The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-22
Benny Film
Doesn' I Fit
on Program
UnSung Movie Tells Tale Of
Great Love of CoCkney
Mother.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON


They covered up one Of Holly
wood 5 priceless gems with STRAIT
osphere balloon this week at LoeWs
The gem is "A Feather in Her
Hat" Pauline Lords latest film.
The stratosphere balloon belongs to
ITS N the Air" the picture star
ring Jack Benny which gets most
Of the ballyhoo on the double bill.
To US it is almost sacrilegious to
present the maudlin cavortings Of
Mr.. Benny, Ted Heaiy and Nat
Pendleton on the same program
with so precious a bit of lavendar
and old lace as "A Feather in Her
Hat" offers through the sterling
acting of Basil Rathbone, Miss
Lord, Wendy Barrie, Louis Hay
ward, Billie Burke and Nydia
Westman.
Plot from Wylie Story
From the novel by L a r. Wylie
comes the plot for "A Feather in
Her Hat" The picture is good
down to the fact that the title fits.
The acting is perfect, the direction
by Alfred Santell a magnificent
thing, and the photography by
Joseph Walker, just the right frame
for the years most surprising pic
ture.
How the love of aCockney mother
for her son can transcend all phys
ical sufferings and sacrifices forms
the story's basis. It is the tale Of
simple, strong hearted Clarissa
Phipps, whose only eccentricity is
feathers on her hat, and her son,
Richard. In order to rear her boy
to be a gentleman, she allows
Capt. Courtney, a neurotic, ideal
istic World War victim, to live in
her little home, so he can instill in
her boy the virtues of gentle birth.
In return Capt. Courtney gets his
brandy"
When Richard is 81, his mother
stoutly tells him he is not her son;
that his mother disOWned him, his
father died. She gives him 1000
pounds, sends him away to live
with his kind" those of high and
noble birth"
Goes Against His Will
Richard, against his will, goes,
finds where his mother" is living,
takes lodging in her home. 1t is a
funny home, with money flowing
freely, but a distinct lack of it al
ways in evidence.
There he meets Julia Anders, his
"mothers" daughter of a second
husband, with whom he falls in
love. His mother" a former great
actress, introduces him to many
producers and they advise him in
his chosen profession, playwright
ing. His first play written for his
mother" is a huge success.
Meantime, Clarissa, happy in her
sons success, fails in health. She
goes to the first performance of
Richards first play. She falters
climbing the stairs to the gallery,
from which she insists on seeing the
play Richard carries her up. After
the play the audience calls for "au-
thor" Clarissa, her mission in life
fulfilled, dies, but not before she
confesses to her son that he is
hers.
Garry Roles Well
Pauline Lord is supreme as Clar-
issa Mr. Rathbone has rarely been
better than as Capt Courtney.
"A Feather in Her Hat" gives
lovely Wendy Barrie and Louis Hay
ward their first real opportunities
on the screen. We long have waited
such a chance for Miss Barrie, but
never expected so much from Mr..
Hayward as he delivers in this pic
ture. He distinctly shows that he
is to become one Of filmdom'S out
standing young actors.
Miss Barrie is all that one could
expect as a gallant heroine, willing
to go the limit for the one she
loves, but loath to stand in his way
for any reason. You will see her
again and again, if we aren't
mistaken.
1t is no particular discredit to
Mr. Benny that "A Feather in Her
Hat" makes him look a little sour
in Its in the Air" this week. He
does almost as we'll as ever in this
story of a gambler who is forced on
a shakespeare expedition to win
back the love of his wife. Mr.
Healy, as Mr.. Benny's stooge, is ex-
cellent. Una Merkel, as his wife, is
also creditable.
Its in the Air" drags just a bit
from sequence to sequence but it's
fairly good comedy withal Funni-
est are the scenes IA miles above
earth. where Mr. Healy and MIR.
Benny advertise ice cold beer while
shivering in their flying suits.
Somehow we can't get enthused
over It's in the Air" Despite Mr.
Benny'S efforts. it doesn't seem to
jell. The biggest thing against the
picture is the fact "A Feather in
Her Hat" which is undoubtedly
classic of the screen, forms SO def
mite a contrast.