Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 March 1939 — Page 11
'Susan&God’ Is Mirror of Buchmanite
New Type Crothers Play Comes to English's Tomorrow.
HOLLYWOOD
It is evident from the title of | PE Rachel Crothers’ “Susan and God,” | #
which comes to English’s tomorrow and Wednesday, that the playwright has abandoned the triangular plot which brought her such conspicuous success. In all, Miss Crothers has written some 15 plays that can be put on the “right side” of the ledger. But she is best remembered for “When Ladies Meet” and “As Husbands Go.” The first dealt with a philandering husband. In the second, it was a trusting and faithful husband who found that his wife’s ardent admirer had followed her home from Europe. Now, however, Miss Crothers is concerned with the adventures of a rather flighty woman who finds, in the English “Lady Wiggam’s Movement,” a new religious experience, and then fries to transfer it to her daily, family life. Apparently Miss Crothers has made no effort to conceal that the religious group in her play is patterned on the Oxford Movement. Yet no protest or criticism has
arisen from any of the Oxford con-|
verts. Jessie Royce Landis is replacing Gertrude Lawrence in the starring part for the Indianapolis engagement. The original New York cast, headed by Paul McGrath, will be seen in support. ” » 2
William Fields, press representative for the Playwrights’ Company, is missing no tricks in keeping Indianapolis informed as to progress of plans for Katharine Cornell’s appearance here in S. N. Behrman'’s “No Time for Comedy.” It should be impressed upon the local play-goer’s mind by now that , Thursday night will be something of a gala occasion—in fact, a “world premiere,” to use the borrowed Hollywood nomenclature. Mr. Fields tells us that Mr. Behrman will be joined by his four eminent colleagues in this playwriting and ' producing venture, for the English’s engagement. They are Maxwell Anderson, Robert E. Sherwood, Sidney Howard and Elmer Rice. Mr. Rice postponed a trip to Europe to come to Indianapolis. He also informs us that the new play is a comedy, despite the title.
Laurence Olivier, the British actor, will be seen here as Mr. Behrman’s playwright, opposite Miss Cornell. Others in the cast are Margalo Gillmore, John Wil_liams, Robert Flemyng, Peter . Robinson and Gee Gee James. The company will have a dress grehearsal in New York tonight, and ‘depart for Indianapolis tomorrow. The New York opening is set for
If there are any Academy Awards being distributed east of Holly= wood, Stanley: and Manley Brown, local amateur cinematographers will be eligible. The twin brothers already have won several Hollywood
awards for their films and now are working on several more.
They
MuUsIC
By JAMES THRASHER
HIS week brings the rather unpleasant task of chronicling some
“lasts” in connection with the 1938-39 season.
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s
Yesterday brought the final program in the series of Sunday popular concerts; the orchestra closes its 18-week broadcast series next Wednesday, and the players will disband after the subscription concerts of next Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The outlook for the proposed and hoped-for summer concert series is not at all hopeful.
In review of the program yesterday, it seems too bad that so many vacant seats confronted Fabien Sevitzky anc the orchestra, for everyone
present seemed to have a wonderful time. There was a storm of enthusiastic applause at the end, and Mr. Sevitzky departed from custom by granting an encore. Before doing so, however, he put to his audience the puzzling question of why an audience always likes the encores so much better than anything on the regular program. No one volunteered an impromptu discussion of this poser’s psychological ramifications. So the first
violins, with three of the seconds,
April 17.
rose to do a brilliant job of Du-
HOLLYWOOD
By PAUL HARRISON
rOLLYWOOD, March 27.—Because the South, and everybody ac-
quainted with the South, will
be critical of the accents used in
“Gone With the Wind” Selznick and his helpers are taking elaborate
precautions.
One precaution they have not been able to take is to isolate the
two British principals from their
Briddish friends. Every Monday
morning, Vivien Leigh and Leslie Howard show up at the studio with their broad A's and their Mayfair inflections, and the dialog
coach has to go to work on them again. He also has to go to work on Cap’n Clark Gable, who is tightjawed and tough on consonants, as are most middle-wasterners. 2 2 #”
Dorothy Lamour has begun fo protest about bathing suit and other leg-art stills; wants to know whether she’s an actress or a peep-show. 2 2 2 Most of the top producers have projection rooms in their homes and show each other’s pictures. When other bigwigs, directors, and stars want to see a movie on a dull evening they telephone to the mansions of Beverly and Bcl ‘Aire and ask, “Wnat’s showing at your house tonight.” The fellow with the best film always has a houseful of guests, whether he wants ‘em or not. The home-theater circuit has been busier than ever lately because executives have been viewing and studying foreign flickers, which are beginning to dent the _ domestic market. ‘These prints reach Hollywood in unexpurgated form and some are sizzling. 2 8 =»
Jane Withers has had her first screen kiss. The picture is “Police School” and the scene a railroad station in which a number of players are saying goodby to young George Ernest. At the last moment of farewells he gives plump Miss Withers an impulsive kis
S. She didn't seem particularly embarrassed. In fact, she didn’t say anything at all for a couple of hours. Frequently, though, she glanced into a full-length mirror on the set. Finally, as casually as possibly, she told the hairdresser, “You know, I've decided that I ought to reduce.”
Ed ” 2 « A couple of writers on the script of “Great Enemy, about Geron-
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE
APOLLO
ve Affair,” with Charles Boyer, Tren Dunne, at 12:46, 3:49, 6:52 an
» ine Great Naa ot > with Joba Barrymore, as weldler, at 1:3 SOT: 5:40 snd 8:43,
CIRCLE
Vincent and his orches ra; with Bn ota PEs, "Ben Blue, Abbot and Costello, on stage at 13:50, 3:35, “Neve: Say Die,” with Bob Ho Martha Raye, on % i at 11, 1:55, 4:50, 7:40 and 10:
ANS
Deiree Sant onl Grow Up. len anna rbin, Nan Gr Parrish, at 12:49, 3.45, 8:59 :59 and
104. 1 “Beauty for the Asking,” with Lugills B at 11:41, ¢:4 , 5:51 and
a LOEW'S oach,” hi oh Claire Trevor, The omas
as hi gli :45, es EK 10. th Joe
“Sta John Mitch “FH
imo and his Apache revolt, were telling the director, Paul Sloane, that they had turned out a new kind of Indian story—one with a unique twist. “I get it,” snapped the impatient Sloane, “Dust Bites Indian!” 2 2 8
Birth of an epic: On a dull day an imaginative press agent mulled over a lot of heroic figures in history, selected one and planted stories that his studio was to film the man’s biography. The idea struck everybody’s fancy and next day half a dozen executives were taking bows for having thought of it. And now the picture is actually on the schedule, with a milliondollar budget!
HER HAIR IS LONGEST
Patricia Morison has the longest
bensky’s transcription of a Fiorillo Etude. It cannot be said that this encore pleased more than yesterday’s listed offerings. For one thing, three of the program’s five numbers were requested by the season’s Sunday listeners. They were precisely what one would expect: Rossini’'s “William Tell” Overture, the Strauss “Blue Danube” Waltze and Tschaikowsky’s “1812 Overture.” .
” » 2
HE concert’s most interesting items, however, were the Haydn D Major Piano Concerto, which brought forth ‘the day’s young soloist, Gary Grafiman, and Samuel Lieberson’s suite, “In a Winter Garden.”
Gary Graffman is 10 years old, and it is impossible to say a great deal about his talent without falling back upon theosophy or incoherent adulation. Here, as in the case of every real youthful genius, one is puzzled by the maturity of approach impossible of attainment in the first 10 years of average human life.
For this cute, unselfconscious, chubby-legged youngster has more than mere facility. His playing had perception as well as brilliance. His tone was full and rich, his phrasing showed sensitivity and musicianship, and in his grasp of the entire work there was a remarkable sense of style and proportion.
Of course he has been excellently taught by Isabelle Vengerova of the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, who certainly recognizes genius and knows what to do about it. But Gary’s performance was more than that of a well rehearsed automafon. He played the concerto at Saturday morning’s children’s concert with a nearer approach to technical perfection. Yet it was even more interesting yesterday to note his poise and assurance when, if a note o rtwo dropped by the wayside herve and there, he continued on his way with absolute composure and ~onfi-
hair of any screen actress in Hollywood.
dence:
ITURBIS PLAY HERE TONIGHT
The closing Martens Concerts series attraction at English’s tonight will be strictly a family affair, presenting Jose Iturbi and his sister, Amparo, in a recital of two-piano music.
SPENCER TRACY Tne, Academy
“BIG city”
NOW CECI |
Tyrone Power—Henry ¥ Nancy Kelly—Randolgh Scott
6 Jesse James” Technicolor Dorothy Lamour “ST. LOUIS BLUES”
NOW EEE 1st Local Showin ohn Wayne “RED . RANGE". Marsha Hunt Lo LONG SHOT" GER. IDES AGAIN”
ab ee
4
a home-made splicer. smaller equipment.
” ® ®
make most of their own equipment in Stanley’s basement workshop. At center is their projector and to the right a film case. Between is A drill press and jigsaw, rear, augment their
#"
Fame Finds Mooresville
Brothers in Their Film Lab
By DAVID MARSHALL
By taking their hobby “too seriously,” Stanley and Manley Brown, local cinematographers, are gaining national recognition in the amateur
motion picture field.
awards for their films. annual contest of the Indianapolis During the World War, Manley was a photographér with the 203d aerial squadron. For the past 12 vears he has been with the Indianapolis Engraving Co. Christmas a year ago their wives gave them some movie equipment. It was only natural, Manley says, that they should share their hobby. Still Work Together “Since we were kids we've worked together on everything,” he explained. Although they are both married they still live just a few blocks apart at Mooresville. In Stanley’s basement they have a machine shop where they make most of their equipment. He is building superintendent of the Mutual Insurance Building. “The only things we don’t make,” Manley says, “are projectors and cameras.” They first took pictures of each other and their families. But personal films were boresome to persons not intimate with them so they decided to make story films. Their initial film was “Animal Crackers,” which was awarded two stars by the Home Movie Magazine, a Hollywood publication for amateur movie-makers. “The film is about Stanley who falls asleep while eating animal crackers,” Manley says, “and then dreams he is in a jungle filled with animals.” Take Pictures at Zoo
“We took the animal shots at the Cincinnati Zoo, being careful not to film any of the fences or backgrounds. The shots then looked like pictures of animals in the open country. : “For the setting we went to Cataract Falls near Cloverdale and made shots of Stanley and Kenneth Dorsett, the film’s ‘actors’ In editing the film the camera moves from them to the animals and back. Thus it appears they are in the same scene.” Always perfectionists in their work they achieved a film about which Hollywood had only one criticism. It was such that it was complimentary. “Hollywood told us that it was too tough a job for amateurs because we couldn’t get the actors and the animals in the same scene together,” Manley says. Their next picture, “Happy Birthday,” -also received the Hollywood two-star accolade. A color film, it depicted a little girl’s Halloween birthday party. Eight masked small girls and a dog were in the cast.
Wins Local Contest
“Vacation in Michigan” was the picture which won the local contest. In it Manley leaves on a vacation without Stanley, who gets home top late to start. Since he has no way to travel except with Manley, Stanley hitch-hikes. For this film they used trick shots and sketched titles. In one scene, Stanley, who ‘has been tramping all day over hot roads without getting a ride, stops to dip his feet in a stream. His feet are so hot that the water boils. This is one of the tricks they have learned by experimenta-
tion.
Two other films already completed include “Spring and Autumn,” a color film of Indiana, and a travelog, in black and white, made in the Smoky Mountains. About a year ago the brothers joined the local Amateur Movie Club. It meets the second and
In less than two years the twin brothers have won two Hollywood A third was awarded the first prize in the first
Amateur Movie Club.
fourth Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m. at the World War Memorial.
Club Receives Credit Manley gives the club much credit for their success. “Meeting with other members and exchanging ideas,” he says, “is the
biggest help we've had.” They both praise their wives for aiding them in the development of story ideas. The local club is now shooting interior scenes for a comedy, “Like a Bad Penny,” which is being produced “Hollywood style.” The club has a director-producer, electricians, camera crew and scenario writers and is using local amateur actors. Now being completed by the Browns is “Weary Willie’s Worries,” a tramp film, which they hope (0 send to Hollywood in mid-summer. Also they are experimenting with table-top photography and animated doll films similar to the Russian picture “Gulliver's Travels.” Distributed several years ago after five years of work, the Russian film had only one human character. The 2000 or so other “actors” were small dolls which were photographed more than two million times to create the illusion of animation.
Describes Difficulty
“This type of photography is quite difficult,” Manley says, “since each character must be photographed each time it is moved even the slightest.” Their production schedule also calls for a color film on Indiana birds to start Saturday. It will take longer than most of their films as they plan to photograph the complete life cycle of several birds. The most difficult scenes, according to Manley, will be the nesting sequences. While most amateur movie cameras ‘use a 16-millimeter film the Browns use eight-millimeter cameras. What they save on using less expensive film is used in making more movies. Projectors enlarge the frame to about 30 by 40 inches, but when shown before an audience at the Club they sometimes project up to six feet without loss of clarity. Secret of their success lies in their almost hypercriticism of their own work and their endless attempts at perfection. “Everybody says we take our hobby too seriously,” Manley says. But they keep right on making prize-winning movies.
ASKS ZAZU PAY MORE -
HOLLYWOOD, March 27 (U. P.). —Zasu Pitts, fluttery film comedienne, was asked for $1233 additional income taxes today by the j venue Department. Howard Hawks, director, was named in another lien asking $3161 for 1936.
Jack Benny May Change Court Plea
Radio Star Expected to ~ Throw Himself on Judge's Mercy. HOLLYWOOD, March 27 (U. P)).
—Jack Benny, radio and screen comedian, said today he probably
would plead either nolo contendere| j
or guilty to a smuggling charge] i i
when his case is called in New York| :
Federal Court next week. “However,” he said,
“any final {
determination will not be made un-| §
til I have conferred with my attorneys when I arrive in New York.” When indicted jointly with Albert N. Chaperau on Jan. 10, Mr. Benny pleaded not guilty and said he would fight the charge, which accused him of purchasing smuggled jewelry from Chaperau, on the
ground he did not know it was
smuggled. Mr. Benny indicated that his chief New York counsel, William J. Donovan, would ask the court’s permission to withdraw the guilty plea and enter one of nolo contendere which, without admitting guilt, subjects one to conviction. That failing he would ask permission to change the plea to guilty, it was understood. Chaperau, who was also named in smuggling indictments against George Burns, radio comedian, and Mrs. Elma N. Lauer, wife of a New York Supreme Court judge, pleaded guilty. Mr. Burns and Mrs. Lauer also pleaded guilty. Mr. Benny's trial ‘is set for April
13. By entering either a plea of
nolo contendere or guilty, he would be throwing himself upon the mercy of the court.
‘Phantom’s’ Skill Bared
Shows, in 13 Seconds, How
He Robbed Power Home.
LOS ANGELES, March 27 (U. PJ). —Using only a penknife and a cigaret case, Ralph R. Graham, the “phantom burglar of Bel-Air,” today, in 13 seconds, showed how he was able to burglarize the home of Tyrone Power, the movie lover, of some $4000 in diamonds and other jewelry. Graham, whose capture in San Francisco last week ended a fiveyear police search for a “phantom burglar” who stole nearly $2,500,000 in gems and bonds from wealthy Bel-Air residents, was taken on a round of homes which -had been burglarized. Detectives said he identified more than 10, among them Mr. Power's. There he was met at the front door by the actor’s mother, Mrs. Patia Power, to whom he profusely apologized. He explained he didn’t know whose home it was when he removed a latch from a patio door and looted the place last year. It took him 13 seconds to show her how easily he entered. Mrs. Power asked him what happened to a 16th Century gold cross of the Order of St. Louis, a family heirloom which was taken. Again the “phantom” apologized. “I'm sorry, but I'm afraid it was melted up for the gold,” he said. Detective Lieutenants Wallace Creedin and C. R. Smith said Graham also pointed out the home of Edward Carson, a retired businessman, as another he had robbed. Graham insisted he robbed only the homes of the rich “because they could afford it.” His wife and stepson also are being held.
BALL BID ACCEPTED BY CARMICHAEL
Hoagy Carmichael, well-known composer and former Indianapolis boy, will be guest of honor Saturday night at the Civic Theater's April Fool's Ball at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. Mrs. William G. Sparks, chairman of the music committee, yesterday received Mr. Carmichael’s acceptance of the theater's invitation. The composer will arrive in Indianapolis tomorrow or Wednesday to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Carmichael. He will play his first regular theatrical engagement of his career on the stage of a local theater beginning Friday. Buddy Rogers, orchestra leader, was honor guest at the ball last
year. Tomorrow & Wed.
ENGLISH Eves. Matinee Wed.
JOHN GOLDEN Presents
JESSIE ROYCE Los.
in RACHEL CROTHER’'S
WIT PAUL MoGRATH
EVES.: 55¢c, $1.10, $1.65, $2.20. WED. MAT.: 55c, $1.10, $1.65.
rai.sar. MAR.30-31 & APR. 1
MARTENS CONCERTS, INC. ENGLISH—TONIGHT 8:30 AMPARO AND JOSE
SPEED
PAT.
ADD A NEW __ YOUR S
% THRILLS
J a —— ROLLER DERBY
SEATS NOW AT BOX OFFICE
EVES.: $3.30, $2.75, $2.20, $1.65 and $L10. SAT. 'MAT.,’ $2.76 and $1.10.
% SPILLS
OFF., LEO A SELTZER
OPENS TOMORROW, March 28 BUTLER FIELDHOUSE
JHRHL TO
p POX - [ING B. 00D
’ Times Telephoto. Mary Agnes Butterfield, 21, five-
and-ten clerk of Dodge City, Kas., won a contest sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, and was to have Errol Flynn, movie star, as her week-end guest when he appears in her town for the premiere of his latest movie. Then her young brother became ill with measles and because her home was quarantined Miss Butterfield lost her chance to entertain the. actor.
TARZAN’ IS BURIED: PASTOR ASKS MERCY
POWELL, Wyo., March 27 (U. P.). —The mother and father of Earl Durand placed a wreath on his grave today and returned to their farm home, hopeful of erasing the memory of a savage “Tarzan” who killed four men and himself. Secretly they had buried the 26-year-old son who loved the woods and mountains so well that he
“went crazy” when told that he might have to serve 10 years in prison for killing a ranchman’s steer. Calmly they had sat in Coroner Ray Easton’s funeral parlor and heard a Methodist preacher ask God’s understanding of ‘a “man who himself could not understand the ways of the Almighty.” It was a simple ceremony attended by 40 persons. “There was nothing unusual about the funeral,” Mr. Easton asserted. ‘It was as nice a service as I've seen. There was no mention of the last few days.” While Durand’s body was being lowered into a grave at dusk, Coroner Easton announced that John John Gawthrop, bank teller, had not been a victim of Durand’s deadly guns as had been previously believed. . Mr. Easton said the fatal bullet was not from either Durand’s rifle or his six-shooter. He ordered an inquest into Gawthrop’s death for tomorrow.
PORTER SOON TO END 33 YEARS OF SERVICE
Thirty-three years service as.a Pullman porter, without a single demerit mark or criticism, will end Thursday by John Davis, Chicago. He has been a porter on parlor cars between Chicago and Indianapolis the last 13 years. When his train pulls into Chicago from Indianapolis Thursday, Mr. Davis expects to retire to his farm in Michigan. - He became acquainted with many of the Nation’s notables during nis long service, among them President Taft and the elder Thomas Taggart.
TEST OIL WELLS DRILLED NOBLESVILLE, March 27 (U. P.).
if parts of Hamilto. and Madison Counties bear oil. An Oklahoma company is conducting the tests. It was reported that the first well will be sunk 2200 feet.
—Drilling of test wells over a 9000-| . acre plot began today to determine] '
3 HOOSIERS ON GUGGENHEIM'S
2 Purdue Professors and Wabash Graduate Get Fellowships.
Times Special - NEW YORK, March 27.—Two Purdue University faculty members and an Indiana-born Wisconsin University professor were among 69 persons awarded $150,000 in Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fel
| lowships today.
The fellowships are given to scholars and artists who have shown not= able promise of improving the nation’s cultural life, the Foundation said in announcing the awards. Dr. Hubert Maxwell James, asso=ciate physics professor at Purdue, was chosen for his work in astrophysics, and Dr. Herbert Joseph Muller, assistant English professor at Purdue, was granted a fellow-
: | ship to continue his studies in mode
ern American litérature. Graduate of Wabash Dr. Walter Rice Sharp, political science professor at Wisconsin, who was born at Greenwood and is a Wabash College graduate, won an award for his research in modern economics and civil service ore ganizations.
Dr. James will use his award to study solutions of special problems in physical and astrophysical fields. He also will do research in light wave mechanics. Dr. James has been on the Purdue faculty since 1936. ~~ For his project, Dr. Muller will write: on the nature of “A Primer for Contemporary Critics.” Appointe ed to the Purdue faculty in 1935, Dr. Muller is the author of “Mode ern Fiction: A Study of Values.” Dr. Sharp is the author of “The French Civil Service,” “The Government of the French Republic” and “The Economic Development of Modern Europe.”
Wisconsin Leads
He will study the administration of international co-operative agencies operating in nonpolitical fields, such as the Universal Postal Union.
The Fellowships were established in 1925 by former U. S. Senator and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of a son. Fellows may work anywhere in the world where they believe work can best be done and awards average about $2500 a year. Any citizen or permanent resident of the United States is eligible on equal terms. Wisconsin University led this year with four faculty members on the list of Fellows. Johns Hopkins University and the Universities of Missouri and California have three each. Purdue University, Sarah Lawrence College at Bronxville, N. Y. Cornell, Columbia and the University of Chicago have {wo each.
OIL OF IRIS PERMANENT WAVE
Complete With
= SHANPGO »
International Beauty School 229 N. Penn., Opposite P. O. 2nd Fl.
NTT:
oh WEEK!
SB FOR THE ASKING
LUGILLE BALL
ILRI TTL TES
WEST SIDE
EAST SIDE
2702 W. 10th St. Janet Gaynor Done Banks Jr.
STATE
“BURN ou UP CONNOR” SOUTH SIDE 2203 Shelby St. New Garfield Janet t Gaynor “THE YOUNG NY ar “SWING, SISTER, SWING”
NORTH SIDE
V OGUE College_at 63d
John Garfield “THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL”
“Dead End” Kids “SAY IT IN FRENCH”
CIN EM A 16th & Delaware
‘EMERSON
ary Cooper erie eron “THE COWBOY AND THE LADY” “GIRLS ON PROBATION”
=* BULLETIN
NOT ONE PASSENGER FATALITY IN
12, YEARS
Sr ET RAILWAY (
£3955, 4 |
31% E. 10th RIVOLI Now v Turouen Se
Barons Power—Henry Kelly—Randol dibs Soot
«JESSE JAM at 6:20
Dorothy Lamour—Maxine Soll Lloyd Nolan—Matty Malneck’s Orch.
“ST. LOUIS BLUES?” at 8:25 4630 E. 10th 5:45 to 6. 15¢
1st J. i Hoover’s “PERSONS
Showing East” Iter Brennan—Merle a Gary Cooper “COWBOY AND THE LADY” 2442 E. Wash. Admission Dick, Powell—Anit EAGEEele 5507 E. Wash. St. IRVING 2% ‘and 260 Gary Cooper “COWB AND THE E LADY"
TACOMA Admission, ™ 2); “BLUEBEARD &§ EIGHTH WIFE” Preston Foster Por THE RIVER”
RIDE THE
TROLLEYS
SCHOLAR LIST
BERR