Evening star., 1940-01-22

train which fell, like q ne0phyte on
skis, in front of the Massey train
somewhere west of Pittsburgh
darkened the approach of the 1910
Lincoln to the White House. It
kept it dark only so long as it took
enterprising R-K-O executives to
invoke the good Offices of both the
Pennsylvania Railroad and the
Pennsylvania Central Airlines. The
first provided Mr.. Massey with q
clear right-of- or its technical
equivalent, to Harrisburg. The latter
swooped down there, picked up the
actor and his wife, and brought
them here not only in time for a
snack at the White House but a
chat with the press before supper.
How the White House took 1t, no
one has said, but the Masseys,
R-K-O and the press were all of
a-flutter about the contretemps. So
far as the press was concerned. Mr..
Massey had to be today's drama
column. AS the best imitation of
Lincoln since the original-an esti-
mate in which the most stubborn
political orator will have to yield to
even more stubborn drama critics
he is something to write about.
When political bosses can produce a
better imitation, he, also, will be
something to write about, but not
very likely for drama page.
X X X X
For all the temptation it might
have been for press departments
less dignified than R-K-O's, Mr..
Massey came not to town in char
acter. He came, instead, as Mr..
Massey. Instead of getting off a
train wearing a stovepipe hat, the
Lincoln shawl, the beard and the
boots which made him perfect
reproduction of the character he
plays, he arrived in an airplane
wearing a gray plaid suit, bow tie
and the corresponding accessories.
AS a result, persons of whimsical
mind will have to imagine for them
selves what a turn it would have
given Washington to see such a per-
feet imitation of Lincoln riding to-
ward the White House in a ba-
rouche
OF the picture which will be shown
to the public with such gala cere-
monies at Keith's tonight, Mr..
Massey talks with modesty, gracious
ness and sincerity. He is of the
opinion, as are others associated
with its production, that it is a time
1y, dramatic document shedding i'm
portant emphasis upon the virtues
of democracy as national way of
life. (He does not, of course, make
1t sound so pompous, but there is a
lot of the Fourth of July orator in
the chap reporting him.
AS between the stage and screen
portraits of the character, both of
which he created, Mr.. Massey has
no preference. He Is glad to have
had the opportunity to impersonate
Lincoln-whose character amounts
more nearly than any other to an
obsession with him on both the
stage and in the movies.
The screen portrayal, coming after
almost a year of playing the part on
the stage, gave him a greater aware
ness of the part, he feels. He is back
now playing the part before audi
ences nightly and feels that his
performance is the richer for the
knowledge of Lincoln he acquired
from the different approach to it
in the movies.
Patiently no fellow to harbor super
stitions-weA, no more than any other
intelligent actor-Mr. Massey never
theless is glad Washington is the
scene of the opening of the picture
version of Robert Sherwood's prize
winning drama. 1t is not only a
natural" locale for the opening of
a movie with such theme, but also
was the scene of the plays premiere.
The latter got off to such a flying
start in it's day, which was year
ago last october, that Mr.. Massey
has a sort of warmly hopeful feeling
the success will be repeated.
He is looking forward, not without
some trepidation in spite of the good