1961-09-04 — Page 6

The film of The Book: by Mr.

Fry?

THE CHINA MAIL,

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1981.

ENGLISHMEN LOSE

OUT TO CHESS MISS SCILLA GABEL is a fusclous Roman beauty who has come to England to appear in a film, Village of Daughters, Opposite Eric Sykes, thus reversing the current trend which is for English gitis to go to Rome to appear, ist Eilers opponite Hercules. What has brought Miss Gabel to London to make her z ma? "In Italy," she told me, "it Is very difficult to become a star unless you are the girl friend of a big producer. This profer not to be.". Indeed, Milis Cabel is somewhat suspicious of man in general. Rather than go out with 'mon who are uninteresting to me," she declared, "I stay at home and play chass." It does not say very much for Englishmen that of The 20 days Miss Cabel has been in London, 16 have been spent at home playing chess.

THOMAS WISEMAN'S

Limelight

WHEN Christopher Fry went to Rome to twarfs and Amazone, and Mr

work on the script of Ben-Hur-and Arthur Miller married Marilyn Monroe-one felt possibly the contemporary playwright posed to too many distracting influences.

He

that

was ex-

Since 1954 Mr Fry has not het nes play its Lainen. has written anther movle eple,six days, and on

krabb

und.

according to day the audience could even

rumour, was now seriously con- siering doing a im version of the entire Bible-of both the Old and New Testaments for pro- dieet in de Laurentils.

One fell that perhaps Mr Fry's x with the film business had gone on rather too long for the good of the theatre, which enot itford sesen lean years without his rare poetic talent,

Unlike other

the

serious wilters who have worked in films, Mr Fry has no complaints abent the ways of the big movie tycoons, Ricer he hag fend them stimulating.

"When I was working on Ben- Tur," he said, "I would some- times have to be around the net and produce fines of dialogue more or less off the cuff,

it was

Fry looked a trite sheepish.

"I wish you hadn't brought that un." he said. "that is one of those scenes they sem to have slipped in while I wasn't looking. I did Iry to dissuade them from putting it in, and I'm ping it won't be in the Anal version,

NOBEL PRIZE

terested

"The only reason I was in

int writing Barabbas extremely good book that won was because it was based on an the Nobel Prize."

I had lunch with Mr Fry the other day.

"I have always been a very Mr Fry explained why he has and

he con- slow writer and when firmed that he was

I was been working in films rather seriously working on a play i might spend than writing new plays. interested in writing a dlm ver- days re-writing one sentence. So ston of the Bible.

very useful experience The offer to work on Ben- for me being nul into the post- Hur," he said, "come for me at lon of having to write to order, a very opportune moment. I was

"When you know you've

struggling with my play got

about think of something in

Henry It. I had reached a mutter of minutes, you just do men of uncertainty and it somehow.

doubt in my work. I couldn't get beyond the first ael.

STIMULATING

"It seems

t almost impos sible task," he said. "to film the entire Bible. But de Laurentiis wants to do it as a 10-hour Aum which would be shown in three parts on successive days.

"I have

Au

a

air Fry does not regard his work in flow as a form of artistle "slumming." He has a genuine respect for the produ- ter he has worked with their intentions.

"What my plays are basically about Is the relationship be- tween man and Go I felt that they worked and entertain- ment level, but that they might not be making my point,

a pretty ngonising struggle for "I lost confidence and it was

me. Writing for films gave me the break that I needed.

"Writing a play is a terribly selitury business and an occasional holiday from that care be a good thing. After Ben-Hur, I was able to go back to my play and Anish it in a fairly reasonable time.

"I had doubts about whether. caling what I meant to in my plays. I was communi- com- and municate. I felt that in plays

like The Lady's Not for Burning This play, Curtmantle, dealing I said that I understood one and Venus Observed the comedy with the reign of Henry II has should follow the story of the of the highlights of Barabbas had come acrosa but possibly at Creation

so far been seen only in Hol ishet

make it in six the dim he his just completed, the expense of what I was land in a Dutch translation. It They could run t for was an epic battle between really trying to say.

will come to London this win

paris.

suggested that he

OUT OF SCHOOL WITH ARTHUR MURRAY

IF proficiency in ballroom dancing is held to be

synonymous with cheerfulness, dash, and con- fidence then all I can say is that Mr Arthur Murray is his own worst advertisement.

Mr Murray who, with his

wife, is visiting London for the

first time in 20

years

ap-

This newa will be received

by

HERBERT KRETZMER

"Besicles,"

he added inno Eim 30 shaves proaches the world as though with 110 special hilarity by cently, "how can anyone force blade," Je expects to be stabbed "Britain's established dancing anyone to do something he the chest by a friend..

►

Unsmiling

Radiating about

sparkle

muel:

៦៩ yesterday's suda water, millionaire Murray clearly Immune from effects of his own brand of publicity. which insists strid-

the

organisations,

Round figure

out of every

same time,” sald

and

doesn't really

"AL the want to do?" who unlovingly The question hung la the air Arthur Murray, nodding slowly the say that

Arthur Murray like an exclamation mark,

like the Grand Lama in "Loo! schools are gimmicky, high-

Horizon," "I give away 50 per pressure parlours whose fres

cent,"pause="of my income can be ruinously expensive.

lo charities. I have given away more than 5,000 TV sets to old being re- Besides, of course,

folks homes"-pause "as well markably effective competitors, Over the years Arthur Mur- as

mental

tubercular ray, hus been qued by a wide hospitals." Mr Murray, who operates variety of citizens, 500 such parlours across the stage stars, writers, even by a including

Mrs Murray, who contributes world, has been frequently dentist. The dentist sued him to the family cutters by writ

harshly criticised for fer 50 dollars. Murray retailing books with tiles like "The smooth salesmanship.

ated by a return suit of 100,000 Best Day For Every Little Girl” Including such

dollars. This is my favourite and "Kathryn Murray's Tips To reductive

BUM for lawsuits"pause" Teenagere" was quick to agree Nobody losa mad or gay can

come-ons as free lessons, offer-

that her husband was generous "as well as being a tightwad." skinned Arthur Murray.

ling series of short courses, who "dancing parties,"

He said that his schools gross The Murrays have even beon appears to contemplate the

and tusy- which have

50,000,000 dollars every year as reckless as to buy a week- payments plons universe down his long, pinch someumes cajoled the wary fortunes of a boy who started where, according to American 2 Startling, improvement in the end house outside New York ex na s something faintly distasteful like a bad-smelling and unmoneyed into financiat

life as the son of a penniless wit Lew Parker, "everything is commitments Impossibly exx.

be- New York baker 84 years ago, jaid out so nicely-especially yond their earning capacities.

eatly that to dance the Arthur Murray way is to take

the and short cut to sneial adulation and the gay life.

be envisaged than tall, súllow- ed over the telephone, a spiral nice round figure."

and

Unstalling fote:n-like. he manages, at once, to look like Luth Charles de Gaulle Konrad Adenauer. He shares their chill impassivity.

'Hysteria'

Arthur," He has never. Jearned to spend money easily. To this

Mrs Murray day Murray watches his pennies as cigarette, And suguned

Ult

1. Iong

up

trust

If they concealect diamonds "Arthur likes to acquire money, A year ago Bie U.S. Govern- beneath the copper venter, but he has nothing to spend it ment pounced on Arthur Murray "With Arthur it isn't the prin- on. Ho doesn't really

charging that it hold ciple," quips his pert, talkative anybody except me. He would dancing lessons to the "innd- wife Kathryn. "I's the money." rather live in an hotel room cent unwary and unsuspect

than a sumptuous apartment. ing by using deception

Volatile Mrs Murray, 53, who He likes things to be imper- and kes to be called "Boss Lady, conal. coercion to secure customers. Four month. later

the power behind Arthur Arthur

Murray's throne,' while Murray Inc.,

offered me a "He despises extravagance. I have never many of the charges,

denying few engaging details about her He has even written

into hi overenie-pause-"my

locense and desist" from

obsession. for will, in the very first para

graph, that no more than 500 dollaro is to be spent on his He funeral.

He is introverted, painfully ahy, has never quite shaken off aehldhood elimmer, and is addicted to three-second pauses. "I don't think"pause"you ever quite overcome"-pause...

the abilities"-pause--"YOU are born with. really timidity,"

Jong

some practless.

agreed

He clasped his loan, hands, refused a drink, refused The Arthur Murray I met in n cigarette, and told me he had London, however, WHE un

diamoyed. This

Bort

Ok

or

husband's

economy.

"IIe con' abide wasic, once bought A Itolls-Royce

"What kinda funeral can you everyone overcharges o from Theda Barn but sold it get for 600 bucks? 1 ask him. as soon as he discovered that But he insists.

Rolls

come to Britain to ginger up ysterin," he insisted between its organization hero.

pauses, "is drwatoed up by owner. Inwyere trying to have eflents who can't meet their payments.

"We

ourselves wouldn't

The

High fees

two Arthur Murray dream of high-pressuring any- schools in London would be one. Even our lifetime pupils, did

Generous

"He can't bear

sharpening gadget that.

to throw

elves

"Ho han, you see, no bellef In any aftorlife. Ho is not a religious man, though he is the

nunt moral man I know,

"So why spend money on a fancy funeral? What for?

"To Arthur, you see, dead is

-{London Express Service).

fere long, he predicted, become sylu know, have 30 days otke away razor blades and uses a dead.”

a chain of at least 25,

signing to back out.

ter when one will be able to decide whether Mr Fry's pro- oned Roman holiday has had a beneficial effect, or not.

CHANGING

RADA

PICTURE BY MICHAEL WARD.

One stil tends to think of RADA as a theatrical anishing school for refined young ladies from South Kensington.

DO YOU FIND THE PRICE OF A PINT TOO MUCHTO SWALLOW?

By

PETER CHAMBERS

ONE

Gornal, Staffs.

NE THOUSAND people in Britain brew their

own beer and drink it duty-free.

How much do you pay for

a pint? Anything between is. 4d.

and 2s. 20. Glog-glug-down full duty on your brew, which goes. One out of every two explains why.unty 35 such posh glugs is money for the. Govern-brewing households atlik remain. ment,

Like most home-brewers in England. Sam Bradley goes to "Locks you," nald Sam Bradley,

the Post Omee once a year and U Staffordshire coal

nk a "You

Cakes miner.

private brewing ron make

your Hernce costing either £1 06. or own beer much cheaper than

E1 10s. that. Come in."

From the back dour of Sam's council house at Gornal, near Birmingham, the smoke-stacked landscape of the Black Country rolled

west towards the blue nountains of Wales.

THE METHOD

This England's do-it-your- showed me how to do it. self brewing country, and Sarn

You need first of all a small e wooden tub, a boiler,

THE TASTE

Sal, his wife, produced a bot- the and glasses from the kit- chen cupboard. It was the beer she brewed 10 days ago, getting up at five in the morning to do it, "because brewing is a whole day's work.

The colour was rich amber. It poured like multi-grade motor ul. After two glasses of Sam's brew ulf my symptoms of upper cylinder wear vanished.

Venting a judgment, sald, "It tastes sort of... ct...

But, in fact. siner Fernald has been the principal, John the character of the school has changed. It has produced Albert Floney, Peter O'Toole and a house, whole group of vital young and a barrel. actors.

Unlesa

you live in a small I am told that there are no house you may as well forget fruity." longer classes in deportment, the idea of mashing your own

with romalt and racking of a

"L'S on the turn, just going few art," said E production of Under and that studenta

nounced regional accents

Sam. Milk Wood

are gallons

of potent home-brew. does not keep so well in the The brew પં. the allowed to retain them.

The

Excise Lyrie, Hammersmith, with

regulations arc summer." strict: only citizens with housen But Mr Fernald has not yet valued at £15 a year er under a cast consisting entirely of

been completely converted to qualify for a duty-free licence. recent serves to remind us that this with oddly shaped noses

RADA graduates, absolute maturalism, Students

if the Schedule and

A value of coughing. famous theatrical academy protruding teeth are still ad-

your house is more than £1 kised to get then xed.

the win' wot it used t'be.

Excise man will visit you Aller (London Express Service). twice a quarter and charge you down the pits be has "get the

„dust." A doctor certified him

gə Kallicosis. case' four years ago and he has been moved wway from the coal ther;

"You may have had a figure lika an hour glass, but the sand's all at the bottom now."

"The action of this play

takes place in lotut darkness --- do not adjust your sat!"

*Stop it Susie, I am engaged to Agnes.....

-- Belior

Not phone so often, Bert-- they've turned shirty!""

'Mats

• Have you wish. myt "Qushanty for trumpet » »

7"

enova gat^enty uniune?"

He inhaled cigarette smoke, und His

thick, hard-worked miner's body was

racked with

nearly half a century

Sam needs his home brew to 4:eep the dust down, and Sel brews it in the outhouse at the fop of his splendidly-kept gar den.

None of the beer may be sold. It is all drunk at home.

Once a fortnight she fills the wash-tub with boiling water and two pecks of malted barley, The brew is bolled again, cooled, mid fermented with ""barm" (the Midlands word for brewer's yeast).

Start mashing your malt on a Monday morning and you CRIS drink the beer Thursday night.

THE COST

Sal worked out the cost of ter nine-gallon brew: malt 17., hopa 28. 3d., sugar 28. Bd. heat 25. Anings (a solution of Isingloss which is used for pre- serving eggs and also purifies beer) 6d.

Total cost works out st

the 48. o pint, and

beer la about 25 per cent stronger than draught Bitter in a pub.

A the coal pits around Gornal, expcet ond, have closed now. Years ago, when Gornal

( was a full-blown mining village,

the women's task was making bricks, nails, and beer.

"Every second

household brewed when I was a girl," said Rebecca Wall, the 08-year-old Landlord's wife at the Five Ways Inn.

But the art of home brewing is likely to fade in a generation. Colin Penzur, the Excisemun for Sedgely and Gornal, told me: There are only 70 prívate brewers on my books this year. They Are dropping off at the rale of 20 a year."

A senior Exclaeman told me that in 1824 more than 4,000 households brewed their own

West beer in his

Midlands district, Now the number was negligible.

Young housewives prefer to let the big browing combines look after their husband's, beer. supply.

THE EFFECT

Beer is made from malt, au- gar, and hops, and Sam Bradley brew it the same way as any of the big brewers,

If Sam's beer tontes different it is, perhaps, because he soma- timos puts in a păranip or a few raisins.

I

"After a cooked

RAI

supper and

tour or five pints of a good brew," he said, "I've had to hold the halenil going upstairs."

goodbye

Sam Eradley, I stepped very carentily through its front garden. There was no handrail, and I did not weht to walk on his [ChrysimlhamUTYÁR, -

prize

→London Exproin #erkides,