. C.)
1. Mary Astor, who is Edith Cortright in “Dodsworth.” 2. Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton.
3. David Niven, who is Maj. Clyde Lockert.
Library Keeps Movie Sounds
Studios Order: Their Noise by the Foot.
BY PAUL HARRISON
HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29.—(NEA) —Movie makers don't send out camera expeditions when they need action shots of angry apes in Africa, or seals frolicking on Alaskan rocks, or South Sea Islanders trading for calico. Neither do they dispatch sound trucks to record cathedral chimes, or waves pounding a coral reef, or the clatter of wooden shoes in a They just send a messenger to Hollywood's General Film Library, where there’s an almost priceless collection of 20,000,000 feet of film, silent and noisy. The library has just about everything, all for rent at the tidy figure of $2.50 a foot. “Send us a hundred feet of wind ‘in a schooner’s rigging,” orders a studio. Or, “Please rush one dynamite blast, 50 feet of dog-fight and 200 feet of cavalry crossing wooden bridge.” There are sceness from all over
mountain climbers skipping from Alp to Alp, miners grubbing in tunnels, orientals at prayer, diamond cutters at their wheels.
Historical Shots Saved
One of the six big film vaults contains only historical shots salvaged from ancient news reels. There are scenes of New York's 1900 Easter parade,
brothers learning to fly. Sounds, recorded on film tracks and stored in cans, range from an earthquake’'s roar of devastation (recorded at Long Beach, Cal, in 1933) to a cricket’s chirp. In be-
tween are horse laughs, running
feet, children yelling, monkeys chatterring, water splashes and owl hoots. There are sounds of pandemonium from chicken coops, dog barks (all breeds), baby cries (all ages), mob thunder, cheers, applause. Sheep bleat, clock tick, fires crackle, trains roar and even the breathing of a tiger is recorded for use in feature films.
Directs Work 15 Years
The sights and sounds have been gathered and indexed over a period of 15 years by a Mr. Morris M. Landres, short, ed and bushy-haired former civil engineer. He has his own staff of camera-
modern scenes. - Most of the sounds
the world—Eskimos spearing fish,
of President | McKinley's funeral, of the Wright
men who travel about collecting |
i
Federal Play in “BLIND ALLEY"
WHERE, WHAT, WHEN
APOLLO
“Ramona’’ with Loretta Youne and n Ameche at 11:37, 1:37, 3:37.
Do 5:37 and 9:37 CIRCLE “My American Wife” with Francis Lederer an nd An Soipern at 11, a Son’ Cones Home’ with Mary Boland and Julie, ‘Havdon at 12: 3 3:26, 6:18 and 9 ‘errs “Blind Alley,” a Federal Players production under the direction of John Cameron. Curtain at 8:15. LOEW'S “The Great Siegteld, ” with William Powell. Myr Lov and iis Rainer, at ne 30, 2:35, 5: 245 and 9
LYRIC
Stage show with Phil Spitalny and his 25-piece girl orchestra and entertajpers at 1:10, 3:57. 6:44 and 9:
screen at 11:40. 2:27. 5:14, 8:01 She 10:21. ALAMO
“Crash Donovan’ with Jack Holt. Also “The Phantom Patrol’ with Kermit Maynard.
AMBASSADOR “His Brother's Wife” with T. Barbar, ers > Robert OHIO ‘‘Show Boat” with Irene Dunn and e
Allan Jones. Also Big Noise’ with Guy Kibbee Ane Warren Hull.
have been recorded by his own technicians. It’s a serious business with Landres, who doesn’t crack a smile even while explaining the varieties of door slamming, He has violent slams and medium slams, front and back door slams, slamming of heavy doors and slamming of screen doors. To the practiced ear he says, they're all quite different. When the rental business is dull, Landres patches together short films of his own, such as “Wild Women of Borneo.” He pasted that up out of stock shots which were going to waste in the library.
Jordan Graduate Fills Church Post
Announcement of the appointment of Mallory Bransford, 1936 graduate of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, as minister of music in the First Methodist Church of Rockford, Ill, was received today at the local school. Mr. Bransford received the master of music degree last June. majored in organ under Donald C. Gilley, head of the organ departt. :
"LORETTA YOUNG
DOR AMECHE - xewt anor / Eom © Jom CARRADINE
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Copper Coin Again Reveals
Times Special
Sam Goldwyn, Adolph Zukor, Jesse Lasky and Jack Warner, of course, must have {forgotten the good old days when they showed a super-colossal in an iron slot machine for a copper. Fhose were the days of “Mitzi From Paree,” ‘Tillie Retires” and “Window Silhouettes. » Remember?
They’re Back Again
Messrs. Goldwyn, Zukor, Lasky and Warner may rock on their cel-
luloid thrones to know that the Penny Arcade has come back to plague the Hollywoodians. The Amusement Center on garish 42d-st, for example, is the Radio City of the peep show world and here is
what a true cinema fan can see fori!’
five:parts of a nickel: “Scintillating Sonia” (For Men Only), a swift-moving drama—if you are not stingy with the handle —about a lady who spies an eavesdropper as the window shade flies up to the ceiling. “Stolen Sweets,” the saga of a lonely damsel who takes from eight to 12 minutes to slip into a nightie, the exact time depending on how fast you turn the crank. “Hari Kari,” the tale of the beauteous spy who, while searched for “the papers,” is released by a gallant officer. “Electric Chair at Sing Sing.” Grim scenes prior to an execution.
All Old Shows
This is only a small fraction of the large selection, folks, that peep shows have to offer. Most of the super-colossals, of course, are fairly old-fashioned, as the costumes and coiffures of the heroines will readily show. Indeed, there haven’t been any new peep shows filmed lately and the International Mutoscope Reel Co., which operates from the heart
Penny Arcades of Another Day Return to Glamorous 42nd-St.
Machine of Early Movie Era.
NEW YORK, Sept. 29.—Some of the mightiest movie moguls began with a needle and thread or a noisy nickleodeon and Nicholas Schenck still nurses along a Penny Arcade on the Palisades across the Hudson. -
{ Paul Muni’s father in “The Good
Peep Show From Iron Dot
cade actresses. Mutoscope always. called in any lady in the waiting room, invited her to pose for a reel and paid a standard sum of $25.
STARTED WITH CIRCUS Charley Grapewin, who plays
Earth,” started his career as a trapeze performer with the Silbon trio of circus fame.
DON ALVARADO CAST
Don Alvarado has been added to the cast being assembled for “Nobody’s Baby,” which will star Patsy
Film Writer Gets Chance as Producer
Gene Markey Broadens His Career in Work on ‘White Hunter.”
BY KELLY WOOLPERT United Press Staff Correspondent HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 29.—When the picture, “White Hunter,” went
Markey entered a new phase. Long one of the screen's top writers, Mr. Markey recently was elevated to the post of associate producer. In making the appointment, stu dio officials expressed a belief that production of a motion picture ese sentially is the telling of a story. “White Hunter” is one of Mr, Markey’s original stories, giving the new associate producer a familiar plot with which to work.
Career Started in 1928
He also has a thorough backe ground in the production end of the film business, having started his Hollywood careeer in 1928. At that time his book, “Stepping High,” was filmed under the title of “Syncopation. » During this work, Mr. Markey Tee called, he acted as “associate proe ducer without portfolio” and then turned exclusively to writing. He did stories for Columbia and for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and in 1931 collaborated with Kathryn Scola on “Baby Face.”
Says He Is Grateful Mr. Markey then joined Fox Film as a writer and remained on the job when it was merged with Twen= tieth Century pictures. “It sounds trite to say that I am grateful,” declared the former newspaper writer. . “But I am intensely sincere. I am terrificially interested in motion pictures as the greatest means to tell a story. “It really is a tremendous opportunity and will certainly keep me busy.” In fact, Mr. Markey said his move into the production department ale
European vacation planned with his actress-wife, Joan Bennett.
31: 198:
Kelly and Lyda Roberti.
ANTHONY ADVERSE
of Manhattan, tells me the public [3
is satisfied with revivals. Sadly, Mutoscope explains that fhe peep show is showing a proiit but not any signs of culturally advancing itself. Seems the art was set back some when ladies skirts began to be shorter and the stage and screen became so sophisticated that the public couldn’t be shocked any longer. When Mutoscope says there have | been no peep shows filmed lately, Mutoscope means that the cameras have been idle these past two years. Up to then, there was plenty of activity which accounts for the large product now in circulation. No actresses were’ put out of work by the sudden shutdown, becguse there aren't: any Penny Ar-
HOME OWNED— HOME OPERATED
I'UDELL
WEST SIDE
EAST SIDE
10th St. kie Moore
“LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE” COMEDY—CARTOON
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