Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-24

who blossoms out after three bit
parts.
In This Gun For Hire" Laid
was a woman-beater, but here as
Lucky Jordan he turns into q
woman chaser, a racketeer who be-
lieves no woman can resist him
film also utilities services of another
actor who rose to fame as ruthless
killer-Sheldon Leonard He's
been popular screen menace ever
since Tall. Dark and Handsome, ("
starring Cesar Romero formerly
comic on Broadway, Leonard has
never been permitted to play any
thing but tough gangsters in cell
luloid -. That pink, pleated shirt
he wears in late scenes is an at
rocity he's carried around with him
ever since wearing it as a racetrack
tout IN Three Men on Horse"
Thinks it's good luck omen.
Up-to-Date Story.
Lloyd Corrigan, who plays Ladd's
lawyer, is one Of few directors who
turned to acting and has been
highly successful . He started as
a writer at Paramount and also
made his directing bow there -.
Jordan" covered more locations
than usual for average movie =.
Company worked half of schedule
at Paramount Ranch and at half a
dozen other nearby locations, even
to Meline estate in Pasadena. first
movie troupe ever to film its in
terror.
Sure signs that Jordan" Is up to
date in 1912 are: Dozens of girl
extras wearing WAC and WAVES
uniforms, telegram delivered by girl
messenger in Western Union uni
form and Naz spy excusing his rush
job on Ladd's torture by saying. II
haven't much time-I've got a sub
marine to catch" Most unusual
item about cast concerns young
Russell Hoyt, tested year ago by
RKO in New York In tests.
Hoyt did Clark Gables role in Men
in White" Adolphe Menjou's in
Stage Door," Fred MacMurray's in
The Gilded Lily" and Lee Tracy's
in "The Front Page" He was
told he was in no danger of being
l1kened to any one While Hoyt
was training for his screen career
Laid was uncovered as a sensation
;. q. Folks were amazed at their re-
semblance-so Paramount borrowed
Hoyt from RKO for his film debut.
q role in which he has to look so
much like Ladd that rival gangsters
mistake him for Ladd and machine
gun him to death instead of Ladd.
Van Heilin Stars. 81.
TENNESSEE JOHNSON"-Film
story of President Andrew johnson,
starting out under title, 1.-THE Man
on Americas Conscience" recreates
one Of blacklist moments in Ameri-
can history-re-ena of un-
happy. vice presidential Inaugural
ton when johnson took oath Of
office while under influence of
liquor, according to historians. :.
Van Hef1in, portraying title role,
donned character makeup for first
film in his career, !. :. as youthful
Tennessee politician who rises to
presidency following Lincoln's as
sassination, Van ages" from Is to
30 -. three hair pieces, nine
changes Of makeup and body
padding turned trick.
Lionel Barrymore wrote his own
dialogue for one scene >. when two
pretty girls burst into q hotel room
where Lionel and his cronies were
rehearsing = faro game, the veteran
gave them an appreciative grin and
ad nbbed: "Hm-m-m! Wish was
70 again" Line drew such
laughs 1t was Incorporated into
script :. Barrymore also added to
his reputation as composer when
he outlined a musical suite based on
johnson. :. Historical authenticity
was lent by sequence on set Of two
Of Andrew Johnson's grandnieces,
Iris Winter and Sonia Mitchell. :.
Andrew Jackson Nv. great-grandson