Evening star., 1940-06-18

come, but Director Howard Went
worth's cast spends its all to giving
the coreless thing all possible
sparkle as to surface.
Central character, naturally, is
the wife, giddy featherbrain
whose powers of fascination and
nonstop vocal chords have the
virtue of collecting males by the
armful. The trouble is, however,
that once collected. the males don't
stay that way. On the contrary,
they become refugees from giddy
Gertrude and her overpowermg
coquettishness with vengeance
that has its amusing aspects, even
If their coming is badly masked.
There is nothing to disprove the
eternality, universally of the do
mestic drama in the situations of
Meet the Wife," but it's dialogue
leaves serious question as to the
changelessness of what characters
say in those situations. In that
respect, Mr.. Startling failed to an
ticipate these times and the effect
OF the talkies. Seems like there
never was anything elseD
Mary Boland's old part, that OF
Gertrude Lennox. makes something
rich for Miss Ryan to bounce
around in and her portrait of the
enticing wife is a sustained bit of
gaiety. Less fortunate are the
other members of the cast, among
them Peggy Johnston, who does as
we'll AS the character permits as
Gertrude's harassed daughter;
Forney Reese as the frustrated sec
ond husband, and Rand Gardner
as the first husband, who seized
upon the San Francisco earthquake
land or fire) to flee Gertrudes s
devastation.
Neil Lingers single set. Ger
trude's living room, is atmospher-
ically right for its, and the plays,
period.
Department of amplifying us and
abusing Hal Roach:
Dear Mr. Carmody:
Il read your piece in The Star
about Girl Star of Blank Blank
Picture Angry at Blank Studio, But
So Was the Leading Woman of
Blank Studios Last Film.' :
II want you to know that my
protest against Roach was a sim
cere one, and that at my own ex-
pense I wrote the women's clubs
and engaged lawyer. Apparently
my genuine protest was BOOM
erang, and instead of hurting Mr..
Roach and the picture ("The House
keepers Daughter '--EdD it helped
1t to such an extent that Mr.. Roach
decided to use the same thing as a
stunt for Carol Lands. I was very
mad, because I was sure that every
one. particularly the women's clubs,
would be sure that my grievance
was a trumped up one and not on
the level. I forthwith sent Mr..
Roach my lawyers bill and the ex-
pense incurred in writing the wom-
ems clubs. which was considerable
and told him that as long as he
thought my letters and the pub
licity involved were so valuable to
the success of his picture. The
Housekeeper's Daughter that he
could pay for it. Needless to say,
have had no reply.
MY only point in writing you
this letter is to assure you that my
protests were not part of 4 pub
licity stunt but came from the
heart. JOAN BENNETT"
And our only point In giving Miss
Bennett a chance to rebut is that
she is absolutely sincere.
Bulletin Board: "2l Days To-
gether," with Vivien Leigh and that
tall, dark and handsome man in
the starring roles. supplants "Con-
fessions of Nazi Spy" on the screen
of the Metropolitan today. :. That
was the picture in which Miss Leigh
and Mr.. o. first worked together
:. It's new to- the American mar
ket. Conrad Veidt's Wander