Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 December 1938 — Page 15
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Yule Sock b Overflows At Loew's
1
Dickens’ Carel, | "Young Dr. Kildare’ Both Well Done.
|
By JAMES THRASHER You'll find your Christmas stocking filled to the top at| Loew’s this week. The holiday bill | includes a movie version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” another full-length feature, “Young Dr. Kildare,” a short subject bringing Christmas greetings from the Hardy Family and, finally, one of the cleverest “Silly Symphonies” Walt Disney ever Chief interest centers in the Dickens - Hollywood combination, judging from the applause that greeted the picture’s: beginning and end yesterday. -In between the scattered cheers, the audience. saw a
{- faithful re-creation -of what . cer-
4
tainly is the.. best-beloved secular Christmas story in our language. There is no nced to retell the story. But you should know that the screen retells it with obvious devotion to the original, It brims over with sentimentality and humor, which is at it should be, Reginald Owens’ Strooge is good, but Gene Lockhart as Bob Cratchit is the hero of the occasion. Few of us suspected Mr. Lockhart’s capabilities until his excellent bit in “Algiers.” But now there is no denying him his due, and it is to be hoped that casting directors will see fit to give him more and better chances from now on.
Subtle and Droll
He cloes Cratchit with subtlety and good humor, with droll servility at his work and twinkling merrinient at home. He even keeps the scene of Scrooge’s vision after Tiny Tim's death from slopping over. Mr. Owen, with his native .amiability and a heavy crust’ of makeup, isn’t quite the fierce and grumpy Scrooge that some of us have pictured. However, he does an excellent job. The other characters, especially the “bit” players, are more than. adequate. There is a nice atmosphere, both of Dickens and of Christmas, about the whole thing. In “Young Dr. Kildare” we find Hollywood, emboldened perhaps by “the Citadel,” again bestowing blame as well as praise upon the medical profession. It is the story of a young interne in a New York hospital who finds himself in the ‘doghouse” because his ethical sense prompted him to take i ET bl me for a .patient’s death. lisituation is complicated” further pd his failure to agree with the hos jital’s superintencdent and with .a famous psychiatrist's diagnosis, or to betray g patient’s confidence. :
A Pretty Girl—
. Having rescued a pretty girl from «.Jdcide, young Dr. Kildare gathers, rom incoherent remarks, that she 's only terribly ashamed and frightcAed, rather than mentally unbalanced, as his colleagues insist. Cleverly the young doctor seeks out and dispels the cause of her fright after he has been discharged from the hospital staff. Then, having taken no cradit himself for the girl's recovery, he prepares to leave and join his father in country practice. But the famous Dr. Gillespie calls him in and appoints him his assistant. There is also a love interest of minor importance. The picture has some rather outspoken things to say about medical practice, especially when it is dis_covered that the would-be suicide ~ is the daughter of an immensely rich man who may be expected to show his gratitude in terms of money. . However, it is not another “Citadel’ by a long shot. | Essentially the story is rather silly. But the way it hs been directed by an obscure newcomer, Harold Buequet, indicates that Mr. He uet has some fresh ideas and knows how to achieve them with good dramatic effect.
Ayres in Comeback
It is a joy to see what has happenei to Lew Ayres since his splendid performance in “Holiday.” That from which so few travele return, the Class B “quickie,” seems to have given Mr. Ayres back into the land of the living. And the actor certainly has taken a new lease on) life, His Dr. Kildare is among the best performances of recent months. Loinel Barrymore shares the honors as Dr. Gillespie. ‘And though he was unable to play Scrooge, he plays an equally lovable old groych in this picture. Mr. Barrymore has the misfortune to be chained to a ‘wheel chair with arthritis, but the affliction has not dulled his ability in the least. As Barbara, the attempted suicide, Jo Ann Sayers makes an auspigjous movie debut. Last year she was . Mimi ‘Lilygren, ski queen of the * University of Washington’s ice carnival.. But there’s nothing queenly, glamorous or sporting about the former Miss Lilygren’s first role. She does all her acting from the confines of a hospital bed, and does it very well. She's pretty, too. Ar, epilogue to the picture annourices that “Young Dr. Kildare” is the first of a series, though how much more of the two doctors we are to see is a question. For, in the present film, young Dr. Kildare tells old Dr. Gillespie that he is mewably ill, and has, at most, a year to live,
Annabella Just "A ‘Good Friend’
NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (U. P.)— Tyrone Power had returned today on the Southern Prince from South America, stoutly denying that his trip to Brazil was in the nature of a romantic rendezvous with Annabella, the movie star. “We are merely good friends,” he sald. “She mentioned on the set of ‘Suez’ that she had velatives in Brazil and that she might be there in December. She said we might meet” His secretary said he would go to the Hotel Pierre he e Annabella we, oPPing and that he probably |{ cat, | manage tc see her despite the ia 10D 3
ik |
Press Agent Tells How Through Georgia
John (Jeeter) Barton pays a visit to a real Tabacco Road family.
Famous Play Marched and Left Behind
Stage-Struck Sharecroppers.
Carlton Miles, who is press agent, director, guide, philosopher and friend of the touring “Tobacco Road” company, has a new story. That in itself is remarkable, since this is the play’s fourth season on the road, and its fourth engagement at English’s will begin Monday night. During these four seasons, Mr. Miles has viewed the somber saga from
and audience reaction, and spinning yarns for the delectation of newspaper readers in 38 states. Nevertheless, Mr. Miles has a new story, and perhaps the best of the lot. For this autumn, the play made its first trip into the Deep South. Not only that, but the players gave performances in Augusta, Ga., only 14 miles from the real Tobacco Road. Mr. Miles writes of their experience as follows:
Left Them Stagestruck
«Pobacco Road’ has marched through Georgia and left behind a lot of stagestruck sharecroppers. “Far from resenting the picture
of themselves in Jack Kirkland’s play, the sharecroppers received it with enthusiasm. Some of them picked beans to gain money for a ticket, and were shepherded to the theater by the Rev. I. S. Caldwell, father of Erskine Caldwell, on whose novel the play is based.
the stage door and begged to be taken along with the company. ‘I'd be a better Henry Peabody than he is,’ said one, pointing to Dick Lee, who stage-manages the play and does the role of Jeeter’s neighbor. ‘I got a real mustache and he pastes his on. Besides, I can cuss better than Peabody.’
“S 0 m ‘e requests were less humorous, as this letter to John Barton from a man in Albany, Ga. attests: : ‘Give Me a Chance’
“ ‘Dear Sir: I am a victim of Tobacco Road and no one knows better than I what suffering it is to have ambition to do something worthwhile in life but am handicapped because I haven’t the opportunity. “‘Is it possible that you might give me a chance in your play, so as to enable me to obtain the better things in life and to help others to do the same. I only make $11.18 per week and I have to support my father and mother on that. So a young man like I am doesn’t ever have a chance to get married on
“Barefooted Jeeters stood around |
every angle, analyzing play, playerse
such a low salary. My ambition is to study music.’ “When ‘Tobacco Road,’ with its unsparing picture of life among tenant farmers, first was. produced, many persons said, ‘This will never dare play Geopgia.’ Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Caldwell have contended that Tobacco Road is a condition, not a location, and that similar conditions exist in every state of the Union.
“This season, not without a lit- ;
tle trepidation, the play was booked for a tour of the South, including Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Ten-
nessee. In Their Stride “Be it said to the credit of Southern audiences that in general they took the play in their stride and rewarded it’ with editorial praise and favorable reviews. Here and there a voice was raised in protest, but in general intelligent audiences filled : the theaters: to overflowing and applauded the play.” . Mr. Miles concludes his letter with the {following excerpt from the Augusta Herald’s review of “Tobacco Road,” which he states is typical of the general fone of reception through the South. “Whether the Lester clan should have been preserved literally perhaps is open to question. Personally, we hold to the affirmative. It strikes us that America’s annals would not have been complete without a recording of the tragedy of the lowliest white agricultural element, struggling against crushing odds because of their love for the land, and sinking lower each decade until submerged into a group so hopeless and so shiftless that it seems ‘the Lord was. tired—powerfull tired’ when He made them. “Exaggerated? Yes and yes. Untypical? Granted also. -But' as for this reviewer, who has seen Richmond County sharecropper children so famished that they snatched raw liver off the kitchen table before it could be: cooked and ran off with it like’ so many little wolves—well, it isnot for him to hurl the ugly word at Jeeter Lester's Boswell.”
I
IN NEW YORK ——By GEORGE os
8 8 =»
Accordions Muscle In on Moaning Racket and Mow Challenge Saxophones.
EW YORK, Dec. 23.—Coming up slowly from the Slav saloons on Second Ave. the accordion now is a musical instrument to be reckoned with. Already it has put the banjo to rest, and is now trading wheeze for wheeze, moan for sob with the saxophone. In the wake of the accordion’s rise, we learn that many a notable has taken up this folding instrument for a hobby. There are many
among the stars—Frank Capra, James Stewart, Charles Chase, Phil Baker, Mary Pickford and Mischa Auer—who can pumps the bellows effectively.. And so can Doris Duke Cromwell, Jascha Heifetz and the Duke of Windsor. : There are 100,000 accordions being wheezed in this country. They cost anywhere from $70 to $2000, weigh “from 11 to 15 pounds, and can simulate the sounds of the clarinet, violin, saxophone and organ. . . : ” ” ” MILINGLY we recall a sketch penned by - Frank Sullivan about a Captain’s Dinner. given aboard the Staten Island ferry which makes the 20-minute run from Manhattan to the other side of the river some three dozen times daily. A wild-eyed burlesque, it almost had its counterpart the other day in real life. A young man seeking
operate the Hoboken ferry and asked if there were not a job open for a competent deck steward. And he wasn’t joking!
INCLAIR LEWIS, now an accredited actor, is rehearsing the
journey to other towns and try it out on the hinterland before brav-
ing the stern, czitical judgment of New York. One of the places where “Red”
-DANCE NIGHTLY EXCEPT MONDAY
The Bandwagon
SOUTHEASTERN & EMERSON
HAL BAILEY’S BAND
work went around to the folk whol
play he wrote himself and soon will|
Lewis will emote is a key city nea Sauk Center, that town he immortalized in his scathing satire, “Main Street.” - With ironic humor, chose that spot for a reason. He felt that since ‘he had castigated
the citizenry of Sauk Center in| - “Main Street” snd otioied the folk |"
there as Babbitts, th ould have a chance to strike back. And a man
Mr. Lewis|’
lLeinsdort s|[
Rise Rapid i in
Opera World
And Here’ s Open’ Secret About Conductor— ‘He Likes Swing.
Times Special NEW YORK, Dec. 23. — Brien Leinsdorf likes swing. If you see nothing remarkable in that you ought to know that Rrich Leinsdorf is a leading conductor at the Metropolitan. Not only that; but he is guiding the great Wagnerian
operas there this season. Not only that but—at 26—he is the youngest
august Metropolitan. Short, stocky and unaffected, Mr Leinsdorf has stepped into a position that many, many men—twice his age—have tried to reach and failed. The whole great music world is gpen to him now. ‘Some day he
Brahms, Mozart, Bach.
Yet he likes swing. “I study it
| whenever I hear it,” he says. “I find
it interesting, very. But it must be well done.”
Won Early Acclaim Erich Leinsdorf’s story is not the
harrowing one of the musical genius|§
starving in a garret. It is the pleas-
warded. Born in 1912 in Vienna of Jewish
parents, he showed signs of musical talent at an early age and was set to studying the piano. Latér he took up the ‘cello and still later composi-| tion, harmony, counterpoint. He went from one important teacher to the next. At 22, he played his first professional engagement—and fortune smiled on him, immediately. For Bruno Walter, the great conductor of Salzburg, heard him and was impressed. Mr. Walter gave the young Leinsdorf the post of assistant at the annual Salzburg Festival. Then, the same year—it was 1934— he came into contact with another great maestro, Arturo Toscanini. The Italian was conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in an important concert. Mr. Leinsdorf was chosen to assist. Went All Over Europe
With both Mr. Walter and Mr. Toscanini singing his praises, Mr. Leinsdorf was headed for success heyond a doubt. During the next three years he assisted at major musical events all over Europe and by the time he emigrated to America in 1937, he had an important reputation. The Metropolitan engaged him as an assistant conductor. Then, once more, fortune smiled on him but this time put him to the acid test. At Easter of this year, Arthur Bodanzky, the regular conductor, took sick the day before he was -to conduct Wagner's “Parsifal,”. a very special - Easter treat. To frantic Metropolitan officials, Mr. Bodanzky suggested that Mr. Leinsdorf be permitted to conduct. They took Mr. Bodanzky’s advice, With only 12 hours’ notice, Mr. Leinsdorf’s masterful - performance of “Parsifal” wrung superlatives from the topnotch critics. It also assured him of a major post with the Metropolitan for the new season, Besides, Mr. Toscanini, Lotte Lehman, the singer, and others were telling the Metropolitan how good Mr. Leinsdorf really is. He was engaged to share the baton with the man who had recommended him, Arthur Bodanzky, a great conductor himself.
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE
APOLLO
“Slave Ship, with ‘Micke Rooney Warner Baxter, Wallace Beery; 11:31, 1:34, 3:37, 5:49, 7:43 and 8:46.
CIRCLE “Dawn Patrol,” with Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, at 12:25, 3:35, 6:45 and 9: “Next Time I Marry,” ‘with Lucille Ball, JAI Ellison, at 11:20, 2:30,
INDIANA
“Kentucky,” with Loretta Young Pichard Greene, walter Brennan, a 12:38, 3. “ = 50 a “Dow the Far “The Jones Family, at 11: a, 2: 3 8 :49 and
LOEW’
Ss “A Christmas Carol” with Regl nald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Ley | Xian: at’ 12:35, 3:20, 6:10 and 9 Young Dr. Kildare,” with Lew onel Barrymore, at 11, 1:45, 20 and 1 LYRIC Vaudeville, with Lola Lane Walton, Buster West, on 1:03. 3:25, 6:41 and “Heart of the Norih,” with Dick Foran, Gloria Dickson, on screen at 11:25, °2:13. 5:02, 7:51 and 10:30,
MURAT “Once Over “amie 2 presented oy jhe Pincsion igngle Club.
Ayres, 435, 7:
Bert stage at
never is more vulnerable than when]
he is behind footlighits, an open target for hissing or missiles. But Sale Center may have forgotten: wounds and Tgiven its rar prodigal.
ever to wield the baton for the §
will conduct the works of Beethoven, | £
_ "Merry Xmas" Program!
ant, grateful one of talent quick- | 378 + |ly recognized and handsomely re- : ie. This is a picture of the first and only local, talkie newsreel cameramen taking a picture of the first and oy print of the new Robert Taylor-Wallace Beery film, “Stand Up and Fight,” now: in, circylation. The.
cameramen are from Columbus,
new feature and the first local newsréel will hdve their premiere New Year’s Eve at the Crump Thea-
ter.
to. Indianapolis Harold Marshall, where both the
C. E. Rogers, the theater ‘manager (right),|is shown receiving the film from the pilot who flew it
from Hollywood. With them | is Indiana field representative for
M-G-M. Mr. Rogers conceived the idea of letting his patrons see themselves and their hometown news on his theater’s screen.
MNTruce of Gable :
Heralds Divorce
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 23 .(U. P): The way was cleared today for the Clark Gables to be divorced, which in ‘turn was expected to presage his marriage to Carole Lombard. It was’ announced -in court that ME. ‘Gable and his estranged wife, Rhea, had reached agreement over a - property settlement. The film actor reportedly paid her $286,000 during the three years that they have been separated. Mrs. Gable had objected ® being
{limited to the agreement and. sald ‘|she opposed the manner in which
payments were to be made. Mr. Gable had ‘sued to have the agrees ment declared legal and the case was ready for trial when lawyers
for both sides said a truce had been reached. No details were given. The truce was expected to be fol lowed by the filing of a divorce suit by Mrs. Gable. Mr. Gable asked her to do so last week. : So far her comment has been! “This is a complete surprise, and I have no statement to make.” . However, it was expected that she would go to Nevada soon where a divorce takes only six weeks. She is 11 years older than Mr. Gable. , Mr.. Gable and Miss Lombard have refused to doininent on rumors thay they will marry as soon as he is free.
[ENGLISH sree Week Bog. Next Mon. SALE
Matinees Wed. and Sat. Best sent $1.10 Year's e
2 Performances New Yi
STAGE SUCCESS OF THE CENTURY
HOLIDAY HOT PRICES!
$1.65 Mats! ro 83e, $1.10 ( (Tax Ine.)
New Princeton Show to Play at Murat Tonight
(Another Story, Page 10)
The Princeton Triangle Club’s
ys 50th anniversary production, “Once
Over Lightly,” puts in -at the Murat tonight for a single appearance. The new show, having been received with enthusiasm in two New York performances last week-end, is currently on-a tour of 18 cities.
Two song hits of former revues “Love on a Dime” and “East of the Sun,” are included in the present score. Seven of the dozen new songs were written by Sanders Maxwell, ’39, the club president. Most of the show’s action takes place in present-day New York,
HERBERT INJURED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
* HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 23 (U. P)— Hugh Herbert, comedian, must re-
main in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital for a week because of injuries suffered in an automobile accident, his physician said today. Mr. Herbert suffered a torn cartilage in. his chest. His secretary and standin, Frankie Van, a fight referee, was cut ‘and bruised.
though the prologue deals with the purchase of Manhattan Island by the Indians. A good bit of political satire is said to be contained in the comedy plot. ‘The show is reported to he going in heavily for ballet dancing this year, with members of the varsity athletic squads lending their brawn and beauty to the corps de ballet. * There are 72 men in the company, including a chorus of 24 and an orchestra. ‘They are traveling in a special train.’
HE SINGING COWBOY IS BACK N—ANN DVOR
“BRIGHT LIGHTS”
GENE AUTRY “THE BIG SHOW”
A matchless cast of stars . . . with Mickey Rooney in one of his greats . est roles! °
STARTI NG _ TODAY ®
STNG PA
Aad
ELIZABETH ALLAN
GFORGE SANDERS JANE DARWELI
' BASIL RATHBONE
DAVID NIVEN
L NEW, RESTFUL CHARS) COMPLETE REDECORATIONS! 3 You can ENJOY a show in this beautiful, comfortable theatrs
You have a reng ' rend with adventure a these reckless eagles
roar thr ough the 4 i shattered vinge:
{IRVING
Enmity... Heirs Racing Rivalry
+ Their ‘Love » ve All Fire and Pride . . . Spring: +. from’ the Romantic Mear of Blue Grass Kentucky. |
25¢ UNTIL 6
Starting TODAY! Born to Traditional
|
IN TEC HNICOLOR
7 LORETTA YOUNG ~ RICHARD GREENE
~ WALTER BRENNAN DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE
KAREN MORLEY MORONI OLSEN
,.30-80c AFTER 6
NORTH SIDE"
Tonight's Presentation at Your
Neighborhood Theaters
EAST SIDE
ST. CLAIR 8t. Cl. & Ft. Warne
oors Open Frank Albertson *FUGITIVES FOR A NIGHT* RESHMAN YEAR” 42nd and ( Cellege UPTOWN Soh , Luise - Ferdnand Gravet “GREAT WALT “FLIGHT TO FAME
TALBOTT Eleanor Lymn ? S FOR
“FUGITIVE A NIG Only North Side Theater Fatt Am, or e Theater Partic -y MOVIE QUIZ CONTEST
REX
Talbott & Frank Albertson
30th at Sortliviesters Pat O’Brisn * T CGAEDEN OF THE MOON" tY ; “STRAIGHT. PLACE ' AND SHOW” College at rR VOGUE Doors Open 6:30 Nagel “HOOSIER SCHOOLFOY" el s Amn Jac k Qak kie—Lucile OF ANNABEL
3
y AFFAIR! LLE Kiddies’ LE Party—Sat., 1: 30 P.M.
DREAM Lynne Over nan
Eyelsn Keyes “SONS OF THE L ) “OUTLAW PRESS ?
fllinois and CU Doors Open 6:45 Rosalind Re ssell “CITADEL” KIND” Central at Fai 1 Crk. Lyng Bad Tong, 1 Ba!
“MEET THE GIRLS” : Glenda Farrell “PRISON BREAK’
CIN EM A 16th & Delaware
Kay Franeis G “SECRETS OF AN ACTRES ‘ Will Enc “COUNTY CHAIRMAN” 1500 Ror sevelt
HOLLYWOOD, kei iii,
TIME OUT FOR MURDE ¢ “SMASH G THE MoRETs
EAST SIDE
TUXEDO ae ar
Luise REAT rein, ,& aves “ “AFF, 3 OF ANNABELLE" 5507 E. Wash, St. jenn Bap nore
“HOLD THAT ED” Saves Marz B Bros. “ROOM SERVI
Parsmou t rot
OMAR rarker Nite
6 B. Wish. Tout ht's : Fe tures : ward Arnold
z=na EMERSON
RI v oO LI 3155 E. 10th St.
Gail Patrick + “KI
F A Chas. Farrell “FLIGHT ADDED! Leon Errol las Novelty Starts Sunday—Wa, ne ol “BROTHER RAT” &
James Stewart X01, CAN'T: TAKE IT WITH YOU” AFFAIRS OF ANNABELLE”
TACOMA “yan Wash. St. THE GIRLS”
“MEET THE Robert Wilcox “YOUNG FoGITIVES” WEST SIDE
STATE (Ton Tot
“BOOTHILL BRIGADE” “MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO”
BELMONT. w. Wash. & Belmont
2h Oly “AFFAIRS OF ANNAB ABELLE”. | . “IN OLD MEXICO” Only West cole Theater Partic Rasticipating in OVIE QUIZ CO i
Q Charles Farrell
SPEEDWAY 0’ 255ueline Wells :
T TO “PENROD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE”
NEW DAIS ; 2540 W. Mich, St.
Lynne, Overman ee “SONS OF THE LEGION" in VrSOUTH OF
F ARIZONA’ Howard St. at Blaine HOW! ARD Topithta s Lraturey +MAN FROM MUSIC Coty “PATIENT IN ROOM 18” . "SOUTH SIDE
Speedwav City
M. ORIENTAL
FOUNTAIN SQUARE
Mau i Twins Billie & Bobbie “PENROD' S DOUBLE TROUBLE” , “THE COLORADO TRAIL” * '
No tt
a DEVIL'S PARTY”
EN VALLEY” SANDERS
At Fountain, au hs ‘SPEED TO JAWS OF ss Le
GROVE
“MYSTERIO . “WILD HO
AVALON ¢ PEE
rove Feier forie 3
010 E RODEO” Pro Lore! ? Char-hman Joel McCrea MICE”
. 8. Gloria St iy piss YWhal
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LINCOLN
DOSIE!