1941-02-08 — Page 15

Saturday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

February 8, 1941.

13

Last

"My Marriage Will IMPROVING Says Deanna Durbin

EUGENE O'NEILL

Until some better form of entertainment

comes aleng,

Thomas Mitchell, long a hold-out- from the films and until a few years ago one of the leading lights of Broadway, will make motion pictures.

"It's the greatest entertain- ment ever devised," he says, "and after four years of seeing it from the Hollywood angle, I'mj convinced that the stage, except in a few unusual cases, can't even offer competition to the movies."

are

Pictures, Mitchell points out, almost invariably, much better done than stage produc- tions.

"The reason is obvious," he snys, "Studios have more money to apond because they reach auch a tremendous audience. They can do things over and over until they're perfect. With their resources they can get the very best actors, writers and directors. They can spend vast sums on settings. The result is that when you see the average picture, it's much better than the average play. The screen has many advantages over the stage."

· Thrilling Adventure Mitchell is playing one of the leading roles in John Ford's picturisation of "The Long Voyage Home" and he points to this thrilling sea adventure 18 411 unusual example of the screen's superiority over the stage in entertainment,

"The picture is an adaptation

of four one-act play by Eugene O'Neill," he says. "All of them have the same characters. They

Deanna Durbin, nineteen- years-old singing star, has told an interviewer, "My marriage will last for ever."

For Ever"

"WATERLOO BRIDGE":

-at Queen's and Alhambra

"Watorico, Waterloo, Waterloo, wretched plain," moaned Victor Hugo, and Robert Sherwood, who wrote the play on which the Alm that is showing this week-end at the Queen's and Alhambra is based,' makes it a pretty miserable bridge, too.

"Waterloo Bridge", was made several years ago as a-silent Allm, and now MGM, with characteristic adroitness, has resurrected the tale and makes it palatable to 1941 audiences.

In the beginning, your Bob Taylor is the best-looking brass- hat in the British Army-heavy with taba, braid, gréying hair, and sorrow.

He stops his limousine on Waterloo Bridge, stands there. brooding, And then you're flashed back to a 1917 nir raid," and you realise that Colonel Taylor is dreaming of the time when Captain Taylor (best-looking captain in the British Army) stood in that self-same spot, sheltering a little wait-like ballet dancer, Vivien Leigh, from the bombs.

Naturally, before the special constables bawled out the "All clear," they were in love.

What a love! It overrides the tyranny of an iron-willed ballet mistress (Maria Ouspenskaya)... it sends your Captain Taylor running to his ducal colonel-in-chief (C. Aubrey Smith) for permission to marry.. and it breaks little Miss Leigh's heart. Because Captain Taylor is recall- ed suddenly to France, and she is left jobless and penniless-going-

from bad to worse and then some.

Taylor returns to introduce her

So that by the time Captain

to the ducal estates (and society) Deanna recently became en-in Scotland she is a Woman With

A Past. gaged to Vaughan Paul, 25-years- old associate producer.

"I'm on top of the world, and every woman in the world will know how happy I am," she said. "This won't be just one of these 'Hollywood marriages.' It will last for ever."

Deanna first met way back in 1936 when

15. He has

since,

Vaughan she was been a

were coupled together on the In The Dust" goes into produc-steady boy friend ever stage for a full evening's enter- tion. He had nothing to do. tainment, but not more than a with the film but Greer Garson few thousand people ever saw stars in it and Hilton hopes to them.

meet

Her films since then

ini

First she thinks she'll bluft him-then she thinks she'll save she ends by throwing her poor, his honour by running away. So unhappy little body under a Bridgo. passing ambulance on Waterloo"

There are cruditics in the acting and faithful period detail story, but for good dialogue, fine it is in its own class. Virginia friend, impresses particularly by Field, as Vivien Leigh's girl her performance.

Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh, in "Waterloo Bridge"

"THE LADY IN QUESTION”

-at the King's

"The Lady In Question" is the current show at the King's.

Behold, Brian Aherne in flowing moustaches, as he tends his bicycle shop in Paris. And then, he fulfils the ambition of his life he gets called to serve on a jury.

His one pertinent question to a witness saves the life of Rita home, gives her a job in his shop.

"For picture purposes, instead these two have never met, have brought her

hor. Strangely enough of four separate plays, Dudley although it was Miss Garson who about £1,000 Nichols has written an excellent was adaptation that includes the formance in the film version of and lots more than that

acclaimed for her per-

a week material of all the plays and adds Hilton's novel, "Goodbye, Mr to the film company who Hayworth, on trial for murder, and then Brian takes the poor girl continuity and a story to hold Chips." Besides, Hilton is now them together. The result is adapting "Mrs Miniver," the Jan cashed in on

the un- original idea of entertainment. Miss Garson will create the title sweet personality.

O'Neill's Struthers novel, for the screen. spoilt charm of her Millions of people will see the role. Also, both are English and picture when it is shown in the have movie theatres of the world, and says that no one else could have Deanna told

Here are the things it will bring enjoyment to a vast brought so much warmth and audience which knows little beauty to the part of Mrs Chips. porter.

the re- "about the courage and character

an improvement on

America's most distinguished playwright."

of these men of the sea, or about

* +

mutual friends. Hilton

+

"Vaughan Paul and Spencer Tracy is very proud will be partners for life. of an autographed photograph

Mrs Brian-Irene Rich-doesn't know who the girl is. But son of the house, Glenn Ford, does. The complications,, most of them obvious, which follow the situation; make the rest of the film, bicycle shop, does a grand job of work,

Curt Bois, inquisitive juror who keeps bobbing into the Brian Aherne does a This-little-comedy,which-skirts the edge of tragedy all the time, will keep you amused and interested from the first shot to the all-clear.

better.

that reached him recently. It "We are interested in fame are nothing com- Albert Hall to sing for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer an was from President Roosevelt, the same things, the pared to nounces acquisition of the Brond. with signature, "To My Friend,

love. Now the London Hospital way musical success, "Lady, Be Spencer Tracy, from Franklin Same books, the same that I have found love, bicentenary appeal, and Good" as a tri-starring vehicle D. Roosevelt.' Tracy particular-ideas.

I'm not going to let it Queen Mary was to hear for Ann Sothern, Eleanor Powelly appreciated the President'A and Tony Martin, When present- thoughtfulness,

"And he is a most go. because

me-but again the war ed in New York in 1925, "Lady, Chief Executive had taken the

the brilliant young director "Every woman, every stopped it. Be Good" featured music by time in the midst of his

could anything be girl, knows George Gershwin

what I campaign to send the picture.better?

"But war will not stop formances by two young players President Roosevelt and Tracy

us from having the most who were relatively unknown at met, in Washington, during the "I will go on making "We would have liked marvellous honeymoon. the time, Fred and Adele Astaire, star's recent visit. Despite the films but they will take to have spent our honey- Perhaps we will go to

✩

President's preoccupation with second place to my mar- moon in England-but Canada. James Hilton is looking for found time to spend a

pressing affairs of state, he

I was born ward to the day when "Blossoms minutes with Tracy.

few riage now.

war will prevent that. there, and I would love "Material success and. "I was going to the to go there again."

ar per-

mean.

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A. CARLSEN-Meet Alexander Carlson, left, Arriving in New York to spend Holidays with, his family. He's really Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, travelling incognito from England. Dr C. J. Hambro, Parliament president, right.

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