Modern Screen (Dec 1940 - Nov 1941)

MOVIE . REVIEWS (Continued from page 13) while he makes a straight, dramatic appeal to the world for more sanity. Jack Oakie is topnotch as Mussolini, Paulette Goddard is swell as the Jewish girl, Billy Gilbert is excellent as Goebbels and the late Maurice Moscovich is imposing in a character part — but no name stays with you when you leave the theatre except that of Chaplin. Which is as it should be. Directed by Charles Chaplin. — Chaplin-United Artists. PREVIEW POSTSCRIPTS: It is five years since Chaplin's last picture, "Modern Times"; work on this one started early in 1937 ...It cost a fraction over $2,000,000 to produce this picture, the biggest amount Chaplin ever spent — and all his own, too, no collaborators . . . Over 500000 feet of film were shot (with a single camera) and later cut down (by Chaplin) to 12,000 . . . Chaplin wrote the story and dialogue, directed, played a dual role, edited picture and scored the music; it was completed in 171 days of shooting time . . . It's the first time he speaks in a film, but he had considerable speaking experience on the English stage before coming to Hollywood 20 years ago . . . The action in the ballroom dance with Madame Napaloni and Charlie had to be stopped time and time again because the rest of the cast ruined takes with their laughter . . . The forty or fifty cats in the Ghetto scene were given a party of hamburger, fish and milk upon completion of their "work" . . . practically all shatterable glass used in scenes where it had to be broken was fine sugar cane candy; at picture's end, the surplus was given to Los Angeles orphanages . . . Paulette Goddard inaugurated a golf team, including pi op men, actors, electricians and technicians which played in tournaments during the filming . . . Charlie includes the same familiar faces of his friends whom he always remembers in his productions. ***'/2 Knute Roclcne— All American This is a frank and humble tribute to the football coach who has become a legend throughout America. It is big, honest and exciting and almost becomes a history of football. Those interested in sports will enjoy every second of it; those who are not, will be entertained by the dramatics of the man's, life. Rockne's story is told from the time he came to this country as a little boy of four through his slow rise in the field of sports, and up past the time he was killed in an airplane accident. It is full of incident and detail, and if the picture has any real fault it is that there isn't enough romantic element for you girls. There is the constant and unflinching love of Knute and his wife, Bonnie, but that is straightlined and not very exciting. You have never seen such a perfect character portrayal in your life as Pat O'Brien dishes out in the Rockne role. He is "the Rock" to the very marrow. His make-up is astonishingly good but, more to the point, his mannerisms and entire delivery seem to be carbon copies of the coach. There are a number of other excellent performances, tops being those of Gale Page as Rockne's wife and widow, Ronald Reagan as George Gipp, and Donald Crisp as Father John Callahan. A quick bow, in passing, to those responsible for the very exciting and real staging of the football plays; they're A-l. Directed by Lloyd Bacon. — Warner Bros. PREVIEW POSTSCRIPTS: Much of the film was made on the Notre Dame campus, including the funeral ceremony made in Sacred Heart Church, site of the actual rite. Notre Dame year books were making their appearance when O'Brien and the company were on the campus, so O'Brien autographed approximately 1,000 a day, along with textbooks, hats, letters, etc. . . . Rights to make the picture were obtained from the famed football coach's widow, Bonnie Skiles Rockne; she approved the script, and personally assisted in production. All of the family except Mrs. Rockne got into the picture; Rock's children, aged 23, 21, 19 and 14, were among the university students who were used in some scenes . . . During the filming of the picture Pat O'Brien's fan mail trebled . . . Robert Buckner, author of the screen play, used the fruits of two years research in the story; the wealth of material at his disposal necessitated the sign in his office reading, "Thanks, we're sure it's true — but we can't put all the Rockne incidents in one picture." ***'/2 They Knew What They Wanted Here is adult entertainment such as the movies have not dished out in many a day. Taken from the famous play by the late Sidney Howard which won a Pulitzer Prize, this late filmization results in vigorous, true drama that you will find difficult to forget. There are at least three sterling performances in the leading roles which rank with the best seen on the screen in many a moon, but the big news is Charles Laughton! For the first time in a number of films he completely dissociates himself from his person to turn in a really gripping characterization — as Tony, the Italian farmer. Carole Lombard, opposite Laughton, has a very difficult assignment. Although she tries very hard she is simply too intelligent to play the role of the ignorant little slavey convincingly. Bill Gargan's been good in small parts for a long time, but here he has a big part; and he's terrific! And so with three such performances, plus an exciting adult script, plus highly imaginative direction and good (very good) photography — the total is an A-l film even if the finish is mystical and the final speech is in the wrong person's mouth. There are some rough hurdles to manage from the moral code standpoint, but the film is tastefully directed by Garson Kanin. RKO-Radio. PREVIEW POSTSCRIPTS: The company of 100 spent two weeks in Napa Valley, 550 miles north of Hollywood, filming all exterior scenes in the exact locale of the story . . . It was Napa's first glimpse of film stars in the flesh, and the erstwhile placid community went overboard with excitement and hospitality; the chief of police issued an order that "Anyone caught annoying our guests for autographs will be run in"; the company's train was met at the station by 4,000 (Continued on page 61) *KATHERINE ALDRIDGE and BUDDY ROGERS in 20th Century-Fox hit, "Golden Hoofs". Your hands, too, can have soft charm, if you use Jergens. Have Love-Worthy advises KayAldridqe (20th Century-Fox Star)' IT'S SO EASY! And quick! Smooth on Jergens Lotion regularly — especially after handwashing. This famous Lotion furnishes beauty-giving, softening moisture most girls' hand skin needs. (Water, wind and cold are so drying to your hand skin!) Two of Jergens' fine ingredients are relied on by many doctors to help harsh, "crackable" skin to lovely smoothness. No stickiness! The first application helps! Start now to have soft, romantic hands — with this popular Jergens Lotion. FOR SOFT, ADORABLE HANDS FREE! PURSE-SIZE BOTTLE Mail this coupon now. (Paste on penny postcard) The Andrew Jergens Company, 3719 Alfred St., Cincinnati, Ohio. (In Canada: Perth, Ontario.) Please rush my free purse-size bottle of Jergens Lotion! Name Street . City tale . JANUARY, 1941 17