Evening star., 1939-02-27

generosity and energy which have
marked the cinema community's
sympathy for the doWntrodden, op-
pressed and eXiled millions of today
testify not merely to a spirit of COM
passion for suffering but of con-
demnation for those who cause it.
1t may be just the leaven for the
Jumps of dullness which have been
ornamenting movie screens to
large extent in recent months.
Several films with more than aver
age courage involved in their max
ing have taught their sponsors that
brave words and deeds are the kind
OF drama which brings back long
lost patrons. The Citadel which
a great many persons regarded as
the best film of 1898, was such pic
ture. Its subject matter was the
highly controversial one of group
medicine. but Metro-GoldWyn-
Mayer apologiZed not at all for deal
ing with it. Nor did it modify the
aggressive text provided by DR.. A.
j. Cronin'S book.
Idiots Delight" hedged a bit,
but the same studio made it after
virtually having been dared to do
SO by a once large, but now very
angry, customer called Italy. It
was not exactly rich in its eloquence
in behalf of pacifism, but neither
was it poor.
Considering the Warner plans and
several recent developments in their
broader light, it may be safe to be-
lieve that something is about to
happen to the movies.
Mr.. Eddie Duchin, the band man,
is the busiest man around the Earle
this week. But neither telephone
calls from friends, telephone calls
to New York which were designed
to get job for a friend. interview
ers, nor admirers gathered at the
stage entrance upset Mr.. Duchins
aplomb. Between the interruptions,
keeping the thread of the CONVEX
sation intact, no matter how many
times it was cut (don't ask us how,
Mr.. Duchin found time to talk of
AAoily tlllllSS.
He is glad, for example, that
phonograph records are coming
back. Partly" says Mr. Duchin,
because it means more money in
music. But also partly because it
shows things do not change as rad
ically in this world as some of the
more desperate pessimists think"
6Dnfhar ~ NV l>S, ;,
pleased about is travel these days.
1t is good, he says, to have friends
everywhere, lot different than it
was when his fame was new and his
acquaintance few. The road used
to be a mighty lonely place" he
adds. "but every trip now is sue
ceSSion of reunions. The country
seems to have grown a lot smaller.
Even Hollywood seems right next
door to New York, what with the
same faces to be found in both
places"
Other developments of chat with
Duchin :. He's looking forward to
the excitement of playing to New
York Worlds Fair crowds He
probably has more praise for other
band leaders than any one in the
music business He thought
Wayne Morris, who was in town and
a dressing-room caller. would make
better story than himself He
is a collector Of Chinese objects
dart And so is the new Mrs.
Morris, whom he has known since
she was a child who could not spell
Chinese.
X X X X
All over town tonight movie fans
will be sitting in on the finale of
the gigantic bingo party arranged
to stimulate movies greatest year
. Winners of the various grand
and not-so-grand prizes in the con-
test will be announced everywhere
No one will know until the
actual announcement whether he,
or She, is on the verge of collecting
$4,000 Every one accordingly
can have the pleasure of spending
the money on a new yacht right up
to the last minute.