SMOKERS ANNOY
BETTY
HUTTON
By ROBERT OTTAWAY
Lurking in the corridor outside Betty Hutton's Pal- ladium dressing-room was a mun. He turned out to be her husband, Charles O'Cur- ran. And he'd been turned out, too
For Betty, the closest thing to a dynamo on two legs, has a strict "No smok- ing" rule before she goes on. Charles had been caught in the act.
her pulso
up and down until returns to something like nor-
She cools mul,
off ilico thoroughbred after a gruelling
conter.
SOPHIE'S LIFE
a
me.
It will be a year before Betty relums to the movies. She and Paramount have kissed each other good-bye. Betty has plans; she is backing herself in a flim the blography of Sophie Tucker, last of the Red Hot Mommas.
"We're calling it 'Some of These
Dave!
who told "Sophie's an old friend of mine, and it will be based on her book. But she didn't tell her full story, How does Betty keep hurtling You had to read between the for two hours o night? On a lotines to find it that's what of sleep, un occasional steak, Charlie and I have been doing." and vitun pilis, When she The story will be about one comes off her heart thumps like ticker-tape; she's drenched
Having stubbed mine, the told me: "Smoke slows me up. 1 need all my energy.'
with sweat.
But she doesn't fall prone da the nearest vouch. She walks
A SOBERING
THOUGHT
By SUE DAWSON
The late Mr Ernest Bevin once stated in the House of Commons: "Only providence saved the world when Moyzisch sent von Ribben- trop the most amazing set of photostats in history."
THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1952.
★ ★ ★ A SEAT IN THE STALLS ★ ★ ★
GENTLY,
GREGSON
A danger sign goes up for the bargain
•
star taking his film career at a gallop
W
London.
77HEN John Gregson, not long out of the Royal Navy, acted in a British film for the first time-Saraband 'for Dead Lovers his part was edited oc the screen before cinema- goers could see it. The ambitious newcomer was mortified, though no saraband was danced for him, Producers have made amends to Gregson since then, In 14 months this 33-year-old Liver- pool-born actor is been given stor roles in six big produc- tlons. Though under contract to Mr Rank, he has been lent out to three rival companies during this time-so much are his ser- vices in demand
Bbers, I hope they give Sophlet today, I
It few
foot
of the greatest performers of modern times, cheered by the million; yet her private life was cult
and of bliterness
disnp-
Now, we have witnessed this pointment. For all her fame, sho kind of-nonsense before; We was a lonely woman.
have also seen what happened Betly will pad herself out for to the victims of undisciplined
Because the Inter Tucker, and the film studio popularity. should be authentic. Sophie is believe that John Gregson con advising on the script. Though ко further in genuine stardom
will sing, the
ing the bulk of the than most British film actors ask our producers nonsense of the sound track. to call a halt to the It would be a nice gesture.
before it is too late.
We have seen this actor, In The film should sizzle-with
moroso rapid succession, is a
in Angels One Five, a pit rescue-squad lender Aghter pilot in The Brave Don't Cry, an Julian assassin in Venetian Bird. He has just completed the role of a village squire at Ealing Studios, is now at Pine wood playing a motoring thusiast who neglects his wife, We have still to see him as a Scottish engineer in The Helly
Ivy.
Hollywood's incendiary blonde singing those "red hot songs. should be all The customers burned up,
·
•
year
an
and the
cn-
For the first time the cinema is borrowing a subject from its feared rival, TV. Lost Terence Hattigan
wrote Rather obering to think that original TV play, "The Final
was a the whole
success-and world Teat." It course of
to be dropped events might have been much too good
All this may be a tribute to different had not the Germans after a one-night stand.
Mr Gregson's versatility; but it It concerned a mistrusted the Britial, with their
famous destroys screen illusion. It also cricketer, on the brink of retire- risks tiring him as n unexpected tricks, to such
creative musical performer, and tiring the pub- extent that they disregarded ment, whose son has advance Information on the ambitions. Remember how he ie of his face, before he has critical "Operation Overlord" almost missed his father's last even settled down to stardom. the D-Day landings which Test?
Here is the way to kill new came from a man who consider-
stars at birth.
an
ed himself the highest paid spy In history, until....
"Five Fingers" sees James Mason being, as usual. Just James Mason, and excelling In it. Under the name of 'Cicero, the most fabulous spy there has been, he is again dramatic, humourless, ruthless and almost sinister.
saici
3
Now author cum producer R. J. Minney tells me that Ratti. gan has done a amart adaptation for the movies-and it is going into production Who will play
the cricketer? Jack Warner.. None other than our old friend,
"I have a working mollo - Next Time It Will Be Better" says Gregson. 'I have a better
HAROLD
CONWAY'S
SHOW TALK
JOHN GREGSON: Wil
the public ro of his face?
ing women's role in Remains Ainerican To Be Seen the
successor to that ghoulish romp,
Arsenic and Old Lace.
Unlike the earlier plece, this is meant to new importation raise as many thrills as laughs and Diana, threatened with murder, has to be one of the blood-curdlers in chief. So it is a now-or-never chance for our show Dumb Blonde No. to us, the Bernhardt touch; I await the revelation with curiosity-und, I should good will. For this girl is cer- tainly a dogged trier.
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
LOVER'S LEAP
At 13. CLORIA SWANSON shows log in has second film slice her coma-back The man James Warren, as á protes ser_of__blu-chemistry Sea Quiar, please
10.
livelyn quarter of the normal bud- ber B. Julie Wilson who has Broadway adt, get; in Hollywood they cost not never starred on
more than £60,000 apleco-despite her London popularity which counts as petty cash takes over Drury Lane's No. there. No box-office names are 1_dressing-room on November required.
The two current specimens at A lunch-time the other day the London Pavilion have not the agencles
made a deal of worth of seats over been submitted to the critics,
£100,000 "We wouldn't dare ask the the
next Beven months a critics to see them; we should longer period than their deal' be roasted alive," says the elne-when the show first opened. nu spokesman frankly,
THE THING from another world....STRANGE w OR L D........RED PLANET MARS.... Have you bean ticed by the title of these new style cinema attractions? Some of you must have been; there are full houses at every show- ing.
Here is the latest menace to stardom, especially in Holly- wood. These pseudo-scientifle
I
The other night in her dress- ing-room, Miss Martin met her successor for the first time. report that the meeting was in-
(World Copyright Reserved.-London
straight away. motto for his employers, who farrugas of nonsense can be de★ Mary Martin, Broadway's peccably cordial.
Which leads me to pat a whole host of readers on the backt. For last
year
Peter
Cottle, stand-in for this page, asked you to pick a fim cast for the Rattigan piece,
He can afford to be frank.
PACIFIC MEETING.
top musical comedy star, have a good bargain on their livered off the assembly-line for leaves South Pacific on Novem- Express Service.)
week, hands at about £50 a with long-term options. They should say: Next Time Is Some Time Ahead. Take It Easy To- day.
QUIET, PLEASE
acclama-
You recall the
tions for Gloria Swanson
The same qualities can be atct to have gone into every role of his that comes to mind,
over her come-back picturé, from
"The Seventh Vell" to Do you remember who was Sunset Boulevard? The feting "Rommel".
first choice for the batsman? when, she followed up the pic- Personal
nal valet to the British Jack Warner. We're wailing ture with a visit to London?
Ankara an for our ten per cent Ambassador in
commis- It was tlic fabulous Miss Albanian naturalised English-sion.
Swanson's moment of triumph; craving
yet whether I hope she made the most of it. ambition. "the very best of the "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" will For her second plature of the gentlemen's gentlemen" deter-be the Alin of the year, but re-
new era has just crept quietly ruined to be a gentleman,
ports Indicate that Ava Gardner into London not a passion- and Gregory Peck enjoy the kiss tearing ente this time, but Moyalsch's novel "Operation of the year in this Hemingway modest little comedy called Cicero", adapted for the screen | movie.
For Bedroom C.
man.
a man
with
We don't know
by Michael Wilson, is actually It seems that on the set filmed in Ankura, the where during the war docu-Hildegarde Neff clung to Mr Peck а Hiille Jonger Than was ments of Allied strategy marked "Mest Secret" and "Toy Secret" necessary. She upologised: "I'm converged like Iron slings on a sorry-but Gregory didn't give
the signal to cut off."
and
magnet, And 171 Turkey's
ambassadors Istanbul, diplomats forgathered In the
city built for spics!
But for the spice which makes film of otherwise straight- forward treachery cherchez la femmet Darrieux is
was
the
Peck thought it woman's place to call a bait. His other feminine stars disagreed. Sald Ava Gardner: "Of course cuts off the it's the man who
the
The trade have seen the film. but not the critics. The British distributors would like a-West- End season, but no offers have In the picture, come so far. Miss Swanson plays a star at the zenith of her career; in real life, perhaps she is finding that chancy affairs. screen comic-backs are
Hollywood Says: 'No More Like Zis' For Us
900
MIOHELINE PROBLE
VALLI
VALENTINA CONTELE'
The three beautiful and talented stars from Europe you see above had profes. sional stilettos plunged into their pretty backs by Hollywood recently--and have good reason to believe there has been some let-down somewhere.
STILL TRYING Diana Dors, 21-year-old kiss, the coward." Said Susan ex-dumb blende of British
sensitive players who had Parisienne Danicile Hayward: "If women don't let films, is still determined to
They get the blame from one Shapely talent grown locally and
already
worth. proved their a will be signed instead." the femme fatale ment know when to stop, think
Coming thus shame her former studio major change in pelley, Says
from Hollywood, But Hollywood's idea of a Con- who deals some pretty high acca of the working time we'd lose." She is an actress - and of the biggest studios for until the final shots in Rio reveal Jean Peters was a half-and-
employers.
"No which promoted Garbo and tinental giri's talents in 1952. alfer "Both the man and the
the Hollywood Reporter: a trump card,
The big Dors night carlier more
promising talent from the Dietrich and Bergman from good is more inclined to concentrate woman seem to realise when this year---when she got most Continent will be signed And one thing that
into, world- on garters and necklines does for
by European actresses tline is up.”
of the cheers at a West
renowned stars, the 'Cicero' of the' Blm is to
End Twentieth Century Films.
this is en sincerity, skill, and personality. rescue his samaulent sense of
Would
have thought the revue premiere-ruther Azzled They are disappointed with astounding confession of defeat, They tried to turn these
Into Americanised Can-Can censor would have the last word, out: the show caine aft before the fallure of Michelino Presle, writes Leonard Mosley. * humour-or does it, along with his sanity, obliterate it forever? is ruling, however, is that a the flim bosses had time to be Valentina Cortese, and Alida When these three went to girls and falled. — LEONARD One guesses.
kiss can be as long as breath | shamed,
Valil to build into big stars. Hollywood they 'were tender MOSLEY,
Verdict: Good-very good-but not outstanding,
holds out-as long as It stays But now Jack Hylton has en- decent. So now you know. gaged Miss Dors for the lead-
The Three Make Strange Set-Fellows
| LEONARD MOSLEY At The Films
thea
three
STILL THEY THRILL TO
AN OLD MAGIC
London. South Bank after a nosi
usual gim premiere.
They tell me that when Cecil B, de Mille was mak- ing his last film he had scene in which a leper walks through the market place and all the people rush up to him crying: "Unclean Unclean!"
of
De Mille was determined that no one should forget this striking passage dialogue, so he had it typed and mimeographed-and copy handed to all extras.
But the elves got into vital the typewriter`and a syllable was left out. When
Keaton, von
sigra
un-Douglas Fairbanks sen, was "a whizz of an action actor"--and AII, FAIRBANKS
to find that the best moments It was the opening night of of Greta Garbo touch the heart the new Telecinema, a pletura of a girl not yet 20 years old,
to showing It is nice for one's pride theatre dedicated
for i means that we 30 and the cinema's classics and epica. 40-year-olds were not wrong in What we had seen was a pro-thinking Garbo was great and gramine mainly composed of
But old-time aims and old-time stars Kenton was excruciating.
Garbo, Gish, Pickford, Fair it also confirms the fact that banks, Langdon.
Valentino, these old-time films were pret- ty considerable pleces of work, von Stroheim.
bullt (as someone onco sald of Most of the audience were
more the female figure) to last.. too young to have seen
AI, MARLENE than one or two of the before. I expected thom to Henceforth the Telecinema give the leper treatment to will devote itself to acting as a these archale relics, and waited repertory picture house for Bel- old for their hoots at the quaint fain, showing not only antics of old-fashioned people. clossles but the latest develop- But, like do Millo, I got aments in cinema TV and stereo-
• On the Shepperton set: Wilcox, Olivier, and Brook * Everything ja 'orgued out?", sald Wilcor
surprise. He heard his extras scople films..
Is experimental work is fas- WITTI visitors carefully fireworks are working together Peter is the director on the floor the scene began the extras crying "Uncle" Instead of “Un-
eu-cinating. *
barred (by Laurence on "The Beggar's Opera, and we help him with our ex- raced up to the leper all clean" and I heard my
dience cheering instead of Jeor- But nothing,..nothing that is Olivier, who profers to keep his The result is high tension film perience-but we don't want right but instead
tho new caresses audience for the theatre) a maiding. It is Poter Brook's first to corrupt his ideas,"
tla a wonderful thing to pleasingly as the fight of Mary What about the unlikely screaming execrations they most unusual trio is making a picture. After a score of stage most unusual film at Shopper successes, ho how directs Olivier meeting Spring-In-Fark- fell down on their knees. Vedlecover that the great films of Pickford once more being the ton studios."
and has Glivier plus Wilcox se lane Wilcox and "Hamlet" fore him and cried: "Uncle!he past stand up to the honest, coy Pollyanna, of Garbo
the Boyer. searching, wary eyes of
rapnumentally Olivier? "Well," вадя Wilcox: Herbert Wilcox the know- producers.
present generation.
tragle. together, of Dietrich. It is a moving experience to singing in that carthy every-trick showman; Olivier I asked for a progress report. "Larry is a low-brow and Uncle!" the West End theatre squire Wilcox summed up: "Of course, a high-brow, so wo get along
and that a 10-year-old boy alt- while, dangling those and Peter Brook, 27-year-old we have divergences of views fino.?
ting hext to you thinks that legs. director with a flair for glago but we argue everything out.
+
01
-(London Express: Servico)
of
ing.
This story came back into my mind when I came out of the National Film Theatre on the
"being"
Bensc
volco conmia
.Page
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