Evening star., 1937-11-15

had So 1t really was pretty much
like Hollywood, what with the presence
of celebrities, the lateness of the
hour and scrambled eggs, sausages and
coffee later in Carter Barron's office.
Naturally only few specially invited
guests got scrambled eggs, but every
one got a special card on which he,
or she, is supposed to write an opinion
of the picture The latter is Just like
Hollywood. too. Out there criticism
cards are big feature of sneak pre-
views, so-called because the audience
does not know anything about them
in advance.
The whole thing began shortly after
midnight. With all the house lights
burning brightly, Miss Bennett and Mr..
wanger walked down the aisle. The
applause was voluminous, warm and
polite. In Hollywood, it probably
would have been a tumult, as If Miss
Bennett and Wanger were on their
way to a touchdown against Notre
Dame instead of merely on their way
to seats in theater. There was more
applause when the two were intro
duced, rose from their seats. bowed
graciously and then settled down to
the business of the evening, namely,
seeing the picture.
GETTING ready on Miss Benefits
part consisted of handing critic
her purse and gloves while she got
out her horn-rimmed spectacles.
"GlasSes?" asked the critic.
Sure" said Miss Bennett. why
not? You wear glasses" Then, while
the house lights still burned and as
If she didn't give darn for appear
ances, she put on her spectacles. And,
miraculously. instead of looking like
your grandmother or your old fresh
man Latin teacher. she went right on
looking like Joan Bennett. That is
to say she looked fair and lovely and
young and completely oblivious of the
eyes that stared and the necks that
craned all over Mr.. Barron's big cine
ma stadium.
Thanks to Mr.. Barron, the local
critical phalanx was so disposed
around the star of the evening that
it had chance to study her closeup,
both in life and celluloid
1t was a case of seeing Joan Bennett
seeing Joan Bennett, and finding it
q singularly interesting phenomenon.
Miss Bennett. who knew what was
going on, handled the situation with
considerable poise. She refused to
review the picture afterward. that not
being her job with so many critics
present. but you could guess she en-
joved much Of it. If she was self
conscious-too self conscious. that is
she was actress enough to conceal 1t.
She was always interested, in a poker
faced sort of way when the screen was
occupied primarily by Joan Bennett,
but capable of relaxed laughter and
enjoyment when the scene was given
over to other members of the large
and talented cast
Dame May Witty. who obviously
Is a great actress for Miss Benefits
money as well as yours Cor our critics
pass was the fellow player in the
film whose work Miss Bennett seemed
to enjoy most. Henry Fonda also
made her laugh and she seemed deeply
interested in the work of Louise Platt,
Hepburnish-looking brunette re-
Gently kidnapped from the living stage
by Wanger. and very wisely, too.
MIR. WANGER, on the other side of
Miss Bennett. who had partici-
pated in the editing of the picture in
the afternoon, kept notes on its va
rious aspects as it unraveled Only
once did the two exchange comments.
'eToo much" (the last word LOST
said the producer at one point. Miss
Bennett nodded afirmatively as Mr..
Wanger wrote down on his little pad
whatever it was that was too much.
The only time one sensed the real
Miss Bennett was particularly inter-
ested in the celluloid Miss Bennett
tand that may have been only wild
guesslng) was when the latter got
very. very drenched in a wild, furious
rainstorm. If she was dismayed at
the stringy appearance of her hair
or the rumpled effect of the rain on
her evening frock, she did not show it.
She merely seemed to be scrutinizing
the celluloid image of herself more
closely. registering no trace of chagrin
that she might not be looking her best.
Which she certainly wasn't
Then, few minutes after the
screen rain, and with Miss Bennett
and the love she met again all square
with the past, the picture ended. The
lights came up. the audience stood
UP, one or two of its members sought
to get Miss Benefits autograph, the
invited guests adjourned to Mr.. Bar
rons Office and the night absorbed
the others.
Washingtons first sneak preview.
. rather gala event, was over
X
A LMOST as interesting as the guest
of Honor at the party Gf Al
Trahan won't be jealous about us