Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-10
For Once Tracy Was Silent

eScaplSC material, Tracy plays q
fast-talking circus barker who turns
counter-spy. It's a screen version of
the non-fiction book by Alan Rynd
We find Tracy just about ready to
start q scene.
! Twist EN-" called Director Will
liam Berke. The cameras rolled and
Tracy, turning on radio in = living
room, sat down In q chair. A news
broadcast came ON. The announcer
said that Ambassador Nomura was
with the President In the White
House, bearer of the message that
Japan wanted nothing but peace.
Though this is obviously pre-Pearl
Harbor stun, Mr.. Tracy proceeds to
get very angry. He leaps from his
chair, strides around the room. OBJ
viously he knows that the peace
lingo Is baloney. Finally, he angrily
shuts of the radio, rusl1es to q cab
met and looks up number in q
phone book. He starts dialing. An
audible click sounds when he I'm
iShes. Mr.. T. is startled. Plain as
day, you can see he realizes that
his line is tapped.
He darts suspicious look out of
his window. Then he jams on his
hat, starts out. He comes back to
close the phone book. No use tipping
of the Japs he had been calling the
FBI or somebody like that. Just
before he opens the door he pauses,
puts on a jaunty and nonchalant air
before going out in the hall.
The scene ran a full three min
utes and not until it was over did
we realize that Tracy, famous for
his machinegun-like patter-the
fastest talking actor in HOLLYWOOD
had played it without uttering a
single syllable. He hadn't even
grunted or snapped his fingers. No
wonder it didn't remind us of his
Hlldy johnson in THE Front Page"
1t was brief little outdoor scene
for her heart in her throat" on the
BACK lot at Paramount, but airplane
noises and gremlings in the camera
held up the company for more than
an hour.
Herbert Marshall and Joel Nc
Crea had stood facing each other
all this time. Each clutched q glass
OF what seemed to be whisky and
soda. but what actually was cold
tea. They were supposed to gulp 1t
down between the two passages of
dialogue that were constantly Inter-
rupted.
There they stood, untouched
glasses in hand. Finally Director
David Allen thought conditions were
favorable and called for a take. hut
Marshall had waited too long. He
proceeded to blow three takes in A
row.
$50 sorry" he apologized, and
then glanced ruefully at his glass,
my friends would never believe
this" he muttered. That's the
longest I ever held a drink without
taking any"
Director John Farrow is giving
William Bendix final instructions
on how to act like a drowning man.
It's Tor a scene in two years before
the mast" being shot on Para
mounts private ocean, q big round
tank.
Bendix has jumped overheard and
is swimming toward a small boat tn
JON a group of mutineerS led by
Donlevy. ''''
Just as the swimmer reaches the
ooat a shot rings out from the sail
ing ship, Bendix is theoretically
drilled by musket ball and is to
start sinking. His mutinous com
rades are to reach out and haul
the expiring Bendix aboard.
NOW, when you sink" wells Far
row, go limp, keep your hands at
your SIDES and your feet together.
Try and 60 down very slowly"
ana don't" interjects Decker,
play hard to get. Remember we're
the guys that have gotta find you"
Il *~+
George Murphy has been getting
the breaks he deserves during the
past year. He's scoring in one hit
picture after another. He's up for
the presidency of the Screen Actors
Guild, to succeed James Cagnev.
and will probably win hands down
There is no better liked actor among
actors than. Murphy. And what's
more. George has written a book
HOLLYWOOD Handbook" soon to 70
to press.
This book" George told us, us
designed to give the kids a first
hand glimpse of the pitfalls that
face them. There is much they
should know before coming out
mere and nobody so far has told
them. I needed help when / frst
came out, but I just had to take it
on the chin. Maybe this book will
help some OF the boys and girls
along a smoother path. Anyway.
I've wanted to write it for many
years-and nowstes of my mind"