Evening star., 1943-10-08

| cannot even BUY a 1rled egg, OF q
stick of wood for the fireplace. And
why must he pretend thus? For
the simple reason that Sonia has
to be derella-although she looks
more like Peter Rabbit-and save
the hotel by becoming the star Of
| its floor show.
1t is enough to drive man crazy,
| that's what it is and there are in
dications that it worked in this di-
rection at least for even such a
gent as Arthur Kober, sturdily
balanced man for writer.
Mr.. Kober's desperation reaches
its apex slowly. The best part of
the picture is watching his slow dis
integration under the requirements
of the scrip. He keeps from being
made a complete monkey of (Which
is the only way to say 1t no matter
how awkward it reads) right up to
the very end when he gives up and
resorts to the trite spectacle of
Romero running wildly through the
hotel clad only in long underwear
You have not seen the like since
Gloria Swanson was in Mack Sen
nett comedies which made convul-
sive use of the same situation. Miss
Swanson, of course, was one of the
girls who screamed in terror in the
scene.
Twentieth Century-Fox sought to
atone for whatever literary defects
there might be in "Wintertime' by
giving it the extravaganza treat
ment. The cast is lavish with
names, Miss Henie's dancing num-
bers are staged with an opulence
which will surprise you in these
tightly rationed days, there are
pleasant musical passages, some
agreeable dancing interludes. and
some refreshing tricks of photogra-
ply. With reference to the latter,
snow and ice always inspire camera
men to do their best. You will like
the silhouetteS of the horsedrawn
sleighs, filled with merry people. as
they dash along the snow banked
highways. You also will like the
1tIltNllOll Va M4SS IltilIt, Spllliliile,
pirouetting and gliding across the
inky surface of the rink upon which
she skates her final number.
The characters are those you
would expect in the effort to sur
round Miss Henie's speciality with
the contrast of comedy. There's
Oakie as the harassed hotel pro-
prietor, the old heart gold chap
who cuts laughahle figure as fate's
fall guy. Romero is an agreeable
kind of menace, whose embarrass-
ing flight in his underwear is in
slightly amazing contrast to the
mans traditional wolfish sleekiness.
Miss Henie finds her opposite num-
Der, so to speak, in the person of
Miss Lands, girl whose function
in the script is to pursue Romero
with a will that is as good as it is
futile.
Among all those people designed
to evoke your laughter, the one who
does the best job is squat, corpulent
S. z. Sakall who plays a puzzled
Norwegian tycoon who is tricked
into buying the hotel. The rubbery-
faced comedian is one of the pic
lures best-sustained assets.
On the whole, if you like to see
Miss Henie skate through any kind
Of script, you probably will find
"Wintertime" to your liking.
Y X
Gene Ford'S stage show is a light
hearted thing this week, its comedy
department. being in charge of Dick
Buckley, who splits the top billing
with Jr. BuckWalter and a group
of feminine performers who con-
duct themselves becomingly upon
marimbas. The Hutton sisters take
charge of the vocal areas of the
program and the jim Wong troupe,
which starts things off. balances
out the program with suitable aero
battles.