Evening star., 1945-07-20

them. After while, however, the
old paisano-a fine hero for a m
suddenly become aware that both
you and Steinbeck have been
saved.
The rescue is accomplished pri-
marily by j. Carroll Naish, an
actor made to order for the cen
trail figure of Steinbeck's novel.
Dorothy Lamour's and Arturo de
Cordova's are the names on the
marquee, but they have relatively
little to do with the enjoyment you
will take away from the Earle.
Atmospheric is probably the word
for them, the atmosphere being the
familiar one created by dark and
handsome humans.
1t is quite a while before Naish
is introduced into the Earle's pic
ture. The early expository pas
Sages are given over to de Cordova
and Miss Lamour, pair of stormy
Latinish lovers whose courtship is
heckled almost to the point of dis
aster by that traditional kid brother
who insists upon being bribed. The
lad finally becomes submerged in
the movement of the story and it
turns out to be a rather fine thing
for "A Medal for Benny"
Frank Butler, who did the sdapta-
ton of Steinbeck's poignant tale of
a gentle, proud old man, has de-
livered to Actor Naish pretty close
of the original.
Charley Martin is a simple man.
He believes in friendship and he
goes on trusting those who abuse
his faith. His pride, like his faith,
Is incorruptible. He has paisano's
quaint, irrefutable logic about him.
He assumes most human deeds are
good, and that all good deeds call
for drink. Clearly he is none
Of your conventional motion-pic-
ture heroes and that is the finest
thing about him.
The dialogue which Charley
speaks, that he "is not educated so
good" and that the police always
kick his door down a little" is that
taken from Steinbeck who knows,
and loves, his paisano neighbors.
It's rhythm, especially in the case
of Naish and de Cordova, is one
Of the most pleasant and refresh
ing things about the picture.
"A Medal for Benny" if YOUR
Steinbeck library is incomplete, is
the story Of an old widower who is
waiting for the return of his son
Benny, who was ordered to leave
Paterna, Calf, the year before by
the city fathers. The city fathers
did not understand hot -blooded,
fiery Benny who was like his moth
er. His own father did understand
him, and love him.
The city fathers change their |
chant, however, when Benny-who |
could not return because he had |
Joined the Army-dies a great hero
IN the Philippines and is postum
nouSly awarded the Medal of Honor.
They see the occasion as a chance
TO put their town on the map, to
hold great celebration that will |
draw 5000 visitors to town, visitors |
who will leave behind them 5000
that the business houses could never
have realized had it not been for |
Benny. They reckon, however, with
out the pride of Charley Martin.
He refuses to go through with any
such base exploitation of Benny's
deeds.
"A Medal for Benny" Is as simple
as that, but as a piece of character
portraiture, Naish makes his part of
It minor masterpiece. In his inno-
cent faith in life, he commits all the !
olunderS in the code book of the
;tumblebum. They are laughable-
when they are not hoked up by the
sponsors of the Earle picture-but
you find yourself laughing with
Charley rather than at him. The
people you laugh at in "A Medal for
Benny" are the Grass and selfish |
ones, ably played by such people as
Dingle, Frank McHugh and
Grant Mitchell.
Another one you laugh at Is
Charley's friend, Raphael Catalina,
1layed by Mikhail Rasummy, the
nan whose animated descriptions of |
ife's oddities get funnier with every
picture. Steinback's paisanos should
provide Rasummy with a succession
If good roles.
The principals are rather obscured
~ the Others, there being so little