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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1936)
.Featares Most of Weekend Tlieatoe Bills Coop er Stars, Napoleon at St. Helena Again on Stage In Fast-Moving Adventure Comedy "Two in a Crowd" Plays at jCapitol Fun Reaches Hon ling . Point With Joan Bennett and Joe McCrea Stars r 4 Elsinore Film 7T I k i J 'General Died at Dawn' Is Offering; Madeleine Carroll in Cast A fast-moring story of adTen ture. Intrigue and romance In modern war-torn China, "The General Died at Dawn," which opened at the Elsinore theatre yesterday, - brings "to the screen a thrilling drama which well might have been taken directly iroiu me newspaper neaaunes. "The General Died at Dawn presents uary cooper again In a soldier-of-fortune role, on which has added greatly to his stature as one of filmdom's outstanding stars. Playing opposite him as a woman who uses her beauty as a lure in the high game of in ternational intrigue is beautiful blonde Madeleine Carroll, young English actress who is headed for a major position among the great stars. .. The film ia based on the strug . gle between modern China . and the predatory war-lords who are laying the country waste. On the one aide is General Yang, ambi t'ous war-lord intent upon crush ing China under his iron heel. On the other is a growing peo ple's movemet. Cooper is in the ranks of this movement. - Sent to Shanghai with money with which to buy arms. Cooper is lured aboard a train by Miss Car roll, daughter of a crooked inter national agent. The train is held up and Cooper .is-i captured. The agent is given the . money a n d sent to Shanghai to pick up Coop er's arms consignment. Once there he decides to flee to Amer ica with the money. Cooper es cape3 from Yang and reaches Shanghai where he kills the agent in a shooting scrape. Yang ar rives and takes him prisoner again together with Miss Carroll. He takes them aboard his junk where he intends to torture them into revealing the biding place of the money which neither of them know. Miss Carroll discovers she loves Cooper and to atone for her du plicity in leading to his capture, offers to pay Yang with her lift if he will permit Cooper to go Before this becomes necessary, however, Yang is shot in a scuf fle. . Realizing he is about to die, he orders his soldiers to kill Coop er and the girl and then to kill themselves so that he can enter heaven with an entodrage befit ting his rank. Just as the sol diers are about to fire. Cooper begins a desperate jramble for life by playing to Yang's vanity. ELSIXORK Today Double bill, Gary Cooper in "T h e General Died at Dawn" and Marion Taller in "Follow Your Heart." Wednesday "A Midsum mer Nights Dream" with 50 stars. Saturday "The - Big Broad cast of 1937 with Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Bob Burns. -Special attrac tion "The March of Time." CAPITOL Today Double bill, "Two in ' a Crowd," with Joel Mc Crea and Pat O'Briend in "Public Enemy's Wife." Tuesday Double bill. "I Stand Condemned" with an all star cast and "One In a Million" with Charles Star rett. Thursday Double bill, Wheeler and Woolsey in "Mummy's Boys," with Buck Jones in "Ride. 'Em Cowboy." HOLLYWOOD Today "San Francisco" " with Clark Gable and Jean- ette McDonald. Friday First showing Ken Maynard jx "Avenging Waters" and Our Gang in "Lucky Corner." STATE Today Alice Faye and Ad- olphe Menjou in "Sing Baby Sing.". Wednesday Joe McCrea and - Merle Oberon in "These Three." - -Saturday--Zane Grey's "The Arizona Raiders." Co-Stars in The Call Board - ' , ! Atlolphe Menjon and Alice Faye appearing ia the film Sing Baby Sing" featured at the State theatre today. " ' ) Scene from play r J v Evans as Napoleon j "Longwood" j latest effort to dramatize the life of Napoleon I Island of St. Helena at "Longwood. Mauri oe presents the Little Corporal during his exile oa the Evans plaji Napoleon la the aew pbiy, "St Helena Broadway Nights j. Copjrijht, 1938, King Features Srndictte, Inc. By CLARK KINNAIRD NEW YORK, Oct 24. A nun dred thousand books have been published on Napoleon Bonaparte, more than have been devoted to any other subject since Jesus. Few plays are among them, and none tnat are enduring except, per haps, "L'Aiglon", and that, of course, is really about his son. The biggest dramatic character of history's last two centuries has de fied dramatists to place him upon the stage.! Their efforts have not made Napoleon live again, as Cae sar does in Shakespeare and St Joan in Shaw. The latest effort, "St. Helena," by R. C. Sheriff, who wrote "Jour ney's End,!' and Jeanne de Casalis succeeds no better than other dra matizations in making the Hitler- Mussolini of the 19th century hu man, though it does turn a reveal ing spotlight upon a phase of the Corsican adventurer's career pass ed over by; most cherishers of the Napoleonic legend. ' Surprisingly, it throws an aura of glamor upon what was actually the least glamorous part of Na poleon s career. It is hard to rec oncile the elegant settings and brilliant costumes of Jo Mielziner with the description, of the cancer-eaten Napoleon's life in his two residences on St. Helena giv en by Las Cases. Earthquake Scene Convincing Paul Muni was first choice of Max Gordon, the producer, for the Napoleon of this play. He would have been more adaptable to the requirements of the role, perhaps, than , Maurice Evans, but Mr. Evans deserves the plaudits he is receiving for his delineation of a far greater actor than any we have had on our stage since 1821. Reginald Mason is an excellent Bertrand. and Whitford Kane will reawaken Interest of audiences in 0Meara, the Irish surgeon of H. M. S. Northumberland, who asked to share Napoleon's exile since no other doctor was available. The dramatists and ' Percy Waram, make a villian of Sir Hudson Lowe, and undeserved reputation which we hope some brilliant dramatist will rehabilitate some day. ' i One highlight of the play is a convincing earthquake scene in which the sound effect is provided by an electric organ. The pro ducer attempts to use a record of the sound effects in the sensa tional earthquake scene of t h e motion picture "San Francisco," and found they weren't realistic enought on the stage! We fear; that "St. Helena" will not be as popular as Mr. Gor don's noteworthy production de- "Sing Baby" X ' i" 1 ' -f - - V'- : serves to be. Napoleon is the world's most popular Horatio Alger hero. : The Sherif f-De Casalis portrait of him has its faults, but it is too near the truth to please his admirers. . Gielgud's Hamlet Fine Whatever the merits ' of Mr. Evans' performance as Napoleon, premier acting honors in the new est offerings on Broadway go to John Gielgud, the first of the sea son's two "Hamlets." Those who never suspected this pliy to be possessed of humor are !in for a pleasant surprise, for Gielgud makes it as light and. witty in some moments as he does tragic in others. It would be an affecta tion for this reporter to compare the Gielgud "Hamlet" with otheri" for the only other "Hamlets" he ever saw were repertoire offerings of Fritz Lieber and Robert Man tell, and a modern dress version by Basil Sidney. He has never be lieved that critics could really re member the fine, points of a characterization of Salvini suffi ciently years afterward to be able to speak with authority in pro claiming this or that actor the greatest "Hamlet" or "Richard III." . The excellence cf Guthrie Mc Clintic's production and cast nat urally creates exciting speculation concerning the forthcoming pro duction of Leslie Howard, which promises to give New York a duel of "Hamlets" unparalleled since Macready and Forrest caused riots. Lillian Glsh is Ophelia, Judith Anderson the queen, Ar thur Byron a brilliant Polonius. John Emery as Laertes, rises above even his vivid Willie James in last season's "Parnell. Shakespeare Play Opens Wednesday The plays of William Shake spear run the gamut of human emotions. He was and is the world's unchallenged poet of the drama. But of all his master, pieces, there is none that can ap proach in fantasy, in humor and in imaginative qualities; his "A Midsummer Night's D r e a m," which produced as a motion pic ture by Werner Bros., will open a three-day engagement at popu lar prices at the Elsinore theatre on Wednesday. ; ; . "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a play of fancy and a plea for fancy. It is a dream within a dream, in which the dreamers themselves form a definite part of their own dream world. Perhaps' its greatest lesson perhaps in deed what Shakespeare intended D o liIyvo oD ' Continuous Performance " f Today - 2 to 11 P. M. IDC Matinee Each Day 2 r, M. 'Nine Days Queen' Coming Here Soon Authentic Story of Lady Jane Grey Booked For November at State A madrigal, rarely heard and composed by Henry VIII, U played on a virginal of ancient design in "Nint Days a Queen" (The Story of Lady Jane Grey), the GB picture co-starring Cedric Hardwicke and Nora Pilbeam and coming Nov. 12 and 13 to the State theatre. Hubert Bath, musical director for GB, got the madrigal from the Harley collection of manu scripts in the London Museum. It is. often referred to as the "King's Ballad. Written for three roices, Mr. Bath added a fourth roice and the accompaniment of a virginal, which was a favorite musical in strument during the Tudor peri od. Its two short keyboards and music box stand on four ornate legs. In "Nine Days a Queen' it is sung by Nora Pilbeam, Sybil Thorndike, Leslie Perrlns and Pe ter Croft, the latter playing the accompaniment. "Nint Days a Queen" is plc turlzatlon of one of the most col orful and tragic periods in his tory, describing the dramatic er ents which took place in Tudor England immediately following the death of. Henry VIIT, It was written and directed by Robert Stevenson. . The picture will have a road Bhow presentation all teats re served and only two showings daily. Tickets will go on sale nest week. to convey is" the fallacy of taking ourselves too seriously; very well summed-up in Puck's own phrase "What fools these mortals be." "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is after all, the story of the mis chievous little imp. Puck, who scrambles love, , affairs while the lovers sleep in! the moonlight. It is a plea for people to forget the realities of. life and give them, selves oyer to blithe nonsense. William Shakespeare, of course, could not have imagined motion pictures, but in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" he creates 'the perfect motion picture story. He blended together fantasy and farce, romance and pathos, thrills and suspense, Jealousy and agony. TWO MAJOR GARY GOES TO TOWN FOR CHINA'S MOST DARING ADVENTURESS IBQpgQKISniB - 1 Cable in Historic Story, Hollywood "San Francisco" Combines Musical Attractions, Earthquake Epic - San Francisco," which . op ened last night at the Hollywood theatre, brings Clarke Gable and LJeanette MacDonald together as a co-starnng team tor the first time. -y-t - : -. , . - .1: The musical romance gives Miss MacDonald her widest scope In vocal numbers in her screen ca reer s. total of nine presenta tions ranging from a solemn hymn to the most beautiful operatic arias..- Clark Gable returns tothe rig orous type of role that first de rated him to stardom as a blust ery Barbary Coast gambling bar on who has no faith in anything hut his own power and his charm over women. Co-starring with Miss MacDon ald and Gable is Spencer Tracy in his most unusual role, that of priest; a distinguished support ing cast includes Jack Holt. Jes sie Ralph, Ted Healy, Shirley Ross, Margaret Irving, Harold Hu ber, Al Shean, William Cicciardl and Kenneth Harlan. "San Francisco" is laid In the colorful period of 1905-06, its life of gaiety and song; its Bar bary Coast prior to and through the disaster thaf leveled the fa mous ' Golden Gate c i t y thirty years ago. 1 Among Miss MacDonald's vocal numbers are: The "Jewel Song" from "Faust"; musical excerpts throng "Fan st"; m u s 1 e a 1 excerpts throughout the "Faust" opera; the "Prison Trio" with Mephisto pheles and Faust; an aria from "La Trariata"; "Lore Me and the World Is Mine"; "My Heart Is Free"; Gounod's. "Are Marie" i "Nearer My God to Thee"; "Bat tle Hymn of the Republic" and "San Francisco." Other rollick ing musical features of the period are contributed by Shirley Ross and Ted Healy in the quaint set ting of a Barbary Coast resort. Bowes Show Unit Coming to Salem Some of Major's Best Are in Group Billed Here Nov. 20, Capitol - Two little words mean magic, those words "All Right," spoken into a microphone of the Colum bia Broadcasting system studio and coming from the lips of the Maestro of the amateur. Major Edward Bowes, means make or break to many a hopeful radio star. Once the major has given his stamp or approval to an amateur one can rest assured he or she ranks with the . best radio and . vaudeville talent in amateur ranks, and the cream of the crop, J has been gathered together ror another unit of the major's stage shows, this time called "Major Bowes Transcontinental Stage Re rue' which comes to the Capitol on Friday, November 20. Manager Carl Porter of the capltol says: - "In booking this unit of the major's shows, I feel that Salem Is particularly lucky Inasmuch as this is considered by all critics as the finest unit ever brought to the west coast. The cast includes popular far orites who are familiar to all the major's radio tans: Paris Lee, Mae McPhee, "Windy" Jack, Tthoda Case, James Erickson, Ruth O'Neil, the Mimicking: Mel odiers, Adolphus Quincy Scott, and the Major Bowes' Swing Band. Every act In this unit has been tried out on the road and' has been a proven success. In fact snch a success that the word.ama teur has been dropped frdm the unit name. The screen bill with the Bowes unit will be unusually strong with Sybil Jason and Guy Kibbee shar ing honors In "The Captain's Kid." Firemen Are Called JEFFERSON, Oct. 24.- L a t e Tuesday evening the fire depart ment was called to the home of Rer. and Mrs. W. P. Willlngs to extinguish a chimney fire. Now Playing FEATURES OAXD.CAY AK3 GIOGUSFUS la tke Maslsll Hitof Us Ysar- 1 4 4 ' y ': -" Gary Cooper and Madeleine. Carroll Died at Dawn" now featured at - - , - I ; i c ST - Above are Joel McCrea and Joan Crowd" which is showing today Clark Gable, Ted Healy and Jeanette musical film "San Francisco" now Burright Leaving dependence Job INDEPENDENCE, Oct. 24. Manley Burright. first clerk of the Independence postotfice staff is exchanging positions with one of the Tillamook postal clerks. The change Is scheduled for No rember 1. Mr. Rurrizht has been on the local staff since 19X3. He was a star athlete while at the high school here. Mr. and Mrs. Bur right own their home on Sixth and F streets. The change is be inr made at the reauest of the Tillamook clerk, the climate be ing unsuited to the health of his wife. . . New Precinct Leader C SCOTTS MILLS. Oct. 24. John T. Plas of the Crooked Finger dis trict, has received notice of his appointment as republican pre cinct committeeman for Scotts Mills precinct. He will fill the unexpired term of W. T. Hogg who has mored to Salem. - NOW PLAYING! Continuous Today, 1 till 11 A Big All-Comedy Show Fun! Girls! And Loads of Laughs PLUS SELECTED SHORT FILMS! n i I "J. are the co-stars in "The General the Elsinore theatre. 1 Bennett starring In "Two In a at the Capitol theatre. McDonald appear la the popular playing at the Hollywood theatre. 1 I :t 1 ' ' I r"' MTOOSHMQ IT REALLY SHAVES YOU CLEAN 15 S T EVEN G Credit Jewelers ' Phone 181 North Liberty . ; TWO GREAT FEATURES V , . . . Now Learn the Secrets of J J Touching I THE MATES OF THE Tickling! MOBSTERS! v-r I ifiiiirt: ; 20c 1 Tni x I l'RM-L - . 1 1, "Two in a Crowd," Universal' rollicking romantic omedy drama, which opens today at the Capitol theatre, starring o a n Bennett and Joel McCrea, reaches the height of hilarity, often carrying tun to the point of howling laughter. The work of the stars and the direction of the offering are as buoyant as a child's soap bubbles floating in the summer sunshine. .'And the resultant rev elry is twice as carefree. "Two in a Crowd" proves that one 'half of a thousand dollar bill is not worth . any more, than half a soap bubble; that a girl should never spend her sweet heart's wedding trousseau money unless-she is sure she wants to marry him. . The highly amusing screen sto ry begins with the principals find ing the torn halves of a thousand dollar bill. Neither of them can get anywhere with the fragment, but they can, and do, go places when they paste the sections to gether. In fact, the young roman tic fellow almost goes to Jail when he tries to change the "grand" in the same bank from which some gangsters had stolen it. The humor hums faster and merrier as the -modern sweet hearts attempt to solve their prob lems and find themselves contin ually more deeply entangled ia situations lamentable to them but laughable to everybody else. "Two in a Crowd" is a "must see" pic-; ture, one in a million. Roosevelt Supporters . To Rally at Stay ion At 8 on Monday ISight STAYTON, Oct. 24. D e m o -crats in Stayton and vicinity will stage a Roosevelt rally in the grange hall here at 8 o'clock Mon day night at which all democratic nominees in the county have been Invited to be present. George Me Leod of Salem will be the prin cipal speaker. Miss Kathryn Gunnel! will show her pictures of the Bonneville dam. the CCC work, the flax in dustry, the coast bridges, and the statehouse excavation. A concert will be given by the Stayton band. The general public- is invited to attend. - Pie Social Has Crowd TALBOT, Oct. 24. A large crowd attended the pie social at the Talbot schoolhouse last night. Terms 75c Down 75c a Week ) Kit - B El VN 'and Opticians - 7818 2 Doors from Fred Meyer