Evening star., 1940-02-23

which Gene TOWne and Graham Ba
that the play is the thing, actually p
lesson the cinema needs to learl
picture which opened at Keith's yestl
most successful writing team have
entertainment by handling Johann i:
David Wysss romantic tale with in
telligence and loving care. The act
ing and production. however, make
it so rather than the script plucked
from the classic story that has
snuggled so warmly in the hearts of
so many lovers of adventure htera-
ture.
Adding ediflcation to entertain
ment, the Keith's bill also offers
the latest edition of the March of
Time, this one dealing expansively
and Interestingly with the Vatican
not merely as great religious in
stitution but as the center of the
most hopeful peace efforts in a
warning world.
Swiss Family Robinson" en-
thusiasts who may have been
alarmed for the safety of the tale
in the hands of such irreverent and
mocking fellows as Towne and
Baker may rest assured it has been
treated with becoming respect.
More than that, it has been treated
to one of the best casts conceivable.
The group, headed by Thomas
Mitchell as pious. peace-loving
Papa Robinson, and supplemented
by Edna Best as mother, and Fred
die Bartholomew, Tim Holt, Terry
Kilburn and Baby Bobby Quillan
is more than acceptable in every
respect. Mitchell, indeed, gives one
Of the best performances of his
career which, even the most casual
follower of his career knows, has
been full Of triumphs.
1t is natural that the Towne- Baker
flair for comedy would have its ex-
preston in Swiss Family Robin
SON." 1t does, always simply and
nearly always delightfully."-. Never
thelesS, it has not been allowed to
modify the fact that the story is
basically one of stirring spiritual
and physical adventure. The lat
ter is expressed in highly dramatic
form in two of the most terrific
storms out of Hollywood since Sam
GoldWyn arranged that hurricane
starring Dorothy Lamour. Both
storms suffer the handicap of 60
ing on and on after the audience
has reached the point of feeling it
has had enough of bad weather.
While the storms are the most
spectacular, naturally, they are not
the only special effects which the
fertile minds of the producers have
developed. They have been en-
gagingly artful in the application
OF such devices as letting a flock
OF geese Cor were they ducks?) lead
the Robinsons to their island, Para
disc, of creating for them a tree
house of such luxury as Tarzan
never dreamed, and of bringing the
greatest crisis in the family's re-
mote life in the form of a sting by
a black widow spider.
None of these nor the many
others which show how it is possible
for wealthy, spoiled family to
adapt itself-to the primitive life are
able, however, to keep the action
at a constantly interesting level.
When one actually gets down to it,
there is not much variety in life
on an island paradise. It has the
charm of being different, but not
all the ingenuity of Towne and
Baker can keep the spectator from
feeling. with Mother Robinson, that
there are times when it would be
nice just to go back home. In-
cidentally, one of the things of back
home which mother had no occa-
sion to miss was her hair-dresser.
Miss BestS hair always remains
elegantly coiffured. as if the islands
bounty extended that far beyond
its lavish provision of food and
shelter.
OF the cinema juveniles who par
ticipate in making the classic tale
OF the runaway Robinsons agreeable
Bartholemew's role is the most
Weighty. AS the foppish Jack,
perfect boulevardier, his conversion
to jungle life glows with comedy
possibilities, most of which Freddie
realizes fully. OF the others, Baby
Bobby Quillan turns out to be the
most engaging Robinson lad on the
premises another one of those in
fants so lacking in sense of prop
erty they always steal the show.
The entire issue of March of
Time" is not too much to devote
to so spacious subject as the
Vatican and the editors were quite
wise to that fact. Accordingly, they
have let their cameras look into
every corner of the great institu-
ton, down to such a small corner as
its grocery store-even its bar where
lemonade is the favorite drink, cof-
fee the second favorite. AS a center
of diplomacy, more so today than
in many years, the Papal State is
pictured as the center of the most
promising of today's peace efforts.
Not merely the theme, but it's ex-
haustive treatment makes the latest
issue of IN. of T." one of the best