Evening star., 1939-01-12


that none Of them will shine
80 brightly as the petite brunette
OF course, Metro Goldwyn- Mayer
might send along Hedy Lamar, but
even If 1t did, that would not change
this departments opinion as to who
shall be belle of the ball. Miss
Lamar glitters and all that sort of
thing but.
Out in Hollywood where beauty
is 50 common that an ugly face
usually is Samuel Goldwyn, Miss de
Havilland is consistently the rave of
the town. One would expect that
to be the case out at her home in
Burbank, but the feeling is epidemic.
All studios seem equally allergic to
the notion that any one could be
prettier than Olivia. They don't like
to have the stranger going around
looking for any one who might excel
her-if ever even Hollywood
stranger could be that crazy.
In way, it is funny thing that
Miss de Havilland is coming to the
Washington party. She. comes from
long line Of stay-at-hbmes. If she
were to appear at the Trocadero or
the Cocoanut Grove, it might be an
occasion for an extra in the excitable
journalism practiced in Hollywood.
Publicity departments, which spe-
cialize in driving stars away from
home, have never bothered Miss de
Havilland. For all her docility, q
quality that runs beautifully through
the De Havillands. Olivia would
repulse them on that score and they
know it. Anyhow it is practically
the greatest distinction that can
come to a beautiful star not to shine
at night in Hollywood.
Another quality that runs i'm
pressively in the De Havilland stock
Is intelligence. Olivia and her sister
Joan Fontaine (why not bring the
whole family are two of the easiest
persons in the movies for interview
purposes. They can talk on dozens
of subjects, of which Joan's favorites
are Olivia and books.
incidentally, Olivia's autograph is
one of the most cultured looking
things you ever saw. Like the hand
writing of a very distinguished lady.
We mention that merely in passing
so every one will have vague notion
of what it would have been like
had they got it.
X X
Chosen by every official and un-
ohicial chooser of such things as
the best foreign picture of the year,
Grand Illusion" came back to the
Belasco yesterday for a return en-
gagement.
Having the merit of timeliness as
we'll as excellence, the picture, made
In France, makes case against
war with an eloquence which sets
new standard in screen drama.
Its locale is a German prison camp,
group of them in fact, and its
premise Is that man is naturally q
peaceful animal never so tragically
duped as when caught in the psy-
chology of war. No battle scenes
intrude upon the recital Of this pow
erful plea for peace, and the picture
Is by far the stronger for their abb
sence.
Grand Illusion" is complemented
by some of the finest acting the
screen has enjoyed. One of the
numerous unforgettable perform
Ances is that of Jean Cabin, the
Spencer Tracy of France, who we'll
deserves the ranking. Mr.. Cabins
excellent portrait of the simple man
In conflict with himself as we'll as
his German enemies is matched by
that of Eric Won Stroheim as the
professional soldier, an aesthetic
tragically aware of the hollowness
Of his calling.
Grand Illusion" in every respect
Is picture which justifies its med
ais and other honors. It is the
safest film of the moment to tag
with the phrase "a must" It's ap-
peal Is universal.
X X X X
Beware of Virginia Weidler."
There are no signs like that around
Hollywood studios at the moment,
but they may have to erect them.