The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-11

tion. slice it down to meet the time requirements of the broadcast. but does nothing about rewriting the script to conform to radio tech- nique. The result: banality.
 But the honorable Cecil B. is under the assumption that If the play is lacking something, due to harried scriptwriters, the flaws arc covered up by such insipid perform CTS as Linda Darnell, Lynn Bari, Lana Turner, Joan Leslie, Gene ous others not worth mentioning.
 Again the Great Cecil assumes that the family sits huddled around the family radio, deliriously in- trigued because they imagine the unSurpassing beauty of the glam- orous Miss Turner who would never have made the legitimate stage grade or even the radio scene. Hol- lywood is, and always will be, sucker for superficial, photogenic beauties. Yet Hollywood will never realize the grave error she is mak- ing by starring these superficial hams on radio productions, who only cause people to sigh and de- clare: Flat isn't it-don't think I'll see it now that I know what it's about
 DeMille, Hollywood's supposedly crack salesman, unwittingly pro- duces box office poison. Radio is not the medium for photogenic per- sonalities. Radio is the spotlight for talent and genius.
 Here's list of names what Holly wood considers great personalities of the screen: Ann Rutherford, Myrna Loy, Norma Shearer, Ann Sheridan, Paulette Goddard, Cheryl Walker, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Brenda Marshall and Loretta Young.
 These names belong to nothing more than sex appealing individu- alS who don't know the first trick about the true art of voice inflec- tion. Al They've had to do was to expose themselves in sweater and stardom was theirs.
 We know that Charlie Chaplin had literally to whip Paulette be- fore he got any. results. What is she now without his tutelage? Myrna Loy is an example of personality acting. She is never anything else but Myrna Loy. I cannot think of a word that would dispose of Yer onica briefly enough. Loretta Young is an example of how charming human being can be with unusually large teeth. And babe-in- the woods Joan Leslie hasn't even learned to walk yet! We hope Fred Astaire has limbered her up a bit.
 What would Dorothy Lamour have done if some bright boy had n't invented the Sarong? She can't act. What would Eleanor Powell have done without her dancing slip- pers? Sonia Henie without her sil- out her German accent? Hedy La- marr without her classic beauty? Judy Garland without the sobby catch in her throat, which Holly wood unwincingly describes as act ing?
 The following Hollywood actresses are capable of handling acting roles via screen, stage or radio media: Agnes Moorehead heads the list. The rest include: Greta Garbo although shes never accepted a stage or radio role, her acting is ill her voice and soul-wed bet our shirt on her; Margo, Judith An derson, Rosalind Russell, Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Ala Ma zimova. There are few others: Mary Astor who is among the much neglected-and Greer Carson, the much over rated.
 Perhaps you believe I have spent too much time on actresses? That's because there are just few men in Hollywood who could be called actors in the true sense of the word: for any medium) Muni, De- nat, Welles, Tamiroff, Tracy. Laughton, the late Leslie Howard, Melvyn Douglas, Walter Huston. Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn.
 The rest are either pretty boys who play pretty roles or he-men who play exactly what they look like. Pretty boys include: Tyrone Power, Robert Taylor, Errol Flynn. He-men who project that masculine charm: Gable, Cooper, Mature.
 Among the glamorous productions that have done nothing to further the technique of radio-if anything, hindered it by rehashing mediocre film fare: Silver Theater, Lux Thea ter, Screen Guild Players and Charles Martin Company.
 Arch Oboler and Norman CorWin are radios most prolific geniuses. Their past and present achieve ments continue to keep audiences on tenter hooks. The movie mongers would do well to read Oboler's Fourteen Radio Plays and Cor wins Thirteen by CorWin', for their evening homework, and then hang their heads in shame for pro- ducing their. own uninspiring pro- ducts. The radio play that would teach them more than any essays on radio writing or production N Arch Obolers This Lonely Heart" perhaps the greatest contribution to radio literature.
 At this point we're reminded that MT. Oboler was most careful when selecting performers and producers who were capable of adapting themselves to the radio medium. First to play the coveted Nadeida role was the great Ala Nazimova. Many months after the production was premiered, Bette Davis did great justice to a much briefer yer sion.
 So why don't the sweater girls stay in Hollywood where their