1957-01-11 — Page 4

When Sir John Gielgud.

GIRLGUD

meets

WIDMARK

Mr. Widmark

by JOHN LAMBERT

and Pamela iwo of

our

Brown

Anest

"I THINK the best way to Tulln become a star on the stage is to appear in one saccess young store... but, alos, they ful play and follow it up with are not very strong," three flops. The public will say you are wonderful in the success, the critics will say

Widmarkt pondered the prob- lem of having a star career and a home life too," was lucky. I had a wife and family before

you are wonderful in the went to Hollywood. And 18 flops, and after that you do what you like."

can

ing.

T is Sir John Gielgud, Britain's most elegant theatre knight, speak-

And such was the straight talk that emerged when Sir John met Mr Richard Wid- mark, firmest-jawed of Hollywood's tough guys.

It was the strangest first meeting since that now famous Olivier-Monroe alliance.

years on the stage, before I went Into flims, had given me à pro- fessional outlook on SUCCESS. But others aren't so lucky,

Snags to fame

"Robert Mitchum, for instance,

nice fellow to have as n

neighbour. He has a nice wife and nice kids, and I would rate ki

sold eltizen. 45 a

But when he's away from home be gels dragged into all sorts of trouble 1t's hard for me 15

recognise that sort of hell-raiser as my friendly neighbour.

"There 1: another Actor 1 much admire Who is 110W 6 drunk. He's a wonderful charac-

time.

but he drinks all the

The gloss of Gielgud and ter, and can still memorise a the growl of Widmark script quicker than anyone 1 should produce the most know, contrasting co-starring com- bination for 1957. They are to appear together in the of "Saint screen version Joan."

But after listening to

Ten years ago he was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood

I guess

success just hit. hit in the bead."

Gielgud notided. "I think it's particularly difficult for young-

their crosstalk for an hour 1 sters. who suddenly becoine

wonder whether they

really such opposites.

In the saddle

are

Sald Widmark, after the handshakes at Shepperton Studios: "I jumped at the chance of being in this pic- ture because it's going to be auch a change of pace for me. My last film was one of those Westerns in the wide open spuces of Cinema Scope."

Was

Sir John

envious. "I would love to de a Westem." he said. "But I'm hopeless at riding a horse. When i was

*Julius Caesar' they got me in the saddle for procession actre,

Hollywood

making

"I had to ride only four yards, but I was so abysmally bad at it that they tied a plece of cotton from my horse

frent. the one

And even then I finished up with all norta of doubles standing in for me."

In

stars," he said. "I suppose Jean Seberg, who plays St Joon in this Alm, will find the snags to fame.

"I must ray I had my doubts about her being in this film, .... But I was really impressed wh Jean Seberg when met,

"She

We

seemed simple and direct and sincere. I was touch- ed with her honesty when she told me that she had never even been backstage in a big theatre.

Olto Preminger, the director, can get her natural qualities into the film, I don't think we need worry too much about her mexperieren."

Widmark grinned. "Well, at least she will be using her own personality, not somebody else's, Se many young actors around Hollywood only stern to do bud take-offs of Brando

or soms

T

THE CHINA MAIL,

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1957.

"INDEPERDEM

**If only he'd make us the 49th Stato---

at least we'd' have

a U.S. vote..."

THE MAN WHO HAS NO FAITH IN THE UNITED NATIONS

0

ETHEL SIMPSON, who recently visited Egypt, Israel and Jordan, discusses here the latest book on Nasser.

are by no means clean in Israel, and there are many things that some of them would prefer to

NE important man 1. "No major alatesman has Although the Jews' hands

agreed with Sir gold as often as Nasser has: I Anthony Eden on the don't bellevo. In the

United Nations:... rapidity with which the

2. "One factor Influences Middle East could be trans. Nassar in the bold line be aces forgot, this attack is grossly formed should an Israel with Britain, Egyptians regard For Sparrow apparently has Egypt war break out. Who both Sir Amhony Eden and Mr never been to Israel to find out was that? Colonel Gamal They admit that both men have one can give an accurate and Selwyn Lloyd as mediocrities, the truth for himself. And no Abdul Nasser, President of charm, sincerity and experience, fair analysis of such no in- Egypt.

but they see them both as cau- volved and long aggravated

pares. friend and foe alike to read er

This lapse aside, Mr Sparrow in the book "The Sphinx

tell very vividly of the 3. Nasser, speaking to foreign rebirth of Egypt, of all the Awakes," an authoritative newspapermen about the Bagh machinations and Intrigues and description of the Nasser re- dad Peet and Israel'e rearma- resurgence of nationalism in the gime in Egypt, by Gerald was told to look to the Middle East, and the blueprint United Nations and the Tri- Sparrow, former

for the inter partite Declaration, but frankly.

"desperate political battle national lawyer and judge, have no faith in them. Tho

looming ahead for control 109 of Amb oll," and a life-long student of whole situation could be turned

Dominating the whole pictaro upside down before either of

Es Egypt and Arab affairs,

Nasser "Friend or foe, here is them took any action. In any Although it covers events case, decisions of the United man to reckon with, up to Nasser's grab of the Nations have

who means to play a great role In the grand manner," Suez Canal, it was written enforced...."

writes Sparrow. In the comparative peace

"Before I hot been a week and calm before the crisis of

in Calro I reallsed that Nasser the past weeks.

na that strange mixture of

His views are given for tlous, unimaginative men, fol- situations in 11

I rather than lending world'

Sparrow, in all innocence of what was so shortly to come, has three comments of major significance:-

"The Sphinx Awakes" by Gerald Sparrow, published by Robert Hale,

Price $78.

COLIN LAWSON, flying home from Russia,

phones a despatch he could not send from Moscow

PER VUXHIN

BULGANIN

KIRICHENKO

THE

HERE

រំង

Brussels.

other big star, They seem to the Communist Party, high- have gone overboard for

method style practised in the Russin.

this est policy-making body" in New York Actors' Studio,"

The big

tug

of

war

MOLOTOV

MALENKOY

\KAGANOVITCS

WINNER-MALENKOV?

never been

What a shock!

a man

What a shock It must have determination, intuitive vision been to the Egyptian dictator to be to make a political leader of and deep conviction which com→ and that the "unimaginative" the calibre of Kemal Ataturk." Eden not only saw the situation In exactly the same light, but by France, on the battlefeld per- swooping swiftly, backed by formed the coup d'etat of which Nasser himself is so fond.

The charmer

This man, who was an ob- scure army officer a few years has 60 many facets. for instance,

And how he must have gritted ago, his teeth as he saw, thanks to Sparrow tells us, Eden, the despised United of Nasser, the charmer (only Nations at last becoming effecode VIP from Britain did not

fall completely for his tremen- doyy personal charm)....

Nasser, the born revoullonary (he has studied

revolutionary technique for years)....

tive on his territory to boot.

And while Nasty is today. on the face of it, laying down the law to the UNO, two other comments by Sparrow on this Issue are worthy of note, again

Nasser, the reformer (he has bearing in mind that they were pushed through an amazing written

reforms some time ago. Firs. amount of

in his country).... he tells us:--

"Nasser will work, patiently.

Nasser,

the British-bater for years if necessary, 10 (even as a small boy he tells us achieve his Arab unity, and a

his

Mein Kampf, which is The propitious moment, he and included in an appendix to the his allies will try to wipe out book, he used to shout when he : the new Israel Sinte. If the saw planes in the sky: "Oh, Secretary-General of UNO

or God

Almighty! Would that a

in

President Elsenhower think calamity betake the Eng- otherwise they are grievously

mistaken, There is no longer an If in Nasser's mind. Only a when and how."

Then he adds:

"Egypt may have, expedient ly, to bów to United Nations pressure and, from time to ilme, shelve her vendelta (with Israci) but she will never drop it. Nor will the Arab League tolerate the State of Israel indefnitely.

Israel hated

sh), ...,

Nasser, the ambilleus, whose burning dream is to revive the glories of ancient Egypt, oust. the West and unite the whole of the Arab world under his leadership.

There is, too, Nasser the cun- ning, out to take advantage of every cleavage in the

Big The Nasser who sees Powers, that "wherever British influence wanes the Americans edge a well-heeled shoe through "the- open dcor," who pers Brilain, the U.S. and Russia, restrain- by fear of the nuclear IL may be that out of the ed by

bomb, Nasser and the events

other

each other "watching like hawks," with Arab Iraders

the will have to

result that he "fecla free to develop change their views, and peace at last will come to the Midd East. But even the Brahan See couldn't forecast that ope curately.

ac-

his plans and defy any attempt by the Great Powers to regulate hls conduct,"

Didn't work

Sparrow ends by Asking whether Egypt and Britain can ever be friends, and in his final paragraph suggests that there

Sparrow, who has an obvious regard for Egypt, confesses that he was "shocked" by the #deep and abiding hatred, felt groundwork of the next Five Who would get the vacancy? Malenkov is fully aware oby all the Egyptian leaders for trouble Year Plan, although the Sheploy, the Foreign Minister, the unrest which is sweeping Israel."

or Mndome Ekaterina Furtseva, Russia, and he believes in an again in the Krem- present plan is only begin- only woman probationary mem- appeasement policy, a let-the-shocked at what Sparrow has is a chance "but the initiative

Personally I am even mor lin-a deep split in ning its second year.

ber for the Presidium? Furt people-buy programme.

to say about the Jews

would have to come from u3," the Presidium of

seva is a Krushchev fan, Shepl-

For in one brief chapter he "We should have to drop all Opposing them is Malen- lov is uncommitted.

This, he argues, is the only out-Nassers Nasser and makes our prejudices. We should have kov, for years the protege of

way to stem the rising tide of one of the most savage indict to forget that we were recently It became obvious while I bitter criticism by Stalin, who leads a group was in Moscow that the Presi- students, and intelligentsin.

youth, ments of the Jews and Israet lords In Egypt. One of DEL

leaders would have to. there consisting of

ever published. Molotov, dlum was in trouble on major NOW, on my way back to Kaganovitch, Suslov,

and say, quite simply: "Let us But the deepest division lies and polley matters. A meeting of

Quoting chapter and verse be friends, Britain, I can write about it. Saburov.

Communist Party's 120 in foreign affairs. All the signs with all the punch at his com

This pious hope overlooks I was not allowed to send

strong Central

point to Malenkov as the ad-mand, he sets out to prove that just one thing." Committee,

It has been of a tough, Stalln-line the Jews, by denying the eivl, tried before (when, for instance, Suslov's job is a key one. which sees that Presidium de polley. This explains the sledge- personal, political and almost Britain withdrew from the Suez any news of it, from MoscOW

cisions are implemented, was

hommer attacks on Hungary. "Methods!" exploded Gielgud. every reference to the He is the chief liaison be twice postponed. "Maybe Widmarkt chuckled.

every other right of the Arabs Canal Zone), It didn't work L's just as well.

Otherwise "Oh, how tired I am of young Presidium was slashed by tween the Kremlin and all

The Malenkov-Molotov ne within their borders, are per- then. And, when such a dan- you might have spent the rest alors who go in for that sort the censor.

foreign Communist parties. And when finally it was held is that the Communist empire petrating exactly the same evils gerous turncoat ns Nasser is in- I tell them there

only were will of your days in the saddle. of thing.

He was due to go to Rome economic questions

disintegrate if the satel-committed against thematives volved, there is no reason to ex- discussed. The trouble with Hollywood cannot be a guaranteed "method"

NOW I can say that a for the Italian party con-

Iites are given too much free-in Nazi Germany.

pect that it ever will, in that once un actor succeeds of neting,

massive battle for power be- gress, but was refused en-

dom. tween hard-drinking Nikita try by the Italian Govern-. Krushchev and tough, plump ment, Georgi Malenkov is about to reach its climax.

will it.

Impersonation

at something he gets stuck "What it amounts to usually Is a slavish impersonation of some other actor's personality. I know I have had to watch some terrible impersonations of myself!"

"Producers believe in milking a gimmick dry. I know. In my first year in Hollywood 1 made aix films in which I had to be dough, tough, tough....all the time, I nearly went mad."

1

Home life

I asked Sir John what his plans for the future were. Ho looked at me in astonishment. "do seldom know," he plained.

ex-

Casu

Compromise

་

It would have been his job to explain away to the Italian Reds the Hungarian tragedy and the recent Polish "revolt."

Saburov. has just left the Krushchev leads the com- job now held by Pervukhin. promise wing of the Pre But do not take this as sidium. He is supported by demotion-with no depart Bulganin and Mikoyan, the mental responsibilities Sabu- crafty Armenian trade ex- rov is free to work for "Our trouble is that our lead-

Gielgud left Richard pert who survived all purges Malenkov. ind actresses, Ilke Peggy Widmark sold: "There goes a under Stalin and who now Ashcroft and Cella Johnson, dedicated man....I guess that's wields almost as much power want much more than a stage the difference between us,

as Krushchev,

"But I am definitely going to opera for Covent pose, that is the way to establish Garden. I love, trying new

Gleigua agreed, “But I sup- direct K

things,"

a star in, Hollywood.

career, They are determined to

deem to grow up as strangers to

us.

generation--but it means that

In Trouble

the

AVOGRE)

Tough Policy

vocale

Which may explain a Pravda anticlo violently attacking Polish writer's criticism of

Sald

but

An

Communist

which would mean a Malenkov no such thing as

Pravda: **There

was

Another meeting of the Cen. Stalinism and advocating trol Committee is due in Jan- independent udry. Ir changes in the Poland. hierarchy are to be made -

Stalinism. triumph- this will be the all- Stalin was a fine pupil of Marx important one,

and made Bome economy are the two major mat-

Foreign affairs and home mistakes, that's all." ters which lave caused the spill,

and Lenin

Break-up ?

Kmushchev and Co. advocate a policy of progressive improVE This is about the first good

ment and supply in consumer thing written about Stalin since goods, but not at the expanse of his damunelation by Krushchev Heavy Industry meeting itussia's at the 20th Party Congress. ecmmitments in the Communist Behind it could be the cunning bloc.

hard of Molotov, supported by ,,... Malenkovi

Krushchov, however, helloves the break-up chunger of the Red greater it a tough empire is policy la continued. Ho fours more revolls on the Hungarian

lead full lives as wives and "His sort of talent comes Also in support are mothers and women as well, once, or maybe twice, in a Kirichenko, party boss of the

"They argue that to remain a m world Power Rusels must be They don't want reir chil- he gives his whole to to it." all-important Ukraine,, and The eleventh member of industrially powerful, an exam-

Pervukhin, recently appoint tile Preslalum is Voroshilov, pie to the satellites and inde them so they will only act for He shrugged his shoulders. "ed us top chairman of the President of the Soviet pendent Red China, about three months a year." haven't got that sort of dedica". State Economic Commission, Unioni; He is now a feoblo Immediate mass production, pa

pattern. tion. Or that sort of talent, which is charged with over- old man with no power and of goods for the people. Is--. As I left Moscow-the. Cold "How about your younger: But I have no regrets because I actresses?” netcock Widmark. went so many other things out all economic planning for could be removed from the Gielgud looked worried, "They of life too. And I'm happy be- the new year and has been Presidium by whichever nom to, ko so fruil,

cause I think I have them," ordered to prepare the group triumphs,

youred by Malenkov, in this Wor was almost as freezing ar cow diplomats spoke to, was the present bottle in the ∙ho le say Ruslans and in Stalin's day. It cannot thaw

more realistic than Krushchev, ⠀ Kremlin has been doolded."

"Cornflakes taste.

so much better with brown sugar on, Mummy"

TAIKOO

ゲーム

IGAR

It makes all

the difference.

TAIKOO SUGAR

SOFT BROWNH

1

1