Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1940)

*2O0 IN, w>bce£ .Name e s t Your co answer must be mailed before Feb. 15, 1940. The judges will award all prizes on the basis of Kl.lllti md neatness of y. Decisions he judges will inal. Duplicate First, $100; Second, $50; Third, $25; Fourth, $15, j and 10 Prizes of $1 |£ Complete and Name Three Pictures Look at the three pictures shown above. They are "scrambled" cutouts of the likenesses of three wellknown film stars. After studying the heads, faces and chins of the sectional pieces, cut them out and rearrange the cut-outs so as to complete your three pictures. Then write in the name of the screen actor under each picture. That's all there is to it! Next, and very important, fill out the coupon and mail with your contest answer promptly! Every render of this magazine may compete in this contest anil every contestant has an equal chance to enjoy the thrill and glory of winning one of the many cash prizes. It's fun and entertaining to participate in this puzzle game. to° — tot you and every member of the family. ! CONTESTANT'S COUPON ! : Hollywood Stars Contest, Dept. P. ; 2206 Arch St., Phila.. Pa. ■ Enclosed are the movie star out-outs re . arranged to complete three pictures, to 5 . gether with each star's name. Z EXTRACASHF0RY0UR EXTRA TIME! It's surprising how far a little effort will go. Just drop us a penny post card with your name and address on it and we'll show you how to pick up some of the spare dollars you've been letting slip through your fingers. You can set up your own business with one of the largest publishing companies without investing a single cent. MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS, INC. 205 E. 42nd St., New York City gether. Frank Craven and Fay Bainter carry the burden of the story. Edmund Lowe, Genevieve robin and others carry on. PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES— 20th Century-Fox Time: The last World War. Place: France. Plot: The Ritz Brothers, a vaudeville team, unable to not bookings because of their German name, join the army. In France they team up with Jane Withers, whose father, Joseph Schildkraut, is a spy, There's bombing and blasting — but little entertainment value here. (Dec.) PRIDE OF THE BLUEGRASS— Warners This is the story of a blind horse, but added to the pathos there's laughter and warm sentimentality. Edith Fellows, James McCallion and Granville Bates are the troupers. * PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX, THE— Warners You may feel that this is lacking in the fire that Queen Elizabeth's lusty to-do with Lord Essex might have inspired, but Bette Davis, as the eviltempered, enamored-of-power Queen delights in her role, and Errol Flynn, as Essex, is magnificent to look upon. The grandeur of that court, the vital color of a nation not yet effete called for Technicolor. Donald Crisp, Olivia de Havilland, Vincent Price. Henry Daniell and Alan Hale add to the liigli quality of the production. (Dec.) * RAINS CAME, THE— 20th Century-Fox Louis Bromfield's story of a group of people caught in the flood and earthquake of India; the effect upon each when disaster, disease and death touch them, is transferred to the screen with compelling fidelity. Tyrone Power, Myrna Loy and George Brent give the top performances of their careers; with Maria Ouspenskaya, H. B. Warner, Josepb Schildkraut and Brenda Joyce following close on their heels. (Nov.) REMEMBER?— M-G-M This has sparkling moments — but the trio, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Lew Ayres, deserves more. Bob is an advertising genius who steals Greer away from her fiance, Lew. They marry, fight, divorce, but Lew doses them up with a drug that makes them forget. Whereupon the piece becomes a bedroom farce. (Jan.) RENO— RKO-Radio Intended to be an epic of Reno when it was a silver mining town, Richard Dix brings this up to date by thinking up the " Easy Divorce" plan. His wife, Gail Patrick, takes advantage of it, as does his daughter, Anita Louise. Picture lacks pace. (Jan.) RETURN OF DR. X., THE— Warners Wow! what a murder mystery — and witli Humphrey Bogart thrown in as further nightmare material. Wayne Morris, reporter, finds actress Lya Lys murdered. She turns up later to sue bis paper. Another person is found murdered by the same sort of wound, and no evidence of blood. Then Humphrey, as Dr. Xavier, turns out to have been electrocuted two years ago. Bool (Nov.) RIO— Universal The story of what happens to the trusted wife of a French convict has Victor McLaglen as the friend of Basil Rathbone, who is the French capitalist under conviction. Sigrid Gurie is the wife, and Robert Cummings the young American she falls for in Rio. There's a good escape sequence and some bloody killing. (Dec.) ROARING TWENTIES, THE— Warners Those mad, prosperous. Prohibition Twentiesl The story starts when World War veteran Jimmy Cagney looks up a girl who lias been writing to him and discovers she is Priscilla Lane. Circumstances draw him into the liquor racket, take him through the market crash, and into the depression when Priscilla finds happiness with his buddy, Jeffrey Lynn. Gladys George, Frank McIIugh and Humphrey Bogart have supporting roles. {Dec.) RULERS OF THE SEA— Paramount A rousting story of the first Atlantic crossing in a steam-driven boat, with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. playing the young mate who has faith in steam. Will Fyffe is superb as the Scotch inventor of steam motors. George Bancroft plays a die-hard sailing skipper, and Margaret Locicwood is appealing. (Dec.) SCANDAL SHEET— Columbia This is completely wacky. Otto Kruger is a newspaper publisher with a secret son (Eddie Norris); a girl friend (Ona Munson); and a penchant for homicide. He kills off one of His employees to get records of Norris' birth. {Jan.) SECRET OF DR. KILDARE, THE— M-G-M Lew Ayres is still the young assistant doctor, assigned this time to find out what's the matter with Helen Gilbert, an heiress. When Lionel Barrymore collapses (for the sake of the plot) Lew pretends lie's more interested in the heiress' millions than in his work, so his chief will take a rest. Laraine Day is still the young doctor's sweetheart. (Jan.) SMASHING THE MONEY RING— Warners A piece about prison and convicts — and a particularly exciting jail break. Ronald Reagan plays G-Man; Eddie Foy offers comedy, and Margot Stevenson furnishes romance. (Jan.) STAR MAKER. THE— Paramount Bing Crosby's newest vehicle is no bargain, darn it! It's the story of Gus Edwards, kiddie impresario. Bing plays the poor songwriter who marries Louise Campbell, refuses to take an ordinary job and conceives the idea of offering children to the public as entertainment. This introduces songstress Linda Ware; Walter Damrosch leads a symphony orchestra; Bing sings; Ned Sparks and Laura Hope Crews contribute comedy. (Nov.) STOP, LOOK AND LOVE— 20th CenturyFox "Marrying daughter off" is cleverly exploited here. Minna Gombell plays the mother who, married to William Frawley, expends her energy to find a husband for daughter Jean Rogers. Jean finds Bob Kellard, but Mama almost ruins the {Nov.) SUED FOR LIBEL— RKO-Radio A murder picture with a new twist. Morgan Conway is acquitted of murder. Reporter Linda Hayes pulls a trick on a rival pressman by telling him the verdict's "guilty." Kent Taylor dramatizes the thing on the air and Conway sues. Linda and Kent dig into his past and find he's plenty guilty. (Jan.) THAT THEY MAY LIVE— Mayer-Burstyn A strong dose of propaganda — a World War veteran is convinced that his comrades have not died in vain. When the call to arms comes again, lie turns to the War dead. They arise, mutilated and bloody and accuse the world of breaking its pledge for peace. Victor Francen is splendid. (Jan.) THOSE HIGH GREY WALLS— Columbia This is a psychological study of a fear trauma. Walter Connolly is sent to prison for doctoring a wounded convict. And it's the prison physician, Onslow Stevens, who lias the fear complex. Connolly gives his usual fine performance. {Jan.) THREE SONS— RKO-Radio It's the story of a man whose consuming interest in life is his department store, and who wants his boys to follow in his footsteps. Only they don't. There isn't much to keep you fascinated. Edward Ellis plays the father, Kent Taylor, Robert Stanton and Dick Hogan the offspring (Dec.) THUNDER AFLOAT— M-G-M Captain Wally Beery lives on a tugboat with his daughter, Virginia Grey, until a Boche sub puts them off and sinks the tug. Beery joins the Navy so lie can get revenge but iiis former rival, Chester Morris, is now his superior officer and Beery doesn't take kindly to discipline. So he takes his sub-chaser off on a solo hunt for the enemy. It's a personal battle between Beery and the subs. (Nov.) TORCHY PLAYS WITH DYNAMITE— Warners Jane Wyman takes Glenda Farrell's place in this romantic finale of the Torcliy Blane series, when she walks off witli detective Allen Jenkins. There's prison stuff, arid a chase. Tom Kennedy and Bruce MacFarlane trot along witli the story. (Nov.) 20,000 MEN A YEAR— 20th Century-Fox Not a story of Sing Sing, but of how Uncle Sam is training young men to fly. Randy Scott plays a washed-up professional pilot who takes a job as flying instructor, rescues some lost flyers and shares the fade-out with Margaret Lindsay. (Jan.) TWO BRIGHT BOYS— Universal Freddie Bartholomew and Melville Cooper, son and father, live by their wits, get in the clutches of Alan Dinehart, who uses them to make a grab at oil lands owned by Jackie Cooper and his mother, Dorothy Peterson. The boys do nice jobs. (Dec.) UNDER-PUP, THE— Universal Cinema history is made in this witli the discovery of a new singing star — eleven-year-old Gloria Jean. The story is u simple one: A poor girl wins a contest and is taken to a rich girls' camp. All the pampered darlings snoot Gloria — except little Virginia Weidler, but Gloria works out her problems with the aid of Billy Gilbert, Kenneth Brown and Billy Lenhart. Nan Grey and Robert Cummings supply romance. See this. (Nov.) * WHAT A LIFE— Paramount An amusing picture in which Jackie Cooper, an adolescent trying to make adjustments peculiar to his particular age, walks away with a difficult assignment. Betty Field, Cooper's sweetheart; James Corner, his rival; John Howard and Kathleen Lockhart all deliver good performances. (Dec.) WOMEN, THE— M-G-M Clare Boothe's Broadway success is an uncompromising story of the eternal battle of women for males and money. Norma Shearer is excellent as the devoted mother and wife, and Joan Crawford is in there slugging as the hardbitten clerk who uses every wile to catch Norma's husband. The fat part fell to Roz Russell and she made capital of it. Mary Boland and Joan Fontaine are grand. Both sexes will have fun. (Nov.) Categorically Speaking Bill as Seen by Myrna Loy ings that are there today — that might be Bill. Sometimes he is like a winding street lined with old book shops and art galleries, but with a chrome pavement. What Drink? A potent looking cocktail in a tall, narrow glass of fine crystal. The stuff would be just as potent as you thought it would be, too. Tree? Trimmed cypress, extremely decorative; because of its position in the garden or for some other reason, it would serve a practical purpose. I think it would unexpectedly poke its roots up in the middle of the lawn, furthermore. Bird? A shiny black parrot with something to say, possessing a fund of very funny and not always conservative anecdotes. He'd be a very wise bird, and he'd have one drooping eyelid and bright, cynical eyes. He'd be so amusing he'd earn his seeds, but even so he'd worry a lot about the coming winter, possibly even going so far as to store up a lot of crackers against the improbable day when no (Continued from page 20) one would feed him any longer. And he'd have a platinum cage, in which he would lead a fastidious life, observing what went on around him and making spectacular comments. Literature? "Conversation Piece," by Noel Coward; much of Saki, some of Oscar Wilde's epigrams; lately, the Book of Job, it would seem; a work on economics, some Schopenhauer, and a history of acting. Sport or Game? Something performed indoors, certainly, since Bill loathes exercise. Contract bridge played lying down, with automatic thingummies to shuffle and deal; table tennis with a proxie for Bill. Magazine? He's the annual issue of Bond Street fashion plates, or a copy of next week's New Yorker with an etching for a cover and the financial news on the frontispiece, in bold face type. There'd be a great many smoking-room stories, remarkable for their humor; an essay on patience; the script of a good play and the recipes for ten new cocktails. Jewel? A dark opal, maybe, with a mystic star or symbol inexplicably planted in it. Possibly scientists would work years trying to decipher the meaning of the symbol, only to discover that it was ancient Tibetan for "I got rhythm." Shoes? Handmade velvet house slippers, lined with fur — but the soles and heels would be serviceable. Flower? A carnation for the buttonhole, in deep red, chemically treated so as not to wilt. Animal? If you can possibly imagine a race horse sitting in the attitude of "The Thinker," with a Nubian slave fanning him. . . . Two of the most important things about Bill Powell are his ability as an actor, and his sense of humor, which is unfailing, often biting, always objective. With all the outward manifestations of a lazy, luxurious person, he is essentially a vital, superbly intelligent man. 86 PHOTOPLAY