Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-13
BY PATRICIA SIMMONS.

It's a great day for the Irish at.
the Earle, this week, as the saying
goes. But 1t would be plain blarney
to stop there. THE Great John L. :"
is a first-rate picture even when you
speak without the slightest touch
of brogue.
That it's virtually made to order
for that family night at the movies
is completely in keeping with the
type of entertainment that Bling
Crosby's name has come to repre-
sent on the American screen. In
his first independent production
Bling has intrusted the characterize
ton of the hard swinging Irish
man to a newcomer by the name of
Greg Mcclure. He couldn't have
made wiser choice. Mcclure is
a find who clicks in his first star
ring role.
Previously McClure's only screen
endeavors have been limited to ex-
ira roles on the Warner Bros. lot.
Crosby first discovered him when
the latter was a day laborer,
longshoreman and a player in a
little theater. Yet in his first pic
ture this otherwise unknown, not
just satisfied with holding his own
against experienced competition like
Linda Darnell and Barbara Britton,
walks off with the acting honors
of the picture. John l.. Sullivan,
the boasting Irish lad who won and
lost a worlds championship be-
comes, thanks to Mcclure, a love-
able, warm and human personality.
Good direction lends continual
air of authenticity to the story's
setting. The rowdy 80s are COM
plete with all the nostalgia touches
the saloons where ladies never set
foot, the Sunday picnics where Ia
dies quite properly ventured, the
songs of the period like 1--WE Loved
You as Never Loved Before" or
Just Say That I'm Friend of
Yours" the derbies, big cigars and
names that have a familiar ring,
and names like Edward Prince of
Wales, Arthur Brisbane and Cen
tleman Jim Corbett. In fact all
movie audiences could possibly find
missing will be Enrol Flynn as Gen.
tleman Jim. A good looking. young
bit player does just as well. how
ever.
To go back to John L., Mr..
Mcclure not only acts the role but
looks it. His Interpretation grows
right along with the fighter as he
changed from boastful youngster
into man given to drink and dis
appointment, emerging finally. as
a mature figure no longer the king
of the ring but a champion of
clean living instead. The scenes
showing Sullivan at the depth of
well done. Scenes like the one where
Sullivan sells his famed $4,000 dia-
mond belt to bartender in order
to wipe out $50 liquor bill or the
unsuccessful attempt of his old
sparring partner to loan him money
without hurting his feelings, are
apt to bring tear to sour eye.
The picture, although two hours
long, moves quickly. Even the small
est bit player contributes his full
share. j. M. Kerrigan as Sullivan's
parish priest does splendid job;
also George Mathews as the dumb
sparring partner. Simon Semenoff
as the French la savotte expert is
a riot. The scene where he kicks
the daylightS out of Sullivan in a
Paris bistro is one of the funniest
in the movie. The dramatic climax
where Sullivan decides to give up
liquor for life becomes the most
memorable moment Of the movie.
After this scene no one in the
theater could possibly doubt Cros-
by's gamble on Mcclure.
u % VI
It's not difficult to understand
why Danny Drayson is held over