Evening star., 1940-02-21

big-name boys and girls. They hired,
instead, the redoubtable Thomas
Mitchell, than whom there is no
more skilled player In Hollywood.
Along with Mitchell they engaged
such talented performers as Edna
Best, Freddie Bartholomew and
young Terry Kilburn. These players
were chosen not merely because Of
their established capabilities but be-
cause they could take the Towne-.
Baker script and conform to its
dimensions instead of insisting that
it be changed to conform to theirs.
Even before the returns are in
from all sections of the country,
this unusual producing pair is so
confident of the success Of the for
mula that they are going right ahead
on their next project. It is to be
tom Browns School Days" another
classic, this one featuring Sir Cedric
Hardwicke.
If the project works out as the
writer's hope, they certainly won't be
too well hammered to point toward
its success in future debates about
what really is wrong with pictures.
Speaking Of writing, which seems
about the only thing to speak Of to-
day, Daryl Zanuck apparently is
ready with an answer to those loud
mouthed critics who claim Shirley
Temples pictures have been un-
worthy of her. Shirley's next is her
own life story, interesting not merely
because it may disarm Zanuck's most
strident critics but also because it
is the first time any 11-year -old has
been deemed worthy of screen
autobiography.
Might make a fine first writing as
signment for Frank Nugent, New
York Times critic, who has just been
added to the Zanuck staff and the
most acidulous commentator hereto
fore on the literature in which
Shirley has been starred.
What do you say, Mr.. Zanuck?
X Il -
What's this note: Warner Bros.
has just cast Ruth Terry for fea-
tured role in "An Angel from Texas"
What do they think they have in
Ann Sheridan, Texas greatest cur
rent gift to the screen? Still, maybe
that oomph build-up would have
made it funny to give Miss Sheridan
the part.
Biggest thing in testimonial din
ners which Washington showmen
have staged in seasons is the festival
to be held March 8 in honor of
Andrew R. Kelley, for many years
one of the outstanding drama critics
Of the country. Commissioner Melvin
c. Hazen will serve as general chair
man of the event, with virtually
every person prominent in show
business participating in subordinate
roles. Vice chairman include Sidney
Lust, Carter Barron, Richmond B.
Keech, Hardie Meakin, John Payette,
Edmund Plohn and Elwood Seal.
Treasurer is Sam Galanty, and
tickets are in the hands of a COM
mittee composed of Sam Wheeler,
Robert Denton, William Dolph and
Tony Muto.
Higher and Higher" the Dwight
Deere Wiman musical comedy which
hopes to make March a merrier
month at the National, is based upon
the annual buffers ball In New
York. -. :. The most rigorous research
fails to disclose that the ball ever
before has been the subject of q
musical comedy book Which may,
or may not have been the reason for
the quality of some of the books In
the musical comedy business. .
Andy Hardy's next heart-throb, in
the ninth picture of the series, will
be a debutante. -. A logical de-
velopment from the girl next door,
the young school teacher, and the
chorus girl who previously have
figured in Andy's romantic life. .
The Columbia imprimatur which
has been so long on Frank Capra
pictures will be missing on the next,
"The Life and Death Of John Doe. :"
Capra and writer Robert Riskin
moved over to Warner Bros. in the
production of that one Secret
Agent" with Madeleine Carroll and
John Gielgud, plus the direction of
Alfred Hitchcock, goes into second
week at the Little today. And
Phil Regan, the old expert on Irish
al IS =