Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

Warm as nuggle-soft and cloudlight, with a deep, pure wool face that practically purrs under your fingers and cotton back for extra strength. WARREN means wear-forever fabric — tailors into a coat to make your heart sing. Very much worth looking for in better stores throughout the land. About $29 Warren Fabrics Company, ine. West Warren, Mast. OVER 21 Age is a relative matter. If you're fourteen, say, then anyone over twenty-one seems to you to be hovering on the slippery edge of senility. On the other hand, suppose you're thirty-nine, and in the Army. Then you regard the 21-year-olds who start playing leap-frog when the sergeant says "Okay. Ten minutes rest," with awe and bitter admiration. All of which leads up to the plot of "Over 21," co-starring Irene Dunne and Alexander Knox. Max Wharton (Alexander Knox) , former editor of a New York newspaper, is in the Army. His charming and talented wife, Polly (Irene Dunne) had abandoned her writing career temporarily to live in Miami where he is in Officers' Candidate School. Polly doesn't expect much, from her living quarters there, for she's heard about the housing shortage. Still, there are certain features about the bungalow Max has found which are a little startling. The kitchen which is really the bathroom, or vice versa. The window which will only open when you walk on a certain floor board. The front door which has a habit of slamming behind her while she's putting out the milk bottles, in her pajamas. Oh well, she's with Max and that makes up for everything. Only Max has to spend practically all his time at the post. He's terrified that he won't pass the course. "Of course, you will," Polly says comfortingly. "A smart guy like you!" "I may be smart," Max admits, still sunk in gloom, "but I'm an old man. Thirty-nine. This is for kids." The owner of Max's newspaper keeps trying to get in touch with him. Gow (Charles Coburn) insists that the paper is losing readers now that Max isn't writing the editorials. Can't he do one a week? Polly knows that Max hasn't time to do anything more. To keep Gow quiet, however, she agrees and writes them herself under Max's by-line. At last graduation time comes, and there is Max in the front row, looking pleased and surprised and not a day over twentyfive. But there are still complications to unravel. — Col. P. S. For two-and-a-half months of shooting Irene Dunne and Alexander Knox were * cooped up in one of the smallest sets used in years. The 11 x 14 living room was so cramped that part of the walls had to be removed every time the camera shifted its position. . . . Alex Knox married Doris Nolan a day or two before reporting to work, so the first time he came onto the set the whole crew gave him a big reception to celebrate the happy event. . . . From Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to officer candidate in one easy lesson — Knox accomplished this rather spectacular demotion when he stepped from the role of Wilson to that of the officer candidate (GI haircut and all) in Over 21. . . . Charles Coburn established himself as an inventor when he developed an idea for a new kind of monocle with "tri-focal" lenses. One part for long distance seeing, and the third section will be "rose-colored glass for use in reading critics' reviews." He plans to have the idea in working order the next time he sees one of his own pictures. . . . Irene Dunne, considered one of the 10 best-dressed women of the screen will have a new title when this picture is released — one of the 10 best "undressed" women. She has a wardrobe of six delectable negligees, and spends most of the picture in them. Incidentally, the negligees were so sheer that background lighting couldn't be used for fear of running into censorship trouble! THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS They might have titled this one "What Every Young Girl Should Know." It has about the smoothest wolf in it that you ever saw. By the time you've watched his approach, and the way he plays all the angles, you should be warned against the lines that are tried on you by real life wolves. The trouble is, he's such an attractive guy that you'll find yourself going for him in spite of your common sense — as happens to the heroine, played by Laraine Day. Bob Young is the wolf, which is a bit of a surprise, but he's really terrific. A new lad named Bill Williams contributes a pleasant performance as the third point of the triangle. Not that it's really a triangle, once Lieutenant Hank Travers (Robert Young) has appeared. Hank is one of the glamor boys of the Air Force. A hot pilot and a hotter lover. He's broken hearts from Hong Kong to Piccadilly. Jerry (Bill Williams) who used to know him in college, runs into him on Fifth Avenue. Jerry makes the mistake of mentioning his girl friend, Helen (Laraine Day) , and dwelling at some length on her charms. Hank gets that look in his eye, and before Jerry knows what it's all about, Hank is in on his date that night. Of course, Jerry comforts himself, Helen is too smart and too sensible to fall for an obvious playerarounder like Hank. Or is she? As the evening progresses, he isn't so sure. Hank really takes over the party. He takes them to a fancy hotel roof and fills them full of champagne. Eventually he pulls a fast one on Jerry and gets a chance to make a pass at Helen. The fact that he doesn't get anywhere with her doesn't bother him. He's given her something to think about. COMMUNIQUE FROM THE HOW-WE-LOVE-HAZARDS CLUB: Jane's a right gal, but she never remembers to take her flashlight down to the cellar with her. Result? A broken leg when she tripped over Aunt Martha's suitcase and landed against the washing machine. Tom? Well, his burns will heal in time, but he could have saved himself a lot of pain, and might even have made Varsity, if he'd turned off his lamp switch before repairing the wire. And what about Bobby? He's only a baby, b'-: if he'd been taught not to leave his toys on the stairs, Mr. Jones would be at work today instead of at home with his arm in a sling. You should have heard Mrs. Smith next door tut-tutting over her neighbor's carelessness; which didn't prevent her from dozing off last night with a lighted cigarette. Maybe she likes to hear the fire engines! And Joe College, that dazzling kid around the corner, won't be doing much jitterbugging this term; but then, he did get to find out just how fast his car could go, and maybe he thinks he looks pretty with that nice white qauze all around his head! Maybe you think this is all rather silly . . . that you'd know better. Well then, the chances are you've already taken one of the red cross safety or accident prevention courses offered by your local chapter. If so, how's about prodding your neighbor? Remember, casualties on the home front slow up the war effort, too!