Evening star., 1940-01-25

had to be cancelleQ. OllVla Was
going to work in "Gone With the
Wind" and David O. Selznick,s
program on that picture had
reached the point where work really
meant work. Mr.. Selznick, accord
ingly, was sorry, but Miss de Havil-
land could not come.
Anyone who felt miffed about the
revision of the program can unmltt
himself today. Miss de Havilland Is
coming to Washington! She will
arrive by plane tomorrow morning,
time still unannounced. She is not
coming, however, in connection with
the Presidents Birthday ceremonies,
but rather to be the belle Of the
opening of Gone With the Wind"
at the Palace tomorrow night. BY
sending her to the local opening
of the picture in which she plays
Melanie (she "is" Melanie, Holly
wood would tell one even before she
got the part), Mr.. Selznick quite
atones for any disappointment he
may have caused De Havilland fans
q year ago.
Whether Miss de Havilland will
remain over to fill the niche left
vacant at last years January 80
festivities is on the lap Of the gods
and the salesmanship of Carter Bar
ron and other Loew's, Inc. executives
who will be her hosts at G. w. T. w.
AS important gentlemen on the en-
tertainment and other committees
Of the Birthday Ball program, they
can be counted upon to speak with
high eloquence to Miss De Havilland
high eloquence to Miss de Havilland
the big party which follows that of
tomorrow night.
X X X X
It is an amazingly impressive
group of local celebrities from whom
Miss de Havilland probably will
steal tomorrow nights show at the
Palace. A quick statistical review
of the notables upon whom the bril-
liant lights outside the theater will
shine places the number of Senators
at so, House members at 300, Su-
preme Court Justices, 2, and repre-
sentatives of foreign governments
at IL.
Every item of a notable premiere
service will figure in the Palace
festival. Staff members of Radio
Stations WRC and WJSV, fully ac-
coutred with microphones and their
other mysterious paraphernalia, will
occupy places in the lobby to keep
-at-homes Informed as to what
is happening, who is arriving, and
how glad he is to be there-as he
very properly should, considering the
demand for seats that could not be
filled opening night.
Southern atmosphere (fused with
HollywooO will be rampant in the
Palace lobby. The box Office has
been remodeled into a miniature
reproduction of Tara. Confederate
flags have been draped becomingly
in the lobby. There even will be
magnolia blossoms to give final
flip to the symbolism.
X X X n
If there was any doubt that Jimmy
Cagney is Hollywood's number
tough guy, it cannot possibly survive
the showing of ''The Fighting 69th'
at the Earle, starting Friday. 1t is
the fightingest picture by far in
which the violent Cagney has parti-
cipated. The script this time pits
him not only against society gen.
orally, his regiment particularly, and
the Germans rather spectacularly
but also against craven fear within
himself.
1t is provided, of course, that
Cagney shall emerge victor in each
of the tempestuous conflicts, but he
is actor enough to make each victory
look as If it were hand-earned.
Undoubtedly that is the reason
Warmers see fit to keep him on the
firing line in his every picture.
If truant officers, parents anc
others concerned will look the othel
way, it will be possible for this de.
partment to report, without seeming
like a stool pigeon, that youthful
zest was noticeable in a number o.
fuEAfED DhDKlNG