The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-31

HULLxWVVWs AuBuDs SA- oo" .'The Picture of Dorian Cray when 1t was press-previewed and deter mined at that time to see it again. For two reasons. Tn the first place l considered 1t an artistic masterpiece in most respects. In the second place I felt that had missed many Of it's subtle nuances because couldn't understand 50 per cent or George Sanders dialogue, which provides the entire motivation or the story.
 saw the picture again last night in our neighborhood theater, ana I'm still wondering what the H Sanders said. I want to file pro- test.
 Both he and his producers seem to be blind to the fact that Ameri- can pictures are made, primarily for American audiences. Sanders can talk as plainly as you or l. I've heard him do it oh-screen. so why in Allah's name does he feel obliged, the moment he faces camera, not only to assume the most British accent ever heard this side of the Atlantic, but to humble ms words as if he were struggling with a mouthful of red-hot potatoes?
 I'm fairly accustomed to English accents, for English actors are as common here in Hollywood as real estate agents. If I, after 25 years or association, can't understand San ders' dialogue, what chance has movie-goer in the midwest Wno never hears them in every day life?
 Darn it, there ought to be law!
 Memories that bless and bpr-i: When. Mae Murray hired 5press aeent-and did nip-ups because his first story mentioned the fact that she had appeared in the Follies of 1908 When Chicago shop filters took advantage of the con- fusion caused by Shirley Temples visit to a Chicago store, ard got away with hundreds of dollars worth of loot When CiarK Gable became so embarrassed while playing his first movie love scene that the director had to clear the set of everyone but essential crew members When Gov. Roy Smith of New Mexico, visiting 10th Century-Fox, asked to meet his favorite star, Jane Withers, and was refused because Jane was doing the schoolwork demanded by state law.
 I was enjoying an after-lunch- con chat with Harold Lloyd the other noon when he suddenly glanced at his wrist watch, jumped to his feet and said he had to dash to the studio and watch some tests being made for lis forthcoming comeback" picture, '"The Saga of Harold Diddlebock." I observed that the tests must be important. ."T11ey are" said Lloyd. Extremely important. We're testing five lions to find one gentle enough that I can lead 1t around on a leash In the picturel"
 Some days before the Nip sur render, Dick Haynes was called up by his draft board for pre-in- duction physical examination-and given test after test for four straight days, despite the fact that the phys ical ailments which had kept him out of uniform previously were just as apparent as before. Not ':ntil the end of that time did he discover that the thoroughness of his exam ination had been caused by num- Der of anonymous letters. addressed to the draft board, which charged that he had been faking physical disability. Investigation, of course, completely exonerated him and, it's to be hoped, convinced the members of one draft board that anonymous letters besmirching a screen star are not worth serious consideration. The more famous an entertainer becomes, the more pleasure certain warped minds get out of trying to tear down his rep utation.
 Veteran character-actor Roy Bar croft undoubtedly has his woes, but monotony should not be one of them. At Republican last week, he worked simultaneously in two vest erns. In one, Phantom Riders" he played the sheriff. In the other, "Along the Navajo Trail" he donned amask and played 8 bandit.
 
 At MGM the other afternoon, several other Hollywood scribes and I were invited by Jose Iturbi to listen to playback of one of his Gnaad pInenAn