The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-24
HOLLYWOOD
NOTES
az BOB THOMAS

HOLLYWOOD lR--Now that the
hue and cry alout the Oscars is
over. it's time to figure cat what
the results mean. II looks like
triumph of upbeat pictures over
the aownbeat.
In Hollywood terms, an upbeat
picture is one which puts more
emphasis on entertainment than
dramaties. Such films are gener.
ally fast-moving, ce.orful and have
a happy ending and, or, moral.
Best examples are Westerns, r1u.
steals, comedies ard adventures.
A downbeat picture is one which
treats human or social problems.
sometimes findir- rn solution.
Such films e'ten concern neu-
rotic, if not alcoholic charac.
ters who become entangled in
murder, greed, martha troubles
and other forms of unhappiness.
It is generally such things that
win Academy awards.
But this year San American in
Paris walked gaily into top hon.
! cts to the tune Of a GerShwin
melody. The light-hearted musical
snagged seven regular awards, in
Guiding beSt-picture u also helped
! get its producer, Arthur Freed, the
Thalberg Memorial Award Tor Ex-
cellence of Movie Making and Gene
Kelly was rendered a special Oscar
for his work in film musicals.
This is a yindication for Kelly.
He told me recently that he thought
it was time for the musical to be
recognized by the Academy, not
in a special category, but in COM
petition with dramas. II also in-
dicates the trend of Hollywood
thinking, and perhaps that Of the
nations movie goers. II would
seem that the people want gayety
from their movies. not problems.
That doesn't mean that dramas
should re overlooked. It would be
a sad day for the film medium
if producers ignored serious topics
altogether. Good dramas can still
do big business. But the Academy
voters seemed to thirk that it is
Just as important, and perhaps
more difficult, to manufacture, 90,
minutes of utter 10Y. ISL,
The victory of Humphrey Bogart
IS anc.her indication of this theme.
His four opponents were nomi-
mated for deadly serious roles.
Fredric March played one of the,
most tragic parts in film history,
| in the completely downbeat Death,
of Salesman Marlcl Brando
was the iil-mannered slob In the
unrelenting "a Streetcar Named
Desire. !" Arthur Kennedy por-
| trayed a blind war veteran in
Fright Victory And Montsom-
cry Cliff, anbition.mad fellow in
"A PLACES In the Sun. was march
ing toward the electric chair at
the finish Of the picture. 1850
Bogart, the easy going boatman
with q thirst for Gin in THE
African Queen, was treated with
little sericasness as contender
except by this reporter, who pre-
dicted he would win. But he took
home the Oscar TO Baby and Steve.
His triumph is a lesson in irony.
During most OF his 20-vear movie
career, he has been playing tight.
Tipped characters on the criminal
or enforcement side of the law.
So what happens? In his first real
comedy role, he wins the Oscar.
A final word on the Oscars. This
years event continued the unfortn.
nate trend of recent years. The
fact Is that the event does not
have the glamor that il used to.
Just about the e.llv stars to show
up are either those who are ri0nli.
mated or are on the program. The
other personalities shrug off the
affair as bore. The result is that.
the Academy awards attract less
stars than an ordinary movie pre-.
miere. It's a shame, all right.