The Arizona post., 1958-02-07
Hollywood Report
Farewell to Arms Shocks
Hollywood in Premiere
By HERBERT G. LUFT

BY HERBERT G. LUFT
HOLLYWOOD-David O. selznick's production
of "a Farewell to Arms, in its unvarnished realism,
shocked Hollywood's premiere audience into faint
spells and uneasiness of a magnitude rarely
tered in the theater since Aeschyus presented The
Furies'' in the Temple of Dionysus of antiquity.
Ernest Hemingways bttersweet tale of two lov-
ers against the turmoil of battle has been eloquenty
reinterpreted by screen-writer Ben Hecht who util
lied most of the novels dialogue but sharpened the
authors sentiments against the Austro- German invad
ers of Italy in World War I.
Much of the anti-heroic dsiIusonment, the
'Weltschmerz" of the era Immediately following the
armistice of 1913 has since lost its validity. The
greatest impact is created the screen in sequence
showing the disorganzed retreat of the Italian forces
in the midst of multitude of frightened refugees
Here film director Charles Vidor, himself a
draftee into the enemy artillery forces of the first
World War, brings out the insanity of war itself in
vgnettes of nightmarish intensity which have the
stamp of Goya. The agony of these will lin
ger long in the mind of the audience Against the
suffering, the tragedy of the lovers, Jennfer Jones
and Rock Hudson to appear insignificant.
DORE SCHARY has dramatized the account of
his recent trip to Israel in thought-provoking
rative "The Tenth Year." presented at the Festival
of Freedom Concert in Los Angeles, with non-Jew
Glenn Ford sharing top billing with screen newcomer
Felicia Farr Ia Jewish girl with the face of angeD
Raikin Ben-Ar directed the production at the vast
Shrine Auditorium, with cast of motion picture and
television personalities. "The Tenth Year." sparkling
gem of poetic reportage void of sentmentality and
flagwavng heroics, is fitting tribute to the 10th
birthday of the young republic.
JERRY LEWIS, whose "Sad Sack" a comedy
about Army life one of the nations current boxof
flee leaders, next year will glorify the Navy Hal Wal
lis has purchased 'Now Hear This, an original story
by Ellis Kadson, starring vehicle for Jerry. Sched-
uled to go before the cameras next fall, "Now Hear
This" is romantic comedy which finds Lewis cast
in the sophisticated role of naval officer departure
from his series of slapstick portrayas.
Jerry is currently doubling as producer and star
of "Rock-A-Bye-B Baby" and has signed his 12-year-
old son, Gary, for featured role in the MOVIES Gary,
recently father Jerrys teevson spectacular,
now makes his motion picture debut under Frank
Tashlins direction Veteran actor Franklin Farnum,
who has worked in every film Jerry Lewis made in
the past ten years, also appears in "Rock-A-Bye-
Baby"
THIRTEEN Michel Ray "copper",
last year the screen as Mexican boy in "The Brave
One" now co-starring with Henry Fonda as half
bred Indian in '"Tn STAR" completed role at
in "The Space Children" The ambitious
young this month reports to producer director
Otto Preminger for new movie, This Is Google"
The picture based on the Dentz Plageman novel has
young Ray cast as the problem child of Kim Hunter
and James DAILY
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