Evening star., 1938-04-27

tle ground ana whose neart is SomeV
contribute marvelously to his box on
the same in its laconic effectiveness
as was his prize-winning Manuel in
Captains Courageous" but because
the character is of lesser stature 1t
will not have the same open field in
Tracy's race to another Oscar.
The actor who thinks Paul NUM- is
the best actor in Hollywood. and who
in turn is rated as the cinemas best
performer by NUM-, does everything
possible to make Metro feel perfectly
justified in having recently put him
on $4,000 weekly salary basis.
There will be those who say that
Tracy steals the show from Myrna
10y and Clark Gable. 1t definitely
Is his show, but not quite as a result
of any theft. Both Miss 10y and
Gable give two Of their better per-
tormances which are quite good, but
neither of them exhibits the mastery
over character which Tracy shows
from the moment he steps forth as a
taclturn mechanic whose job it is to
translate friendship into terms that
make it visible as one Of the finest
accomplishments in the adventures of
the species.
Traey's method of handling line Is
a never-ending delight throughout the
film. The dialogue he has been given
Is not noteworthy in itself, but when
It comes out in Tracy's reading, it
sounds always like something vastly
important. 1t Is one of the surest
dramatic senses which Hollywood pos
sesses that Tracy brings to the role
which is not unlike several others he
has played, which reminds us and
probably great many other Tracy
enthusiasts that it might be in order
to ask Metro -GoldWyn- Mayer to let
him have his fling at something diff
ferent. That is not demurrer, even
a mild one, against what has been
done in this picture. 1t is just sug-
gestlon that might be a good memo
for some one when the company gets
busy again thinking of something for
Tracy to do.
NELSON EDDY, we gradually are
learning, is not a motion picture
actor; not merely motion picture
= actor, that is. Mr.. Eddy is kind
Of religion In whom his fans believe
with deep, abiding fervor. knowledge
Of that kind comes out of two recent
references here which the perfervld
Eddy following concluded were un-
fattering to the big blond baritone.
So by way Of curtsey to the letter
writer's and those who used to phone
instead, We shall say that whatever
critics may think Of Mr.. Eddy. or the
parts assigned to him, he apparently
has the most enthusiastic fan follow
ing Of any one in Hollywood. If they
were not such obviously nice people,
too, We might even be afraid Of them.
Anyhow, pax, pax!
X
! 4 ND, speaking of performers as one
seems to be doing today, the
Earle's going to have no more of this
quibbling about who gets what dressing
room number back stage. The dress
ing rooms Just are not numbered any
more. Bright new placques. or what
ever Harry Anger calls them, now
decorate each door proclaiming that
the room Is not No. or No. 2, but
Washington, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia and other States
Pennsylvania and Washington, for
as Nos and 2, although from previous
knowledge Of the place, they could not
fool us on the room designated Wash
1ngton.
Tommy. Riggs, II Maryland people
want to make him colonel or some
thing, is living in Maryland this
week. 1t is not quite as large as
Washington, getting technical about it,
but it has swell breeze blowing
through it most Of the time. Mr. Riggs
doesn't bother, anyhow. Between per-
3ormances he goes over to the Raleigh,
where he is staying, to play with that
famous cocker spaniel Of his. Incl
dentally. he was guest Of honor yes
terday at bit of party sponsored
by the Womans Press Club, to which,
Emily Nicklas, we are sorry we could
not come.
IMAGINE playing part 800 times
without ever speaking word! Lii
lian Ardell has done it and will add
some more times to the 800 next week
when Tobacco Road" returns to the
National for its fourth appearance
here and its second farewell appear
ance Miss Ardell, of course, is Jeeter
Testers grandmother. the world-weary
old rag-bag who is the personif1cation
OF despair. She is the one, remember,
who, having died out in the fields,
Jeeter promises to look for some day"
when he isn't so busy.
Miss Ardell, confined to pantomime
In protecting one of the plays impor-
tant Characters, has had considerable
stage experience. She finds the role
one Of the most difficult she ever
played.
JUST how the Academy Theater feels
about spring and love, We don't
know, but thanks to correspondent,
we do know that the houses most
piquant billing this week offered
combination of "Ill Take Romance"
and Live, Love and Learn"
Joseph Heidi, who is the guilds press