Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1944)

Hollywood Gossip It’s getting to be a habit with Beulah Bondi. Beulah portrayed Jimmy Stewart’s mother in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” is his mother again in Liberty Films’ RKO Radio release, “It’s a Won¬ derful Life” . . . Walter Slezak will fly his own plane to his farm in Buck’s County, Pennsylvania, when he completes his role in “Mr. Fix” and in the early fall will fly to Europe to settle his late father’s estate. Virginia Mayo, who hasn’t for¬ gotten she once was a Goldwyn Girl, takes a half dozen of the Goldwyn Girls to lunch every day while she is filming “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” . . . Hoagy Carmichael, now appearing in “The Best Years of Our Lives,” spends a lot of his spare time listening to broadcasts of horse races but never bets on the ponies. Cathy O’Donnell drinks a dou¬ ble chocolate malted milk twice a day on “The Best Years of Our Lives” set in an effort to gain 10 pounds . . . Tiny Frances Lang¬ ford isn’t satisfied with her busy schedule of newspaper writing, ra¬ dio work and making movies like “Beat the Band.” In her spare time she is helping Jon Hall, her husband, install new engines in their yacht. James Warren has his dogs nose-printed for identification in case they get lost. The Bide-A-Wee home in New York recommends this . . . Leon Errol, RKO Radio comedian, studied medicine in Aus¬ tralia before becoming an actor. Lyons’ English Grill The menu at Lyons’ English Grill features Mixed English Grill, Prime Ribs of Beef and Kidney Pie, and so many of the film col¬ ony’s English contingent are mak¬ ing this beautiful new restaurant their headquarters that Chef Francois Rostaing is always con¬ cocting some special English dish for the many requests of Hugh Herbert, Arthur Treacher and others. Mac’s Steak House FRANK Telephone CApitol 1-1478 4814 Huntington Drive, South Los Angeles 32, Calif. Lax*s Delicatessen “Where Celebs Meet to Eat” 6417 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. Telephone GL 5409 HUGH CHARLES RESTAURANT Lunch * Dinner * Supper From 12 A.M. to 1 A.M. 6045 Hollywood Blvd. at Gower HO. 4278 ^^rouncl 3 own By BUD MARTIN “ROSALIE,” the gay Graustarkian musical from the pens of Romberg, Gershwin and Porter, pirouettes the boards of the Greek Theatre as the final production of a successful season! Bud Martin Gale Sherwood, Canadian song¬ bird, plays the title role of the masquerading Princess and Joe Sullivan (easy on the vocal) is the young American flyer, who in¬ vades Romancia on a test fight and discovers some of same. Dull dialogue is enlivened by Lee Dixon, celebrated funster, and he does right well with his “own” version of the hero’s buddy. Under the baton of Ray Sinatra the music and dancing is kept at a lively lilt. Vivian Fay, beautiful ballerina, achieves the enviable gossamer quality of “stuff that dreams are made on” in her superb twirling toe number. 16MM SKETCHES: Attended SID SKOLSKY’s press party, after the premiere of “The Jolson Story,” at the brothers Schwab Drug Em¬ porium, last week! It seems everyone of importance in film town was there from Bill Powell, Larry Parks, Marguerite Chapman, John Garfield, Jack Haley, Nestor Paiva, Alan Ladd to the two cutie-pies, Peggy Ann Garner and Barbara Whiting. CRUISING ... YE STUT-NTUP ... is an old English collo¬ quialism . . . meaning beef and lamb . . . and this pleasant Tav¬ ern on B'everly Blvd., really offers the tops in good meats. Of the many celebrities finding the HUGH CHARLES RESTAU¬ RANT an enjoyable place to dine is CONSTANCE BENNETT. MISS BENNETT found their rare European cuisine reminiscent of the renowned Montmartre in Paris . . . MICKEY GOLDFARB, popular owner of the TABU OF HOLLYWOOD, announces the opening September 24th of MAD¬ MAN SNOOPER ROGERS, fa¬ mous pianist . . , I’ll see you around! BILL JAMES PIC REVIEW “Cuban Pete” is a natural for the younger set and for lovers of modern tempoes. The yarn itself is trite but the music is smooth and almost constant. The marquee is sure to draw hepers everywhere. Pic should do nicely in most sup¬ port spots. What plot there is concerns it¬ self with Jean Fulton’s efforts to get Arnaz out of South America and to New York. She is an agency lass with a five-grand bonus dan¬ gling if she snares him for emptyheaded, egocentric sponsor De Wit. Arnaz is the “manana” latin who isn’t interested in today — but goes overboard for the Fulton figure. Of course she finds herself getting that certain feeling too, just in time for the usual misconceptions. Which iron out for the clinch. The King Sisters give out with some sharp numbers and Ethel Smith bolsters the beat with “The Breeze and I.” Production values are sound and Jean Yarbrough’s megging lifts the story pace above its actual merit. A skin-beater special. It’s Judy from Joisey Frank Sinatra’s latest singing discovery, Judy Stevens, hails from The Voice’s former stamping grounds, New Jersey. A native of Camden, Judy has been signed as featured feminine singer on CBS’ “Songs by Sinatra.” Hillary Brooke Hits Stardom Hillary Brooke reaches wellearned stardom in the next Pres¬ ton Sturges picture, “Vendetta,” in which she plays the femme lead. The beauteous, young and capable Brooke assumes the role of mother of a nine-year-old son. Sullivan to Columbia Barry Sullivan will report to Columbia Oct. 1 for his featured role in “They Walk Alone,” with Glenn Ford. Richard Wallace will direct the picture, which will af¬ ford Sullivan his next part after “Suspense.” Hollywood Air Travel Service Notes of Interest — 1. If phoned by noon, departure guaranteed for 5 or 6 p.m. of same date. 2. All planes meet the same rigid inspection and insur¬ ance requirements of major air lines. 3. Appointment of interior of planes for personal comfort of passengers is the finest in the air. 4. Passengers picked up at home or office by company cars and taken to airport for each daily flight. DAVE REYNOLDS WOODY WILSON PRESENTING COCKTAILS AT CATALINA CLUB CATALINA AVALON 650 SANTA CATALINA ISLAND AVALON’S NEW CHRCHI RESTAURANT DANCING ENTERTAINMENT COCKTAILS FOODS tawwwi »nmi “In Avalon It’s The Waikiki ’’ WAIKIKI CLUB WADE TAYLOR, Manager PHONE: 95 AVALON, SANTA CATALINA ISLAND