Silver Screen (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

holds a major's commission in the United States Army Reserve. "Armistice Day is of double significance to me," says Pat O'Brien, "for it is also my birthday. On that famous day, twenty years ago, I was in the Great Lakes Naval Station, getting ready to start for 'over there.' But the armistice came. Incidentally, having given my 'all' to the 'False Armistice,' I was rather badly equipped in lung power on the allimportant real day I" Director Wesley Ruggles recalls that he was one of the first in the whole American army to learn that the war was over. When the conflict started he went as a private, but soon rose to a lieutenancy. Early November 11, 1918, Lieutenant Ruggles was on duty at the headquarters of General John J. Pershing at Chaumont. Over his ears was clamped a telephone headset, hooked up to a line that ran from there to the railway coach in the Compiegne Forest, where the document ending the war was signed. A couple of minutes later, Ruggles got the official order that hostilities were to cease at 11 o'clock, and rushed it in to General Pershing. To Wesley, the Armistice meant the end of nearly two years of constant danger, stringing telephone wires through areas raked by rifle and machine gun fire, John Boles served in France. blasted by artillery shells and aerial bombs. Later, he was on the picked detail assigned to guard President Woodrow Wilson during his stay in Paris. Then he returned to the world of his dreams— Hollywood, where he was soon directing Alice Joyce and others on the old Vitagraph lot. Another director, Edward Sutherland, says the Armistice found him tired and worn-out and wanting to go right to sleep more than anything else! Incidentally, a few months before Armistice Day, 1918, Eddie experienced one Lewis Stone in the Spanish American war (the figure at the right). He also served in the World War. Victor McLaglen, a captain in the British Army. of the bitter sorrows of his life. During the war, while he was a lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, his escadrille was stationed in the village of Gondricourt, France. Like many soldiers, he was "adopted" by a little French family of three. They had a pretty little daughter who became very attached to Sutherland and he to her. On Easter morning, his arms filled with bunnies, Easter eggs and toys, Eddie was just at the front door of the house when the child spied him while playing across the street. She darted excitedly across the thoroughfare and right into the path of an army truck. She was instantly killed! Ever since then Sutherland has sponsored a mass in Gondricourt in her memory. Her parents, now nearing their seventies, attend every year without fail. . . . There are dozens of others who have their memories, some sad, some glad, of that never-to-be-forgotten-day of November 11, 1918. . . . Adolphe Menjou, an officer, immaculately groomed even in those days, who drove a battered, dusty war ambulance on the Italian front. Harpo Marx, a buck private in the rear rank of the New York 7th Regiment; also an ace reporter for The Stars and Stripes, official war newspaper of the A. E. F. But he wasn't a cut-up— a funny-looking and acting fellow with a huge red wig in those days. No indeed! He was a serious-minded young chap with, of all things, a penchant for talking! John Boles and James Gleason, both with the U. S. Intelligence Service in France during the entire struggle. Buster Keaton, one of the first to enlist from Hollywood, who fought at Cantigny and Amiens. And Roland Young, who enlisted for his native land, England, at the start and later, when wounded, entering the limited service division of the American army. Herbert Mundin, the comical fellow, who was a jolly British "tar" on a sub-chaser. Throughout the war he had to wear a bulky and uncomfortable life-belt [Continued on page 76] Men— nd no foolin' for November 1938 57