Silver Screen (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

version of Myron Brinig's fine novel of several years ago. The novel was interesting and absorbing and so is tbe picture, with both Bette and Errol giving exceptionally notable performances* 1 he story traces the careers in marriage of the three attractive Elliot girls of Silver Bow. Montana, from the night the) attend the election ball of Teddy Roosevelt until four years later when they are attending another election ball, this time of William Taft. Attention is focused on Louise, the eldest daughter, played by Bette, who marries a charming irresponsible newspaper man (Errol Flynn) who talks of becoming a great novelist but who becomes a drunkard instead, and finally, after the death of their baby in San Francisco, leaves Bette because he believes he loves his freedom better than he does his wife. Anita Louise plays the attractive, socially ambitious sister 'who has two rich husbands, Alan Hale and Patric Knowles, and is well on her way to having a third when the picture ends. Jane Bryan is the youngest sister who marries Dick Foran, the "best catch" in Silver Bow. The scene in which Jane sends for her two sisters and tells them that her husband is held in the clutches of the town's most notorious woman, and they decide on a wholesale plot to frustrate all the gallivanting husbands of Silver Bow, is a high spot in the film. Beulah Bondi and Henry Travers are excellent as the parents, and there are striking characterizations by Lee Patrick, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter and Laura Hope Crews. The San Francisco earthquake makes a thrilling sequence. MEN WITH WINGS Aviation Enthusiasts Will Love This— Par. THIS traces the history of aviation from the time of the Wright Brothers up to approximately the present time. The picture is done in natural color and the lovely pastel shades of sky and fog and cloud effects are really something to get hysterical about. What a relief it is not to have glaring colors shriek at us from the screen. There is one sequence which deals with an aerial battle that is so magnificent and so thrilling thai it fairly takes your breath away Unfortunately the story itself is not so thrilling. It deals with two men and a girl who pioneer in aviation after the girl's father is burned to death in an experimental flight. One boy, Fred MacMurray, is a natural born dare devil of the air, and of course it is he who goes to France in 1914, becomes a noted ace with the French army, and is discontented the rest of his life unless he is dropping bombs from a plane in some foreign country. The other boy, Ray Milland, leads a less spectacular life. He is the steady, practical engineer, who advances the safety of aviation by sheer hard work— and no bravadoes. Of course, the girl, Louise Campbell, falls in love with the adventurer, marries him, and remains his loyal wife until his plane is shot down in China years later. Ray, also in love With Louise since boyhood, contents himself with her friendship. Andy Devine, as Ray's mechanic, runs away with the comedy moments. Porter Hall as a newspaper publisher and Lynne Overman as his managing editor are perfectly grand. Donald O'Connor, Billy Cook and Virginia Weidler play the two boys and girl as children, and Virginia does a grand job of picture stealing. Her scene after the death of her father is one you won't forget. LISTEN DARLING A Light But Very Charming Story— MGM JUDY GARLAND and Freddy Bartholomew make a very cute team of youngsters in this picture. When Mary Astor considers marriage to obtain security for her two children, Judy and Scotty Beckett, Freddy steps in to help Judy prevent such a move. Hoping that a change of scenery will make her change her mind the kids abduct the mother and small son in a trailer and start on a tour. On the road they meet Walter Pidgeon, a lawyer who loves the great open spaces, and they decide he'll make a very good husband for Judy's mother. A speedy two day romance between Mary and Walter fixes everything up just dandy, or so they think. Best sequence in the picture is where young Scotty uncovers a family of skunks. And the best thing in the picture is Judy's singing of three popular song numbers (my, my, how that child can give out with a song) especially "On the Bumpy Road to Love." I SUEZ Romantic History In The Making— 20th Century— Fox N THIS extravagant and spectacular film Tyrone Power, young, handsome and oh Vincent Price, Constance Bennett, Charles Ruggles and Helen Eroderick in "Service de Luxe." so romantic looking, plays his most notable part to date. As the visionary Parisian, Ferdinand de Lesseps, who dreams of a big canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea " I y" is at his most brilliant best. Starting with young de Lesseps encounter, at one of Louis Napoleon's balls, with a fortune teller (who reads in the sands that he is destined to dig ditches) the story tells of his banishment to Egypt, his winning over by sleight-of-hand tricks the young Mohammedan, Prince Said, who later becomes his friend in need, his exciting conception of the famous project, his struggle for the next nineteen years against the hostility of men and nature— and his eventual triumph. The diplomatic involvements and the English and French expansion A dramatic moment. stratagems (1850A scene from "The 1869) included in Citadel," with Rob the picture are ert Donat. historically accu 54 Silver Screen 1 mi mam