1958-05-03 — Page 14

Jane, 12, skips happily among

the stars

"GOLL

66 VOLLY "wald the star of one of the biggest record experiments since the invention of the photograph, "this is fun!" She yankeil up her ankle-socks, thon sucked her finger.

No, the star wasn't enter. ing her second childhood ...she is still in her first. Jane Asher, who has been chosen by a record company to play, the leading role in their version of Alice in Wonderland, is only 12 years 'old.

The rest of the cast of Alec #prawled around on steel-und- canvas chairs in the Hampstead boys' club-emverted into a recording sludio by the invish ure of heavy, soundproof drapes, an array of microphones, and a

chalk-marked floor.

RECORDS

ROBERT TEE

breaths. She looked so much like Allee that it was almost un- bellevable. We hoped that she would sound as good too,

This he indicated the recording session with a sweep of his hand, “... is the result."

My Us told me more about the recording. It will take up two L.F. records, giving a total playing-time of around one-and- a-half hours.,

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1958.

BOOK PAGE

uncovers a strange romance set against the background of a best seller

NOW THE LAST SECRET

OF A STIRRING LOVE

STORY IS OUT

TN the garish foyer of a big London cinema I have just come across the last.

chapter in one of the strangest love stories of our time. The sad, true love atory of the novelist Winifred Holtby.

Do you remember Winifred Holtby? Do you remember the success of her But the unique technical point Yorkshire novel SOUTH RIDING when it was first published a few months

is that Alice is being recorded in stereophonic sound—a procesa so far restricted to large or- chestral recordings.

In a success?

"Just listen to this," said Mr Usil. He played back part of the record ing through two loudspeakers.

The effect was remarkable.

I

The names-from the stage, TV, films, and radio-were, im- pressive. People like Margaretta Scott, Jon Wallace, Margaret Rawlings, and Deryck Guyler. could almost sce Alice, the Mad Ant in the midst of the Hatter and other characters veterans sat the lttle girl with moving about the room as they the long, red-gold hair who had spoke. been "discovered" only six weeks before this four-day-long

was due recording session take place,

after her tragic death? .

Bist I was Abdication year. while the knowing ones were al- ready whispering about the problema of the new King, room was found in the headlines for praise of South Riding,

It was made into a film. Edna Best was the novel's Left-wing schoolteacher, Samlı Burton. Ralph Richardson was Corne, the Tory squire whom Sarah loves, part of Corne's small The daughter was played by a girl called Glynis Johns.

of The normal LP. version to Alice in Wonderland

will be issued in July. The stereophonic

An executive of the recording company, dark, dapper Harley Usili, tossed his copy of the script on to a chair and told 1732

"For Ihres years we have wearched for the right girl

play Allge

"Then, a few weeks ago, naw Jane Asher and held

JAZZ

version will come later.

Stage-struck

and,

1

by ROBERT PITMAN

sonnels. begun.

more..

had

My long and painful expert. Together in a saloon bar near And what is the present work endo has taught me this that Victoria Station, Harry and 1 of this former scholar? On' a Damion can become friend chatted about books, about Sunday afternoon, when you ship. I don't say without religion, about Winifred Holtby. perhaps are still yawning follow. heartache-yes, and a physical Harry sipped at his stout. He ing your after-lunch drowse,

Bald:

When I first knew her Harry will be back on duty at she was a very, gay sort of per- the place where I first found son, full of humour...

hloi. "In the foyer of a cinema in Victoria, where he works as a commissionaire.

But already the story was beginning to end. Winifred Holtby was only 33, but she was already dying: In 1933 a specialist told her that she hat Bright's' disease,, and could not live for more than another two years,

Then

"I think humour Is the great thing. God's great gift," But then she got among such Intense, serious-minded, people. Too serious-minded for me.” Harry is turned 10. But he la stili upright and slim. It is easy to see that this was the man who could win a woman's life-long devotion.

He said:

The love story had of his amused blue eyes once Slowly the years went by. But it did not continue quite

Winifred WAS determined as other love stories do. When Wingred Holtby,

novels to prove the doctors wrong She became in de She had another novel to write, war ended, Harry did not ask published. Winifred to marry him. He did mand as a journalist. She was By summer 1935 she had fought not even take up his scholarship * made a director of Time and through pain and weakness to I said: "Did you marty any- at Cambridge, Full, of vague Tide. But she could not forget Anith it..

suddenly the one. later?" The blue eyes dreams and ideals he drifted Harry. Even when, on an Im- grasp of liness tightened. Barely glinted with fun. from one occupation to another, pulse, he joined the R.A.F. an conscious

she lay in a London "No, never-thank the Lord." He did some writing. He took a an aircraftman and was sent out nursing home. Continually sho job as a tutor in Mexico. to Peshawar in India in the naked for Harry.

same squadron as an A/C Shaw, And Winifred? At Oxford who WAB Ala known she was establishing her reputa- Lawrence of Arabia. ton as a hard-hitting feminist Fondly Winifred dedicated her happy, she turned her head to different from other people's.

next novel "To a philosopher in her mother and sald: When He told me: "Nowadays ro- arid Intellectual.

to get married. It's just an dama If, I can't' bring myself ió went understanding” between us...

In the saloon bor our conver- sation continued. I soon learned

At last he came, For hours, that here was a man whose he sal beside her. Ethereally standards of success were utterly

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"An extraorutuary feature of the character of Lord Derby W49. that he never had a bet. This fact, so izange in a very great racing more puzzlod many. people, Including myself, One, day, to satisfy my curiosity, I asked him point-blank why he did not bef..

But in the evenings she would Peshawar who said he wanted I'm better Harry and I are going ligion is my ́chlef interest-only, "He told me that when he WOS ·

something to read.n.

her

And beyond dedications,

accept the Creed:"

We talked about. E. Lawrence. In his East York-

voice. Harry sold; stdre "I knew him well. He lent me books and discussed them, with

a

the

In: young ofleer Grenadier Guarda ho became deeply involved with money. lenders as a result, of heavy lasses on the Turf, "He dared not tell his father, the sixteenth carl; who, ho believed, would not have extricated him from his difaculties.

MOVING STORY The Hille girl in the blue dress THEN in 1940 the public learn- et more about the woman adjusted her Allee-band with the help of her agent, told who wrote South Riding. The to me that she lived in Wimpole moving story of her life was told Street with her physician father, by her friend Vera Brittain in we her mother. her 14-year-old TESTAMENT OF FRIENDSHIP. 1 by the reside in her room. our brother Peter-he is also a child

Even today, after 10 years, With eyes sparkling with tears actor and sister Clare, aged

she would read aloud the Years later when Harry re- But there was no marriage. thousands who read Teridact nine.

of Friendship will still remember sonnets Harry had once written turned from his R.A.F. servlee A few hours later, with eyes

Bitterly she searched Jane

has been stage-struck is account of Winifred Holtby's for her.

the memories of those wartime the successful Winifred Holtby closed in content, Winifret still waiting for A friend of hopeless love for a man named

him. Holtby was dead.. since she was five,

days.

irresolutely, charmingly, he Peter Harry? the family saw her and

me. STILL SELLS act.

hurt she began to move in and out of her dressing-up, pretending to

Hod Harry been That love begani among the She thought they were good,

"But his troubles, were his The friend advised: Toke doppled uplands of East York- asked herself-because she once life once more.

laughed at his poems and called

BUT her memory did not die. shire, where Whilfred atiti

own fault, you know; He was a them to an agent.

South Riding, which she left bit daft, I mean, fancy suddenly "In his despair, Lord Derby Harry were childhood friends, them sentimental?

to manuscript sold 120,000 coples appearing in

raised a Service mess Winifred was now a teli and

between hardcovers, extremely That started it. Since the age They

clever. Winifred

dressed in Arab costume. Well. has played smalt bright and of six Jane

golden hair. She was the heir shines. The air is full of a It is on the booksialls today the chops would think, "Who's parts in such telelims as Robin passed an exam, for Oxford, striking woman with a glow of mem Harry's bus.

this wog?' And it they aniti food, The Buccaneera and in Hary, a publle schoolboy, won to considerable wealth. She had flerce frosty brightness. I have, as a paperback (Fontana, 21. Bd.)..

a brilliant scholarship to Cam great charm: THELONIUS MONK: "Dri-children's films.

But she did not written across my heart; I will The small fortune it made in anything to him he would be bridge.

marry. She remained faithful not be dismayed, (London LTZ-U. ani Corners"

And the royalties and Alm-rights went likely to reply with a joke In "But," said her agent, "this is 10097; 12in. L.) *** Is he her biggest thing yet. It could But he did not no lo Com. to the dreamer from the York curious result is that, at the partly to Winifred's literary exe Greek. He was a difficult man

it come home by a short head. "Mad Monk" or a potential jazz really make her."

thire Wolds, bridge. He went off to the

moment, I am not. After all, it cutor. Vera Brittain, but mostly to like."

He never made another bet." great? The argument «üit rages. A volce rang out from the trenches of World War I instead When she heard that he had is loving and not being loved to charity. .M

Later, as I drove him back to ...from LIFE'S A GAMBLE but I find the 37-year-old New

to another that is the vitalising experience

And Harry? He wandered off his lodgings In Camberwell, by Colonel, the Hon. 'F, "II. York rebel of the piano fascin-speaker in the hall. "Let's take And in 1918 he returned to become engaged

After woman abroad, she spent nights

another Yorkshire wounded.

she again.

For years he was not Horry talked about his present Cripps. Colonel. “Fred”. Chippy, atlar to hear on file latest from Speech 134, pleme."

that was And

But lying face downwards in what wrote:-

heard of:

recently I work, He said: "I think it brother to the not, always "poy dise. Especially his subile solo

almost a curtsy, "Alice" skipped Harry stayed at Winifred's she luter described as "seating "I love every tone of his learned that quite by chance sults me better than anything Str Stafford, here tells the version of "I Surrender Dear."

her Wonderland to say: spacious home. She dressed bis agony." When Be returned, kway

voley, every movement of his Vera-Brittain had come across I've ever done. My only coin- mięndid story of his own rệu He wrote unmarried and по longer

hands. And I wouldn't pot. him in London, Then, after a "Blues "Oh dear! He takes me for his wounded shoulder.

plaint is I don't get enough time markable and rollicking, life, love him for anything... search, I managed to trace him. to read books."

(Odhama, 254). and Vanilla" (R.C.A. RD.27023; housemaid. Oh dear!"

DISCS

By NOEL GOODWIN

JACK MONTROSE:

·

12in. - LP), *** In 29-year-

ok Jack Montrose, tenor-saxlat

from Detroit, you will flad one

of the livellest ertative writers

in Jazz, as well, s a lyrical sotoint. Ofte side of this disc has five sparkling arrangements for quintet, with drummer

Shelley Manns and Red Norvo on vibes both -sirikingly good,

"For

THE JAZZPICKERS: Moderns Only" (EmArcy. EJL. 1205; 12in. LP.) *** Texan- born Harry Babasin. 1eader of the Jazzplokors, was the Dra; to play Jazz on a 'erilo. Joined by Buddy Collette's flute, Bob Harrington cn vibes and rhythm support. Babasin, pro- vides a novel-sounding assori- ment of 12 numbers which swing along, most attractively..

TOP POPS

By JOHN LAMBERT

*** TOMMY STEELE: "Pra- Dess" (Decca). I know that "Happy, Guliar" will be the biggest hit from the new Steele film. But this is a far better song. Alas, It is too good for Tommy. His cronky, untrained voice is badly shown up by song that needs Sinatra smooth- zes. Bill, it is a very pleasant record.

·

•

2

***** DINAH SHORE: **T*11 Never Say Never Again' Azala” (1.0.A.), Dinah ja iho sort of minger I call isten to again and again and again. The wong In not irresistible, but her stylish warbling will win you over, Sle I warm, witty, and wonderful. TOP RATING: FIVE STARS

IN SHORT

QIX STUDIES IN QUARREL,

An intriguing view of six public and private quarrels between doven angry, but far from young, men; Shaw, Wells, Henry Arthur Jones Heary James, Coulton, Belloc, Chesterton, Their bril- ilance will delight you, their 'childishness may give you com- | fort.

SAMPLE. (Wella on Belloç): *I realised long ago that his apparent arrogance is largely the protection of a fundamen- tally",Inghtened man. He is a stout fellow in a fun He je the sort of man who talks "loud | and fust for fear of hearing the other side.” (Cetari, 211),

with a bob

were both

Ther a sequence

of tender love engaged, she fell under the spell

VIGNETTES OF LIFE

"LET'S BE NOBLE, AND 'SELECT THE ONÉS WE DON'T LIKE !

"GOSH, THERE ARENT ANY WE

DON'T LIKE!“

MOTHER'S DA

MAY 12:14

"WE WOULD LIKE A BUNCH OF FLOWERS, PLEASE/"

"DID YOU

HAPPEN TO BRING A

HAMMER"

"LOOK WHAT THE BABY! GAVE ME FOR

MOTHER'S DAY? *

ITS A SURPRISE TO DAREY TOo.

LOOKS LIKE MS GOING

TO SE

DILLY,

Of one of his visits she wrote. to Vera Brittain (who, by the disguises Harry's name in her book): "I must go and

way,

"HAPPY

MOTHER'S

DAY, DEAR /*

The sun

Good Intentions

CÓPL. THEY BY GRZERAL FEATURES A 'CORP, TM WORLD RIGHTS LISRAVID, : "

THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. SENDING THE GIRLS. TO"

DINNER AND THE MOVIES.

WANE WE BABYSIT/./

many thousands of pounds to put on a horse us

inst throw. Placing a co

- volver in his pocket, Interd

ing to blow his brains out if the horse did not come in he went on the course, and saw

BY HARRY WEINERT

DON'T YOU LIPTA FINGER TODAY WE DO THE

COOKING — WHERE

ARE THE

ONIONS ? wh

"CONGRATULATIONS!

JUST IN TIME. A FOR A MOTHER'S DAY PRESENTI”

WE PUT ALL OUR CLOTHES AWAYAN MADE! THE BEDS AU'.

-AN WE MORPED HE BATHROOM

COOK

BOOK