Evening star., 1937-09-16

novel, Death in the Deep South" Al
though there is the usual disavowal
that the story has any relationship to
actual events, large handful of skep-
tics will be determined to see a re-
semblance to the famous Leo Frank
case. At any rate, in this story a
questionably guilty man is laid in the
murderous hands of mob because
the prejudice of a town and the po-
litical ambition of its prosecuting at
torney require a murder conviction.
Where does the press figure in it?
In the dramatic ending when the wife
of the lynching victim tells the pros
ecutor and his reporter henchman
that the two of them are equally
guilty. 1t is pretty good case she
makes against them both and there
was not protesting voice ton that
score) raised in the screening room
where the picture was shown to
handful Of newspaper people yesterday
afternoon.
This department, which constitutes
q weak voice crying in the wilderness
against the exaggerations of news
gathering technique as Hollywood pic
lures them, can be more broad-minded
about the general premise of the film
as it relates 70 the press than to some
of its detail. The wanton raiding of
the accused murderer's apartment
while his wife lies fainting on the floor
is one Of those impressions that 1t
would be too bad If the audience took
seriously.
have displayed degree of courage in
this film which has its admirable as
poets even when 1t runs snarling over
ones special domain.
IF YOU have sort Of vague memory
Of Springtime reviews of Susan
and God" which were not so awfully
fattering to Susan and God" Just
forget the whole thing The next play
at the National which brings Ger
trude Lawrence back to Washington
eve start with warm spot for any
such play) has been revamped consid-
erably since the critics turned sour
when the trees were turning green.
Words rippling along our grapevine
go pleasantly to the effect that there
is a brand-new third act for Wash
ington, and subsequently for New
York
And, Of course, there have been so
many changes in the cast that you
can't count them unless you can count
to six. Major among them is the re-
placement of Bert Lytell by Osgood
Perkins. Not having seen the formers
performance, We wouldn't know
whether or not the critics were right
in saying what they did, but Perkins
sounds precisely like the kind Of player
for the leading male part Or maybe
it would be more accurate to say that
the part sounds practically ideal for
Perkins.
THERE will be a party tonight In
the presidential suite OF the Will
lard. The guests will drop in at the
behest Of Carter Tate Barroh to in
itiate the week Of celebration Of the
Capitol Theater's tenth birthday.
There will be fluctuations. There will
be fun. And probably there will be a
birthday cake with 10 candles on 1t.
THIS departments deep and abiding
faith in the integrity of Edmund
Plohn, manager OF the National, is
back to the old high standard after a
slight sag earlier in the week. 1t was
Mr.. Plohn's pledge several days ago
that intermission wanderers at the
theater would be called back to their
seats by the sounding of a new set of
beautifully resonant chimes. At the
end Of the seasons first intermission,
however, the lights fiickered the old,
old signal and not an ear was touched
by the sound Of chime. 1t turned
out, however, to be merely a case of
habit being habit. They've always
done it With lights and they just for
got about the chimes. Everything, how
G hpir7n