The Washington times., 1936-06-17

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Vallee's hour to work a reform.
ABOUT GREEN PASTURES"
Warner Brothers are highly de
lighted over the way Wichita
Kan, accepted THE Green Pas
lures" It was test showing or
a two-a-day, reserved seat, booking
and besides producing a bouquet
of critical raves won a huge ad
vance sale and S. R. o. premiere.
Still Warner Brothers are moi
entirely out of the woods with
the Marc Connolly pastoral
drama. England never permitted
the play to be performed
and must be won over to permit
ting the picture.
w. Farquhar, critic of the Lon
don Era, who became the loudest
tub thumper for Green Pastures,
says:
'Tt is difficult to see how
this picture can ever be shown
in England, in view Of the
censorship restrictions, though
1t is unlikely that its producers
or the trade as q whole will
allow a work of such beauty,
sincerity and interest to re-
main unScreened.
"Of course, any such drama,
daring as it is, must cause q
storm Of controversy amid more
puritanical church-gOers, who
will find it impossible to
imagine their God as being
anything other than is taught
by their church. To meet him,
then, as a bearded but kindly
old man, who rewards his angels
with 1O-cent cigars and sits at
a rOlI-tOp desk, is likely to
keep the cOrrespOn d e nee
columns well filled for some
weeks"
Whatever the religious scrupleS
of anyone seeing this picture may
be, many aspects of the God they
meet must be difficult to accept,
for his thoughts and speech must,
of course, conform, not to the con-
ception of the Deity in England.
but to that of the uneducated col
ored folk of the Southern States.
This dialogue occurs when God
has concluded an interview with
his lieutenant and right-hand
man. the angel Gabriel.
"YOu going past the pits,
Gab?" the Lord inquiries.
"Can If va want me to, Lawd."
is the reply.
"Then look in and tell Satan
why does he think he is fight
ing a guy as big as I am," the
Lord says.
"Okay Lawd!" comes the sar-
dOnic reply. "I'H spit right in
his eye."
A little later we meet the fol-
lowing, as Gabriel finds the Lord
walking in his garden.
"Ya looking very pensive,
Lawd. Sure, you're looking
awful pensive-d'ye want a
cigar, Lawd?"
But overlooking the trouble ex-
hibitors may have with patrons
who find this picture blasphem-
Gus, it is a thing Of singular
beauty.
The singing Of the Hall johnson
choir alone makes this picture one
of the most thrilling ninety min
utes' Of entertainment I have ever
experienced. Never for one mo-
ment have the articles of the
cinema been allowed to intrude
into the simplicity Of the story
and the honesty Of its narration.
JOAN ON THE STAGE
The long.rumored Joan Craw.
ford stage appearance may take
place this summer.
While the star won't confirm it,
Hollywood hears that she will act
opposite her husband, Franchot
Tone, on one of the two plays he
is scheduled to do for Eastern
stock companies during his vaca'
tion.
Joan accompanies him on the
trip which is being held up until
she can complete 1.-The Gorgeous
Hussy" for Metro Goldwyn-May
In a guarded statement Joan
said today:
"1've been interested in doing
q play for long time, but when
I do, it will be in one of the
most obscure stock companies
of the country"
Tones commitments are with
one of the small companies operat-
ing on the East coast, and Holly
wood believes that Joan may have
selected this time for her foot
light venture.
It will be the first time she has
appeared on the stage since her
Show-girl days on Broadway.