Uncertain Glory (Warner Bros.) (1944)

Paul Lukas ‘Arrives’ For 7th Straight Time Still Lukas-10—Mat 206—30c Paul Lukas, Academy Award Winner, can be seen with Errol Flynn in “Uncertain Glory,” coming to Strand Friday. Paul Lukas, currently to be seen in the new Warner Bros.’ film, “Uncertain Glory,” at the Strand, is a veritable Milquetoast of a man, but there’s one sure way of getting his pin feathers to twitch. That’s to describe him, as have so many critics lately, as the “find” of the year because of his matchless performance in “Watch on the Rhine,” the Warner Bros.’ picture which costarred him with Bette Davis and for which he was _ subsequently awarded an Academy Oscar. Paul Lukas hates to be described as a “find” for the simple reason that during his fifteen years in Hollywood he has been so characterized exactly seven times. He was first hailed a “find” in 1926 when, deserting the Hungarian stage, he scored as “Samson” in “Samson and Delilah” for the UFA Studios. He was “discovered” again in 1928 when Paramount brought him to Hollywood to play opposite Pola Negri in “Loves of an Actress.” Since that time and right up to his recent winning of the Academy Award, he has been “acclaimed,” “discovered” and declared “find of the year” with amazing regularity. These momentary flashes of recogni up following his screen appearances in “Strictly Dishonorable,” “Little Women,” “Dodsworth,” “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” and, finally, “Watch on the Rhine.” At present, sharing stellar honors with Errol Flynn in “Uncertain Glory,” he plays another magnificent part for which he’ll probably be “discovered” all over again. “Actually,” he says, “I’m neither better nor worse in one picture than another. Some of my parts are better than others. For those parts I’m acclaimed a ‘find.’ The others go unnoticed. Being an actor first of all, I take the parts as they come. But I insist I’m no less of a ‘find’ in one role than another.” The actor is one of Hollywood’s few stage veterans who will admit that acting before a camera is more difficult than before the footlights. Mr. Lukas has nothing but contempt for the worship of pure technique removed from a background of emotion. He maintains that simplicity is the secret of every great performance, and cannot understand how any really conscientious actor can rely solely on technique. Judging from the star’s past performances, his theory would tion for his acting ability sprangseem to be highly practical. A.S.P.C.A. And Film Star Have A Lot In Common Errol Flynn, co-star with Paul Lukas of Warner Bros.’ “Uncertain Glory,” now showing at the Strand, says either he or twenty mongrel dogs and cats will soon be homeless. The screen star explains “that apparently everyone with astray dog or cat chooses his property as the logical place to dispense with same. As a result, he now has fifteen dogs and five Still E.F.-433 eats of unMat 107—I5c certain ERROL FLYNN lineage yapping and mewing around his grounds. 6 “The gardener reports seeing cars drive up, a dog or cat tossed out, and the drivers beating hasty retreats before they can be recognized or overhauled,” Mr. Flynn explains. “When I learn that still another mutt has taken up residence at my place I give stern orders to get rid of it.” Mr. Flynn now sighs. “But then I make the mistake of seeing the pooch, and I’m a gone goose. Naturally, it stays. “It’s getting so I now come in the back way, looking neither to left nor right, in order to get inside before another dog or cat works its wiles on me. But they know I’m a softie I guess. What I once hoped would be a beautiful estate has turned into a pound. I couldn’t beat the game even if I wanted to. And I don’t suppose I do.” Ist Day Jitters Are Pierlot’s Specialty The first day on any picture is always an ordeal for all concerned, but few players suffer as much on such occasions as does Francis Pierlot who was on deck at the studio when Director Raoul Walsh gave the starting gun to “Uncertain Glory,” the new Warner Bros.’ film starring Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas, now playing at the Strand. Fortunately Pierlot’s role is that of a French priest who is depressed and mournful at his participation in an execution, for Pierlot had not slept a wink all night. He never does before starting a new film. Deliberately he stays awake the whole night. That’s the only way he can be sure of getting to the studio on time. The actor, you see, spent thirteen consecutive years on Broadway, never leaving the Gay White Way except for an occasional week in Boston or Washington or Atlantic City to break in a new show. For ten of those years Pierlot resisted fabulous offers from Hollywood. “Why go into pictures and get up at 6 A. M. when I can sleep every day until noon?” he asked. Habits of a lifetime are hard to break. When he did come to California for his health a few years ago and finally accepted a film role, Pierlot overslept the first morning and lost the part. ‘Now he takes no chances. Jean Sullivan Keeps Lucky’ Apartment Jean Sullivan, the pretty U.C.L.A. girl who is making her motion picture debut as Errol Flynn’s leading lady in “Uncertain Glory,” now at the Strand Theatre, is glad that Warner Bros. are excited about her. But Jean isn’t glad enough to give up what she calls her “good luck” apartment in Beverly Glen Canyon, seventeen miles from the studio. Jean makes the round trip each day in a_ second-hand jalopy she bought after she signed her contract. The studio thinks thirty-four miles is entirely too far for Jean to drive every day. but Jean says no. It was while living there that she had good luck and signed a contract. Soldiers Welcomed Actor Minus Act You don’t have to be a comic, a torch singer or a hoofer to make the customers happy on the Army camp circuit. Paul Lukas, who co-stars with Errol Flynn in Warner Bros.’ “Uncertain Glory,” now playing at the Strand, returned recently from a fiveweek tour of Pacitic Glo avs t camps and bases. that proves that. After he finished “Watch on the Rhine” for Warner Bros. (in the role which won him Still U.G.-510 Mat 108—I5c ‘this Nae Academy LUCILE CHEN Award) the actor embarked on the tour that took him to almost every post between Camp Callan at San Diego and Fort Lewis in Washington. And the star never once appeared on a stage, never participated in a sketch, never delivered a line. He just talked with the boys, answering their questions about Hollywood and Broadway. He ate with them in . their mess halls, wandered about hospital wards, strolled through barracks—and talked. Paul Lukas’ mail indicates that he was one of the biggest hits of the season. This Mountain Had To Go To Mohammed ' Ward Hamilton is a makeup man at Warner Bros. For the past six -years he has worked almost exclusively on Errol Flynn pictures. Except for “Uncertain Glory,’ Errol Flynn’s latest in which he co-stars with this year’s Academy Award Winner, Paul Lukas. In this film, he broke his ankle during the production. He went onto the set every day, but instead of running around after Errol Flynn he sat or rather sprawled comfortably in the actor’s dressing room while the star came to him. Actually, being a makeup man on Flynn pictures is a sinecure. Except in period films, the star needs little make-up. Still U.G.-10—Mat 207—30c Errol Flynn and Faye Emerson as seen in Warner Bros.’ new film, “Uncertain Glory.” now playing at the Strand. Moot Question: How Big Is Actor’s Head? In the first scene in "Uncertain Glory,'' Warner Bros.’ new film co-starring Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas at the Strand, Errol Flynn is led to the guillotine. During the filming of the picture, Director Raoul Walsh suddenly halted the rehearsal of this scene and pointed accusingly at the little wicker basket—just about big enough for a half-dozen magnums of champagne—neatly placed to catch the severed head of the condemned man. "That basket's too small!" he said. "We've got to get an actor's head in it. Get a bushel basket!" Faye Emerson Has Role In Uncertain Glory Sparks almost fly from Faye Emerson when she talks. She’s that kind of a girl—sparkling, vivacious, crammed with ideas that must be given expression. Currently she can be seen in support of Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas, costars of “Uncertain Glorys Warner Bros.’ new film at the Strand. Titianhaired and 20, Miss Emerson came to Hollywood the easy way—by invitation of a talent scout who knows the ultra in talent when he sees it. She has remained—not in the easy way but by continued strokes of hard work. The young actress is a glutton for punishment—and if there’s anything more punishing for a girl than the grind of acting she’s not yet bumped into it. As time is counted, it’s only an instant ago. since Faye Emerson slipped onto the Warners’ lot—but in the three years that she has been there she has appeared in nine pictures. Her many-sided personality plus a deep-rooted Thespian ability keep her from _ being typed. That is lucky for her. It suggests a busy future. On the screen she has been an axe killer, Nazi spy, a girl gone wrong—and more. In “The Desert Song” she played the role of a native girl; in “Destination Tokyo,” she was the sweet wife of a submarine commander (Cary Grant); in “The Hard Way,” she played the part of a waitress—a tough one. In “Uncertain Glory” she is a gunman’s moll—French version. It rather looks as though the casting office has thrown the book at her—but it hasn’t. Not quite. There is still comedy. “T’d like to be shoved into a good comedy role,’ says Miss Emerson. “I’d like to get my teeth into a funny part. I think I could do something with it.” But if she never is given a comic role she won’t be upset. “After all, why worry?” she asks. “If something should happen to harm my career in Hollywood, there is always New Mexico.” If ever you meet Faye Emerson and want to stick long on one subject let that subject be New Mexico. She used to live there. Her father ranches there. She has hiked across its desert land; she’s ridden horses in and out of its sage and mesquite. “Some day I shall go back there to live,” she says, with an intriguing sigh that indicates there are times when the pace of Hollywood has caught up with her. Still F.E.-297 Mat 110—I5c FAYE EMERSON