Evening star., 1942-12-20
HOLLYWOOD.

- I1oAA1 WoSO.
: The brothers Warner experienced
rene OF the most narrowing frights
sef their IS thrill-packed years in
1.-The picture business this week.
Joseph E. Davies, former Ambas-
sador to Russia, was the cause of 1t
all. Mr.. Davies was brought out by
Warmers to act as technical advisor
In filming his factual story, Mission
to Moscow"
When he arrived, the picture was
well under way-in fact, about
.4350,000 worth Of it was "in the
can" The ex-Ambassador sur.
yeyed Walter Huston, who i'm
personates him in the film, and
complained that Mr.. Huston was
mot sufficiently bald on top Of the
head to effect the proper resem-
.blance. This was the only serious
beef Mr.. Davies had to make about
the undertaking and after con-
siderable discussion he was pre-
vailed upon to okay Huston's
gather plentiful locks
This Is just about the first time
any studio has had a former Am
bassador, and real world figure,
at that, constantly on the lot to
give advice on movie. Mr.. Davies
sits very quietly on the set, seldom
comments on the action, confers
frequently in whispers with Mike
Curtiz, the director. Curtiz seems
impressed-and why shouldn't he,
Imagine having the man who
helped create certain aspects of
modern history on hand to help
recreate it.
Mrs. Davies is constantly with
him. She is the archetype of the
we'll groomed woman, handsome,
svelte, but on the whole simple and
gracious. She calls him Joe. Many
stares are directed at her. 1t is
doubtful If Hollywood ever saw so
iwell-dressed woman-that is,
well-dressed as distinct from the
costumes movie queens wear.
Always = Reason.
Strange sounds behind the walls
Of his Flesh and Fantasy" set
caused Director Julien Duvivier to
call "Cut!" in the midst of tense
scene involving Alan Curtis and
Gloria Jean. Ali day long. Duvivier
had been hearing noises and yell
ing "Cut!" in the midst of scenes,
- He walked to the middle of the
set. threw out his arms and pleaded
dramatically:
: why. Oh why, can't we have
quiet when we're taking a scene?"
An assistant emerged from the
direction of the sounds and tip-toed
fearfully up to the angry director.
I'm sorry" he apologized, but
as matter of fact the stage is on
IRE. We are only trying to put 1t
out"
And so 1t was. Duvivier and his
east stampeded right out of the
place, while the Universal City Fire
Department took over and sprayed
out the flames-caused by a red
hot carbon slipping unnoticed from
q lamp and into some combustibles.
- Looked Too Tough.
Al An observant, but not too discern
Ing citizen Of Chicago was instru-
mental in giving Elliott Sullivan,
well-known screen baddie, a miser-
able session with "the law" Sulli-
van was doing some handed
slugging In Action in the North
Atlantic" when he was summoned
to the set telephone. The FBI
would like few words with him.
Could he come down and have a
chat? When the FBI beckons you
don't think up ball-game alibis.
Sullivan was on his way.
The trouble. 1t seemed, was this:
The Chicago fellow happened to look
at Federal man wanted poster
hanging in the post office. The
physiognomy Of this real-life GRIM
inal apparently was identical to
that of Mr.. Sullivan, really quiet
and law-abiding citizen off the
screen. The Chicagoan forthwith