davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-11-19
New Comedy
At Keith's
Is Tepid
Service De Luxe
Stars Constance
Bennett

Some one in Hollywood seems to
have thought the daf1y comedy cy-
Gle was still at its peak and that
anything purporting to be daf1y
comedy would be snapped up by the
happy film fans. There can be no
other reason for Service De Luxe" !"
the new picture at Keiths. 1t
cannot be that the boys thought
they had a deathless script that
must be imprinted on celluloid for
posterity unless they have a grudge
against posterity and want to add
this to taxes
Maybe if we will turn of the lights
and sit quietly in the cool darkness
for a while the pain will lessen.
There are some pleasant things to
be remembered If some of the other
aspects of Service De Luxe can be
forgotten here in the cool OF the
night.
There is Constance Benefits live
ly portrayal of a career woman who
runs a personal service and bosses
everybody near until she meets a
lad who will not be bossed. Miss
Benefits contributions are all to
the good. And there are some mo-
ments of comedy by Helen Brod-
erick, Charles Ruggles and Mischa
Auer that enliven the proceedings,
Mr.. Auer, for one, having an espe-
cially fine running gag in which he
is constantly calling upon the spirit
of q departed comrade to find out
what goes on in this world. There
also is Vincent Price, who makes a
pleasant if not altogether auspicious
entry into the world of the cinema.
The basic idea behind Service De
Luxe" has its possibilities, too, even
if it does have also its triteness.
The story of a young business wom-
an who runs one of those services
that handles all of the family AZ
fairs, even unto buying tooth paste,
and who meets and loves lad who
does not want his tooth paste Sc
lected for him, could be good COM
edy romance. But it Is not when
the farce is done with the light,
feathery touch of the Chicago Bears
and when no one seems to have been
able to decide whether a semi
serious comedy mood or utter slap
stick should reign. II. M.
Evening star., 1938-11-19
Coln1an Film
Remains at
Palace
Villon Life Story
Told in Spirited
Terms

Francois Villon, gent who made
of his times in France, might be
surprised at what has happened to
him in If I Were King" the film
which yesterday entered its second
week at Loew's Palace. No one else
will have time for surprise, for here
Is picture teeming with action,
spirited in its romantic overtones
and sufficiently energetic at all times
to obscure any departure from a
literal account of NJ. Villon's career.
Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone,
Frances Dee. Ellen Drew and large
cast directed with consummate skill
by Frank Lloyd make this swash-
buckling number adequate enter
tainment for anybody. Yes, any
body.
If I Were King is a good screen
story. 1t is the narrative of an
irreverent, impudent poet whose
eloquence SO appeals to king,
Louis XIV, that the latter allows
him to take over the country for a
week. At the end of the week the
implications are that the King will
60 back to his old job again, his
first duty being that of shooting his
assistant.
This is the stuff of which ro-
nance drama in its broader terms
is made. That is exactly what has
been made of it in this instance,
with romance in its more limited
meaning being offered in the form
of a triangular love affair between
the poet, great lady of the court
and tavern wench. Preston Stur-
ges, who wrote the script, has kept
the two in excellence balance at
| all times.
As Villon Mr.. Colman is again in
role that he has made peculiarly
his own, that of daring, reckless
fellow whose sense OF justice is
sufficiently intense to keep him in
constant danger. Running him a
neck-and-neck race for acting hon.
ors, however, is Basil Rathbone as
King Louis. Mr.. Rathbone turns
in the performance of his career in
the role of the cackling, cunning
Louis, a chap for whom modicum
of sympathy always is due in spite
of his subservience to the family
tradition of misrule.
The picture marks the introduc-
ton of Miss Drew to featured roles,
and she proves so worthy In the
part of the tavern hoyden. Hugette,
that she looks more eligible for the
fate of Nine. Villon than does the
lady in waiting, played by Miss Dee.
Paramount has given Mr.. Lloyd
his usual carte blanche in the pro-
duction of IF I Were King" and
he has made the most of the op-
portunity to turn out highly
worthy version of a classic tale.
j. c.
Evening star., 1938-11-19

worse, and in spite of the warnings
of her family, Miss Davis takes him
as husband. There Is no particular
novelty in subsequent events, but
they are treated with dignity, sim
cerity and other qualities that make
them interesting.
Running concurrently and never
lost to sight are the affairs Of the
other two sisters. One is blond
(Anita Louise, a heartless wench
whose loveliness is of peculiarly de-
structive nature. The baby of the
family, played by Jane Bryan. Is
just Silver Bow (Mont) girl who
conforms perfectly to the local cam
onS of maidenly and matrOnly con-
duct. In spite of that however, her
marriage adds its little element OF
drama to the aggregate involved In
The Sisters
In its concentration upon the tide
of love which carries Miss Davis
and Mr.. Flynn the film takes It's
audiences to San Francisco in the
period just prior to the earthquake.
Throughout this area it achieves
considerable interest by sticking
with apparent fidelity to the twi-
light of the horse age, an interval
of bulgy clothes, roaring journalism,
dirty politics and other piquant phe-
nomena.
Then, when these have been
thoroughly reviewed, comes the
earthquake. 1t is done with enough
realism to satisfy the most intem-
perate taste in destructiveness. Be-
ginning in the multistory fiat In
which the tragic couple live, the
camera records its complete demoli-
ton. Then, when the last wall has
fallen around the wife, who cannot
leave because she is waiting for her
husbands return, the lens Is turned
upon burning city outside. Even
if the latter is done in miniature,
it is make-believe at its best and
is in accordance with the best earth
quake traditions of Hollywood.
The Sisters" which Anatols Lit
yak directed and produced, Is ef-
fectively acted. In its stellar roles
Miss Davis does her regularly fine
job, while Mr.. Flynn, new to the
task, creates an effective portrait
of a bitter reporter whose dreams
outstrip his talents. Miss Louise
and Miss BRYAN do well enough in
their ways but are outplayed by
such veterans as Ian Keith, Beulah
Bondi. Donald Crisp and others in
the expansive cast.
The stage show at the Earle this
week may or may not have been
put together with the idea that
strong picture is enough. II looks
like that. however.
Headlining it. and an affair OF
merit, is the dancing OF Mayris
CLANCY and Edward Fox. They are
very good. especially when they are
giving the audience a lesson in
dancing everything that is modern
all the way up to the jitterbugs
special.
After CLANCY and Fox there is
nothing engaging. except possibly
the dancing Roxyettes. The three
Were brothers dance and panto-
mime, Texas Jim Lewis and his
Lone Star cowboys wham away at
some Lone Star tunes and instru-
ments. and George Byron contrib
utes baritone solos which are un-
distinguished. Don Cummings
rounds out the bill.
Evening star., 1938-11-19
Trans.Lux Offering
Historical Puzzle

An intriguing historical mystery
provides the subject for the principal
item on the Trans-Lux short sub
ject program this week. it is the
case of Marshal Ney. French mill
tary commander of the Napoleonic
era, who Is recorded as having been
executed. The film deals with a
story boasting some substantiation
that the marshal escaped to the
United States and became a school
master.
Lovers of Wagnerian music will
enjoy an able performance by the
National Philharmonic Orchestra,
under the baton of Frederick Feher.
The music Is from "Tannhauser." ="
To round out the usual quartet Of
shorts, the Trans-Lux is offering
African Jamboree,' picturing evil
dences of modern European inf1u-
ence on the Dark Continent, and
Little Moths Big Flame Color
Rhapsody cartoon.
Condemnation of Nazi persecu-
ton of Jews high lights the array
of new shots. Among those seen and
heard registering their views are
President Roosevelt, Thomas E.
Dewey, Herbert Hoover, Alfred E.
Smith and church leaders. Also
caught on the national scene are
John L. Lewis addressing the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations
convention, the President leading
the Armistice Day observance. dedi-
cation of memorial to Knute
Rockne at Notre Dame. From across
the seas have come views of army
demobilization in Czechoslovakia,
Stain reviewing the Soviet mill
tary forces, the late Kemal Ataturk
of Turkey.
Fashions and sports are covered
adequately, and Lew Lehr COM
ments on peanut pushing.
C.. A. M.
Evening star., 1938-11-19


glittering and sophisticated enter
tainment.
The major difficulty is that the
script provided to transmute Keith
Winters play to the screen falls
apart somewhere past midstream
and leaves nothing but f1otsam and
Jetsam to support the players in
their struggle to reach shore. It
all sails along giblv enough as a
New York dancer Miss Crawford
weds the son (Melvyn Douglass of
q Wisconsin family which has been
there since the Indians. And it is
still all right as she gets into trouble
with his sister Fay Bainte) and
gets fallen in love with by his
brother Robert Young, the fellow
married to Miss SULLIVAN.
All this is very fine dish of
travail, which is played we'll by
those concerned, especially well by
Miss Sullivan, Miss BANTER and
Mr.. Douglas. and which should keep
you more than moderately inter-
ested. But disintegration sets in
when Miss Sullivan dashes into a
burning house, that the man she
loves might be free. only to be res
cued by Miss Crawford so every one
can live happily ever after Per-
haps it is the Hays Office which is
to blame more than the script
writer's, for that organization hardly
would countenance happiness for a
pair Of people who were unfaithful
to their chosen mates, even if this
would be much more sound and
logical elimination of the earlier
events OF the photoplay.
But for all of these complaints
THE Shining Hour" still stands as
the best yarn to occupy the talents
Of Miss Crawford in a couple of
years and it should be happy
boost upward for her and not an
other kick down the Hollywood lad
der. 1t is pleasant to note. too.
that Miss Crawford returns the
compliment by making the dancer
the best characterization she has
done for the screen in those two
years.
Any cinema personality, of course
would have to keep on her toes to
stay in the running when perform
ing alongside such people as Mar
garet Sullivan, Fay BANTER and
Melvyn Douglas. That voice of
Miss Sullavan's, the sincerity and
honesty of her playing and Mr.
Douglas knack for ever being sure
and just right make every moment
the cameras are focused on them
a pleasant one. Miss Banter con-
tributes splendid portrayal of the
elder sister. who is sure the dancer
will bring ruin to the family, and
she even comes through triumphant
and not dizzy when the script spins
her around and around and leaves
her facing in the opposite direc-
ton
Frank Borzage's direction PAGES
THE Shining Hour swiftly, the
dialogue is literate if not sparkling
and. in spite Of its derelictions,
there is much that is entertaining
about it.
X
Held over for a second week on
the Capitol stage. Harriet Hoctor
and her ballet share honors now
with Johnny Perkins. the Radio
Aces and the Fredysons. Both OF
the Hoctor routines. enthusiastically
greeted by the audience yesterday
Evening star., 1938-11-19

spend all her evenings quietly at
home for one year. until her divorce
from Edward Norris is final. Will
this set new film fashion of mourn
ing for lost love? :. LuiSe Rainer
says she is willing to make a picture
for Metro-but in England only :. {.
Joan Crawford and Jimmy Stewart
elope to Yuma-in The Ice FollieS.' y
Afterwards. Jimmy has to carry Joan
over the threshold of their new
home, and Joan has to say. This
only happens once in a lifetime. y
OF course, Jimmy staggers with her,
and the actual event happens nine
times Mickey Rooney is now a
Texas ranger, a Cherokee Indian
chief, leader Of girls kiltie band.
And, for good measure. a police cap
tain of Oklahoma City.
Bette Davis and Irene Castel are
very upset over the non-success Of
their anti-vivisection campaign .
Edmund Goulding raises orchids,
which he sends daily to his girl
friends. Can I be one, Eddy? .
Since Mrs. Temples bout of flu,
daughter Shirley takes her tempera-
ture twice daily The Earl of
Warwicks British accent at the local
Armistice ball made him the least
understandable master of ceremonies
of the decade.
Genevieve Tobin. who is working
in Husband William Keighley's
"Yes, My Darling Daughter has
to be up one hour earlier than he
does - for makeup reasons - and
kisses him good morning on the
set. Merle Oberon fooled her
autograph public at recent pre-
view by using David Niven's silk
scarf as an arm sling, to which she
pointed piteously when asked for
her signature. Alan Mo~oray
is a member of the Bricklayers'
Union and, when asked why. ex-
planned that if the President can
be a bona fide architect he, Alan,
can be a bricklayer. Joan Fon-
taine is at Victorville following a
fattening diet prescribed by Conrad
Nagel. According to certain
well-known local wit. all that was
needed to make Marie Antoinette'
supersuccess was to have Leslie
Howard disguised as peasant knit
ting at the foot of the guillotlne.
Evening star., 1938-11-19
Metropolitan Keeps
Brother Rat

Brother Rat" that merry docu-
ment of life as lived by the irrepres-
sible youngsters enrolled at v. M. l.,
entered its fourth downtown week
at the Metropolitan theater yester-
day. Fashioned from the stage play
of the same name. drama that ran
enduringly in New York and on the
road, the film keeps the hilarious
spirit of the original intact. Con-
tributing most largely to this happy
circumstance is a newcomer, Eddie
Albert. Mr.. Albert is not handsome,
but he has enough acting talent to
walk away with virtually every hon.
or that inheres in this bright and
spirited comedy.
He is aided and abetted by such
other Warner juniors as pretty Pris-
ella Lane, Jane Wyman, Wayne
Morris, Ronald Reagan and a slew
of others.
The most intense stage enthus-
lasts are justified in no complaints
against the way this comedy has
been offered, unless they want to
find that Mr.. Morris looks a little i'll
at ease and conscious in the
role of Billy Randolph. He does, but
it does not make great deal OF
difference in the aggregate fun.
j. C.
Evening star., 1938-11-19

Based upon the novel of the same
name by Myron BRING, The Sisters"
is period piece, but of period in
which many things happened. One
of them was the San Francisco
earthquake Cor fire.. phenomenon
which lately is taking on the char
acter of just a great inspiration
for motion picture makers. While
the earthquake, very handsomely
and terrifyingly reproduced, is The
spectacular high light, there are
other startling qualities in the pic
ture to engage your attention. One
is the discovery of Miss Davis in the
role of good girl kind of sacri-
flcial heifer; another the knowledge
that Mr.. Flynn can play heel in
spite of the permanent wave of good
ness which has enveloped him in
other scripts.
The drama of THE Sisters" is a
scopish affair involving great
many people. but it naturally is con-
cerned chiefly with Miss Davis and
Mr.. Flynn. She is the eldest of three
daughters in a small town Montana
family. girl with her feet on the
ground until Mr.. Flynn appears.
He is San Francisco newspaper
man, one of those tortured cry babies
who drinks because he cannot see
through the ugliness of things to
find the beauty which. he suspects.
must exist beyond. For better or
Evening star., 1938-11-19

are light and pleasant diversions,
allowing Miss Hoctor ample oppor-
tunity to employ her toe dancing
skill and using the ensemble ef-
fectively.
Mr.. Perkins, of course. is the mas
ter Of ceremonies, waxing passably
witty and doing his chore with his
usual enthusiasm; the Fredysons
are tllmblers and Whatnot and are
better than usual at it, and the
Radio Aces sing songs. They stopped
the show yesterday when they sang
songs, so we will step out of the
room when the balloting takes place.
Evening star., 1938-11-19

riding l eSS o n S
for Jane. Just
to make sure OF
her future"
Gre er Carson
who is British
will have all her
ii V ing expenses
paid in England
W h i | e S h e j S
making Good
by, Mr.. Chips
It's nice work
If you can get a
contract with
Metro.
Ann Sheridan
tells me she will
Evening star., 1938-11-19

To provide irrigation for excellent
pasture lands in the great Australian
Basin water in North Queensland
will be conveyed by tunnel and
aqueduct through the Great Divid-
ing Range and emptied into the in
land-howing Idyers.
Evening star., 1938-11-19
Seven 'Tou9hies'

Seven leading ladies have been
cast by Warner Bros. for Tough
Angels an air stewardess story by
Jerry Wald and Richard Macauley.
The seven Tough Angels" will be
Ann Sheridan. Jane Wyman, Gale
Page, Marie Wilson. Margaret Lind
say, Jane Bryan and Gloria Dick
son. They will relate in celluloid
the individual and collective adven-
lures of the girls who fly the trans
continental air-lines.
The government of India's secre-
tariat includes a reforms Office.
Evening star., 1938-11-19

Hungary's dozen political parties
include the National Union, the In
dependent Small Farmers, the Lib
eral Opposition and the Christian
Opposition.
Evening star., 1938-11-19
loan Crawford Gets a Story
In New Film at Capitol
The Shining Hour Tops Her Recent
Effort, Despite Its Shortcomings;
Harriet Hoctor Remains
By HARRY MACARTHUR.

1t seems far from logical that fellow would develop sudden
intense for Joan Crawford the
SULLIVAN for loving wife but this perhaps complaint
And before going the major complaint against e Shining
should be told
ford
Evening star., 1938-11-19
Bette Davis and Errol Flynn
In a Diverting Film Play
The Sisters on the Earle Screen,
Not So Genteel as 1t Sounds;
Dancers Top Stage Bill
BY JAY CARMODY.

When Warner Bros cast Bette Davis and Enrol Flynn In picture
they production the
dverting well beyond the implications the title Gentee
kind
earthness
Evening star., 1938-11-19
'Juarez' Awaits the Stars
AS Horoscope Is Scanned
Paul MUM Won't Start New Picture
Until Planets Say It's O. K;
Ann Sheridan Stays Home
By SHEILAH GRAHAM.
HOLLYWOOD.

holding
end the scheduled with the Carole
Lombard brings Clark Gable hot coffee contaner
him. Darling Ill be dance n idiots
hght Robert Taylor with Stanwyk Holly
wood boulevard We're Christmas Bob explains
Jane Wihers proudly
Evening star., 1938-11-19

me, Il have already spent $4,000 on
ice skating, singing, and horseback
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-27
Gou. Cross Hints Lightly |At Grand Juries M State

can do better than that. The chief lack has been in the spiritual forces of society."We have not been good enough to do the things we ought to have been doing. am not cry- ing for the moon nor asking the impossible. am not expecting that other ordinary human beings like ourselves should straightway begin to behave like angels But if peo- pie generally were ready to live ill a spirit of an intelligent good will, the sort of good will feel toward all of you, the sort of good will which all of you feel toward me, and toward one another, and toward people genertlly, what a world it would be-"
 Officers elected by the chamber were:
 Albert E. Lavery. Fairfield, presi- dent: John B. Byrne, Hartford, Nell son w. Picekering. Ansonia, vice. presidents; R. Lamotte Russell, Man. chester, treasurer; Frederick Orr, New Haven, executive vice-president and secretary. General directors named for two year terms included John H. Goss, Waterbury; c. F. Hol- lister, Waterbury, and Allerton F Brooks, New Haven.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-27
WELTERWEtCHT
 FIGHT TUESDAY
Barney Ross, Henry Arm= strong Will Have Change
 in Weight Problem

New York, May 27-CUP)-The Barney Ross-Henry Armstrong fight for the world welterweight cham pionship, already delayed 24 hours by rain, was postponed a second time today because Of uncertain weather.
 Promoter Mike Jacobs announced it would be held Tuseday night.
 Rain, which began shortly after noon yesterday. causing the fight to be postponed from last night and rescheduled for tonight, continued until 10 a. m., today, but the skies were still overcast and Jacobs be- lieved conditions too uncertain to risk holding the match tonight.
 Because of the Memorial Day weekend and the migration of thousands of New Workers to sea- shore and country. he felt it would draw better later in the week than either Saturday or Monday nights
 Because of the five-day postpone ment from the original date. it will be necessary for the fighters to weigh in again. but they will not have to comply with the original contract calling for Armstrong, the 25-year-old St. Louis born negro challenger. to scale at least 136 pounds, and forbidding the defend ing champion from Chicago to weigh more than 142.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-27
REVERE MAYOR
 INDICTED TODAY
James N. O'Brien Charged With Larceny of $15,.
 635 From City

Boston, May 27-(UP)-Mayor James M. O'Brien of Revere today was indicted on three counts charg- ing him with larceny of total of $15,635 from the city of Revere. These indictments and another secret indictments against O'Brien were returned by a special Suffolk county grand jury reporting to Su- perior Judge Frederick w. Fosdick.
 A warrant for the arrest of the suburban mayor was issued imme- diately by Court Clerk William M Prendible for service today.
 O'Brien was expected to be taken to court this afternoon.
 The special grand jury was called by Attorney-G General Paul A. Dever to consider lawless conditions in Revere, which Dever charged were uncovered during his inquiry into the staying of Louis Gaeta, Revere racketeer, last November.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-27
BoySweetheart Slayer May KnowFateF From Jury Today

when their families were away, and he shot her through the heart with his fathers army pistol.
 Donald and his witnesses had tes- tified that he had also planned to kill himself; that Charlotte, mor- ose and imaginative girl, had been fascinated by tragic operas, plays and movies that glorified the sui- cides of lovers, and that she had influenced Donald to kill her. He said that killing himself was his own idea; that he knew nothing else to do because he was afraid to tell his parents of Charlotte's preg- nancy and they could not be mar ried because he was still in high school and had no job.
 Today was the birthday of Fred Matthiesen, Charlotte's father, who has forgiven Donald and has blamed the parents, himself includ- ed, for the situation. He thinks that parents should better prepare their children for courtship by edu- eating them in the problems of sex ual attraction.