Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-01

Gregory is busy with not one, b
Herman Wouk work. Although
lacking confirmation, there is
every reason to believe that the
project is one on which Gregory
is wasting no time.
Obviously in the production
which stars Henry Fonda, Lloyd
Nolan and John Kodiak in the
original and now Broadway COM
pany. he has the hottest drama
property" to be found any
where.
For how long?
No one knows precisely, not
even the aStute producer, but
the movie version is already in
the cans awaiting a release date.
Late May" its maker. Stanley
Kramer, told this correspondent
when asked for the likely release
of the film.
That gives Mr.. Gregory four
months of exclusive rights to the
exciting climatic scene from
THE Game Mutiny." At the
end of that period. it will. have
the competition of film packed
with such high-powered names
as Humphrey Bogart. Jose Fer
rer, Fred MacMurray. and Van
johnson. 1t is inconceivable
that it could sharply diminish
the attractiveness of the original
production. but the power of a
superior movie is devastating.
Movies can get around far
faster than stage plays. even
those. with three companies in
existence.
Mr.. Gregory is not a man to
ignore this.
THE REAL THING: The first
piece of casting for the first
touring company of THE Court
Martial" is reported settled. and
it is another Gregory gem.
The new Capt. Queeg, It's said.
is Brian Donlevy. Mr.. Donlevy
is not only an accomplished
actor. but one of the few in
Hollywood who happens to have
attended the United States Naval
Academy.
1t makes Donlevy a promo
tional natural for Capt. Queeg.
1t is no trouble at all to imagine
the questions drama reporters
would like. to fling at him, espe-
cially those dealing with a COM
parison of Wouk's and his own
Navy experience.
SHUBERT RELIGHTS: Come
February 8, the Shubert theater
will relight with a special, slightly
off-beat booking of Blackstone
and his magic act. The 79-year
old mystery man with the bushy
head the size 8 hat-now cow
boy chapeau, not the old derby
has put together full evenings
show and resumed his theater
touring.
Following Blackstone, Todd
Andrews will play a third return
engagement in Mister Roberts, "
the hit from which he cannot
escape. 1t will remain at the
Ninth street house for two weeks,
to be followed by the fresh-from-
Broadway production, MY Three
Angels"
Andrews. incidentally. will be
playing simultaneously with the
drama in which he made his
first sharp impact on Broadway.
This will be Tennessee Williams
Summer and Smoke" now in
process of preparation for Feb
ruary 8 production at Arena
Stage.
Sd SIDELIGHT: A couple of
memos from Warner Bros. init
mate that BIDS future in Holly
wood is still fuzzy. One has to
do with the making of the stu
dos biggest spectacle project,
Helen of Troy" on which cast
ing has now begun. 1T will be
in CinemaScope," the company
says.
The other memo announces
Daniel Boone" which will star
Gary Cooper. 1t also will be in
the CinemaScope process.
Warmers were the original, and
most intense, espounsers of the
Sd process. Remember House
of Wax?
THEATER FORUM: A forum
on children's treater and variety
show techniques will be held to-
morrow night. pm, at the
Jewish Community Center under
the sponsorship United Commu-
nifty Services. Speakers on va
rious branches of entertainment
will include Rose Robinson