Evening star., 1943-01-25


its rich and earthly humor to the
doughboy antics of Walter Burke
James Monks, Charles Mendtck,
and the hardboiled sergeant of
George Matthews. William Prince
plays the ideal type of American
soldier as QuizZ West, clean
minded, straightforward and un-
f1inching in the path of great
sacrifice. Mary Rolfe makes the
frustrated sweetheart an ennobling
character, and the two girls of
the jukery are capitally portrayed
by Toni Favor and Joann Dolan
Grover Burgess, John Hudson and
Clifford Carpenter also strive with
distinction.
Settings by Howard Bay are
simple and impressionistic, achiev-
ing illusion and high excitement
through the brilliant lighting of Moe
Hack. 1t was tragic that Lem
Ward, who directed so eloquently
has passed on since the play was
produced. He would have enjoyed
its reception last night. In every
respect, THE Eve of st. Mark" can
be honestly called the first fine play
about global war.
Disney on Income Tax.
Yankee Doodle Dandy" at the
regular Earle Theater scale of prices
will open February S at the Thir-
teenth street house.
Some 10000 theaters will show
Donald Duck in THE Spirit of 49,
made by Walt Disney for the United
States Treasury Department to
make moviegoers income tax con-
scious. Ali releases will be before
March Is.
Movies Get Russian Play.
Twentieth Century-Fox has pur-
chased the screen rights to THE
Russian People" for $4,000. Com
pany had sl7,5o0 invested in the
Konstantin Simonoff play In asso-
ciation with the New York Theater
Guild. AS Hollywood prices go, the
Soviet drama, seen here about a
month ago, may be regarded as a
failure.
2 Edgar Bergen, who brings his
Charlie Mccarthy to the Birthday
Ball festivities in Washington at
the end of the week, will soon CO.
star with Kay Kyser in another
RkO picture. 1t will be called
Keep En- Singing" Critics didn't
like Here We Go Again" in which
he co-starred with Fibber MCGEE
and Molly, but the public has made
1t a stout box -offlce success.
Wrong Hollywood Guesses.
Add wrong guesses. Ethel Mer-
man, singer of sultry chansons and
currently the reigning Broadway
musical comedy sensation in Some
thing for the Boys" was once signed
by Warner Bros. They gave her
an option contract, but she never
sang note, nor would w. B. loan
her to other companies. Eventually
she got her release. That was be-
fore she sang Il Got Rhythm" for
George Gershwin and won the lead
In Girl Crazy" Later Hollywood
realized its mistake and Miss Mer-
man warbled in George White S
screen Scandals" and in "Alexan-
der's Ragtime Band"
This studio faux pas compares with
Metro Goldwyn- Mayors In pass
ing up Deanna Durbin. Latter sing
Ing ingenue made nine hit pictures
In row for Universal Pictures, took
the corporation from the red ledger
to black entries. One of Leo-the-
Lions 100000 blunders.
Jack Benny Is Coming.
Two greater worriers on radio are
Fred Allen and Jack Benny. AS soon
as one radio program has gone into
the records they wrinkle their fore
heads about the next.
Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone
are coming to Washington Saturday
night to make the rounds of the
Birthday Ball dances, but a radio
rehearsal comes first. They won't
arrive at the Hotel Washington until
pm. to take up a busy schedule
Last night their program was sent
out from Camp Meade and on next
Sunday night they will be broad
casting from the United States Ma
rine base at Quantico. They are
making a tour Of Army camps with
their show, today are in Bainbridge,
Md. Stars will spend all day Satur-
day rehearsing in Baltimore.
About Miles o. Dimes.