Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 March 1941 — Page 10

PAGE 10

MOVIES

Here Is One Actor Who Got No Oscar

By JAMES THRASHER

MAYBE this is the proper time to write a few words about James Stephenson, the man who didn’t win the Academy Award for the best supporting performance in 1940. It may have surprised some of the customers who admired his work as the attorney in “The Letter” that Mr. Stephenson missed out on the Oscar. But it's very likely that Mr. Stephenson was not in the least surprised. He's used to missing out on things. In fact, he’s a sort of a male -counterpart of the girl in the ads of a few years ago who was “often a bridesmaid but never a bride.” Here, briefly, is what has happened to this 41-year-old English actor since he came to Hollywood. His first part was in “White Banners”’—a part so small that even he seems to have forgotten what it was. After this came a series of other roles, each a little more prominent, until he was mentioned for the part of the major in “Dawn Patrol,” with - Errol Flynn. . In fact, he was more than mentioned. He was tested. And unofficial informants assured him that the tests were good and he probably would get the assign‘ment the next morning. The next morning the part was given to Basil Rathbone.

2 ® 2

A MALE LEAD was needed for “The Old Maid,” opposite Bette Davis’ and Miriam Hopkins. Everyone seemed to agree that James Stephenson was .the man for the job. Tests were good and everything was set when—bingo— one of the minds beneath a brass hat was changed, and George ‘Brent was sent in to do the part. “We need a box-office name,” was the official explanation. Then Warner Bros, Mr, Stephenson’s employers, began casting “The Sea Hawk,” also with Mr. Flynn starred. Mr. Stephenson was in line for the fourth lead, Sir John Burleson. He also was tested for this, in doublet, ruffles and a fancy hat, and was assured that the part was his. Donald Crisp got that one. Mr. Stephenson was given a smaller assighment which the public has doubtless forgotten by now. The news that he was to be Joyce, the family friend and defense attorney in “The Letter,” found the patient Mr. Stephenson in a dubious frame of mind. He digested the announcement with a double order of salt and retired to a neutral corner with his mental reservations. This time, you'll recall, nothing happened at the last minute. He played the part and made a hit. Then he went to work in “South of Suez” and “Flight From Destiny.” The latter opens at the Lyric tomorrow with Mr. Stephenson running fourth in the official billing. But maybe you'd better go and have a look at him. For, it may be the last time you'll see his name that far down the line. In “Shining Victory,” his latest screen effort, he is co-featured

HURRY! FINAL DAY!

TRE VY _ Brenda Marshall RALPH BELLAMY ALAN HALE

New MARCH OF TIME!

tomorrow.

Just like his father before him,

‘The Son of Monte Cristo,” as played by Louis Hayward, is handy with the sword. Here he deftly stands off a brace of villains before an admiring, though somewhat terrified, audience consisting of Joan Bennett and Florence Bates. They nay be seen at Loew's, beginning

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Just a Sword Chip Off the Old. Block

with Geraldine Fitzgerald. Cin-

| ema life and love begin at 40!

4 » ” TOO LATE for the Academy Awards, but a logical candidate for a special 1941 Oscar, is Priscilla Lane’s recent contribution to our cultural progress. . It seems that there is a T-year= old in Baltimore named Robert Girard who has been studying the violin under protest. The only good day’s practice he ever put in was the result of his seeing a

chin.

also of Baltimore (perhaps Mas= ter Girard’s teacher) wrote to Miss Lane about the incident.

ter of “Four Daughters—Wives— Mothers” (who can't really play a note) dispatched an autographed picture, complete with violin, to the reluctant prodigy. At last reports Robert was at least playing better ian; his inspiration. ’ ” nn: IT'S COMFORTING to know that the Ohio Board of Movie Censorship, ever solicitous of the public welfare, is still banning “The Birth of a Nation.” They fear it will cause racial reaction.

The lid has been on ever since the epic (usually regarded as more immortal than insidious) was first released in 1915. Only twice has the ‘Ohio Board's firm moral fiber weakened. The first time was in 1920, when, for a few days, the inflammatory flicker was shown. But the censors saw the error of their ways, and the ban was clamped down tighter than ever. The second time was just the other day. The present Censor Board reviewed it again and, according to the United Press, the members’ first reaction was to release the film. But the old Buckeye prudence won out again. Said E. N. Dietrich, State Education Director and chairman of the: Censor Board: “After thinking it over a while and talking to Governor Bricker, we decided to hold it up.” Nice going, boys—don’'t let ’em rush you into anything.

FILM STARS IN HIT PLAY

“Separate Rooms,” a comedy which, like

blasted by the critics, has passed

| its 400th performance at the Ply-

mouth Theater in New York. Alan Dinehart, Glenda Farrell and Lyla Talbot, all movie veterans, are fea-

tured in this stage comedy.

Whereupon the fiddle-playing sis=_

newspaper picture of Miss Lane | with a fiddle tucked under her |

A man named Robert Vining, |

Lesters’ Favorite Pose

Mr. and Mrs. Jeeter Lester (Charley Grapewin and Elizabeth Patterson) resting—as is their custom—on the porch of their Georgia home in “Tobacco Road,” the Indiana’s attraction tomorrow,

“Tobacco Road,” was|

® LAST DAY—THE ANDREWS SISTERS iN PERSON ®

TOMORROW]

i bl Be |

i Al doin | L a

Schenck Tax Cut By $53 Mattress

NEW YORK, March 6 (U. P.).— I/nited States Attorney Mathias Correa. charged in Federal Court that Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board of 20th Century-Fox Pilm Corp., sought to make a $53 rnattress for his sister-in-law a legitimate deduction “for necessary Husiness expenses” from his 1937 in-

come tax return.

Trial of Mr. Schenck on a fourcount indictment charging conspiracy to evade payment of $400,470.91 in Federal income taxes for

11935, 1936 and 1937 started yester-

cay. Mr. Correa charged that the film

company head listed “100 per cent business expenses” in his 1937 return, . Among these expenses, he]. said, were amounts of $2,092 to take two women not connected with his

company to a week-end resort, $550 for a personal barber, the $563 mattress, a $63 cupboard, $209 in automobile insurance for a woman friend, and $136 transportation expense for a masseuse.

charged that while Mr. Schenck

listed half the cost of the upkeep

of his yacht as legitimate business

llexpense ‘he received rental money

‘from his company while using the

beat for business purposes. Mr. Correa also said that Mr. i Schenck claimed to have lost $275,{000 from the sale of his stock th ‘hotel and jockey club establish-

{ments at the Agua Caliente racing

| plant. However, he contended, Mr. | Schenck actually turned the stock

over. to Rowland West, an acto:

and! Mr. Schenck's protege, and William Goetz, son-in-law of Louis

"|B. Mayer and a vice-president of

OZONIZED

20th Century-Fox. The Government charged that in the three years involved Mr.

| Schenck’s income totaled $2,015,-

591.50, but Mr. Schenck claimed it ‘was $1,601,832.46. Indicted with Mr. Schenck was Joseph: H. Moskowitz, his $35,000-a-year secretary.

'GREAT DICTATOR’ WILL RETURN SOON

Charlie Chaplin’s production, “The Great Dictator,” will be released nationally at popular prices tomorrow. : In making this announcement, Ed J. Fisher, United Artists representative in Cleveland, said that “Indian-

| |apolis movie-goers undoubtedly will

. |see ‘The Great Dictator’ within the

next month.”

weeks at road-show prices last No-

" [veraber.

JOEBESSER& C0. © VALSETZ DON and BETTY LYNN

HELEN KENDALL

aa HOOSIER TALENT PARADE WINNER TERE

FR CCC

oi PIBYURE 25 imporians on dts Tivie ms = Ru Ac); up es DESTIN ia i

GERALDINE

. FITZGERALD -

IK i SR

US THOMAS

Si or

—

APPEAR AT CHURCH

The Crispus Attucks High School give a program at the Central Ave-

7:15 o’clock.

WHEN DOES IT START?

CIRCLE “The Mad Doctor,” with Basil Rathbone, Ellen Drew, Jon Howard, at 11, 1:45, 4:35, 7:25 and 1 “The Monster and the Gin yith Ellen Drew, paul Lukas, at 12:40, 3430, 6:20 and 9

aA “Footsteps in the Dark,” with Errol Fiynl Brehas Marshall, Ralph Bellamy, at 12:33, 3:42 e:oL and 10. “Rid Kelly, Rite ith Eugene. pallette. at 10 34, 2:45, 5: 52 and 9:01.

LOEW'S “This Thing Called Love,” with Rosalind SwussSll. Meivyn Douglas, at 0, 6:50 and 9:55. to Glory,” with Pat ‘Brien, Constanc2 ene, at 11: 10, 2:15, 5:20 and 8

LYRIC

Andrews Sisters, Joe Venuti and orchestra, on stage at 1:04, 3:54, 6:45 and 9:36. “Father's Son,” with John Lael. Frieda Inescourt, at 11:34, 2:25, 5:15, :06 and 10:38.

Lyric to Make ‘Test Preview’

Quiz shows being one of radio’s most saleable commodities, and laughter being a stock in trade of the Lyric, the local vaudeville theater will attempt a combination of the two in a “test ridio preview” at 9 o'clock tonight. The program will be called “Laugh Quiz,” and it will be tried out on tonight’s Lyric audience by John L. Sullivan, master of ceremonies, and members of the WFBM staff. The “preview” show will not be broadcast, but will be transcribed for

ate.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1041

benefit of the show's prospective " » t g gn >" Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

It is understood that a combination of straight and “gag” questions will form the show’s basis.

FABIEN SEVITZKY, Conductor

2 mens “ihe audience rvesent ot nal All Tschatkowsky—Tomorrow, 8:30 P. M.

test preview will be given an opportunity to see how a big broadcast is built and how producers search for what they call ‘bugs’ in the show.”

VOGUE BILL HELD OVER

The Vogue Theater's current

double bill of “Four Mothers” and “Arfzona” will be held over for the

rgnainder of the week, Manager, Carl Niesse said today. TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES.

More Thrilling

MURAT THEATER—RILEY 9596

Soloist ARTUR RUBINSTEIN Pianist

Symphony No. 5; Piano Concerto; 1812 Overture Good Seats at $1.00—Others $1.50, $2, $2.50, $3—No Tax MURAT BOX OFFICE—RILEY 9596

THEY WILL BRING RESULTS.

‘More Romantic

than

“The Count of Monte Cristo Oy

25¢

TILL 6 ®

30c-40c EVES.

EDWARD . SMALL (Plus Tax)

‘who “produced the glorious romance of “the dashing “Count of Monte Cristo”, now brings an even grander adventure to the screen, the story of the daring son of a gallant father who risks a fortune, who risks life itself, to save the beautiful woman he

loves from the man she hates.

THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO

la iIY

LOUIS

JOAN

HAYWARD - BENNETT

GEORGE SANDERS - FLORENCE BATES - MONTAGU LOVE -

Screenplay by George Bruce ° A Rowland V. Lee Production = Released thru United Artists

NX —

Directed by Rowland V. Lee

The Government attorney also |

The film played Loew's for two

A Cappella choir and quartet will nue Methodist Church tonight at

Lux Laundry

for Better Service

Phone BR-53461

ARINCANA" and RENEE

New Traveling

URLESK

CONTINUOUS

ADVANCE

IN PRICES!

dhe os ii

rR gs » i Ree