Evening star., 1945-04-26
From Trumpet
to Romance
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.
HOLLYWOOD

W AAN/Xxxdx1~
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.
HOLLYWOOD.
Make-believers at work: The busi-
ness of making q red-hot screen
lover out of fellow who never has
practiced such tricks before the
camera is under way when We visit
stage Il at 20th Century-Fox. The
picture is Kitten on the Keys" and
the embarrassed subject Is Harry
James, heretofore noted for nothing
more via celluloid than. footing the
hottest trumpet in the world.
Head instructor is Gregory Ratoh
the voluble Russian director. The
girl in the case is beautiful Maureen
O'Hara, back on this lot for the first
time since her daughter was born.
At the moment James in under q
heavy strain because it's the first
time he's ever faced any real acting
in a movie. In the past he's confined
his activity to leading his band and
playing that unbeatable trumpet.
But in this epic he appears through
the entire story vieing with Dick
Haynes. the crooner, for the heart
of Maureen.
Both Maureen and Raton do their
best to make James feel at ease, but
their job is not an easy one. Harry's
face Is little flushed, he stammers
In rehearsal and occasionally he
steals a longing glance at black
case which holds his horn.
II II II II
Once the call of camera" is heard,
the band leader-ike so many other
stage ge-frightened movie novices-
settles down and plays the scene in
Ia bang-up amorous manner. Even
Maureen, who has had Tyrone
Power, Henry Fonda, Paul Henreid,
John Payne and Walter Pidgeon
make love to her In previous pic
lures. seems impressed. Director
Ratoff simply can't control his
praise.
"Eet is terriffeek" he shouts.
Now I'm esking you-to wot dra-
matte school heff you been going to
learn such goot exiting technique In
your first try? Me, been an ektor
und a luffer for 10 years und I
couldn't make luff better to Mees
O'Hara myself, und dot iss some
thing"
James thanks Ratof for the COM
pliment and assures him that he
has never been to any drama school.
I've had no professional training
as an actor, but I've had coaching"
he explained
''Wot double talk iss dot?" roars
Ratoff. "Wot you mean you heff
had no professional training but
you heff had coachink?"
James becomes confidential.
Il mean I think it's a swell ex-
perience to be making love to 50
beautiful and charming an actress
as Miss O'Hara, but I didn't go into
these scenes exactly unprepared.
You see, I have been rehearsing
them at home with Betty"
OF course, you know he means
Betty Cradle. who in private life is
Mrs. Harry James. Who could ask
for better coach?
4 X 4 4
Liveliest set in town is stage II.
where rehearsals are under way for
THE Time, the Place and the Girl"
Warmers most auspicious musical
of 1945.
The number we watch in prepara-
ton is "A Rainy Night in Rio"
Chandra Kaly and his dancers are
working under the direction of
Dance Director Leroy Prinz. Car
men Cavallaro is at one of the three
pianos on the mirrored set. Eight
Latins beat broken rhythms on an
assortment of percussion instru-
ments as the dancers 60 through a
routine which runs about three
minutes. ..
The movements are wild and tell
the story of the birth of the samba,
the South American variation that
has recently swept the country.
Because of its violence the dancers
are in need of a real rest when the
number is concluded.
Cavaliaro starts improvising in
manner no one yet has been able
to equal. One of the boys with a
tom-tom picks up the rhythm and
the contaglon spreads to the others
as some one grabs a guitar, another
a trumpet. Before any one realizes
just what has happened a million
dollar jam session is under way.
One OF Kaly's attractive dancers,
breathless only a few moments be-
fore, knots her ruffled Latin skirt
out OF the way and begins to do
steps and breaks that one would
hardly expect from lady south of
the border.
Prinz allows the session to con-
5inue for few minutes before break
ing it up. 1t is fun and no one
enjoys relaxation more than he
but after all, as boss, he has to con-
serve their energies for the work that
lies ahead.
Released by the North American News.
paper Alliance.