Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-27

draped among the trunks and bags,
tugging and straining to get their
delicate instrument up where it will
photograph full closeup of the
principals. That's all right with
Boyer, too. He specializes in those
pulsating scenes where the flicker
of an eyelash counts for everything.
1t appears that Charles and Bar
bara. separated for some time, have
been reunited for few precious
minutes, and Charics is about to
take to the road again. We get
slant at the script and see that it
reads simply. "Impulsively she
throws her arms around him. They
kiss. She releases him."
Prolonged Caressing.
Well, take it from us, it wasn't
that simple-not by a 99-to-l shot.
From the word action" the two
begin improvising. They wrap up
in each others arms. They kiss and
hold it--second after second, until
you might have counted up to Is.
You can hear pin drop as these
and feint with a low murmur of
endearments that almost makes the
microphone turn inside out. And
before we know it they're tangled UP
again, hanging on for what we fear
may be more than the censors will
permit.
They 60 through these pleasant
contortions half dozen times. each
one getting warmer than its prede-
cessor. Finally Director Julien
Duvivier is satisfied, and Charles
and Barbara walk off the set. That
ends the scene so far as the camera
is concerned. But not for Boyer
Once out Of the maze of cables
and lights and workers Charles
reaches for Barbara's hand.
You were marvellous" he COM
ailments. Then he turns loose
that melting smile of his and car
ries her hand to mis- lips.
That to Boyer, the great screen
lover, is the supreme gesture of
affectionate admiration
Barbara bushes from chin to ears.
backs away and stammers: why,
Charles"
The Fortunate Actors.
All any actor needs is one out
standing role. and then he can sit
back and take his pick of future
Jobs. Henry Travers finds himself
in that fortunate position today.
Mr.. Travers was the pensive little
Mr.. Ballard. who cultivated the
Miniver rose in Mrs. Miniver." and
he caught audience sympathy in
such charming manner that he
now stands No. in the race for
the Academy's best supporting
actor" award come next March.
Now we find Mr.. Travers playing
the Mayor of a Norwegian village
that has been invaded by the Nazis.
The picture is The Moon Is Down"
from John Steinbecks play, and
operations proceed on the 10th Gen.
tury-Fox lot. In the scene with
Travers is Sir Cedric Hardwicke
the German commander, and Mar
garet Wycherly 'Sergt. Yorks
mother), who plays the Mayors
wife.
The three are sitting around
table and the camera is trained on
Travers as he ouaf1s glass OF port
wine. additionally. all such items
used on the screen are imitation
grape juice is wine. tea is whiskey,
etc. Travers innocently takes a eulp
from the glass
"Phooey!' he cries. blowing out
the liquid. why, this tastes like
real wine"
1T is" said the property man.
The grocery was all out of grape
juice this morning and I got some
wine. Figured you'd like the real
thing. Sort Of warns You up
Il do very much mind" declared
Travers. TT just happens that
don't like wine"
A little coloring dropped in some
water is quickly substituted for the
offending port and Travers goes on
with his drinking scene.
What the prop man didn't know
and what Travers didn't bother to
explain is that the actor never
touches spirits in any form. He is.
in fact, one of the colonys most
ardent prohibitionists.
Although it's locked tight and