Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 February 1941 — Page 14

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PAGE 14

MOVIES

'Philadelphia Story' Expected to Make Quite a Flurry During Next Week

EVEN THOUGH “THE WIND” departed Loew's yetserday, the big blow bids fair to continue:at the Pennsylvania St. movie house. * For “The Philadelphia Story” moved in today. And if it fails to cause at least a flurry in the local entertainment field, it will be the first

place where it has missed.

“The Philadelphia Story” is quite a remarkable work on sev

eral points. To take them chronologically, it provided Katharine Hepburn with her first successful

. starring part on the stage, caus-

Sh»

. because

ing the Broadway critics to do an about face and accept her ungrudgingly, and giving her a full year in| New "York and a highly successful tour this season. : It marked Miss Hepburn’s return to Hollywood after a departure marked with bitter words, high dudgeon and an apparently complete finality on all sides. Since the star did her own dickering with the studio, it gave her a tidy sum. And the completed product| has added to that sum in early showings. ” ” ”

THE [PICTURE has just tied one record and broken several others ‘at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, a theater which has a way of forecasting a film's subsequent fortune with considerable accuracy. “The Philadelphia Story” played there for six weeks, tying the record set by “Rebecca.” And it probably would still be holding forth there except for some previous commitments which the theater could postpone no longer. One look at “The Philadelphia Story” and the much publicized rancor of Harry Brandt melted away. (Mr. Brandt is the president of] the Independent Theater Owners! Association, who issued that mous statement - about “box-office poison,” and put Miss Hepburn high up on the list. The picture also called forth a lengthy] statement from George Cukor, iwho directed the picture, and who, incidentally, was at the megaphone for “A Bill of Divorcement,” | which introduced Miss Niepbutn to movie audiences in 932.

® © @

IN THE COURSE of this statement, he recalls his first impression of the actress as follows: “I will never forget the day Miss Hepburn came into the studio to make a test for ‘A Bill of Divorcement.’ She impressed me with her freshness, spirit and also she was one of the odd-est-looking girls I had ever seen. “She had run a sliver into her eye, which was bloodshot. And she was wearing an arty, strange and eccentric dress by Elizabeth Hawes.| Afterwards she admitted that the dress was. supposed to make us all ‘take notice’ She ~possessed, a bit patroniz1 a little silly, giggling like a college girl one moment and superior the next.” . Cukor sums up his estimate ith what—in view of general syrupy | tone of “Hollywood publicity—is a rare and refreshing

~ bit of frankness:

can be difficult.

“I have mo pedestal for Miss Hepburn. She can be wrong. She We have had

First City Showing

The Nation’s Wo. 1 Western Star! (}

8 ° oy ) 3 JOE E. BROWN >: x.

- “Pluto’s Dream House”—Late News

~~ Raymond)

{Pluss Roaring Qui of the West Comes ‘as New rd-Hittin’, Two.Fisted Stralght-Shootin' Western Ace. «

‘Geo. Huston ‘12% ™oze

Added: “Mysterious Dr. Satan”

our arugments., But Miss Hepburn can most sincerely be judged by the almost tearful affection with which the crew regarded her at the completion of ‘The Phila=delphia Story.” " ” ”

MOVIE PUBLICITY STUNTS are somewhat like a bump on the shin—painful at the moment but soon forgotten. So it may be unfair to recpen an old wound and call attention to the presence of Elsie, the Glamour Cow, in the Circle’s current “Little Men.” Elsie is a stage name. She was born “You'll Do, Lobelia” eight years ago, the daughter of an aristocratic. family. Her beauty attracted the Borden people, who took her to the New York World's Fair and ensconced her in & fourposter canopied box stall. From that time on she has seldom been out.of the public eye. Here are some of her friumphant accomplishments: She has been guest at three publishers’ conventions at the Waldorf Astoria, and has visited some of Manhattan's flossiest night clubs. She was led in by a uniformed escort on the occasion of being “hostess” at the New York Seventh Regiment’s ball. She autographed photos of herself—with her nose—at a Finnish Relief bazaar and had her portrait painted by Hendrik Willem Van Looh. She has appeared as guest star on Dave Elman’s Hobby Lobby brqadcast. In August, 1939, she was formally wedded to a champion bull named Laird Della in the World's Fair's Court of Peace. Producers Gene Towne and Graham Baker hired her for “Little Men,” after a New York screen test in which she was made up. like any star. After insuring her for $25,000, Messrs. Towne and Baker transported her to Hollywood in a chartered car. On her arrival she was guest at a lawn

| party at the Ambassador Hotel,

and later was feted at Ciro’s. She was given a stork shower and time off from film work for the birth of a daughter, Beulah. Elsie is. now billed as the Oomph Girl of the Pasture, which

' definitely makes her a moo-vie

star. So far no one has chosen her as the ideal companion on a desert island. ” ” »

IF YOU'VE WONDERED what

. ever became of vaudeville, just

take a look at the cast and production staff of “So You Won't Talk,” the Joe Brown picture cur= rently at the Ambassador, First of all there’s the star him=self, who started out as a junior member of the Marvelous Ashtons, Bounding Trampoline Artists, and later was half of the acrobatic team of Provost and Brown. Director Edward Sedgwick was one of the Five Sedgwicks, billed as Comedy Sketch Artists. Abby Berlin, the assistant director, trouped the circuits with Brown and Berlin, comedians. The studio electrician, Eddie Bush, was one of “Those Komical Xlowns,” Bush and Bush. In the cast are Vivienne Osborne, who was Baby Vivienne on the two-a-day until adolescence caught up with her. Others are Jimmy Conlan (Conlan and Glass), Tom Dugan (Dugan and and George McKay (McKay and Ardine). Even the film's author was a vaudevillian. He is Richard Fluornoy who, as Dick Noye, did a turn billed as Benway and Noye,

"the Two Black Sheep. " » u

MILESTONES in our cultural history: “The Tailwaggers Foundation will present three awards to the best canine actors of 1940. They will be known as “Boscars,” and are brass miniatures of fire plugs. ” ” ” FAVORITE FILM NAME of the week: Scarlett Knight, RKO newcomer.—J., T.

Be Careful, Sheriff

iit

current “Ridin’ on a Rainbow.”

Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette (center) apparently resent the sheriff’s third-degree tactics with Little Nell in the Ambassador's

_ THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

HOLLYWOOD

Orson Welles Doesn't Rate One Bit As 'Typical Hollywoodsman'

+++ heroically brought to the

} screen from the pages of the ! greatest story by the West's great story-teller!

in TECHNICOLO

« B with

ROBERT YOUNG «RANDOLPH SCOTT DEAN JAGGER « VIRGINIA GILMORE Jolin Carradine * Slim Summerville Chill Wills « Barton MacLane

JANE WITHERS ..

"GOLDEN HOOFS ~

i CHARLES (8uday) ROGERS

INDIA

hh he L,Y

rate at all.

doomed to remain an alien in Never-Never Land. He just doesn’t do the things or 'encounter the experiences always being attributed to Movietown celebrities. . . For example, no claim ever has been made that a studio gateman has failed [0 recognize Mr. Welles in makeup. barring him from the lot. Nor has any story been written about how, while on location, Mr. Welles was bitten, or at least threatened, by a Black Widow spider. Apparently, too, he never has risked his life to save any member of his company from a rattlesnake,

tJ 2 #

DURING: A year and a half in Hollywood, the writer-director-actor-prociucer ‘has not - insured himself against falling in love; nor has he taken out policies on his eyebrows, larynx or whatever. The Schizo-phrenicIndians haven’ made him an honorary chief. | He has not been named mayor of some California ghost tow, nor has the Merchant Tailors\ Guild of Cracked Elbow, Ia., ever selected him as Hollywood's best-dressed man. Neither has the sophomor:: class of Miss Flintpuss’ School for Young Ladies named Mr. Welles as The Man With Whom I ‘Would Like to Be Cast Away on z Desert Island. Any follower of press-agent yarns will agree these few circumstances make the young man unique, But the list ¢Z nonconformities goes on and on: No'youriz female admirers ever have beer: planted as stowaways in Mr. Welles’ staterooms on trains: or ships. He never has been lost” in Mexico, nor on a disabled yacht. He doesn’t even

: | 13 i |

Bi ®

ZRANT ©

“BOOM TOWN" was the sensation of 1940! “THE PHILADELPHIA STORY" is the sensation of 1941!

Whatever the fate of his forthcoming however bright his cinematic future after that, Mr. Welles seems

By PAUL HARRISON Times Special Writer HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 14—THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS of estimates of the genius and odd character of Orson Welles, but there is no doubt regarding his standing as a typical Hollywoodsman. He doesn’t

“Citizen Kane,” and

own a yacht. He encounters no thrilling adventures while piloting his own plane. He doesn’t own a plane. He doesn’t want to own a plane. He is not buying an island where he can get away from it all, nor does he own a San Fernando valley ranch which

s will provide security in his old

age. 4 o EJ PUBLICISTS have not tried

to say Orson Welles collects snuff:

boxes, jade dragons or chamepagne corks. Neither have they arranged for a pretty admirer to

handcuff herself to,him at a premiere. He never has been photographed with a Great Dane, astride a skyrocket, or whipping up some crepe suzettes. Only once did it appear that Mr. Welles might adapt himself to Movietown. That was when it was reported he had developed an amazing allergy. After eight months here without his beginning a picture, it was explained that the emulsion on movie film made "him violently ill.

JACKIE COOPER BONITA : GRANVILLE

=LAST 2 DAYS

“STUPENDOUS” “MIRACULOUS”

“AMAZING” —N. Y. Times, Sept. 13, 1940

DANTE

(77/2974) (EVRY Ye Lr ry Lg LZ 2%

Hurry for Seats sac ‘miac sae $1510

| ENGLISH THEATER

« o « he’s a smoothie! When she got divorced, he thought she was a beauty—hut snooty! When she turned out to be a wild red-head; he began to get interested again!

Music Group

First. General Meeting Is “Planned for Feb. 23

The first general meeting of a new civic group to be called the Music Appreciation League has been announced for Sunday afternoon, Feb. 23, at the World War Memorial. The meeting will be open to-all those interested in becoming active members. The membership committee is composed of Ernst Heberlein, chairman; Elmer A. Steffen, Clarence Elbert, Bomar Cramer, Albert O. DeLuse, Sherwood Blue and Mrs. Blanche Mitchell. The group’s announced purpose is

other music organization, and to give its support to any worthwhile musical effort in Indianapolis. Immediate activities are to consist of monthly meetings at which music appreciation talks will be given and current recordings of serious music reviewed. Later the organization hopes to bring well known artists to the city and to Spenser local musical activities &s well. .

Studio Head Wins In Contract Suit

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 14 (U. P).— George Schaefer, president of RKORadio Pictures, has been exonerated

'in a $1,049,000 breach of contrgct

personal liability suit brought by a Russlan film producer. The producer, Joseph Ermolieff, accused Mr. Schaefer and the studio of violating a contract which they had made for production of his play, “I Solemnly Swear.” Mr. Ermolieff said he had been signed to produce

To Be Set Up

to function independenily of any |:

Coast Actress

Jayne Sumner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. F, Sumner, 2331 N. Meridian St., is active in stage and radio work in California. She has appeared recently in productions of the Pasadena and Altadena Playhouses. Miss Sumner appeared in several Civic Theater plays here and spent two summers with the Theater of the Dunes, Beverley Shores, Ind.

WHEN DOES IT START?

CIRCLE “You're the One,”’ with Bonnie Baker, Orrin Tucker, Jerry Colonna, at 12:45, 3:55, 7:05 and 10:15. “Little Men,” with Kay Francis Jack Oakie, at 11:20, 2:30, 5:40 and

ENGLISH'S “Sim-Sala-Bim,” an evening of magig presented by Dante. Engagement through Saturday; curtain at 8:30. Matinee Saturday, 2:30.

INDIANA “Western Union,” with Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger, at 12:40, 3:55. 7 and 10:05. “Golden Hoofs,”” with Jane Withers, Buddy SOBs: at 11:33, 2:48, 5:53

and LOEW'S “The Philadelphia Story.” with Katharine Hepburn, Caty Grant, James Stewart, at 11:10, 2:40, 6:10

nd 9:45. 3 “Gallant Sons,” with Jackie Coop- : 3 Bonita Granville, at 1:15, 4:45 and

LYRIC Vaudeville—With Will Rock, Sid Tenack and Reis Bros., Charlie Althoff, on stage at 1:06, 3:56, 6:46 and

““Tall, Dark and Handsome,” with Cesar Romero, Virginia Gilmore, at 11:25, 2:15, 5:05, 7:55.and 10:35.

LILY PONS

Says of the Baldwin: “It is a great pleasure to sing with this noble instrument.”

BALDWIN guristoom

44 8S. Penn. St. Open Eves. MA-1431.

Edmund Lowe, film actor, was divorced yesterday by Mrs. Rita Lowe,

that he was a “nagging” and “loveless” husband.

ACTOR LOWE DIVORCED HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 14 (U. P.)—

costume designer, on her complaint

TUES.-FR1 DANCE SAT SUN" Admission, 20¢

HAL BAILEY’S BAND

CRYSTAL!

720 NORTH ILLINOIS ST.

the story in French and English.

ALWAYS A GOOD SHOW

FQ AIAG.

HOME OWNED - HOME OPERATED

CALE IRIE

See—THE "MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY 16--Hindu Fakirs-- 16 & Many Other Mysteries 2%

SID TOMACK and REIS BROTHERS CHARLIE ALTHOFF GAUTIER’'S STEEPLECHASE AUDHRIE WRIGHT WFBM Hoosier Talent Winner

{| ToPPING THE SEASON FOR UNUSUAL ENTEREI TAINMENT!- Mystifying! Thrilling! Spellbinding!

THE MODERN MONARCH OF MAGIC

WILL ROCK

And HIS WORLD FAMOUS

“MIRACLES OF -MAGIC”’

Presenting THE GREAT

THURSTON 540 |

MEIER SNE

Gay, Fast, Tuneful! Exciting, Too!

CESAR ROMERO

VIRGINIA GILMORE

MILTON BERLE

Se esviliawid

- Her blue blood became red blood when she learned about fun on a champagne-

swimming-pool party at dawning,

HEPBURN

STARTING

COR LITT

1) Stardom on a song!

. F «++ he’s a devil

AKER

REALTOR gal who ILA

TODAY

GLORIOUS STARS OF RADIO and STAGE No ON THE | SCREEN!

RIN TUC

SOW TENT

That romantic WT TTN LY] ha] JC Ww

eg / ” S a 3 g »

d | EAL . TEDDY HART

5 ACK OAKIE GEORGE BANCROFT KAY FRANCIS

LMA RENN RRs

in the moonlight!

He discovered that a red-headed beauty wasn't red-headed for nothing: That swimming pool escapade sent his lovepressure sky-high!

Screen Play by Donald Odgen Stewart « Directed by GEORGE CUKOR + Produced by JOSEPH L. MANKIEWICZ + A Meétro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture

STARTS TODAY!!

OLEW

ZSTEWART