Evening star., 1937-09-12

as he is distinguished looking. was
acting as Paramount's ambassador to
Washington. His conversation was full
of superlatives for such monumental
works as Wells Fargo and "Bucca-
neer," two of the larger enterprises
now in the course of production on
the Paramount lot.
In the former, Joel McCrea.
Frances Dee, Bob Burns and wads
Of other players make a gigantic.
colorful charade out of how difficult
and dramatic it is to build I'D an
express company. "Buccaneer," in
which Fredric March revitalizes Jean
La Fitte, is the next great opus of
Cecil B. De Mile,
Other Paramount items which Mr..
Blair mentioned (and mentioned) in
cluded Souls at Sea-" High. Wide
and Handsome" and the remarkably
fine health of John Barrymore.
a ND now listen to Mr.. E. de S.
Melcher, who ranks right at the
top among our favorite critics, and
who always is easy to listen to:
Dear Jay:
IhlS Is the morning after-after
great film. Which is to say that I
went to the preview of Stage Door
last night and I'm still trifle weak
from it. 1t is one of the most satisfy
ing f1lms Hollywood has ever made
tand this isn't because I'm a stooge
for R-K-O, eitherD.
You know how 1 went for The
Good Earth and you may also have
heard tell Of my prediction for Sonia
Henle, on or off ice. But this pic
ture version of a popular play that
had Its faults (plenty of them), but
which was still excellent entertain
ment, is an amazing example of team
work IN the studios and also a bril-
nant indication that good play
may become better if the right minds
go to work on it, and when I say that
I'm positive that Stage Door is a bet
ter movie than it was a film I'm not
Kidding either myself or your drama
department.
The virtue of Stage Door lies in
It's characterizations and dramatic
simplicity. 1t also presents a new
Ginger Rogers-a wisecracking come
olerne, who scores in medium
called acting which has never Sc
riously claimed her before. 1t pre-
sents Katharine Hepburn in a softer
ana more human sort of mood. And
II presents newcomer. Andrea
LEEDS, in small role that SO far
manscends everything or anybody else
IN the film, no matter how good they
or it are, that at last nights pre-
view the audience literally thundered
forth its admiration for talent which
crashed through so Unexpectedly.
Then again, the dialogue is so bril-
liant and so fast that half the au-
olence was saying this morning that
they intend to see the picture over
again in order to catch lines that
were missed on account OF the laugh
ter.
And so it goes-and went-and
VIII go-one OF the outstanding pic
lures of the year, and one which
should stay at Hardie's palazzo from
FAN TIL Spring-if the cinema sleuths
know what's good for them.
BY now you probably have heard
about the film in language far clearer
and better than mine. But on this
happy morning following the birth
OF fine, new picture (for which Di-
rector Gregory La Cava and Pro-
ducer Pan Berman deserve plenty Of
cheers) I couldn't resist taking tvpe-
writer in hand and warning YOU of
tne good that's ahead of you. There's
laugh and heart throb and a good
hunk OF humanity in this that YOU
are not likely to forget. Be prepared
then, sir, to rip out your biggest and
pest adJectives, and please ask Ma
belle Jennings why she does not even
postcard me. Always-that same old
e. de S. M"