The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-08
Popular Hit.
From Stage.
Opens Today
'Ce:nedy of Recollection by
0'NejlI Is LoeW'S Film
Feature.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

OLner DaLCn OF COOKIES. AILer 0lnnel
we'll all go out on the front porch
and watch a little charade called
"Ah, Wilderness!" dts by writer
named Eugene O'NeilD.
Arthur's home from Yale ano
Uncle Sid (s-sh-sh, he's been drink
ing AGAIN. is with us for a while
don't know what we're going to dc
with Tommy, he's grown out of al
his clothes, the little imp. And Mil
dred is becoming quite lady, wants
to go out with the fellows and AL
that. And Richard, oh my, draw ur
chair and we'll tell you all about
it
It's 1906 when automobiles were
really new. Strict is the discipline
religious the attention to taste and
manners.
Family Is Ordinary
Nat Miller owns a newspaper IN
small town. He and his wife
Essie, live comfortably, humanity
with their family. Arthur's at the
pipe-smoking, turtle-neck sweater
stage, just a little bit better than
any one else; Mildred is Eighty, ro-
mantle, yet shy; Tommy is harem-
scarem, always up to something.
Richard, about whom most of the
story centers, is at that strangely
uncertain age which most males ce-
call with few regrets and many
inward smiles. He is in love with
Muriel McComber, the girl across
the street, to whom he sends copies
of SWinburne's poems. He doesn't
exactly understand philosophy but
he knows it must be beautiful, SO
he buries himself in it.
At the Miller home lives Lily
Mats spinster sister, who is in love
with Uncle Sid. But Uncle Sid. be-
tween jobs a resident at the Miller
home, repeatedly ruins his chances
with Lily by consistent hinges.
Father Comes on Scene
Murel's father, irked by the poetic
love messages from Richard to his
daughter, appears at the Miller
home, armed with note to Richard
from Muriel telling her youthful
lover she never wants to see him
again. Richard, respondent, decides
on something desperate" and the
day is pretty well washed out for
the family when Richard isn't home
by 1890 that night.
He finally comes home drunk.
One can imagine the horror of such
a situation Richard had made a
date with blond down at the
Pleasant Beach House. She had
taken five dollars from him, poured
strong drinks into him, kicked him
out.
Next day Nat straightens things
out with Richard, has the famous
heart-to-heart talk with him. Muriel
slips out of her room where her
father has kept her in punishment
because of her correspondence with
Richard, and the two re-plight their
troth. Richard gets his first kiss
and Is thrown into trance.
But 1t Ends Happily
The play ends happily, with Sid
and Lily on the front porch, in love
again, slipping lemonade which Sid
has secretly spiked. Richard and
Muriel are arm-in-arm beneath the
trees, and Mildred is in heaven
with her first beau. Nat and Essie
agree that theirs may not be the
spring of love, but winter isn't such
a bad season either.
There can be little doubt that
"Ah Wilderness!" is one of the few
truly great motion pictures ever pro-
duced. 1t has captured, almost COM
pletely, the spirit of O'Neill. The
summary, fragrant texture of comedy
woven by master of the art.
Lionel Barrymore does not, as far
as we are concerned, play the role
'of Nat with the dramatic fervor
which featured George M. Cohan's
portrayal on the stage. But Mr.
Barrymore does play it differently
and WELL His best scenes are the
father-and-s sequence and with
Wallace Berry Gas Uncle Sid wher
the two come home from the picnic
a little on The damp side
Mr.. Berry Convincing
Mr.. Berry is marvellously con-
vincing as Uncle Sid No one can be
the kind-hearted fool that Beery
plays quite as we'll as he can. It's
sort of Min and Bill role, with
added restraint and better comedy
Too much can not be said about
Eric Linden's portrayal of the love-
sick Richard, whose head is in the
clouds so much that he often Stun
bles. Mr.. Linden has deftly stretched
and pulled this part. thrown it out
of Joint enough to give it emphasis
and prominence among the others
His best scene is the one in which
he gives his high school valedic-
torian address.
Cecilia Parkers picture debut. il
made in the part of the sensible
sweet and lovely Muriel, who know:
how things should be, much better
than her boy friend Richard. But
her devotion to him sometimes sway:
that good sense.
Good in Roles
Aline MacMahon makes an idea
Lily. Her scenes are crammed with
pathetic comedy. Spring Byingtor
is at her best in the role of Essie
Mats devoted wife. She displays 8
freshness we hadn't thought hel
capable of showing.
Most hilarious of all the picture,
fun is the episode depicting Rich.
ards high school graduation exer.
cises. The girls clad in white frock,
and the boys in tight-fitting black
suit, sing their class Song to the
tune of The Blue Danube"
A boy struggles through clarinet
solo which is work Of art. A CIR
sings Justify and none too we'll. Sew.
eral pupils recite ludicrously funn,
poetry. Richard tops it all wish hi.
speech.
Any man who ever slipped in bacl
of the barn when boy to smoke
corn-silk cigarette; any woman
who ever smudged her mouth with