Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-27
Movie Fever Is Just Normal
ToBruziIiuns in Sac PuuIo.

wv ~8eb
thought was movie fever. Later
they learned it was nearly nor
NAL temperature.
1t has been stimulated by the
International Film Festival held
in connection with the centen-
NAL celebration. It has brought
actresses and actors, producers
and directors here. They are
seeing what one another has
done, trading experiences and
studying techniques.
An early American arrival was
Mervyn Leroy, director and pro-
Queer. Later the main party
came, the largest group of Holly
wood people ever to attend such
an event. They are headed by
Eric A. Johnston, president of
the Motion Picture Association
of America. He is scheduled to
receive a decoration from Presi-
dent Vargas. Also in Brazil are
Mr. and Mrs. Morris CafritZ of
Washington.
Other Stars in Party.
The American film party in
cludes Irene Dunno, Joan Fon-
tame, June Haver. Janet Gaynor.
Gilbert Adrian, Robert Cum
mings. Rhonda Fleming, Jeffrey
Hunter. Jeanette Macdonald,
Fred MacMurray. Ann Miller.
Walter Pidgeon, Jane Powell,
Gene Raymond. Edward G. Rob-
inson, Barbara Rush and Collier
/ Young
People stand in front of the
hotels in the hope of seeing the
film stars. One evening a block
was roped of and crowds were
held back by police and soldiers.
It developed that one of the
festival films was being shown
in a plush movie house in the
block and some stars were ex-
pected.
Erich Won Stroheim, an early
arrival. attracted a lot Of at
tention. There was a homage"
to him and his 1923 film,
Greed" was shown at the
magnificent Morocco Theater.
The film was not a success
when it was exhibited on its
completion. Ten reels had to
cut out to get it down to a rea-
sonable showing time. Tradition
is that the cuts were made amid
cries Of anguish by the director.
It was a sort of archaeological
interest today.
Claims Pioneering Role.
| Mr.. Won Stroheim spoke at the
showing. Never a shrinking
violet, he said, "Thirty-three
years ago I had done already
the things directors are doing
today and particularly what is
known as Italian neo-realism." "
He said he was not appre-
ciated in his own country, the
United States.
Brazil is developing it's own
movie industry. It also gets
European films as well as those
from Mexico and the United
States.
A civil engineer at the Uni
versity of Sac Paulo, met on
the plane coming here, thought
it important to inform newsmen
from the United States that even
the best movies here could be
attended for 20 cents.
That is important If you go
often. Business and professional
people said they go to the films
four or five times a week. One
lawyer said he likes cowboy pic
lures, but had to see them alone
because his wife does not enjoy
them.
Theaters Crowd Hotels.
Visiting reporters found that
the explanation for the tiny
lobby at their hotel, the Maraba.
was that most of the ground
floor of the building was devoted
to a theater. Across the street
at the Excelsior Hotel the same
is true.
The lights above the Excelsior
T'heater entrance advertise "A
Meia Noite do Amor" c'Let's Do
1t AgainD, with Jane Wyman,
Ray Milland and Aldo Ray. Also
being shown here are "A Guerra
dos Mundos" (War Of the
Worlds'D and "Por Tua Causa"
CBecause of Your.
Some Of the visitors expressed
misgivings at the ideas Brazil
ians must get of Americans from
American films. Were we ex-
pected to be cowboys. gangsters
or jewellers in extravagent houses
with swimming pools and many
servants?
The attractive wife of a young
Sac Paulo businessman answered
mischieviously, I'VE think all of
you ride around in CadillacS with
a Marilyn Monroe beside you"
Alas. what an error.