Evening star., 1940-03-02

that his subject in "Dr. Ehrlich's
Magic Bullet" is the doctor and not
the bacteria which he is trying to
conquer. Accordingly he presents
Ehrlich first as research-mad
young physician chafnng at the
routine of hospital staff jog which
keeps him away from his beloved
microscope and his bewitching mi
crocosms. Humor, tenderness and
poignance are generously mixed In
this segment of the Ehrlich tale,
an interlude which closes with the
passionate young mans dismissal
from the hospital post. Among the
delightful totches here is that which
shows the idyllic home life which
his gentle. understanding, long-suf-
fering hausfrau creates for the doc
tor while he is making beautiful
botch of private practice and a
marvellous but Improbable success
of his germ isolation experiments.
Equally affecting is the sequence in
which Ehrlich makes his first ap-
pearance at the famous Koch In
stitute, where his enthusiasm and
energy so impress the redoubtable
Koch as to pave the way toward
their eventual association.
The story follows Ehrlich's career
thereafter through his infection
with tuberculosis, his cure in Egypt,
during which he makes a startling
discovery in connection with the
theory of immunization; his devel-
opment of the famous diphtheria
serum and its dramatic application
during the course of an epidemic
that is ravaging Berlin. Staid and
prosy though it may sound, this
material is handled with such ex-
traordinary skill that 1t is unfail-
ingly dramatic.
Vastly contributing to the effec-
tiveness of Robinson's impersona-
ton Of the unself- lf-conscious DR..
Ehrlich Is a complete lack of self
consciousness on the actors part.
There are no moments OF awareness
OF the player, as there almost in
variably are when an actor assumes
the exalted job of being a great
man.
Happiness of casting is the rule
to which there is not single ex-
ception in this picture. AS Frau
Ehrlich, the sweet. kindly sympa-
thetic mate of the great man, Ruth
Gordon is the perfect wife, quite as
perfectly the perfect wife as she
was the imperfect one in ABE Lin
coin in Illinois" Quite as heart
warming is the playing of German
Exile Albert Basserman as the great
man, great genius, Koch. a man of
sly and gentle humor. Unwittingly
Herr Hitler has conferred a great
gift upon Hollywood in Basserman.
Others who give standout per-
formances are Otto Kruger as the
gentle co-worker of Ehrlich. Donald
Crisp as the cabinet minister who
sponsored Ehrlich's research, Maria
Ouspenskaya as the patroness who
made the COG experiment possible
and Sig Ruman as the offensive Dr..
Wolfert.
All help make "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic
Bullet" movie of which the movies
may be proud and one greatly de-
serving Of prosperity.
Just when one is convinced for
the l,000th time that vaudeville is
dead, up pops stage bill which has
Jane Froman to brighten it with
her dramatic voice and the Hart
mans to make it merry with the
satiric dancing of which they are
the ultimate master and mistress.
The two are the high lights, and
high. of the G. B. S. Radio Revue,
which constitutes the Earle's sup
Elemental attraction this week. Gen.
terpiece of the show is Prof. Quiz,
that curious fellow who plops ques-
tions at panel of customers Sc
lected from the audience. 1t is a
fairly amusing process. but not faint
ly so amusing as the Hartmans
when they set about their hilarious
caricature of the dance.
In addition to Miss Froman there
is some pleasant vocalizing by Jerry
Cooper of the cinema.
And, believe it or not, the Letrees
are an acrobatic troupe which wins
applause by doing some novel bal
ancing tricks.
The Roxyettes are around this
week primarily for local color. They
are good at that, too.