Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-13
z Ex+ra-Mean
Ladies in Film
Scare Runyon
But Sam GoIdwyn Never
Is in Bad Taste
BY DAMON RUNN0N

IN Inc presentation OF
motion picture, we think no
man cXcelS sam Goldwyn. He
does not produce many pictures,
and not all of them are quite
wonderful by any means, yet you
never find a Goldwyn picture
lacking in. good taste.
The numerous tales about
Goldwyn. many Of them prob
ably apocryphal. might lead one
10 the impression that this ele-
ment would be about the last
thing to expect of a Goldwyn
picture but we defy you TO
cite a Goldwyn product that did
not have II. Good taste seems
10 be instructive in the fabulous
sam.
We got a peek at his most
recent effort not long ago, the
screen presentation OF fine
stage play. The Little Foxes"
We-will not he surprised if this
is proclaimed Goldwyn'S best.
but the question Of entertain
ment merit is something we
must leave to the film critics.
However. we believe it is a
fine illustration of what we have
said, that good taste is the pre-
dominating feature Of Sans
productions. 1t Is beautifully
done.
We fear this picture may in
volNe us IN many cafe argu-
ment. 1t presents one of our
tavorlte screen performers in
role that was originated by one
of our favorlte stage actors. 1t
gives us Miss Bette Davis versus
Miss Tallulah Bankhead. Some
body Is going to come along
and ask which did you like
best in the part?" and there
We will be.
The Interrogation will involve
deep consideration on our part.
We tried 10 work il out in our
mind after seeing a projection
room showing of the picture but
were unable TO arrive at a COM
plete conclusion.
THE ROLE is that OF a
L mighty mean lady. Maybe
the meancSt lady that has ever
been portrayed on screen or
stage Both Miss Davis and Miss
Bankhead can act so mean in
their respective spheres that the
mere contemplation OF being
thrown into the company Of one
or the other makes us uneasy.
They are both so realistic in
their depictionS of meanness as
to suggest TO us the possibility
that they may be like that in
ordinary life.
Then we. read in the fan mag
azlneS of which we are a regu-
lar customer that Miss Davis
IS real kind 10 little puppy dogs.
ana this treasures us on Bette.
We also read in the newspapers
that Miss Bankhead is plumb
gentle-w pantherS and other
creatures of the wild. and that
eases our mind on Tallulah.
The girls could not be nice 10
dumb animals If they were 100
per cent Ornery. as their roles
sometimes indicate. The night
we saw Miss Bankhead in the
,heatcr make-believing that She
was letting her poor husband
die for want of A little Jolt of
heart remedy. we went home
and locked ourSelf in a room
and Shivered until morning.
IT TOOK quite a bit Of testi-
i mony from CaSweIl Adams
and other friends of Miss Bank
head on the subject of her kind
ness and consideration for her
fellow human beings 10 get us
10 where we could think OF
her without blanching. Even
now while half convinced that
she is really good scout. we
are not going 10 leave our
ticker ease around where she
can hide IL on us when the old
puff starts missing.
But on the other hand. Miss
Davis through her conSum-
mate art i'm her screen depic-
tons of mean DANES has so
inspired Us with loathing that
we have Surreptitiously pcgged
rocks al posters Of her on the
billboardS.
1t looks as If we have
mental photo-finlSh on these
Two ladies as far As the role of
The mean dame in The Little
Foxes is concerned. In some
cases ~ is unfair TO compare
stage and screen performances.
but not IN this instance. Here
II SINNERS down 10 a matter of
artistry because the screen has
not tempered with the original
conception of the role.
II may be that Miss Bank.
head had an advantage in COM
ing from the deep South. where
the story is laid, and having
greater familiarity with the
characters and their manners
ana customs. Without attempt
me 10 give decision, We think
maybe She did play the scene
where She lets her husband die
Tor lack Of the heart booster
more convincingly than Miss
DAVIS. Holy smoke! That re-
MIN q s uS. Where is our