Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 October 1937 — Page 38

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‘High Rating

Is Awarded Loew's Film

1 Ronald Coleman and Doug Fairbanks Jr. Set Fast Pace.

By JAMES THRASHER . Like a sentimental ballad : rescored in dance tempo, “The Prisoner of Zenda,” that lav- - ender and long-popular fan- : tasy by Anthony Hope, returns to the screen in a zest- » ful, delightful rhythm.

The picture, now at. Loew’s, offers

Ronald Colman in the dual por- |f

trayal of Rudolf Rassendyl and - King Rudolf 'of Strelsau. The ex- - ceedingly able cast includes Made- + leine Carroll as the Princess Flavia, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., who makes a welcome return to the American screen as Rupert of Hentzau. Then there are Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey and David Niven—the last named giving much the best performance of his short career.

Has Old-Fashioned Charm Of course “The Prisoner of Zenda” is a preposterous little tale, but one possessing an old-fashioned charm to back up the present picture’s brilliant trappings. Cromwell, director, stepped the pro-

duction up to a dashing pace, and |: his players deliver it with engaging |:

_ ebullience. Mr. Colman and Mr. Fairbanks

give two of the outstanding virtu- | oso performances of the season. In|: fact, the latter comes close to Sieal. ; Both |:

ing every scene he plays. actors go about their work with a tongue-in-cheek swagger. Countless nuances of inflection and sly bits of drollery are added to the swashbuckling action of their roles. And they put on a perfectly grand duel to pull the picture to its peak of suspense. Mr. Massey is convincingly sinister as the black-hearted halfbrother who drugs and abducts the rightful king in the hops of getting the throne for himself. Miss Carroll, looking exceedingly lovely, plays in a royal manner the young princess who loves and loses the king’s distant cousin and perfect likeness. As Col. Zapt, Mr. Smith does another superlative job as the gruff old counselor. He it is, you * will recall, who persuades Rassendyll, the monarch’s English relative, to substitute at the king’s coronation when that worthy is drugged after a drinking bout.

Film Innovation Pleases

Thanks to a new sepia-tinted film, the whole picture takes on an : added softness and warmth of tex- : ture which rest and delight the eye.

The settings are sumptuous and solid without being garish. It is possible to go on to each of the fiilm’s various divisions and return with more glowing words of praise. Not what is called a “great” picture, “The Prisoner of Zenda” does what it sets out to do in flawless fashion. Unpretentious as the story may be, it is one that fits the screen ideally. Much has been said recently in defense of the film as an out-and-out entertainment medium. If more pictures could be treated with the care and artistry given “The Prisoner of Zenda,” few would object to leaving “messages” and propaganda in books and plays, and permitting the movie-makers to do the " things they do best.

‘Big Apple’ Dance In Movies Now

Times Special . © HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1—Every- : body is doing the “Big Apple” and : Hollywood jumps to the fore. : The new dance craze that is { sweeping the couqtry has reached { Hollywood and this week has been + adopted by the movies. One of the large sound stages * has been turned completely over to an ensemble of 200 dancers, who ‘ are currently rehearsing the intri- : cate steps of the “Big Apple” under . the direction of Danny Dare for “College Follies of 1938.” Originating in the South, “Big : Apple” is derived from primitive : African rhythm dances, but also comprises a skilful blending of “The Charleston,” “Blackbottom,” . “Truckin’” and other modern dance - steps. : : “To form a quick picture of the . dance just visualize the Virginia Reel with a Truckin’ step,” says : Dare, in illustration, “but there is a lot more to it than that.”

John |:

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IN ‘PRISONER OF ZENDA’

ACTION

STARS PUT ZEST AND

THEY'LL APPEAR WITH SYMPHONY

Coming to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra from the National

Orchestra Association of New York,

where he played under Leon Bar-

zin, Avram Weiss (above) will serve as the local orchestra’s assistant concertmaster during the season that begins Nov. 19. Rudolph ‘Mazzari( left below) was a member of the Chicago Grand Opera Co. orchestra before his engagement in the Indianapolis orchestra’s bass section. Rowland Criswell (right below) is a cellist, formerly with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. Other new members announced today are Charles Payne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Payne, 4231 N. Capitol Ave., who will be a member of the trombone section; Mark Epstein, violinist; Abraham Luboff, double bass; Eugene Dimond, bassoon, and Myron Barber, horn.

IN NEW YORK —sy ceoret ross Famous Set of Knuckles Leaves New * York

Scene as Bill Quaine Quits Force.

EW YORK, Oct. 1.—A familiar set of knuckles is gone from the metropolitan scene today. For Detective William J. Quaine has retired, thus breaking a solid front that brought untold woe to generations of criminals. “Bill, the Lump Squad,” as the underworld had good cause to call him, along with Detectives Broderick and Johnny

Cordes, constituted the most feared trio o

in the country, G-Men included.

gh" and ready coppers

Bill, for instance, broke six ribs on a giant malefactor with one punch. The Italian murder society, the dread Mafia, placed a price of $10,000 on his head once. He shot it out with eight assassins, killed one

and routed the rest. He was credited with cleaning up the Little Italy gangs single-handed—or rather with both fists flying. Once a police commissioner asked him why he had -not used gun or club on a robber. “What for?” asked Bill as he supported his limp captive. “There's nothing wrong with my hands.” ” ” ”

EVER one to eschew the primrose path—it’s the place he did his roadwork—Mickey Walker, former middleweight champion, has turned song and dance man at a local night club. He offers the feeble justification that John IL. Sullivan and Gentleman Jim Corbett also disported on the stage. For that matter, so did .Jack Dempsey, who to this day tries to live down the squeaky voice that Nature gave him along with steely biceps and narcotic strength in each fist.

But Mickey really is serious about the business and if the: truth were told, he is not so bad. He sings a little, dances a little. He spent a lot of time learning the racket from chorines. “This is the part of the show I like,” he confided one night. Now 180 pounds—his fighting weight was 160—Mickey carries himself well and thinks he has quite a Broadway career ahead, “even if I ain’t no Fred Astaire or Lawrence Tibbett.”

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T even happens out of the movies: For several years a Wall Street

broker named Bobby Martyn 'has

been the town’s most consistent patron of a certain Cuban night club. He liked to tango and to rhumba. One night he sat at one of them bemoaning the fact that though proprietors made him feel at home,. he could never rid himself of the stigma that he was just another customer. “I only wish,” he said, “that I had some place I could go every night where I felt I really belonged.” So he fulfilled his wish last week. He bought a night club, thus becoming the only boniface in New York to own a spot so that he’ll have a place to revel in every night. # 8 ” AYE facts to set you right: Down South, they also have a “Little Apple”—wherein two people dance the Big Apple alone . . . in the South, the “Shag” is known as “The Sugar Foot” . .. Negroes don’t call it “Truckin’” , . ,’they hail it

Select Three

As Soloists At Concerts

Maennerchor Officials Pick Triggs to Play - On Nov. 29.

Harold Triggs, noted American pianist and composer, is to be soloist with the Indianapolis Maennerchor at its opening concert Nov. 29 in the Athenaeum. This will be Mr. Trigg’s first Indianapolis appearance since joining the Arthur Jordan Conservatory faculty as head of the piano

department. 2

Two other well-known Indianapolis artists, Miss Elma Igelman, soprano, and Miss Louise Essex, cellist, are to be soloists at the society’s other concerts, Feb. 14 and May 9. Karl Reckzeh, Chicago choral conductor and for many years the Maennerchor’s director, is to return for these concerts. : Mr. Triggs comes to Indianapolis with a long and brilliant list of engagements, both as soloist and as duo-pianist with Vera Brodsky. He has appeared with the New York Philharmonic-Symphony, the De-

| troit Symphony and the National

Orchestra Association of New York. His radio engagements have been with the Alfred Wallenstein Sinfonietta and the Detroit, Columbia and Rapee symphony orchestras. Mr. Triggs is also on the faculty of the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia this year. Both Miss Igelman and Miss Essex have been heard with the Ipdianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Miss Essex has played with the Philadelphia Orchestra as winner of the Young Artists’ competition in 1933, and has been guest artist on NBC Music Guild broadcasts. Miss Igelman has sung in recital and oratorio performances in many of the country’s music centers, and has been soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

‘Behind-Scenes’ Film to Be Made

Times Special NEW YORK, Oct. 1.—~Motion picture rights to the book, “Listen In,” by Maurice Lowell, NBC production manager, havé been purchased hy Warner Bros. for use in a movie short. : The film, it is believed, will be the first to present actual “backstage” scenes in g ¥adio studio to the public. Four radio programs will ke filmed—Your Hit Parade, Magic Key, National Farm and Home Hour and National Barn Dance. Every stp in the production of a major network show is to be pictured. ?

SANTELL SIGNED

TO DIRECT FILM

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.—Al Santell, who recently served “Breakfast for Two,” new Barbara StanwyckHerbert Marshall starring vehicle, has been assigned to direct “Having Wonderfu Time,” Arthur Kober’s Broadway comedy which Pandro S. Berman will produce with Ginger Rogers in the stellar role. Mr. Kober is writing the screen version of his stage hit.

as “Skatin’” , . . The Big Apple, which ‘was inspired by the custom among Charleston Negroes of dancing in circles, isn’t actually being danced by them. The Gullah Negroes have a supersition that they will have hard luck if they cross their feet while dancing.

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DANCING/[ DIVING |/ VENUSES

P ‘Em to College But You Can’t Make ‘Em Think!

COMING TO AMBASSADOR SCREEN

Ushering in the Ambassador’s October program, Jack Benny and Ida Lupino, shown above, will be seen in “Artists and Models,” beginning Sunday. Others in the cast are Martha Raye, Gail Patrick, Richard Arlen, Judy Canova and Ben Blue. Other

October attractions at the Ambassador will he “The Good Earth,” “The Toast of New York,” “Souls ‘at Sea,” “Love Under Fire,” a first Indianapolis showing of Gene Stratton Porter’s “Michael O'Halloran” and “Lost Horizon.”

Autograph Hunt Wider

Addicts Now Invade Ship Companionways.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1.—(NEA)— Days when autograph hounds narrowed their field of endeavour to theater and movie openings are all over. The John Hancock collectors

now muscle in everywhere that notables foregather, be the occasion public or private. Their new stamping grounds are the trans-Atlantic boat piers, where they can collar the celebrities coming and going. And being persistent birds, they are crowding the companionways, thus blocking. the passage of the star until they get his or her signature. A vivid example of this recent invasion of the ocean liners was the departure of the Queen Mary for Europe. Madeleine Carroll came aboard, but she was shrewd enough to embark from a third class gangplank: Her premonitions turned

out to be justified, for no sooner had |

she_settled down in her cabin than the horde of autographists descended upon it. They beat, in vain, upon the door, tried deception’ by calling “Telegram for you, Madame” and attempted at least a dozen other ruses. In alarm, Miss Carroll took refuge in the clothes closet and stayed there until the final signal of “all ashore.” The piers, the theaters and movie premieres, however, are only a section of the autograph hounds’ growing territory. They also have annexed the smarter restaurants and it is no longer unusual to be accosted, not only by the waiter: with

“SLAVE SHIP” Helen Mack

Plus! «cant BUY LUCK”

your portion of lamb chops but by

a stranger with an extended autograph album. The" determined crea-

tures greet celebrities in the lobbies of hotels where they happen to be staying and have no compunctions about coming upstairs under one excuse or another.

FLEET Tye]

a 1 w Thru saturday: . “MR. NopD TAKES a AlE ) —Alice Ken Baker Al AWS OF LT THE ORIENT

| Paul Collins and Band at Indiana

Paul Collins and his orchestra are to open a two-week engagement at the Indiana Roof tonight. The local band comes to the downtown spot after a summer at the Westlake. Among the musicians will we Chuck Hough, pianist, who has rcsumed his place in the orchestra after a summer in Europe.

SUZANNE KAAREN BROADWAY BOUND

HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1 (U. P).— Suzanne Kaaren, New York stage act :::, is to leave for Broadway and a legitimate engagement within a few days. The actress has come pleted her first major film role at Grand National Studio.

LINS PAUL COLL

ORCHESTRA

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‘Samuel G. Engel « Screen Play by Philip * Dunne : Fromanovel by Marthe McKenna

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