Evening star., 1939-02-05
Awards Are
Once More
In the Air
Academy's Honors
To Be Bestowed
This Month
By Douglas ". Churchill.

HOLLYWOOD.
With its enthusiasm held in leash,
the town is engaged in the contest
to determine the annual awards of
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences. Late this month the
banquet will be held (ringside seats
$25, semi-genius seats $lO at which
the industry's opinions on the best
picture, actor, producer ct al. will
be made public. Frequently the
choices have been suspect, for poll
tics that would have amazed Tam
many Hall have been employed. 1t
is improbable that there will be any
great change this year. The thing
that perplexes the citizenry is the
unworthiness of the 1888 product,
and those studios which have con-
Quoted vigorous campaigns in the
past are having difficulty in steam
ing up the population over the can
didates they have to offer.
Minimum interest surrounds the
bestowal of the Thalberg award,
which last year had the town at
fever pitch. Its purpose is to re-
ward producer for "the most
consistent high quality of production
achievement" Although Hollywood
felt that either David o. Selznick
or Samuel Goldwyn was the logical
candidate last year, a jury of IL
Academy members decided on Dar-
ryl Zanuck of Fox In his accept
ance speech Mr.. Zanuck was hon.
estly modest, for he said that while
he may not have deserved it for
1887. he would try to merit it for
1898. He then went out and pro-
duced "Suez," kidnapped" and Re
becca of Sunnybrook Farm" and the
Academy promptly changed its
method of award and threw the re-
sponsibility for this years selection
In the laps of the members at large.
With Goldwyn and Selznick out
of the running this year; with Zan-
uck eliminated because, as he said,
he received it in advance. and with
Metros record admittedly dismal,
the consensus here is that Hal Wal
lis of Warmers should receive the
trophy. AS program, the Warner
releases for 1898 were higher in
entertainment value than those of
any other lot. Wallis, little known
to the public, has been the guiding
factor in shaping the schedule and
fashioning the films.
Selecting the best picture and the
best performance is affording the
industry members difficult prob
lem. Because all of the good pic
lures were of about the same quality
level, it Is probable that force of
habit will govern the choice of the
best film, and the Academy's bronze
Oscar will go to Frank Capra's you
Can't Take 1t With YOU" The
award for the outstanding per-
formance by an actor appears to be
anybody's in wide-open race. A
substantial faction feels that Bette
Davis should be honored for her
work in "Jezebel," but within the
last week a vigorous campaign has
been launched in behalf of Norma
Shearer for Marie Antoinette." The
first move in this crusade was to
announce that Miss Shearer has
Joined the Screen Actors Guild,
something she had consistently re-
fused to do, for her political mana
gers knew she had no chance as
an opponent of the guild.
It must be understood that men,
ton of these names does not consti-
tute a prediction; Hollywood CORE
spondents have been notoriously de-
f1cient in anticipating Academy
awards. AS a matter of fact. the
sometimes peculiar selections of the
past have been responsible for the
many polls that have originated
outside of Hollywood within the last
two or three years. Those interested
In the screen have become increas-
ingly aware of the part politics
has played in the Academy vote, and
in the hope of bestowing honor
where honor is due, various groups
have undertaken to name their own
''bests" In spite of these onslaughts,
In the public mind the Academy
awards remain official and supreme.
Would You Trust
An Elephant?
Frank Whitbeck's penchant for
elephants at last is producing rev.
enue. In his youth Whitbeck tray
eled with a circus and developed a
fondness for pachyderms. For sew
eral years he has been head of
Metros advertising department, and
in memory of his canvas-festooned
days he has a pair of pet elephants
When Hal Roach began Its Spring
Again" adapted from H. c. Bum
ner's "Zenobia's 1nfidelity," he rent
end the Whitbeck pets to follow
(See CHURCHILL, Page F-20