Evening star., 1957-04-20


Greece and the Aegean Islands g
ton found the loveliest Of cradles
Confronted by so much of hyp-
motto beauty. the moviegoer is
disarmed against finding the
supporting screenscript tame and
thin. Also for an added distrac-
ton. the studio has inserted
Italy's Sophia Loren into the
precise center of the narrative.
More than Alan Ladd, Clifton
Webb or the screenplay's authors.
Miss Loren is at home and at
ease and in balance with her an
cient and gorgeous setting. She's
posterity's tribute to any travail
the early Greeks suffered.
The formula here would seem
to be the one that worked so pop
ularly for goth Century a few
years ago in the case of Three
Coins in the Fountain" That
one mesmerized everyone save a
few critics who found themselves
pariahs.
Surrounded by so much of
light and shade and shape.
CinemaScope's color cameras can
only be excused for a kind of
lazy indifference toward the
screenplay
The latter keeps its relaxed
focus on Miss Loren. Her role is
that of a radiant and vital mari
time villager who makes her liv-
ing diving for sponges. This is
dull and unrewarding work for
any kind of girl. much less one
of Miss Loren's possibilities.
Life, however, takes a reward
ing turn on the dive which leads
her to discover one of antiquity's
classic sculptures, Boy on a DOL
phin. This piece of statuary.
missing 2.100 years. lands Miss
Loren in water as hot as that at
the bottom of the Aegean is cold.
Before she is fully aware of
what has happened to her, she
is trapped in the competition
between Ladd. a scholarly arche-
ologist, and Webb, an unprin-
cipled collector. There is never
any question as to which of these
two males is going to get both
the statue and Miss Loren. To
his credit. Director Jean Negu-
lesco fills any lulls in the sus>
pense of his picture with all the
compensating photography any
one could ask.
Whatever of acting is requisite
to boy on a Dolphin" is left
to Miss Loren. This is sound
judgment. She is asked to play
a girl who has learned that what
her type needs is a large ar
senal of defensive weapons.
chiefly a scornful tongue and
lot of physical agility. These
Miss Loren displays with the as
surance Of one who never learned
the tricks in acting school.
Enhancing the folksy atmos-
phere of the film are. several
musical and dancing asides
which intimate that We is en-
gagingly relaxed in Gf4ece even
in this century.
MORE GUTHRIE: Washing
ton theatergoers waited a long
time to lay eyes on the work Of
Tyrone Guthrie. the Irish wizard
who has become the best known
director in the English-speaking
theater.
The drought was ended this
season with the Old Vic's "Troi-
lus and Cressida." the high point
Of the London company's visit
here and a production with the
true Guthrie touch.
Now comes a bonus in the
form Of Thornton Wilder's THE
Matchmaker" due at the Ma
tional for three weeks starting
May 6. This is Guthrie's biggest
hit in America to date. with a
large assist from Ruth Gordon,
who. at this point in her career.
is playing her most sensational
role.
Arena Stage. ever so enter
prising. has been angling for DR..
Guthrie for several seasons: may
yet get him in one Of his rare
idle moments.
SATURDAY SUM MARY:
around the World in 80 Days"
and "Cinerama" are ready for
the Easter holidays. Both
have scheduled extra matinees
for what is left of this week and
all Of next. The former has
even set a 10 am. showing for
April 81. Returning to town
next week for brief visit will
be Robert Ruark. in behalf of the
film version of his Something Of
Value" His first newspaper
Job was on this paper. And
his self-introduction to the
drama department that first day:
I'm the new field hand around
here" Owen Dodson's
Bayou Legend" a fantasy para
phrase of Peer Gynt" will be
presented May Ia by Howard