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