Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 16

STAGE and SCREEN MUSIC COMMENT SIXTEEN THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL SUNDAY. JULY 1 1. 1943 MOVIE GUIDE Two World Wars Inspire Current Films Pine and Johnson Make the Fast Way Mae West Has Role in Tropic Film Present, Last War Are Film Subjects By WALTER H. HACKETT State Journal Motion Picture Editor This week screen fare has the accent on war, with at least naif a dozen exciting films with this subject as plot material, with one of them a true-to-life tale of America's outstanding Pictures By ERSKEXE JOHNSON HOLLYWOOD (NEA) When I first met Bill Pine and Bill Thomas they were Hollywood's most imaginative press agents. They had rounded up 50 parrots and were teaching them to yell "It Ain't No Sin." The novel idea was part of their publicitv campaign on a Mae West lecture titled "It Ain't No Sin.

The parrots were to be set up on percnes in theater lobbies to blague passers-by with shouts of "It Ain't No Sin, It Ain No Sin," ad nauseam. It was a colossal idea except for one thing. Two weeks before release of the picture, just as the parrots were driving themselves crazy, after months of practice, with shouts of It Ain't No Sin," the studio sudden ly changed the title of the picture to I No AngeL Bill Pine and Bill Thomas were beaten, disconsolate men. That was seven years ago. I not sure whether tne saa case oi me talking parrots had anything to do with it, but Pine and Thomas eventually resigned as press agents and became producers of their own pictures, co-starring Richard Arlen and Chester Morris.

The Whistle Move Pine and Thomas turn out action pictures 14 in the last two years trolled plane against a transport bearing United States soldiers. Gloria Jean stars in an amusing romantic attraction, "It Comes Up which winds up the bill George M. Cohan, whose stirring "Over There" had much to do with setting America's pulse throbbing in World War and whose other patriotic tunes helped to inspire our boys and the home front in that conflict, is paid a stirring screen tribute in the Capitol's "Yankee Doodle with Jimmy Cagney in the role of the grand old showman and tune-smith, and Joan Leslie as his lovely wife. This is one of the grandest musicals to come out of Hollywood since the advent of sound films. If you haven't seen it you will certainly want to, and if you Downtown Michigan "FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO" Franchot Tone.

Anne Baxter and Erich von Slroheim. Mondav night guet show: "YOU'RE THE ONE" UVeei Bonnie Baker and Orln Tu-ker. Gladmer "THIS LAND IS MINE." Charles LauRhton, Maureen O'Hara and. George Sanders. Lanstng "CAIRO." Jeanette MacDonald and Robert Young, also.

"IT COMES IT LOVE." Gloria Jean and Ian Hunter. Wednes-dav: "GREAT (i I I. II Harold I'earv. also 'UGHT-ING DEVII.DOGS." Lee Powell and Herman Brix. Capitol "YANKEE DOODLE BANDY." James CvtRney and Joan Leslie, i'mirsday: "JOIRNEY FOR MARGARET." Robert Younc and Larame Day.

also. "OMAHA TRAIL," James Craig. Orpheum "COCRTSHIP OF ANDY HARDY." Mickey Rooney. Ann Rutherford atid Donna Reed. also.

"ESCAPE FROM HONG KONG." Leo Carillo and Don Terry. Tuesday: "MR. Leslie Howard, also. "PHANTOM KILLER." Joan Woodbury. Plasa "FLIGHT LIEUTENANT." Pat An epic of our times i THE STORY OF THE VALIANTS it WHO SMASHED ROMMEL I AFRICA I IT Wed.

Thurs. "Crystal Starting Today! i 1 I EXTRA 1 "WILD HONEY" iCIever Cartoon in Color) What Are Fighting For" Latest News Events Ann Baxter "FIVE GRAVES TO for Ellery Queen" with William Gar-gan and Margaret Lindsay. Donna Reed is Mickey Rooney's "big moment" in "The Courtship of Andy Hardy," which Is the amusing headliner at the Orphe-ura. Ann Rutherford, of course, is Andy's old standby, the lovely dark-haired girl next door, who provides Donna with plenty of competition for Andy's favors. Added, "Escape from Hong Kong" with Leo Carrillo and Don Terry, provides some thrilling moments.

Tuesday brings Leslie Howard to the Orpheum screen in the dramatic "Mr. as well as Joan Woodbury in "Phantom Killer." Gets Howard Role Screen Newcomer Dick Waring will play the role created by the late Leslie Howard in Warner's remake of "Of Human Bondage." JOHN SOPHY'S I fat or THOMAS MITCHELL Guest Feature Monday Nirhi I Maureen O'Hara MINE" (Gladmer) L5. w.ii hero of world War 1. vcn Sirohelm. arch deiine-tioT o' Prussian soldier-villains from ist world conflict a quarter of cezrurr aro.

stalks across the theater screen once again injs tine as the lamed Nazie "desert Ftel Marshal Erwin Rommel "Five Graves to The stcrr tites place behind Rom- Imes curing the African when he was having things pretrr much his own way. A British tank sokiier. played by Franchot Tan- accidentally stumbles into staff headquarters in an erwhUe 3rinsh hotel in Sidi Hal-lava. How he out ol the place Rommel's secrets, thanks to the aii cf the only girl in the hotel 'Anne 3axtr', is said to make this highly excitin and diverting film, well worth seemg. A prrat French director, Jean Eeaoir.

was in charge of the mak-et of the Gladmer's stirring story of nnconquerables. "This Land in which should account for much of the fire and drama which the picture contains. Eomanre and patriotism are the twin thpmes of the screen story, vhirb has as its srttinc a Tillage cajewhere in occupied Europe. 1: action renters around a teacher whose timidity and awkward biEBderinr win him derision from most of his fellow citizens. Action works up to an exciting climax after the Germans march in.

and the story is said to have a powerful endinr. Charles Laughton plays the teacher, with Maureen O'Hara and Kent Smith handling impor tant romantic roles. The f.isir.g hns a spv melodrama stresses the lighter side of i tr.e mtemstionn! situation, with ro-l rr.nr and foraedy blended in with1 tne drtimtic moments. i co-starr mr Jeanette M3C-Dtttalc Robert Young, is fairly Err. and would have been mere s- hsdn't mixed the elements of crtma so mdiFcriminatelv with the e.cments of comecy.

its about cmtrr newspaper reporter who; h-rnself to Cairo, being a vie-' cf torerjdem? en route, and be-j c3mmr entsngied in a spy and ccur.ter-esrirnsge rmc in Egypt. Hej Xtss MscDcr.a'.ci of being En er.fr- arer.t virtually until the! fiertit. when she proves conclusive-1 she is not by saving his nck after the Nazis have seized him and tried to use him for their own evil; purposes in sending a radio-con TODAY at 3:00 Special for WAR WORKERS PRESENTING THE FINEST ISHOl IN TOWN 6-ACTS-6 DANCING AT 3:00 FLOOR SHOWS at JUt We Suggest Reservations Can 8934 or 82439 FLOOR I O'Brien arid Glenr. Ford. ajc "PRAIRIE PALS." Wffi-m fRafijO.

Boyd. Monday: "TO BE OR NOT TO Bf Carole Lombard and Jacs: Berrrrr. a-o. "DESPERATE CHANCE FOR ELLT O.IEENV Margaret Lindsay ad William Gargan. Thursday: "REMEMBER THE OAT ClaudeTte Co'bcrt Jorn Pav-e.

o. "MK. DISTRICT ATTORNEY I Tl CARTER CASE." Neighborhood State 'Fart Lantfart "IN WHICH HE SEVE." Noe! Coward. Wednesday: "A STRANGER It TOWN." Frank Morgan and Jean Rogers. North Lansing) "IMMORTAL SERGEANT Fonda and Maureen O'Hara.

Henry Monday night guest show: TAR ZAN'a SECRET TREASURE." Wednesday: "HIT PARADE OF l-John Carrol and Susan Havwarl um, "CRYSTAL BALL." PauieG Goddard and Ray Miliand. Southtown South Lanstag "STAND BY FOR ACTION." Taylor. Charles Laughton and Er--aa Donlevy. Wednesday: "WE ARE THE MARINES." March of Tire. also.

TOWER OF THE PRESS." Guy Kibbee. HENRY FONDA -O'HARA! Ball" "Hit Parade 1943'' Ftilurfi at 1:47 4:26 P. m. Comp4te Shows at 1-05 3:44 P. WE SERVE' WwnmA TOWN" Frank Morgan Bring the Folks to the Star-Spangled Musical Laugh Hit of the Year! Jim my Perfect as a So ng-and-Dance Man! Girls! Gayety! Music! It's all here in a Grand, Glorious Treat! Free Parking 1 Johnny aur, Woissmuller -n Sulhvajl "TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE" for Paramount.

The pictures not only move at breath-taking tempo on the screen but also are filmed at a rapid-fire pace from 10 to 18 days. There is, for example, the "whistle move." Doc Merman, production manager extraordinary, carries in his pocket a whistle. When shooting of a scene nears completion, he blows out a blast. The blast is the signal for everybody on the set to go into ac tion arranging a new setup for the next scene. Everyone grabs some thing.

The rule is "Run. Don't Walk." The record for a "whistle move" is six minutes flat. In Just six minutes the cast and crew of one of their films, "Tornado," moved from a coal mine set to the living room of a palatial mansion on an adjoining stage. Even lunch is made to count in filming a Pine-Thomas picture. Tables are spread in the office of Bill Thomas, who magically and deftly extracts, from desk drawers, soud, salad, entree and dessert.

Play ers, director and key technicians dine with the producers off picnic plates. It gives everybody a chance to talk about the work done in the morning and to be done in the aft ernoon ahead. Nobody is ever late getting back from lunch. Getting the Needle Needling is practiced literally, if not painfully, on the set. Part of the working equipment of the redoubtable Doc Merman is a vicious-looking.

10-inch-long needle When Doc decides that work is lag ging through some individual tak ing too much time at the job, he produces the needle, brandishes it mechanically before the face of his victim and then makes a terrific jab at his victim's posterior. Although the needle is made of rubber, the effect is always stimulating. Bill Pine and Bill Thomas are not ashamed of their speedy pro duction methods. Their pictures regularly hit the box office jackpot, and they have contracts to produce 15 more for Paramount. Actress Will Spend Birthday in Capital HOLLYWOOD Beauteous Llta Ward, who is making her screen debut in the feminine lead in "Aerial Gunner" is getting ready to celebrate her 20th birthday in Washington, D.

C. The young actress will leave Hol lywood in two weeks to spend her birthday anniversary, July 17, with her parents in the national capital where her father, Claude "Bud Ward, is production manager for NBC. Lta herself was a radio singer in Washington for three years be fore coming to Hollywood. He Wanted to Pay Prances Rafferty received a fan letter from Seaman J. D.

Tallman which was not only embossed with his photograph but contained a five dollar money order with his request for a photograph or the starlet. JNot only will Tallman receive a large autographed picture of the attractive Prances but his five dollars has been spent on candy and clgarets which she is sending to him. To Be Retitled Paramount will retitle Bing Cros by's next, "The Padre," before it reaches the screen. Adults, 17c; 11c. Tax Incl.

Cooled by Refrigeration! Today 2 Big Features with PAT OBfilEN GLEKN FORD. Emm KEYES Bill (Radio) Boyd. Art Davis and Ln Powell in "PRAIRIE PALS" Cartoon Comic "Self Pefan Starts Mon. 2 Features tHt WCTBH TWTt ggtWUTBHi TO 5H LOMBARD Wm. Gargan Margaret Lindsay in "A DESPERATE CHANCE FOR ELLERY QUEEN" Added "Aldrich Family Gets The Scrap" PARK FREE 1 P.

M. Cant. ITTf mm TiVT 9 WILL LIE 1 IUU STARTS trflYWW TODAY hMM- CONTINUOUS TODAY 1 to 11 P. M. WE SUGGEST YOU SEE IT FROM THE START.

fr Stands Aofie HOLLYWOOD. July 10 Mae West, who added a dash of hip- swinging when she revived the Lil lian Russel era. is coming back to the screen after a two-year respite. And if you should go up to see her sometime, you'll learn our "Diamond Lil" is going tropical. The blonde Miss West 'she buxom only by costume) stated in an in terview yesterday that she is already at work on a film with a hot- country setting, for Columbia pic tures.

Mexico will provide part of the background. She also had something to say about the way she's spent her time since her cycle of eight films personifying the diamond-studded glamour of the century's turn. For one thing, she's finished a play. Catharine Was Great." which she hopes to stage on Broadway this autumn. It's about an earlier day-Diamond Lil: Empress Catharine of Russia.

Play writing isn't new to Miss West. She wrote many for her stage appearances of the 1920s, and provided ideas for screen scripts when she came to Hollywood, where her portrayal of flashy, moneywise dames boosted her to the top-pay niche in 1935; $480,000 on a single film. She does other things, too, be sides look seductive on the screen. She has written two novels. "Diamond based on her play, and "Constant Sinner." A third is on the fire.

And her friends sav she's shrewd about investing money. The five feet, four Miss West is curvaceous only in character. Out side costume padding, she keeps her weight around 119 pounds, but es chews strict diets. The "buxom" la bel is as phoney as "curvaceous." a word coined some years ago by a studio publicist to describe her in one of her roles. And.

says one of her Negro maids, nest is so old- fashioned." But she does like elaborate sur roundings. Her apartment is full of gilt furniture, and the carpets are wine-colored. The grand piano is gold and cream. The gleaming glass eyes of two polar bear skins on the floor flash reflections from every angle in the Louis XV mirrors that virtually cover the walls. She thinks writing is easy.

She likes to turn plots and dash off dia log. To the reams of reviews written about her 1890 picture themes, she added this yesterday: "I nut modern dlaloe in mine: noti old slang like 'skidoo for Oth-i prs nhr rAvivpH tio nprinH mnrio it Dunesque, ana wnne was iunny as a museum piece is iunny, it wasn good drama." Maes was good drama but defi nitely. The box office says so. Powell to Dance William Powell will do a Rus sian dance in "The Heavenly r'HtaiMiiJih Today and Monday COOKIN'? Aod he's burped to a crisp! 1 THf ANDY HARDY' LEWIS MICKEY STONE ROONEY Also 1 LESLIE EXTRA! Defense Short "Message and Cartoon "Chips Off the as I TV la 11 AMtrkQRS V' Wi T.n.n.A.Y! One of the Best Musicals Ever Made! It's an All American Picture! I If AM WARNER BROS I most distinguished offerinf' Features in a a I Ifj 121 III have, chances are youll want to see and hear it again. Walter Huston has an important role as the elder Cohan The mood and manners of Eng lish people in their everyday lives are caugnt with accuracy and with no suspicion of caricature or exag geration in Noel Cowards moving story of an English destroyer, "In Which We Serve." at the State the ater.

East Lansing. Coward plays the chief character, himself, as Captain Kinross, and the heroine is the ship. H. M. S.

Torrin, on which he serves. A screen story that is tense and exciting, that takes you right into action on the African desert where a small band of British soldiers on patrol duty run into dangerous I and breath-taking adventure, is i "The Immortal starring Henry Fonda in one of his finest portrayals. Maureen O'Hara has the feminine lead, and is seen in the film via the flashback method, when Fonda is thinking of home and the girl he loves. "Stand By for Action" is an action-packed story of an old destroyer fitted out for service In the present campaign, which distinguishes itself and its faithful old hand, played by Walter Bren-nan. in action against the Japs.

Robert Taylor. Charles Laughton and Brian Donlevy are starred. The sea battle scene is one of the most dramatic of its type to be screened in a long, long time. An air thriller is on the bill at the Plaza where "Flight Lieutenant" with Pat O'Brien and Glenn Ford is headlining the program. The second feature.

"Prairie stars William (radio) Boyd, who made a personal appearance here a few months ago. Monday brings "To Be or Not To Be" with Jack Benny and Carole Lombard, also "Desperate Chance Records You Will Enjoy by Paul Robeson Ol' Man River Ah Still Suits Me Deep River I'm Coin' to Tell Swing Low Sweet Chariot Nobody Know De Trouble I've Seen Nochin Dear Old Southland Cradle Song Within Four Wall Ballarda for Americana Victor Album Buy More War Bonds and Stamps Budd's Music House "Everything in Music 3IS S. Wash. Ave. Tel.

4-6615 Your Old Records Ar Worth Money. Brrnq them in. will pay you for them (Ail makes except Ediaon). mm i Block North of the Capitol Eric von Stroheim CAIRO" (Michigan) IS Technicolor cameras at Warner Brothers, it was natural that Sergeant Oshins should be called upon to repeat his comedy routines. Looks like Uncle Sam has turned into a talent scout and that after the war there'll be a new comedian.

Java Hospital Built In California Style HOLLYWOOD First set for Cecil B. De Mille's "Story of Dr. Was-sell" is now under construction. This is "the set that couldn't be authentic." It represents the interior of the Dutch hospital at DJokya-karta. Java.

The set "couldn't be authentic" because the actual hospital was of California Spanish architecture, which De Mille feels the public would never accept in a motion picture laid in Java. So Roland Anderson of the Paramount art department has designed another type of hospital, modeled after one on the outskirts of Ba-tavia which is of typical Javanese architecture. Stays with Hubby Ginger Rogers will remain in La Jolla until September to be near marine husband Jack Briggs, before she appears in another film. She's asked the studio for permission to premiere her latest, "Lady in the to the marines at Camp Elliott. Gloves in Demand For "White Cliffs of Dover." which stars Irene Dunne with Alan Mar-! shal, M-G-M's wardrobe department have borrowed, rented and made 500 pairs of white kid gloves.

Sequences in the "Duchess of Waverly's" ball required all players to wear the You'll navtr forget ht scan in which a woman toatti hr mol dangerous rival hr man's (hip. Emotions as deep as rhe heart itself. Noel Coward in IN WHICH Written and PrWucad by Nol Coward ay Moot Coward end David loan vws.wwvEXTHAS Mesugo From Malta" Dofonso "Toll Bridge Trouble" Cartoon News Spies Nabbed Flying Boxcars "STRANGER IN JIMMIE CAGNEY, as George M. Cohan In "Yankee Doodle Dandy," leads the boys of 1917 In the singing; of his tribute to the flag that they are fighting for. Cohan was the father ot what we now call the SO, and just like stars today, went to the various camps to entertain the boys.

The film Is at the Capitol. Uncle Sam Does a Good Job As Talent Scout with Shows VWs- fjk I iS. if- JSiiSi TZ IS jJSii New Columbus Song "Thank You, Columbus," new patriotic 6ong number by E. Y. Har-burg and Burton Lane, will be one of the featured song numbers in "Meet the People," which Harburg is producing at Metro-Goldwyn-Maver.

The King Sisters sing it with a large chorus, accompanied by Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra. ffRI Gloriously Together in TODAY ir in-, fir- WW 11 1 Bv ERNEST FOSTER (United Tress Staff Correspondent) HOLLYWOOD (UP) Comedians jwho go into the army frequently 'find their prankishness toned down by military regulations. Not Sgt. Julie Oshins. He's an example of a comedian who has successfully made the leap.

Before the present international mixup Sergeant Oshins was considered a pretty humorous fellow. True, his name was not in lights. Nor was he possesssed of a four-figure salary. But for years he made a living, playing night clubs, Catsklll mountain summer resorts and vaudeville engagements. To many Oshins was "a comer." stayed that way for a number of years.

There just didn't seem to be a break in the books for him. He was busily engaged in acting as a foil for Slapsy Maxie Rosen-bloom on a vaudeville tour when the mail-man delivered to him an ordinary postal card bearing the return address of his draft board. He didn't know it but his break had come. He traded his tuxedo for a suit of olive drab. His night club pallor was burned a deep tan on a drill field.

His former working hours, from 10 p. m. to 6 a. became his sleeping hours. His billing was changed to an army serial number.

But he remained funny. When Irving Berlin got around to casting his all-soldier show "This Is the last spring at Camp Upton. Long Island, he decided to let Julie have a chance at some of the comedy routines. He had seen Oshins at work as master of ceremonies ssu 4 Salute to the Navy in the mightiest sea thriller since "Mutinv 4, IUI 5L Ma iSrlJhl f'itll-i OTlml Great Entertainer and Great American GEORGE M.C0RAN DINE In COMFORT Arr.iast pleasant surroundings, in our completely dining room. HOTEL ROOSEVELT OVER THERE GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY HARRIGAN MARY IS A GRAND OLD NAME And iB his tonus soop: OPES AT 12:45 STAMP BYFORACffOf YANKEE DOODLE DANDY YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG and thought he had talent.

When the show opened on Broadway a year ago. Sergeant Oshins wowed 'em the audience, critics and the boys backstage. So when It 1 came time to place the show before from Malta" Old Block" I COME EARLY! 15 Seymonr Avenne and "We Are the Marines" "What Are We Fighting: For" jglove..