Evening star., 1953-03-21
The Cast.

There was endless excitement
in the lives, and the love, of An
drew Jackson and Rachel Donel-
son Robards jackson. It was in
the tempestuous natures of the
two that this should be. Fitting
ly. much of this excitement is
captured in the film, THE Presi-
dents Lady" which opened at
the Palace today.
The goth Century Fox produc-
ton, based upon Irving Stones
novel, assigns Charlton Heston
and Susan Hayward to the prin-
cipal roles. They are logical
enough choices, Heston to echo
the stormy nature of Old Hickory,
Miss Hayward to relight the fire
which ultimately consumed poor
Rachel.
John Patrick's adaptation of
the novel follows the idealized
lilt of its tale of the Jacksons.
1t comedies no flaws in the ma
lures of the hero and heroine
that could account for the male
VIOLENT fate that pursued them.
even across the thresholds of
their most promising triumphS.
Henry Levin, who directed
"The Presidents Lady," could
not have asked for a more dra-
matte pair to film. His studio
has seen to it that he lacked for
nothing in making the jack
sons life story appropriately big
and fast enough. Whatever it
may lack of historic accuracy,
1.-THE Presidents Lady" never
falters in cinematic zip.
The unceasing struggle of the
Jacksons for happiness against
odds that shifted but never di-
minished provides the screen
play at the Palace with an ex-
cess of incident.
First, there is the problem of
rescuing Rachel from her mar
riage to the disSolute Lewis Ro-
bards and at the same time to
keep this honorable act above
the sordid face Robards will put
on it. From this lively opening,
the screenplay moves on through
the flight down the river to
Natchez. to the postmarital hap
piness which curdles with the
discovery that it is bigamous.
to the degrading divorce, and on
through the years of passion and
torment.
For all their deep delight in
each other, events conspire cease
lessly to keep the JackSons apart.
When he is not off at war with
the Indians or the British, Jack
son is in Washington in the pub
lie service that is to lead him
to the presidency, or fighting a
duel with the attackers of Ra-
chefs honor.
Serenity in the others pres
ence is something the Jacksons
must snatch in moments, be-
tween intervals in which Rachel
works as a field hand to forget
her loneliness. The Hermitage,
their home in Tennessee is the
perfectly named estate.
AS in the novel, so in the film,
the accent is upon Rachel. AS
Miss Hayward portrays her. the
prize of the Donelson line is a
human vastly more sinned
against than SHINING. It is no
wonder at all that such a girl
should become the center of a
life so active as Jackson's.
Heston's Old Hickory is a char
acter of huge dimensions. a stout
souled frontiersman full of sim
plicity, decency. an inescapable
sense of duty and capable of CO.
loSsal indignations.
There are some excellent Incl
dental portraits among the lesser
players of THE Presidents
Lady" One of these is that of
John McIntire as the loyal part
ner of Jackson, Jack Overton.
There is competence, too, in Fay
Banter as the mother of the
Donelsons. of Whitfield Connor
as the first husband of Rachel,
and in Margaret Wycherly as
the head of the Robards clan.