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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1942)
Saturday, February 21, 1942 Tht Capital Journal, Salem,' Oregon Three JUTL FLASH PREVIEW of "Juke Girl" Warner Brothers' new melodrama stars Ann Sheridan and Ronald Reagan, with Richard Whorf, George Tobias and Alan Hale. With Richard Whorf and Alan Hale, Itinerant fruit pickers, Ronald Reagan seeks work on a Florida farm ,'flS ft-. -4tA Reagan first meets Ann In a Juke Joint, later finds Work with George Tobias, a Greek farmer. Tobias sells his crop In Atlanta, outwitting his local enemies, and returns home to celebrate. .When he Is killed that night, Reagan Is accused of murder and 'Ann Is arrested in Atlanta, Back In Florida Ann and Reagan are saved from a mob by a confession obtained by Whorf from the real killers. DIM THE SETS I VI WITH REED IOHNSON Mr. Burgess Meredith, as a feature of his starring role In Para mount s "The Black Curtain," very probably establishes an all-time record for husbands who come home late for dinner. This bid for the record Is based on the fact that Mr. Meredith checks In some thing over three years late for the dinner in question, but still ou,i"" uf iiuiu m nnu mm me mue wife has not only not kept his food on the stove but has even moved to a new address, And what do you think his excuse Is, fellows? well, it seems everything just went black all of a sudden, and the next thing he knew It was three years later. This, of course, is an excel ent excuse If you can get away with it, but in its entirety is not recommended for general circulation, since Mr. Meredith presently finds himself nnriKpH nP a tvtii,..ln.. MMunj ...un- he thought he was somebody else. waning io an awareness of his real Identity HnHncr b , ,i and the method nf ennnnlnry Mm - I, i ' not to be recommended, for this is accomplished somewhat painfully by having a loose building for thi, k nrf f V;0."TMv.. ".' :"e'1" f. B 'ng gooa money f..ii V. . il ij J .' ne picKea nimseii up man. wiw f.Im8"5 i a set desS"ed o represent a street on New York s East Side and was coming out of it pretty well when Sif'rF'w ha?d?d !!ln2Lh" hat' and askcd his nome- toMtA n0tl"d hat "That's not my hat," he said. 'Sure it is," said the cop, giving him the fishy eye. Well, when a policeman tells you a hat is your hat you will take It and go quietly if blessed with common sense, and this Is pre cisely what Mr, Meredith did. Quietly, but uneasily, I should add, because this is just the beginning of the picture and both he and the audience must wait till the bitter end before he learns Just what he was up to during those three years and more when the little woman was waiting for him to come home to dinner. But then, of course, If you're trying to alibi yourself out of a three-year absence you can expect to have a tough time getting your story over, even if It's a good one. HID IOHNSTON block conk him on the head. An 8 by 10 photograph from any recent Flash Preview It available to readers of Hollywood Today who writ. In ending twenty-five cent, to cover service costs, Fashion Scene By MARGARET McKAY Barbara Stanwyck Is Holly wood's best tailored femme and no one looks more at home in a suit than Mrs. Bob Taylor. She js the outdoor type of girl and frills do not flatter her, so wisely she co nee n- Itrates on suits, but Insists upon perfec- I Hon in them. Her newest I Is utilitarian for wartime wear as well as distinctive, I and during these days when so many of us are put- MARCARET McKAY ting on suits for our va rious defense works, it's worth a description. Of soft gray flannel, plaided in hot choc olate brown, it has huge me chanics' pockets stitched in compartments to hold a flash light, first-aid kit, etc. The 24 lnch length jacket has a bloused back, and with this outfit she wears side button monk moc casins that are a new contribu tion to comfort in footwear. Barbara is wearing the monk moccasins with all of her suits during the day now, and often .-wears a padre brim hat to carry ' out the theme. . Many of her suits have saddle stitching and are in pastel shades such as turquoise, powder pink, oyster white and canary yellow. All have the very wide shoulders that do so much to slim down our hips not that Barbara's lissome figure needs it, however. Best Dressed Girl of the Week: Janet Blair, Columbia's rising young star, who formerly sang with Hal Kemp's band, vacation ing in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Arizona Biltmore, took with her for her trip one of the new sun and swim suits with bloomer bottoms. "Bloomer" is not a very descriptive word, however,' for the effect is more of the harem-tuck, and Janet's suit was especially lovely in white silk jersey with draped bra top. The harem-tucked suits will be a winner this season around the swimming pools, if I may venture a prophecy. Around Town: Some interesting and striking color combinations being used by Hollywood's fash ionables: Burgundy and rose Constance Bennett's rose wool suit and hat looking like a de licious strawberry frappe with burgundy bag, gloves and shoes. Peacock blue and champagne Irene Dunne's peacock blue slip per satin evening gown? with champagne lace trim and cham pagne satin sandals. Gold and tangerine Lana Turner's Idea in color for her wardrobe. Evening gown of gold with golden snood trimmed in tangerine flowers. Evening bag of tangerine. Most arresting colors on a blonde. ; Record Review By WAX MAN Walt until you get a earful ol Shep Fields' new music. He's ' discarded the familiar "rippling rhythm" and breaks out with a combination featuring 10 saxo phones and no brass and solid it is. Initialing the experiment on Victor, Shep . has waxed his theme, The Fire , Dance. It's swell! : Another perfect combination lias recently teamed. The sub ject of the above sentence is in the marital vein and the predi cate concerns record making. Lily Pons and Andre Kostelanetz have just waxed Home Sweet Home and Song of India and Columbia brings it out, . Funny story about the last minute change in lyrics at the recording of How About You by Tommy Dorsey. Originally, words said, "And Franklin Roosevelt's looks give me a thrill." But Tommy liked the name of Lana Turner In that spot. The wax will tell the story of what hap pened and you can form your own conclusions. Plenty of scrambling around the backstage of a Newark the atre last week. Benny Good man's 18 men were due on stage for their stint, when it was dis covered half had the grey suits and the other half had the blue on. A slight delay while the uniforms became uniform, ''v Nice record has been chalked up by Barry Wood. During the past year, his patriotic recordings have eclipsed the 500,000 mark In sales for Victor. Arms for the Lov. of America and Any Bonds Today top the list. As a reward the government has requested Wood to star in a short movie subject singing the patriotic rep ertoire by Irving Berlin. Eddia Duchln has even changed his theme song from Chopin's Noc turne to Any Bonds Today f Victor, which also waxes under the Bluebird label, is adding an other series under the name of Standard Records. Th new subsidiary will specialize In for eign music and orchestras. 1 f "- A jTi Sty F o life MEETTHE STARS ERSKINE JOHNSON'S Mary Beth Hughes is working currently with Ida Lupino and Jean Cabin in 20th Century-Fox's "Moontide." ATTENTION MOVIE FANS In response to continued requests for an autographed photograph of Mickey Rooney we are again making these pictures available, this week only, to all readers of Holly wood Today sending in five cents for mailing and lian dling. Write to Hollywood Today, Crossroads of the World, Hollywood, California AND YOU MUST MEN TION THIS NEWSPAPER. JOE FISHER'S Reviews of Previews For almost two years Preston Sturges has made history on the Paramount lot. Known as a brilliant playwright, the author of "Strictly Dishonorable" yearned for new fields to conquer, and given the chance he first wrote, produced, and directed "The Great McGinty," a political satire which, without the use Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake In "Sullivan's Travels." of big box-office names, scored a terrific hit and gave a fine actor, Brian Donlevy, his best break; This was followed in rapid succession by "Chrlstmaj In July" with Dick Powell, and "The Lady Eve" with Barbara Stanwyck, each picture In turn registering in such a way that Hollywood finally became con scious of the "Sturges" touch and this quiet spoken young man reached a point where ho could literally write his own ticket. Mr. Sturges' specialty is poking fun at things. And his latest opus, "SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS," hits right out at his own special field, Hollywood. Starring Joel McCrca and Paramount's latest discovery, Veronica lake, he pulls no punches with this well-written travesty of a Hollywood director (McCrca), famed for his screwball comedies, who desires to got away from it all and bring to an expectant world the great American tragedy: or how the other half lives. Against the advice of his studio executives McCrea, with the help of his valet-butler, dresses as a tramp and launches himself on a scries of adventures which eventually wind him up as a convicted murderer in a chain gang. How ho meets the girl and works himself out of the troubles that an unkind fate has brought down on him makes for as amusing a picture as your reviewer has looked upon for a long, long lime. The "Sturges" touch Is In evidence at all times: clever dialogue, direction that holds every thread of the story in one hand, plus excep tional performances by a hand-picked cast, all add up to a film that should moke box-office history. Joel McCrca has never had a better role; Miss Lake, putting aside the glamour build up and being simply herself, displays an acting ability hitherto entirely unsuspected. "SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS" Is fine, clean comedy, all delivered with a punch that will make the picture one you'll remember pleasantly for a long time. - Monogram previewed "MR. WISE GUY," with Leo Oorcey, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall, end Gabriel Dell, all of whom you will remember as the original Dead End Kids, now called tho East Side Kids. The boys themselves provide all the bright spots In this lively story of a plot to trap a murderer and free the falsely convicted older brother of one of tho kids, with Billy Gilbert outstanding among the grown-up members of the cast. They really work hard to put the story over, and as a rcrult the picture Is one you're sure to enjoy, Your review seldom mentions cartoons or short subjects, but It's about time he did call your attention to George Pol's "Pup petoons" which Paramount has been releasing this past year. Pal's latest, "JASPER AND THE WATERMELONS," Is one of the most delightful fantasies ever screened. It's the story of a little colored boy and his adventures In a mythical watermelon land to which he Is led by an enticing scarecrow, after his mother has enjoined him not to touch the melons. Pal secures his effects by the use of plastic puppetoons, each bit of action requiring a separate figure, Instead of, as in usual animation, a separate drawing. The result Is entirely different from any thing you have ever seen. Remember tho name: "Puppetoons." And remember, too, one of these cartoons is a welcome addition to any movie bill. WITH VIC BOESEN Sitting across the table from Lcif Erickson, six feet, four inches of chest and muscle dis placing 217 pounds and his head pivoting on the turret of an enormous sweater, one reflects that no mat ter how bad one's personal fortunes, they would yet de cllne to a marked extent if Erickson should, for example, take a sudden vio lent dislike to you and indi cate same In a physical at tack. VIC BOESEN He was telling with virile vigor of his latest trip to Hollywood, where in recent months he has brightened such pictures as "Nothing But the Truth" and "H. M. Pulham, Esq." He had been In Hollywood before, under contract to Paramount, and had gone to New York when things hadn't gone quite to his liking. New York gathered him In and showed him the usual honor that comes to the prophet away from home. It gave him important roles on the stage, in plays like "Golden Boy" and "Margin for Error," among others; and put him to work on the radio. There was so much work that he found little time for anything else. He decided to kick over the traces and take a trip ... a long trip. California was about as far away as a man could go on dry land; so California was it. He had always wanted a motorcyle. He bought one, don ned an extra pair of pants arid shirts over those he was wearing, packed a towel, an electric razor and a tube of antiseptic onto the luggage rack, and ret out, He told tho boys that he was going to Hollywood . . . going to work for Paramount. He puttered leisurely down tho Atlantic coast to Florida, and then up into the back country of Kentucky. The people there had no idea he was a Broadway ac tor and probably wouldn't have believed it anyway, for he gave his razor an easy time of it and his clothes clearly showed the marks of the road; but the hill folk found the stranger real' clever. He could sing and he told a good story. (They should have known that he used to be soloist for Tod Fio Rlto's band, and ho did eight months with Olscn and Johnson.) In New Mexico one evening at twilight, just as he had purred across a little bridge in a bend of the road, he ran broadside into a steer crossing tho road with a herd. He banged up a knee but kept going, and at a nolnt farther along he stopped to tele phone his uncle In Los Angeles.1 It was then a Saturday evening. "Where have you been?" roared the uncle. "Whore are you now?" "Why, what's up?" said Erick son. "Nobody's expecting me." "No?" shouted the uncle. "Paramount's been looking all over for you I You go to work there Monday!" The picture was "Nothing But the Truth." And so, swears Erickson, Is this story. To HOLLYWOOD ERSKINE I0HNS0N Elaine Morey Is one of tho major thrills In Universale Alfred Hitchcock thriller, "Saboteur." EXCLUSIVELY YOURS: Jimmy Cagney lost three of his best pals to Uncle Sam recently. Chevies Griffin, his secretary for 11 years; Bob O'Dell, his wardrobe man for six years, and Mike Breen, his stand-in for nine years, all enlisted in the navy. The enlistments took place, oddly enough, just after Cagney completed the patriotic "Grand Old Flag" number for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" , . . Smart money on Wall Street suddenly has become interested In Holly wood motion picture properties. The movies, according to Wall Street, are the safest wartime Investment in the country . . , Castlnp of William PnwMl nnH Wprtv Tji- marr as lovers In "Crossroads" should be interesting. Before his marriage, Hcdy told a friend: "Of all the men in Hollywood, I d most prefer to fall in love with William Powell." Rudy Vallee's he-man buildup suffered a serious setback over tho week-end. Ho was Inadvertently listed on the official guest list of a swank Hollywood function as "Rudy Vallee and escort." .-tun Sheridan and George Brent recently visited her valley ranch for the first time since their marriage. As they entered the house, Ann said, "Haven't you forgotten something t" Then she grabbed Brent and carried HIM over the threshold. ' If Clark Gable decides to retire temporarily from the screen, Metro will substitute Walter Pidgeon for Gable's role In "Some where I'll Find You" . . . Ginger Rogers has gone back to her Oregon ranch and boy friend Jean Gabin has gone back to his bicycle . . . Barbara Stanwyck and Geraldine Fitzgerald, who ought to know, say there's nothing to those reports about their feud on the "Gay Sisters" set. It's still the gay sisters . . . Orson Welles practically drove himself into a nervous break down before leaving for South America. In four hectic days he completed his acting role in "Journey Into Fear," did a radio broadcast and made final cuts on "The Magnificent Ambersons." During the four days he had only 10 hours sleep. ' . . Tops in multiple roles will be achieved by Joel McCrea In Paramount's "I Married a Witch." He plays an insurance sales man named Wooley and, for a montage sequence, the fellow's ancestors for five generations back. When McCrea accepted the role, Director Rene Clair wired him: "I'm happy to hear, you have agreed to play the whole Wooley family." Boy meets girl scenes are growing violent. In Paramount's "Forest Rangers," Paulette Goddard Is bucked off a horse and lands on Fred MacMurray's chest . . . Gene Tierney and hus band Oleg Casslnl head east soon for a reconciliation with her family, which has never approved their marriage . . . Greer Gnrson, who has always portrayed serious roles on the screen, will sing and dance for her role In "Random Harvest" . . . Nice gesture by Chick and Johnny, the barbers at RKO. They're donating free haircuts for the duration for all RKO employes in the service. w Charlotte Wynters (Mrs. Barton MacLane) Is getting front office raves at Paramount for her work in "Mr. and Mrst Cugat" . . . Richard Travis and Jimmy Cagney's sister, Jean, are an item. ., , . a With "Hellzapoppln' " replacing "Citizen Kane" at a local the. atro, I'm wondering If you could call It from cane to corn. Jill Esmond, former wife of Laurence Olivier, will play a role in Metro's remako of "Her Cardboard Lover" . . .. Fay Carroll, the John Powers model, is helping Blako Garner forget Ann Miller . . , Bing Crosby and Bob Hope will repeat their famous pattycake routine again for their new picture, "The Road to Morocco," but this time with disastrous results. Trying to rescue Dorothy Lamour, a princess, they get mixed up with a palace guard. They go into the pattycake routine but just as they're about to slug tho guard, he grabs them and cracks their heads together. Regaining consciousness, Crosby turns to Hope and moans, "My, but that gag sure gets around!" KEN MORGAN'S T . HOLLYWOOD KEYHOLE Bonlta Granville Is a very fortunate youne lady. Most Juvenile thesplans who reach prominence while in swaddling clothes have face an inevitable and unfortunate ob scurity period while In tho adolescent In terim. Somo are more lucky. Bonita is to our mind tho most apt example of the latter groove. She was a doll at her stnrt In "Cavalcade" and she's still a doll at 19. And what Is more important she's just as at tractive mentally as physically. Maybe it is the Influence of tho impending marital leap with Jackie Cooper, but more probably;, it is the decision of studio executives that she is rendv for nrllilt rnlns. Paramount! Studios has handed Bonita tho plum role of Brian Donlevy's sister in Dnshlell Hammctt's story, "Tho Glass Key." In the picture will also bo Alan Ladd, a lad you will bo seeing a lot in time to come. A preview scout told us today that his first picture, "This Gun for Hire," was shown the other night and when tho audience discovered tho nervous Alan In their midst they rose and gave the newcomer an ovation. We're proud to have been on his bandwagon for a long time. Years ago a pair of clerks In a vegetable market were fired for Juggling tomaloos. So they became Jugglers In vaudovlUo and teamed (unsuccessfully) for flvo years. Tho other day In n scene for "Kings On Her Fingers," ono of the partners, Frank Orth, hnd to Juggle tomatoes. On conclusion of the shot he received n wlro: "You'ro fired you couldn't oven Juggle pea nuts! Signed Onrryl Zanuck." It was from the other half of tho act W. O. Fields. For years, wise ones havo advised newcomers to remain single until their career was on its way or else it never would start. Taint truel And this proves it. Marjorie Lord, a known excellent stage performer, couldn't get a nibble in motion pic ture.?. She had even been in hit plays which ran right under, the talent scouts' noses on Hollywood Boulevard. As a matter, of fact sha just concluded In "Springtime for Henry" with Ed ward Everett Horton. So sha married John Archer, an RKO actor. Yesterday sha signed another deal with Universal Studios. TUB GOOD RUMOR MANi John Howard and Mary Brian have that gleam In their eyes . . , Tho publicized squabble be tween Abbott and Costelio is NOT SO . . . When someono asked Victor Mature if a settlement had been reached with his wile, Martha, ho answered, "No, we're still arguing over tho custody, pf the tires!" . , . Jean Gnbln goes to New York this week I hut without Ginger Rogers . . . Poor director Al Rogell now directing Damon Runyan's story, "Butch Minds tho Baby," his charges nro GO kids between tho ages of two and five , . . Irene Dunne's just been told by 216 Chinese flying cadets that she Is China's favorite actress , , , For Joan Leslie's birthday., Rift, director Michael Curtiz (now megglng "Yankee Doodle Dnndy") told her that she could stop colling him Mr. Curtiz and make It just plain "Mike" . . . Franchot Tone is sick again same old nllment which nearly cost his life a few months ngo . . . Olivia do Hnvllland is seeing a lot of Victor Jory in New York . . . W. C. Fields says of Boris Morros' orange and red shirts, 'First timo I ever saw a sunset with buttons!" . . . Bob Hopes brother, George, writes funny jokes for Eddlo Bracken , . . Paramount just plunked a load of dough In New York for the rights to tho hit musical, "Let's Face It" Bob Hope will ploy the Danny Kayo role . , . When someono asked Susanna Foster how old sho was, she quipped, "Just old enough to hear the 'wolf call'" . . , Paramount Is huddling with Jnno Withers manager sho even has her own story for her first outside picture since leaving 20th-Fox . . , Coblna WriRht is a happy wife new hubby Palmer Beaudotte has been stationed at Fort McArthur at San Pedro . . . Olscn and Johnson are after diminutive comic Jerry Bergen to feature in "Sons o' Fun" . . . Carmen Miranda Is 111 In tho cast throat aliment , . . After making personals on a bond-selling drive, Judy Canova was returning from tho President's Birthday Pill, when airline of ficials booted her off tho piano at Dallas to make room for a soldier and sho stayed (gladly) for two days before an empty, come through. 3 KEN M0RCAN
