Evening star., 1944-11-18
By HAROLD HEFFERNAN.

HOLLYWOOD.
Most significant preview OF the
week was MGMs belated presenta-
ton of Thirty Seconds Over
Tokyo" from Capt. Ted LaWson's 5
thrilling best-seller. It should have
been released many months ago
Nevertheless, 1t comes close to being
the most thrilling aerial epic Of
this war.
Most suspenseful moment, as In
the book, Is the take-off sequence
on the Hornet, with Jimmy Doo-
little, in the person Of Spencer
Tracy, leading the fight. There is
far too little OF Tracy, in fact by
his own volition when he asked for
the role, he is reduced to the medium
Of bit player.
Most delightful acting surprise
came In the debut of Phyllis Thax-
ter, FORMER protege of Lunt and
Fontanne, who plays LawSon's wife,
turning In restrained performance
that Immediately stacks her up as
one Of the best bets uncovered this
year. Phyllis comes closer to being
Laraine Day type than any other
and maybe this accounts for the
policy MGM appears to have
adopted In keeping Miss Day work
| ing on loan-out deals. They're q
little too much alike to get good
breaks on the same lot.
~ ~
First heavy rainfall of the season
beat down on Hollywood and inside
Stage IA at Warner Bros. Humphrey
Bogart and Lauren Bacall, co-star-
ring In The Big Sleep" we're being
drenched by man-made down.
pour.
Almost steadily for two hours the
huge sprinkler system belched water,
while airplane motors beat up a
fierce wind that hurled 1t in every
direction. When Director Howard
Hawks gave the all-clear sign,
Bogart took Miss Bacall by the arm
and rushed her outside into natures
downpour. after what we've been
through, this should dry us right
of he said.
This week found Sylvia Sidney,
one of the most delectable heroines
of the early talkie days, making a
comback after an absence of several
years. Sylvia is heroine to Jimmy
Cagney in Blood on the Sun" and
her first appearance was to be made
in dock sequence in Tokyo Bay.
There was steamer, a gangplank,
customs house, warehouse, pursers
passengers, coolies, policemen and
fog.
At the far end of the pier was
an automobile. Sylvia, pert and
smiling In a fur coat and chic hat.
was sitting on the sidelines while
Director Frank Lloyd put Cagney
through q scene. She said she didn't
know how 1t felt to be before the
cameras again because she hadn't
been there yet. She was waiting
for her turn.
Lloyd finished with Cagney and
ordered the next scene-No. for
Sylvia. While workmen moved
cameras and lights and got things
in READINGS, Sylvia got her makeup
touched up and her hair Just right.
She was going to be back In pic
tures-in moment.
Finally, Lloyd was ready. He stood
Sylvia with her back to the camera.
told her to run to the end of the
pier and jump into the waiting car.
She did, almost disappearing into
the fog.
Cut! Print" said Lloyd. That's
all for today"
Sylvia looked chagrined. mo re-
takes?" she asked.
NO, said Lloyd.
oh" said Sylvia, disgust in her
voice. Il was just wondering If you
thought I got enough emotion into
opening the car door. I haven't
faced a camera for three years,
you know. And, for that matter,
I still haven't"
Marjorie Reynolds, dancing ac-
tress at last is becoming used to
the Brooklynese accent of Ed Gard
ner, playing Arcie in Paramount's
version of 'Duffys Tavern"
Mr.. Gardner, said Marjorie