Evening Star Newspaper, May 11, 1940, Page 36

AM USEMENTS. ‘My Son, My Son’ Becomes Grade-A Screen Fare Talented Cast Translates Spring’s Tragic Tale of a Father’s Love With High Fidelity to Novel By JAY CARMODY. That “A” grade which the cinema has been earning recently for the translation of popular fiction into celluloid goes also for “My Son, Bon,” which came yesterday to the Palace. Howard Spring'’s somber :‘n‘: deeply moving account of what can happen to a doting father and the son upon whom he lavishes too much love is & highly creditable accom- plishment which reflects honor upon every one connected with it. Like the book, the picture broods darkly< - upon the tragedy of the Essexes, pere et fils, save that in the end the tale is softened. ' In view of what is happening on page one, it hardly seems time, however, to upbraid Hollywood for trying to save our illusions. Another time, perhaps. The screen adaptation of “My Son, My Son,” which Lenore Coffee laid down for Producer Edward Small’s approval and his check, is an excellent realization of the rich dramatic values in Spring’s novel. Moreover, Director Charles Vidor and his cast have ‘interpreted it with a quiet naturalness that keeps the story arresting and convincing throughout its very considerable length. Among the cast of “My Son, My — Choose from an un- limited stock of sizes and styles. Phone NA. 2945 for FREE DELIVERY! 1009 PA. AVE. NW THEATER PARKING CAPITAL GARAGE 1320 N. Y. Ave,, Bet. 13th & 14th_ MONTMARTRE' NOCTAMBULE Open only a few more Saturdays. Prench atmosphere. unusual_enter- tainment. Pelian Garzia, Concert Pianist 1108 ve. S.W. (The Evergreen) 10-12. ME.5803-7834 SAT. $2 AM, n DINNER S'l 50 er SUPPER 1011 Connecticut Ave. Res. Phone NAt. 4141 AIR-CONDITIONED Continental Revues Twice Nightly—Inel. Bun NO COVER Dancing to o 18 e\ osto® 1ot ‘,.?m\ & 1 washink A Mine > One of the World's Most Beautiful Rooms Dance in the Fiests Room from 9 P. to 2 A M. potent potion. @ Never a cover charz Son” are any number of players who acquit themselves with sufi- clent distinction to disprove the charge there is no acting in the movies. Handsomely filling the out- lines of Spring’s engaging, and otherwise, creatures are Brian Ahearne, Madeleine Carroll, Léuis Hayward, Henry Hull, Laraine Day, Josephine Hutchison and others. Each of them was given something to work with by Spring and he will have no occasion to feel their skill inadequate to his recognizably hu- . man characters. * kX % “My Son, My Son,” for those whose knowledge of it may be fuzzy count of a noble father who begot a swinish son. Evidence of the child’s predisposition toward lying, cheating, in fact the whole gamut of contemptible qualities, mani- fests itself early. But Novelist Wil- liam Essex, who climbed from squalor to success on the inspira- tion to give his son all the things he himself had missed, is blinded to the boy’s shortcomings: by a pa- ternal love unparalleled since the Old Testament. ‘The movement of “My Son, My Son” encompasses all categories of love while focusing upon that of the father for the son. - Running concurrently with the major theme is the deep affection of the grad- ually disillusioned father for stormy, lovable Dermott O'Riordan, his boy- hood friend; the wifely love of Sheilah O'Riordan for her husband and his return of her feeling; the deep, frustrated mutual love of the novelist and the enchanting young artist, Livia Vaynol, and the illicit attachment for the caddish Oliver which young Maeve O'Riordan de- velops in her desperate disappoint- ment that the elder Essex sees her only as the once little girl whom he dandled on his knee. Never once does this complicated aggregation of attachments become befogged in the direction or the playing of the picture. They all seem highly plausible, with the possible ex- ception of that first-sight affair which wrecks the lives of the novel- ist and the pretty young artist. That one develops with rather startling speed, even in this age of motorcars, airplanes, wirephotos and the radio. * X K % For his villainous portrait of the ruthless Oliver, Hayward deserves first prize among the cast; a sort of best dog in the show, if we know what we mean. Man and boy, he proves himself to be a thing human- ly shaped who is not above any depravity; the next to final one being a shrug for the beautiful, talented girl who committed suicide because of the shame he brought her. He has achieved the most admirably hateable character of the seasor. Most surprising impersonation is that of Miss Day as the lovely Maeve who makes her love for the novelist plain to every one except himself, as clever a bit of acting as any screen youngster has per- petrated in a long time. Deeply appealing are the performances of Ahearne as the noble, disappointed father; Miss Carroll as the beau- tiful artist whose love for the elder Essex is fouled by the machinations of the son; Hull as the elder O'Riordan, and Josephine Hutchi- 4| son as the austere wife who dies A R reat for Mother 5 Courses—55¢ Your Choice of ROAST PRIME RIBS OF BEEF BREADED VEAL CUTLET MINCED CHIOKEN with } ‘Mushrooms BAKED VIRGINIA HAI FRESH GARDEN VEGETABLES CRISP SALADS FRESH STRAWBERRY \ CHIFFON PIE RESS CRAFETERIA NAT’L PRESS BLDG. 14TH AND F N.W. HAM BLUE EQOM, Co e aad danging. . Two shows n 11:30. Dinner Saturdays, $2 ing cover. Super cover, $1, plus U X o(: 10G_TAVERN, Richmond Hewy.. . b T R Rty o A0 filea chicken: - Alex. wn-;v‘-t TRO; ROOM, Wardman Par O O Bestor s Oichestra: Min. Mon. thru ‘Thurs., $1.00:_ Fri. $1.50; Sat. Dancing. 6:20_io_$1:36.__C0. 2000, ' RIVIERA. - Hotel 2400 1 WUNGI‘“nS‘ g to Pete Macias' Orchestra. DRl ng RSEIs Von, " 10 "I 3. No min. oF cover except Sat. eve.. $1.50 mjp. CO. 7200. N ;Q%A?-"m‘m.' fc‘_unnc';. o TRE FLAG » s T DA, tafieous enterta. hent. Resv. 0 RAINBOW ROOM, Hamliton K. Cocktail f‘nd dinner dancing. 5-9: supper dancing to Milt Dayiy. Orchestra. 10-1.Min. Saturday only §y, DL 2580. THE NIGHTINGALE, Richmu.d Hewy., 31 mi, sout Al 9:30 to 1 nightly, by BI rt 30 and . includi; AD. 07 ihlidine Bun. Bacet swin ng N Downer's Orchesira. . Temple. 4640, THE FAT BOY—New York Ave, at Bafti- vard. Dine. dance, drink. 7- t S Bernie Car- ‘Maribere in sn. usic mightly tflnfl'fivw ¢ 2 ine. . (b m‘hm nl:‘: by out of Essex’s life before she makes it an alternate horror to that cre- ated by his son. The others all more than earned their pay, whatever it may have been. Howard Stradling, at least that’s what our.cast sheet says, is re- sponsible for the atmospheric and photographic soundness which make “My Son, My Son” the further attractive. . Another for Brent “Broadway Lawyer” has been scheduled by Warner Bros. as a solo starring vehicle for George Brent as a result of his co-starring role opposite Merle Oberon in “‘Til We Meet Again.” “Broadway Law- yer” will be directed by Vincent Sherman, whose most recent assign- ment was “Saturday’s Children.” Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Shqwin‘ National—“Louisiana Purchase,” new musical with Zorina, Victor Moore and others: 2:30 and 8:30 p.m. ‘Palace—“My Son, My Son,” film version of the Howard Spring novel: 11:35 am,, 2:05, 4:35, 7:05 and 9:35 pm. ] Earle — “Saturday’s Children,” John Garfield in the film adaptation of the Maxwell Anderson play: 11 am., 1:40, 4:25, 7:10 and 9:55 pm. Stage shows: 12:45, 3:30, 6:15 and 9 pm. Capitol—“40 Little Mothers,” an orphan baby in a girls’ school: 11 am. 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 and 9:556 p.m, Stage shows: 12:50, 3:35, 6:20 and 9:05 pm. Columbia—“Rebecca,” the Hitch= cock-directed fllm version of the $2. | novel: 11435 am. 2:05, 4:35, 7:08 and 9:3) pn; Metrypoiail-+0py, Million B. c.” x',,::.,.;o ip e -deys of old, vgg oud. 11:35 axh, 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 19 ana bRy KeMi's—ENmrose AR, wis" 0, st and narrely < with aeers: 31:18 -k i, 1:20, 3:25, 5:30, 7:35 lnde.'fi Pm. Little — “Harvest » the leading {¥rench flim of 1939: 11:10 am, 1, 2:45, 4:25. @10, 7:55 and 9:40 pm. Belasco—“Lights Out in Europe,” the darkness before the doom: 4, 5:30 and 8:15. “Hell's Angels,” re- vival of that war epic: 6:40 and 9:20 pm. An'ubis x‘;gn i g, Open-Air—“Lady for & Day,” with in spite of its popularity, is the ac-" EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1040, |Prize Play a-Prize Film On Screen at Earle “Saturday’s Children’ a Lovable Lot And Their Story Is Narrated With Loving Solicitude s A FULL-FLEDGED. STAR NOW—In her forthcoming fourth motion picture Sandra Lee Henville, known more familiarly per- haps as Baby Sandy, achieves stardom, just a year after her first screen appearance in “East Side of Heaven” with Bing Crosby. The new film is titled “Sandy Is a Lady.” There was a time when Maxwell TITRE i ing, but that does not keep “Satur- 's Children” from being a fine soundproof shelter against the splintering noise of the real world. In addition to the inherent pleasantness of so simple a drama- tization of so universal a theme, the startling | 8o does clerk, who things that won't work; a bewild- ered stumblebum whose decency from becoming Things Were |‘Forty Little Mothers’ Gives Differentin |Cantor a Different Role And a Baby Quintanilla Steals His New Picture at Loew’s Capitol; Blue Barron on Stage By HARRY MacARTHUR. As a study in the unprincipled demeanor which would be main- tained by young girls in boarding school if young girls were thought up by scenario writers instead of being made of sugar and spice and every- thing nice, “Forty Little Mothers” fills the bill to perfection. As a motion picture entertainment the new Eddie Cantor film, now at Loew’s Capitol, is a combination of over-sentimental balderdash and some Those Days ‘One Million B. C. Dreams of Past At the Met . Things were different 1,001,940 years ago. They used clubs then, and the lad who could clonk his fellows hardest with his club was the boss. This is part of the lesson of Hal Roach’s “One Million B.C.” the cheerful fantasy at the Metro- politan, which gayly disregards sci- entific evidence to people the age of the dinosaurs with a race of man- kind of rather modern physique. One of the physiques belongs to a young lady named’ Carole Landis and is very modern in fact. Another lesson of Mr. Roach’s fairy tale is that woman was ever thus. There is this boorish boy from the Rock People who meets a lovely lass from the Shell People and is reformed for his pains. With no more ammunition than her feminine wiles (what more do you want?—Ed.) she teaches him that the co-operative ways of the Shell People are better than brawling over the choicest hunk of baked bront--aurus, that politeness to one’s elders is a quality to be de- sired, that the smile is mightier than the club. In the end the two tribes are united by the love of these two in a bond of friendship which no doubt would have spread & pink glow over the landscape had technicolor been known 1,001.940 years ago. You will not believe a word of “One Million B.C.” or rather you will not believe a scene of it, the people of this prehistoric day not ‘having any appreciable number of words for you to believe or dis- believe. But you do not have to take it seriously to enjoy it. Mr. Roach’s paleontological and an- thropological (don’t ask us how those words got in here) fantasy has been a field day for the boys in his technical department. They have achieved some very fine mon- sters of the dinosaur family and their cousins, even staged a battle to the death between two of them, and have brought off a volcanic eruption and earthquake that will make you think the world really is shaking under your feet. Or was it yesterday afternoon? In addition to Miss Landis the forthright people of “One Million B.C.” are played as sympathetically 8s possible by Victor Mature (an immature Raymond Massey in ap- pearance); Lon Chaney, jr., and some other people. It is only to be hoped that the Hal Roach of 1,003,880 AD. shows as much kind regard if he ever makes a film called “1940 AD.” H.M Trans-Lux Feature Is Narvik Battle Just one blitzkreig behind Adolf Hitler, the Trans-Lux now has in the headline spot in its new news review pictures of the invasion of Norway, French troops departing and the battles at Narvik. And on the ‘domestic scene, reass somehow today, is Paramount’s in- spection of our Navy girding its loins, getting more ships, more guns, more pilots for new planes. For comedy relief there’s a very fine wrestling bout between a couple of gents known as the Irish Angel and Dropkick Murphy. Feature of the short subject por- tion: of the Trans-Lux program js March of Time's inspection of “America’s Youth—1940,” the story of the problem faced by 21,000,000 young men and women now facing the world. = Also to be seen are Walt Disney’s “The Riveter,” For Davis, Boyer New Story Soughu of the first rough cut Screening ) | of “All 'This, and Heaven, Too” le&;nmr Br: to :;rch for of vehicle iy wh| “ogestar Bette Davig ana Charles'Boyer s principals. ‘aurme .!,5'5- Warren William: 7:50 and 10:35 p.m. | Bescher and an-{in Keith’s Keeps That Strange. Family ‘Primrose Path’ Engrossing and’ Dramatic Tale In the brave, new world which they have carved for themselves through their increasing cleverness and good taste the movies are al- lowed to treat of such lusty themes as that which Victoria Lincoln handled in her novel, “February Hill” With Ginger Rogers in the role of Ellie May, the story is gracing the screen of Keith's for a second week under the title “The Primrose Path.” It is something to be seen tif only to celebrate the liberation of the camera from'the human twaddle hich once was the limit of its domain. Gregory La Cava, who can work miracles of revelation out of the private lives of something less than the so-called best people, has do- nated his best offices to this story of a girl struggling against an un- savory environment. Other inhab- itants of the environment, to show you what she is up against, include grandmother, whose favorite sport is recalling her lurid past; mother, who is trying to conceal her rather loose present, and father, whose degree from Harvard has made him one of the most successful alco- holics of his generation. Unnice people, but they have a strange fascination as a framework for Miss Rogers and boy friend, Joel McCrea. There is some notable playing in subordinate roles in bawdy humor that makes you hope the Hays office had a nice time on its vacation. Mr. Cantor being a wholesome family man it is rather surprising to find these several single entendre gags exploding at intervals through- out his film. As a matter of fact, 1t is surprising to find him in this role he plays, for he does not seem com- pletely at home inpersonating a girls’ school professor concealing a baby on the premises. It may be a disappointment to some of his clientele that Mr. Cantor never be- comes the old song-and-dance man, for his presence, along with that of a slew of shapely students and the listing of Busby Berkeley as the director, threatens ever the big pro- duction number. Being thus deprived of an oppor- tunity to go into his dance, Mr. Cantor is wide open for theft' and the tot adopted by “Forty Little Mothers,” Baby Quintanilla by name, is just the guy that can do it. Baby Quintanilla is probably the second cutest baby in the world, your own, of course, being the cutest. In the process of stealing this picture from under the noses of not only Mr. Cantor, but Judith Anderson, Bo- nita Granville and Nydia West- man, too, he is sure to win every heart in the audience, even those old hearts composed entirely of scar-tissue. It really is rather a shame that M-G-M did not turn this into an out-and-out musical jamboree when adapting it from the French farce, for it might have been just the en- tertainment to soothe the tired businessman. It has the right sort of humor and plot, this turning upon the headmistress’ suspicion first of the emotions aroused in her girls’ hearts by her new pro- fessor and then of even worse when all the lassies are found knitting tiny garments. And these lassies are many, pretty, not above dis- playing a well-turned ankle and never are concealed in Mother Hub- Path,” most conspicuous part of it | bards. that of Queenie Vassar as the mor- ally imperfect grandmother. 5 J.C. Edward G. Robinson Considers Zinnias Worse Than Death By the Associated Press. HOLLYWOOD. “This ‘fate worse than death’ stuff,” growls Tough Guy Edward G. Robinson. “I'm suspecting that’s me.” Robinson, in a cinematic way of speaking, knows what death is: He's expired in picture efter picture, from “Little Caesar” to “Dr. Ehr- lich.” Because he’s an_excellent actor they resurrect him®from his celluloid grave and get him ready for another mythical ride down the river Styx. But now he doesn’t die. In “Brother Orchid” he ends a check- ‘ered career chopping at zinnias in & monastery garden. + “Yuh can't tel how my public’s gonna like it,” he snaps from be- hind the inevitable cigar. “After all it’s not a very tough end for a guy who'’s been dying with his boots on as long as I have. Why people even come to my pictures to see me die. No foolin’, I dunno. It’s Mable to hurt my reputation.” Carole Landis Cast 1In Timely Picture Carok * Landis, scrgpn newcomer by Parezpoynt (ot H0 fer Gdhp by aupgonted raider, Graf 8pees 80 the Pty o SUVELI0L <5 of e Crenmen But then, no T. B. M. would have the strength to take the treacle of it all without a beer handy for crying into. * % x % Admirers of Blue Barron’s musi- cal style (as well as Kay Kyser’s and Sammy Kaye’s musical style) will be happy this week with the Capitol stage show, this being a period given over almost entirely to the antics, tuneful and comic, of Blue Barron's orchestra. Music styied the Blue Barron way fea- tures song by Russ Carlisle and the Three Notes, some comedy song and dance by Tiny Wolfe and some straight instrumental numbers in rhythmic manner. Non-musical novelty dances and- of Johnny Woods, an impersonator who apes several famous voices much more cleverly than his material has been written, ‘Rebecca’ Remains For Another Week " AMUSEMENTS, signed by Warner Bros. to play & major role in “All This, and Heaven - | Too,” Bette Davis-Charles Boyer girl, a fellow whose paternal love makes up for his economic futility, might. have been a sappy gent in lesser hands than those of Claude Rains. He is not in lesser hands, however, so it turns out all right. the role of Florrie, the scheming, luxury-yearning elder cades of going to the movies have kept her from ever that sweater she is knitting for father, played by Elizabeth Risdon. The tearful , ted in a number of the latter. As a clerk in that mail order .house, where everyone save mother worked, Miss Moore is always looking up from her desk on the chance that any passing male may prove to be the Prince Charming for whom she al- ways is t{y‘m‘. and always failing, to achieve’a cultured form of speech. Miss Moore has a laughable way with any line ending in “if you don’t mind my manner of speaking,” and most of her lines do end that way. The most affecting sequences, naturally, are those in which Gar- fleld and Miss Shirley come -to grips with the major fact of their life, poverty so acute that they cannot lay their hands on the very simple things their hearts desire, shelter and sufficient food. In catching the drama of that situa- tion back in 1924, Anderson did a superb job of anticipating what young love would be facing, bravely and hopelessly, in 1940. Played quietly, the desperation of the sit- uation has the greater emphasis. It all adds up to a slice of life which the movies have presented in affecting fashion; something very easy to recommend. * % %% Harry Anger's stage show is high lighted this week by the efferves- cent Red Skelton, who struggled w KEITH'S™: A WASHINOTON meeTTTUTION AT 2L °WEEK..! GINGER ROGERS JOEL McCREA "PRIMROSE .PATR" “INFORMATION PLEASE" WALT DISNEY'S “TUG BOAT MICKEY” 8ING crOsBY Gloria Jean in'If I Had My Way” The Yeor's Happiest His! Eddie CANTOR “FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS” Witk a Groat Cast o m petson BLUE BARRON Father and Son Fi for s Women's Lonl co-starring picture. “All This, and Heaven Too” will be Hampden's second film. His first screen role was played in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” B METROPOLITAN Now Playing * Gwiet Tolk fa8 ACADEMY ©f Perfect Seuna Photopiay E. Lawrence Phillioy “Thester Beautiful o Continueus From ¥ M 'EAST SIDE With VINCE BARNETT. M 3 JOYCE BRYANT, LEON AMES and Original East Side Kids. Also “The Stranger From Texas,” __With CHARLAE_STARRFT.*_ Ams 1331 H St. NE. ATL. 8300 Continueus Frem 1 LML “Selentifically Air-Conditione Double Feature. RICHARD ARL! and ANDY I “DANGER ON RICHARD CAfll.gl(me XIINB‘QINN!‘Mne AGENT. CAROLINA ' & X © aw. sz GINGER In “SHALL DANCE FOGRES e ThRLIGHA iR CIRCLE Penas. Ave. at 215t 80 GEO. SAUNDERS. MARGARET in .THE HOUSE OF SEVEN SABTEaY “GERONIMO.” _with ELLEN D PRESTON FOSTER. ANDY Dlvngi:..: DUMBARTON 313, Mssonsin ave OGENE AUTRY in ‘‘SH( G, _HIGH.” RAYMOND W, “HEAVEN WITH A BARBED WIRE PE!'C! “Kit- Carson.” No. 12. Also_Come FAIRLAWN Avacostia. . c. s T in r Angns,v:.un FREE PARKIN W. BEERY. DOLORES DEL ) W R AR RIO in “MAN LIDQ 3727 M St K.W. New Seats “RETURN OF THF | _WARNER_BAXTER." | ITTLE GAITHERSBURG, MD. !1'!0 OBRIEN 1n "LENON OF THE LAW LESS" OTTO KRU ONA N Les G MUNSON @ With JIMMY LYDON and JOAN BRODEL. “RANGE WAR,” Featuring WILLIAM BOYD. BETHESDA "%, T, WL 2650 or Brad. 336. Free Parking Double Feature. JOHN WAYNE in “MAN FROM MON- TERR BROS. and ELVIRY in ‘4N OLD MISSOURI." g:m»)(un.-’hlu.—a’{ Big Days. ‘Northwest Passage.” HIPPODROME X Jes: o8 Double Peature. W. BEERY_ in_‘MAN M__DA- KOTA" “SWISS FAMILY ROBIN- . RAINIER, MD. Double Feature. CHAS. STARRYTT in “STRANGER 7 RRIS i B! INES PLY HIGH. ~-Mon.-Tues.—3 Big Days. ‘PINOCCHIO.” va e Bt Pomel T LAUREL 4nd BARDY in "CHUMP AT [ " ROY ROGERS in "“DAYS OF JESSE J, R Sun.-Mon.-Tues.—3 Big Day: ge.';» Sui irection of SIDNEY LUST “RANCHO GRANDE.” Double Feature, RO! in "T‘H.F ‘PADY. %%u BIt 3 S B INOCCHIO > ™ e e AEERE 200 RYING EERLIN Matines Seats Available L] aw, U. 8. NAVY GETS BUSY AL};II IXT‘I,.NB ACTIO! DONALD DUCK HiE5 SHORT SUBJECTS IT'S JUST ANOTHER BIG TIME AT GLORIOUS [ AMUSEMENT PAAK ] TODAY FROM 1 P.M. AND UNTIL 12 TONIGHT DANCING FROM 9 PM. PAUL KAIN'S ORCHESTRA OF 12 11 AM. CONTINUOUS LAST DAY! Bowned Bnches’ 4 Milion Dollar of the “HELL’S ANGELS” "Also’ “LIGHTS OUT IN EUROPE" Documentary of the Current War Theaters Having Matinees. AMBASSADOR 22 & 4.2 JORN galitlines. 1 e o o RFIELD’ ANNE 8 624 H St. N.E. . 3375, . l:'m; 0. 2600. TEMPLE in At 145, 3: BIRD. 8. 750, AVE.GRAND *5 73 prs.s® CALVERT =% wi- Ak, St Araty Ave. N.W, . 2345, to Patron; E RAPT 1 For Additional Information Phone Theaters Direct. COLONY - 8. HOME ,, iz ¢ o 10, “'fi':l“" e At Also Carioon'® > "HOUSE ACROSS THE BAY. 1:35. 3: 58, 9:465. e . 1 ELEANOR POWELY, AST, 1n “BROADWAY METODY OF 1840 At_1:20, 124 ), _9:20. SECO 7th and Penn. Ave. 8. LI 2] $ JOAN nmwm.l.g'm-é ¥ WARNER BROS. THEATERS 8244 Ga. Ave., Silver Spri) 2540, R 5._2:45. 5:10 SHERIDAN ¢~ 7:40._10:10. Ave. & Sherida: RA. 2100 In Event of Busy Signal , Call Republic 0800. o 1-""; Space Avaflable to Y ‘Also “Oklahoma ‘With JOHN] 12th_and Newten Sts. N.E. ®¥ou _cAn " | NEWTON Double | WILSON ™o,z ture. Featy U eran RARSY" St PALM THEATER v, 5% Walt Disny nicolor