Evening star., 1953-07-01

ne mas signed Margaret Phil
which opens for two weeks on Ju
Miss Phillips and Fry's lady '
well be made for each other
which, no doubt, is a thought
that occurred to O'Sullivan when
he began his quest for leading
actress.
They are two girls who COM
bine the contrasting qualities of
feyneSs and world-sickness, a
combination that is better known
as bitter-sweetness. Each creates
the impression of being not quite
for this world. as much by choice
as by the accidental design
which brought them here. Pat
emily this is an interesting type
not commonly encountered and
therefore of rather special in
terest.
Their meeting on Olney's
stage might we'll be the high
point of the summer at the near
by Maryland theater.
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Washington audiences may
have forgotten Miss Phillips, but
only until they are reminded OF
her first and only appearance
here. This was in 1914 when she
played the shy, retiring girl next
door to the George Apleys in
"The Late George Apley." Miss
Phillips was not at all famous
at the time. but she stood out
brightly as the girl who effaced
herself in a cast that was full OF
Cutlery players.
It was her success in this that
led to her first important role
on Broadway. the girl in Ten
nesee Williams Summer and
Smoke" The critics and public
were unanimous in the convic-
ton that Miss Phillips was ter
rifle even if both felt less cheer
full about the play.
Miss Phillips next left her
mark on Broadway theatergoers
when she took over Irene
Worth's role in T. S. Eliot's
"The Cocktail Party"
This department, which some
times fancies itself as glib and
clever when it comes to casting
difficult roles in summer stock.
never even thought of Miss Phil
lips when it heard of the prob
lem in "The Lady's Not for
Burning" It is heartily ashamed
of itself for it's remissness.
Correlatively. it is doubly
pleased that Olney's O'Sullivan
is quicker, brighter and has Miss
Phillips name on contract.
CHEERFUL SIGHT: Queen
Elizabeth II of England is the
all-time favorite Monarch of the
movie industry.
She has given them proof,
sorely needed proof, that tele-
vision in it's most extravagant
mood can be nothing more than
a trailer for the movie that Is to
follow-if the movie happens to
be "A Queen Is Crowned"
This is the summers most
popular movie, packed every
where for all performances, and
no one could be more surprised
and delighted than movie-mak-
ers and exhibitors. Even those
who have nothing to gain from
the official coronation films
showing are as gleeful as those
-reaping the profits. Well. almost!
The result is the more delight
full for being unexpected. After
all, this was television's Satura-
tion coverage, the event on
which it fairly squandered
money and talent. It seemed
unlikely that anything would be
left unSaid or unpictured, and
actually almost nothing was.
1t turned out. however, that
the coronation of such a win
ming and dramatic queen was
something that everyone wanted
to see larger than life and in
the full richness of its color.
The movies joy boundless, as
boundleSs as its affection for
Elizabeth II, the biggest name
In cinema history.
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WEATHER REPORT: Weekly
Variety, which always provides
this department. with some of
its favorite reading, was fasci-
mating this issue on the subject
of heat:
Boston - Record breaking
heat wave over week end is
sloughing biz this frame"
st. Louis-"S Stretch of sizzling
weather here with mercury sky
high for three days appears to
have helped cinema biz"
Philadelphia-'First hot week
end here slough film biz here,
making for sorry showing for
entire session."
Cincinnati - Heat W ave
brought cooling system dividends
at ace stands this stanza."
Detroit GO "Scorching weather
is whiting most crosses this
week"
Heat obviously is something
that you can't predict-in it's
effect upon movie boxofice.
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