Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1944)

ginia was boosted to the post of producer . . . Tiny Vic Beaver (the ten-months -old baby) went temperamental every time the cameras began to roll. Even new papas, Phil Brown and Lee Bowman, couldn't quiet him. Coburn discovered it was his monocle little Vic was crying for. Since Charles can't wear the thing in close-ups, he had to be photographed from his left side in all scenes with the baby — so the camera eye couldn't see the monocle but baby Vic could! THE GREAT MOMENT Suppose you had to have a leg amputated. And the surgeon said, "Give the patient a piece of wood to bite on — that helps a little." Then took a saw and started to go to work. You'd scream your head off, wouldn't you? You'd yell, "Where's the ether?" But can you tell the name of the man who made it possible for people to sleep through operations instead of suffering unbearable pain? Don't worry if you don't know the name. In 1855 the U. S. Senate was in the same predicament. Any number of claimants to the honor had appeared, and they weren't in the least sure which was the right one. While the Senate battled about it, Dr. William Morton sat in the gallery and remembered. . . . Morton (Joel McCrea) was studying dentistry when he married the lovely Liz Whitman (Betty Field). Liz' father and mother were rather disturbed over her marrying a dentist. In those days a dentist went around the countryside extracting teeth while his wife beat on the dishpan to drown out the howls of the patient. Dr. Morton, however, had different ideas. He opened an office right in Boston, like a regular doctor's office. And always in the back of his mind was the idea that there must be some way to make dentistry painless. Morton experimented for years. Experimented while the Morton roof leaked, the Morton cook left in disgust, and the Morton children went around with holes in their shoes. He tried everything from hypnotism to laughing gas — almost killing himself with the latter. People said he was crazy. Only Liz kept her faith in him. Then at last through a combination of stubborn perseverance and blind luck, Morton discovered that ether inhaled would put a man to sleep. A sound enough sleep so you could pull his tooth. Or maybe even cut his leg off. . . . Dr. Morton gave medical science the use of his discovery. But at first he refused to give them the formula. After all, the roof did need mending, the children did need shoes. For his humble attempt to patent his formula, he was castigated in every newspaper in the country. As usual, only Liz believed in him. The story of his long struggle is a good one for all of us who need a lesson in perseverance. It is told in a fascinating way with the help of a cast which includes Harry Carey, William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn and J. Farrell MacDonald. — Par. P. S. Folks at Paramount moaned and groaned when memos came around to their office asking for suggestions for titles of the newest Preston Sturges movie. "How," they wanted to know, "can you get 'love' or 'oomph' into the title of a picture that tells the story of the discovery of ether?" . . . After several tentative tags were considered then rejected, "The Great Moment" was chosen to show up on theater marquees . . . Script is adapted from lRene Fulop Miller's biographical novel, "Triumph Over Pain," originally owned by In wartime as in peace A special process keeps KLEENEX luxuriously soft . . . dependably strong I In your own interest, remember— there is only one Kleenex* and no other tissue can give you the exclusive Kleenex advantages! Because only Kleenex has the patented process which gives Kleenex its special softness . . . preserves the full strength you've come to depend on. And no other tissue gives you the one and only Serv-a-Tissue Box that saves as it serves up just one double tissue at a time. That's why it's to your interest not to confuse Kleenex Tissues with any other brand, No other tissue is "just like Kleenex". In these days of shortages we can't promise you all the Kleenex you want, at all times. But we do promise you ■jf this: consistent with government regulations, we'll keep your Kleenex the finest quality tissue that can be made ! There is only one KLEENEX* HSi^J 'Trade Mark Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.