Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 29, 1948)

Page 4 Humanitarian Washington Dinner The Humanitarian Award dinner for General George Marshall was the most distinguished occasion I and many other barkers have ever attended, and not just because there were more distinguished persons present. The scenery was worthy of the actors in this greatest of one-night stands, too. If you are ever in Washington, please look at the Statler from the inside and sneak a peak at the South American room while you're at it. For this affair the dais held two head tables and the 85 who sat at them were hedged in by the thousands of roses which ran along its length. Opposite the head tables, along the other wall, a large battery of newsreel cameras, manned by Hugo Johnston, Bob Denton and others, occupied a platform. Between them we sat. Among those who took their bows when introduced by Bob O'Donnell, who was his usual graceful and affable self, were the ambassadors of Canada, Ireland, India, China, Belgium, Peru, Turkey, Ethiopia and many other lands. There were generals and admirals a-plenty. There was, for instance, General Hershey, who sends out the “Greetings” for the US Army; and General McAuliffe, whose reply of “Nuts!” to a German demand for surrender at Bastogne made history. Then there was Barney Baruch, the elder statesman, for whom the crowd stood in tribute; Justices Rutledge and Burton of the Supreme Court; and the Honorable Robert H. Jackson, who was the prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. Lloyd Nolan, who will play in the Variety picture, “Bad Boy,” was on hand and so was Audie Murphy, its star. Murphy, the most decorated soldier during the last war, sat next to General Marshall in a rented uniform, which he acquired when he found his own didn’t fit him. The crowd rose in his honor when he was introduced. The O’Donnell got a laugh when he added “my ‘personal salute” to the applause for the Irish ambassador. An Historic Occasion The most impressive speaker—outside of General Marshall— was Associate Justice Robert H. Jackson, who told the gathering that “You and I live tonight in the bloodiest century in all history.” Not one person was untouched by the sense of crisis his words created, for the next day General Marshall was to leave for the Paris meeting, out of which many thought might come peace or war. He quoted Longfellow: Sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on thy fate. Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o’er our fears, Are all with thee, — are all with thee! These noble words, addressed to the guest just prior to his departure for the fateful meeting of the United Nations Assembly, transferred to the listener the urgent need of an immediate accord among the disputing nations, as felt by the speaker and the guest of honor. _ America’s Statesman General Marshall, in whom reposed the hopes so eloquently expressed by Mr. Justice Jackson, apologized for the delay in his receiving the award and praised Variety. A plain speaker with no air of formality about him, the guests from every country and every walk of life hung on to his every word as he discussed the international situation in which he is so prominent a figure. He said what he repeated the next day to newsmen at the airfield, that this is the time of “an unusually critical world situation.” He then told the press that his subsequent remarks would Canadian FILM WEEKLY 3 On The Observanda SQUARE Around and About The staff at the Odeon-Toronto is rightly proud of Mrs. Jean Berryman, one of its members. Jean found a valuable wrist watch in the theatre and returned it to Mrs. J. Hutchinson. Back came a letter of thanks to Jean—and a gift of $25. Mrs. Hutchinson, from the USA, praised the courtesy of the staff in her letter . . . Oscar Hanson spent his vacation in England, where he made so many friends during his previous visit... Mrs. Harvey Hunt; has been ill for several weeks and is in the Wellesley Hospital . . . Lloyd Coleg has left Ed Provan and was given a party by Ed and the boys. He'll open a tailor shop on Victoria, between Clayman’s and the Busy Bee eatery. The cafe will have a $50,000 renovation job. The Liquor Control Board will put a branch nearby too. It’s said that Tom Miller, now out West, will be Doug Peacock’s successor as NFB theatrical distribution chief... Some of the shooting for “Mrs. Mike,” starring Dick Powell and directed by Andre de Toth, will be done at Yellowknife, NWT... Farley Granger will star in “Earth and High Heaven” for Goldwyn. A production crew will go to Montreal soon... Next Variety meeting is on September 28th . . . Tom Pacey of the Odeon, Winnipeg, here for the Odeon-Toronto debut, was in. Was last here 25 years ago, when he passed through as a lad just come from the Old Country. He recalled reading this many years ago: “Some day the genius will be born who can build ,” a theatre with all the seats ‘half way down in the middle’. A story is being told about a city kid who had his first look at the country through the courtesy of a fresh air fund. He wandered off into the woods and a while later staggered back into camp, his skin scratched and his clothing torn. “Good heavens,” gasped the man in charge. “What happened to you?” “T was chased by a big black poisonous snake!” the youngster said. “That was a harmless blacksnake,” the man explained, somewhat relieved. “They aren’t poisonous.” And he grinned. ; “Listen wise guy,” answered the city kid, ‘‘when a snake makes you jump over a 50-foot cliff — it doesn’t have to be poisonous!” . An American visitor didn’t find our shut-up Sunday to his satisfaction. He wanted a bottle of liquor and told a bellboy his problem. The bellboy winked at him and came back in ten ‘minutes with a bottle. “Ten dollars, sir,” he said. “Whew,” whistled the visitor. scarce around here,” he added. “No, sir,” was the honest answer, ‘‘but suckers are... “Liquor must be mighty be off the record and continued his observations about the extremely dangerous state of the world at this moment. It was like having a front seat as History is made. And the most intent listeners were the diplomats. Not all of General Marshall’s ‘speech was grim, for he told some interesting anecdotes about other military men present. The main fun was provided by Red Skelton doing a television and a prizefight skit. “It’s a pleasure to come to Washington from Hollywood without a subpoena,” he cracked. Ed Peabody, the banjoist, and Gene Archer, a singer, also entertained. Skelton, incidentally, brought his writer, Edna Borzage, his former wife, on for a bow. Sharing a table with me were Bob Gillham of SRO and Barrett McCormack of RKO. The room was full of trade celebrities, among them Bill Heineman, Si Fabian, Spyros Skouras and many others. Fitz was photog’d by the newsreelers in company with Hume Wrong, Canada’s envoy, and you'll probably see the shot in the newsreels. September 29, 1948 LL