Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1947)

Martha Hyers, a cute kid, gets admiring attention from Marshall Thompson at the Ralph Edwards kiddie party Set of the Month: Unbelievable is the only word that can describe the get-up and the characterization of Edgar Bergen as a mortician of the pre-gay nineties. On the “I Remember Mama” set, we were fascinated with Edgar’s performance as he sat on a park bench talking to his wife, played so well by Ellen Croby. There was no Charlie McCarthy to steal scenes or distract attention. Producer Harriet Parsons came over to chuckle with us as the scene unfolded in the lovely park, built in a corner of the stage. A group of picknickers and children, all in costume, nonchalantly played about while the dialogue went on. Philip Dorn, who plays Irene Dunne’s husband, stood by, also amused. Director George Stevens discussed scenes between each take and if what we saw is a sample, everyone will remember Mavia for a long, long time. Writer Goes Actor: Tom D’Andrea, as a writer at Warners, wrote some very funny dialogue for the film “Pride of the Marines” and then, as you remember, delivered the lines himself. Thus Tom, who plays straight to Errol Flynn in “Silver River,” advanced from radio writing to presenting service shows he organized and wrote himself as an Air Force Sergeant, and on to studio writing and finally acting. See how it’s done? His first screen appearance was in “This Is the Army.” From there he went into “Night and Day,” “Never Say Goodbye,” “Two Guys from Milwaukee,” “Humoresque” and “Dark Passage.” Tom, in his thirties, is a handsome guy, with just a few silver hairs over the temple, wears good looking suits, is unmarried, is now more actor than Edgar Bergen is practising for the bubble gum championship! Mrs. B., however, prefers his lollipop Janet Leigh coaxes hubby Stanley Reams to join the group for a swim in the pool 15