Since You Went Away (United Artists) (1944)

Nazimova is 'cast as a defense worker ill David O. Selznick’s ex¬ traordinary panorama of the home front, “Since You Went Away,” pre¬ miering at the .... Theatre on .... through United Artists release, 24A—One Col. Scene (Mat .15) John Cromwell Signs His Name There is a well defined trend among Hollywood directors, of late, towards the appearance, if only ^ momentarily, of the director in the <5* film he is directing. The psycho¬ logical reasons for the trend are obscure and are not related to the old canard that all directors are really frustrated actors at heart. This fleeting appearance of the di¬ rector is commonly known as his “signature.” John Cromwell, director of “Since You Went Away” the seven star hit now playing at the . . . . Theatre through United Artists - release, has not escaped the new mania. Mr. Cromwell has his sig¬ nature boldly affixed to the sweep¬ ing David 0. Selznick production. The director about to take a bit part places himself immediately at *' the mercy of the assistant director. This party, having some real or imaginary scores to pay is likely to put his erstwhile boss through a rehearsal schedule for that one little shot which is equal to the total portrayal of Hamlet. Having gotten past the assistant director, the director-actor must now run the gauntlet of actors— those poor souls whom he has put through all kinds of torments from the moment the picture begins. In the case of “Since You Went Away” Cromwell had to face the critical examination of Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Lionel Barrymore and Robert Walker who are the stars of the film. When Cromwell ap¬ peared for his part he was ribbed so mercilessly that he blew up his two lines several times. Then Cot- r ten suggested that if the director were smoking a cigar it might it? steady his nerves. Cotten kindly presented the cigar—an old and senile one. Result: Cromwell ^ nearly coughed his head off. When the scene was finally done perfectly, the cameraman, Lee A Garmes, remarked very happily that he had neglected to load the camera and that the whole busi¬ ness would have to be repeated. Jennifer Debuted As Candy Stick Of all things, the Cinderella who won an Academy Award in her first film, made her acting debut as a peppermint candy stick! Little did the family realize as it sat there proudly watching its “baby” give her emotional all in a school Christ¬ mas pageant that the seven-year-old would one day develop into a screen celebrity. Yet that’s the story of Jennifer Jones, born Phyllis Isley in Tulsa, Okl ahoma. _ It was David 0. Selznick, the film producer who first recognized her talents when she was an ob¬ scure actress trying to gain a foot¬ hold in the theatre in New York. So confident was Selznick of her ability that long before her first picture, “The Song of Berna¬ dette,” was released, he had her at work in one of the biggest roles ever assigned to a young actress, that of Jane Hilton in “Since You Went Away.” This epic story of a charming American family, The Hiltons, during war time, co-stars Jennifer Jones with Claudette Col¬ bert, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Lionel Barrymore and Robert Walker. Jennifer was born to go into show business. Her brother, Phil R. Isley, now operating theatres in Texas and Oklahoma, once qualified as the guiding spirit of a barnstorming troupe that posi¬ tively battered audiences with its heart-breaking interpretations of “East Lynne,” “The Old Home¬ stead” and other tear-jerkers. Be¬ tween the acts he did his best to wring the remnants of hearts left in the audience with recitations of “The Face On The Barroom Floor” and “The Shooting of Dan Mc- Grew.” With a background such as this, it was no wonder that all through highschool and college, Jennifer’s interests were bound up in dra¬ matics. Eventually, she won hon¬ orable mention in a statewide ra¬ dio contest, sponsored by the Uni¬ versity of Oklahoma, when she played the lead in a hectic, moody, one act play. This triumph cinched matters for her and she decided to become a professional. When David O. Selznick bought the film rights to “Claudia,” which he later sold to 20th Century Fox, Jennifer, who was in New York at the time, thought she was just suited to the part and was given a tryout at Selznick’s New York office. But she was so nervous and self-conscious the staff just shook its head at her. Hattie Still Award Winner Among distinguished Negro ac¬ tors, few equal the record achieved by buxom Hattie McDaniel. She is the first member of her race to receive an Academy of Motion Pic¬ tures Arts and Sciences Award. This recognition came about as a result of her performance in Da¬ vid O. Selznick’s sensational film, “Gone With The Wind.” Now Miss McDaniel is again in a big Selznick production, “Since You Went Away,” a touching film narrative of the American home front which has been receiving cheers from audiences everywhere. Sharing stellar honors in this out¬ standing picture are Claudette Col¬ bert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cot¬ ten, Shirley Temple, Monty Wool- ley, Lionel Barrymore and Robert Walker. This is a United Artists release currently at the .... The¬ atre. Daughter of a Baptist minister, Miss McDaniel began her career as a singer with Professor George Morrison’s orchestra. Vaudeville and radio engagements followed, but when jobs got scarce she wasn’t too proud to fill in lean times by going “in service” as a cook and housemaid. It was in Milwaukee, where she was working a restau¬ rant for one dollar a night and tips, that her big break came. She asked permission to sing in the floor show, knowing that one of the singers was home ill. From this night on, her pay rose to $90.00 in tips from enthusiastic patrons. In 1930 Miss McDaniel had her first look at Hollywood. She came West in a second-hand car with friends. After two years during which she played extras, along with bit and small parts that drifted her way, a top assignment in “Judge Priest,” starring the late Will Rogers, came to her. From that time on Hattie Mc¬ Daniel never had to worry about getting along in Hollywood. Thoroughly discouraged Jenni¬ fer went back to her apartment in Garden City, Long Island, decid¬ ing to give up acting forever. But the next day she got a call from the Selznick office to come over and have an interview with Mr. Selz¬ nick, who had just arrived. Think¬ ing that they were only sorry for her she decided not to accept the invitation and, instead, started to wash her hair. In the middle of this the phone rang and she was informed that Mr. Selznick was waiting to see her and was getting impatient. This second invitation she could not help believing and she hopped into the first taxicab she could get and dried her hair out the window on the way into New York. Her meeting with Selz¬ nick is now familiar to everyone who follows the news of Holly¬ wood celebrities. After the usual training he gives to all his stars, he loaned her out for the role of Bernadette in 20th Century-Fox’s film version of the Franz Werfel novel. This role, her first, won her the much-prized Academy Award for the best fe¬ male film performance of the year. Temple Returns to Screen! When Shirley Temple celebrated her sixteenth birthday on the set of David O. Selznick’s “Since You Went Away” (currently playing at the .... Theatre through United Artists re¬ lease) she was marking, in a sense, the end of a motion picture era. In the simple ceremony— so sharply different from the huge affairs which once had marked her successive birthdays —Shirley was putting behind the days of her “baby-stardom” for the more mature and more meaningful roles of young womanhood. Those who knew her in the early days say that there has been little significant change in the young ac¬ tress. She remains the same sunny, bright-haired girl, as ready for mischief and fun as when she was the virtual idol of millions. Her change has come only in a richer understanding of her job; a greater maturity in performance. It is amazing to consider how thoroughly the young Shirley gripped the imagination and affec¬ tion of untold numbers of fans throughout the world. A youngster, no more than eight or ten at the apex of her popularity, she man¬ aged to maintain a fan following which reached fantastic propor¬ tions. At one point in her career, for example, she was receiving more than 700,000 fan letters from England and Scotland alone! And yet there was nothing in her background to give any hint of the success which was to be hers. Born in 1929, her parents were non-professional people and her brothers Jack and George, Jr. had no particular leanings towards a theatrical life. But almost from the moment she could walk it was plain that in a show-business sense, Shirley was a prodigy. At an age when most other chil¬ dren can barely balance themselves successfully on their new found legs, Shirley had already shown a gift for rhythm that was phe¬ nomenal. Her mother, recognizing this talent in the youngster, en¬ tered Shirley in a dancing school. It was discovered almost imme¬ diately that Shirley had the amaz¬ ing ability to learn to dance by listening to, not watching, a tap routine being beat out. Her ability was so marked that by the time she had completed her third les¬ son she was discovered by a talent scout. She was tested, proved suc¬ cessful and appeared in baby com¬ edies for the next year, getting experience. After appearing in bit parts in some full-length pictures, Shirley got her first real break in the “Frolics of Youth Series.” At a showing of one of the films Shirley was spotted by Jay Gorney, who had just written the music for “Stand Up and Cheer.” Gorney was so excited with Shirley’s ge¬ nius on screen that he immediately rushed her to the studio for a test for the film. She got the role over 150 other kids who were try¬ ing out for the same part. It was only a small part but her singing of “Baby Take a Bow” proved such a sensation that she could no longer be overlooked. By the time her third picture was released Shirley had zoomed to an unparalleled and unchal¬ lenged position as the most popu¬ lar star in Hollywood. In 1936 she was presented with a special award at the Academy Award Dinner for her unique place in motion pictures. When she grew too old for “baby” parts, Shirley wisely re¬ tired to get over the awkward stage of her development. Her re¬ turn is simple, without fanfare. Mr. Selznick believes that she will rewin her place in the American heart through hard and careful work and without benefit of a hell- for-leather publicity campaign. Today, still an unaffected Amer¬ ican girl, Shirley attends Westlake School for Girls, goes to classes and participates in the life of her school. She has no special boy friend and keeps up a voluminous corre¬ spondence with boys in the serv¬ ices. Christopher Discovers It Pays To Be Handsome Christopher Adams shuddered when he was ordered by his su¬ perior officer in the United States Coast Guard to report to a pho¬ tographer and pose for a picture to be used as a recruiting poster. Adams was afraid that the boys might give him a gentle raspberry. Instead the poster attracted the attention of producer David O. Selznick who gave the young sailor a part in “Since You Went Away” the big new film now playing at the .... Theatre through United Artists release. Hi Page Eleven