Evening star. [volume], November 23, 1949, Page A-14, Image 14

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
'King's Men' King-Size Film
Of the Demon in Politics
By Jay Carmody
They have made a corking movie out of Robert Penn Warren’s
Pulitzer Prize novel, “All the King’s Men.” Indeed, the screen ver
sion which opened last night at the Playhouse should collect a few
additional awards, for Robert Rossen has made it a sizzling study
of the corruptive force of political power.
Warren’s demagogue turned loose on a democracy too innocent
to recognize a political demon is
a man to deep-freeze the heart.
As movie hero-villains go. he is
the best character the screen has
found in a long time, and surely
“All the King's Men’’ makes the
dramatic most of him.
Willie Stark, the label the man
wears, is played by Broderick
Crawford and he never did a bet
ter job. Yet the full view of
Willie, the exposure of his rotten
human essence, is the work of a
large gifted cast which includes
Mercedes McCambridge, Joanna
Dru, John Ireland, and many
others.
Willie, a supposed paraphrase i
of the late Huey Long, is the
fellow most likely to be remem
bered among a year’s film char
acters. His climb from back
woods buffoon to demented dicta
tor is drama not to be missed,
especially in a day when political
uncertainty lies so uncomfortably
upon all mankind.
The rich—actually over-rich—
detail of Warren’s novel is absent
from the film but the simplifica
tion of the screenplay makes it
a sharper X-ray of Willie Stark.
His tale begins in a small,
Southern town were the beady
eyed political machine beats him
in his first Quest for office. The
defeat merely adds one more welt
to the tough, scarred surface of
the huge country clown. Next time
out, life and dirty politics give him
a break. He becomes a community
hero and a minor political idol
whose veneer of idealism needs
only a tiny crack for the power
lust in him to come roaring
through. When a pair of State
capital slickers, a newspaper col
umnist and a hard, wise girl show
him the way. Willie is off to a
ruthlessness his old machine
made enemies never conceived.
If Willie’s story were not rigid
history, it would have a fairy tale
incredibility about it.
It is, however, an old headlines
account of a power-crazed politico
who got the mob behind him,
whipped it to an emotional frenzy,
and rode this dizzy force wherever
his whims led him.
Willie’s whim was empire. He
was willing that every man should
be a king, if he could be the king
of kings. He bought power with
every device ever used. He built
. roads, improved markets, con
structed schools, made the State
university an architectural model
and bought it a football team
Willie could be proud of. He built
hospitals, established medical cen
ters, and extended health services.
All of these on the surface were
good, but the core of them was
rotten with Willie’s own rotten
ness, his mad worship of power for
power’s own impure sake.
In both his personal and
official life he was^sts inhuman as
his creations looked humane.
Everything he created, everything
he touched became corrupt, and
the Playhouse picture takes a
look at most of it.
On the private side of his being,
Willie is shown two-timing the
wife who led him out of illiteracy,
four-timing the tough-hided girl
who made him Governor and se
ducing the fiancee of his most
patrician and faithful friend. In
his public role, he established a
new high in bribery and wanton
waste of State monies; to repress
his enemies he established an
EVENING PARKING
40c 6,2Mf;«TO
CAPITAL GARAGE
1320 N. Y. Art. N.W.
Between 13th and 14th
E. MORRISON PAPER CO,
1009 Penna. Ave. N.W.
1
Calendars
Diaries
Office Supplies
Phone 1VA. 2945
■ssss as ■ : ’■ 58
©tjankagtoing Stntwr
From Noon to 9:00 P.M.
$2.25
Celery and Olives
Fresh Fruit Cup Chilled Tomato Juice
•
Crab Gumbo Clam Chowder
Shrimp Cocktail Consomme Claret
•
Young Native Turkey
Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Sauce
•
Mashed Potatoes Fresh Spinach
Green Peas Candied Yams
•
Lettuce Chiffonade with
French Dressing
•
Brondied Mince Pie Peach Melba
Swiss or American Cheese with Saltines
•
Rolls Coffee Tea
Thos. A. O'Donnell
1207-1221 E St. N.W.
“ALL THE KING S MEN." a Columbia
release; produced by Robert Rossen; di
rected by Rossen; screenplay by Rossen,
based on Robert Penn Warren's novel. At
the Playhouse.
THE CAST.
Willie 8tark_Broderick Crawford
Tom Stark _ .. _ .. John Derek
Anne Stanton_ Joanne Dru
Jack Burden_ John Ireland
Sadie Burke _Mercedes McCambridge
Adam Stanton_ Shepperd Strudwlck
Tiny Duffy _ Ralph Dumke
Lucy stark _ Anne Seymour
Mrs. Burden_Katharine Warren
Judge Stanton_Raymond Oreenleaf
Sugar Boy _ Walter Burke
Dolph Pillsbury_ Will Wright
Floyd McEvoy _Grandon Rhodes
Pa Stark _ H C Miller
Hale _Richard Hale
Commissioner-William Bruce
Sheriff __ _ A. C. Tillman
Madison _Houseley Stevenson
Minister - Txuett Myers
Football Coach_ Phil Tully
Helene Hale _ Helene Stanley
elaborate system of blackmail;
and when the showdown came
he resorted to simple force to
dispose of the stubborn, including
his own son whom he maimed for
life.
* a * a
Rossen has produced and di
rected “All the King’s Men” with
a clear eye to its riches. He has
come up with a completely realis
tic picture of a demonic character
and, more han that, of the system
which spews the type upon a
credulous public.
His settings have been chosen
with an expert’s taste, the hamlets,
the soft-drink joints, the slums,
the hotels where shady deals are
made and the plush ones where
shady victories are celebrated.
Just as effective are the marble
palaces of politics and learning,
the supreme monuments to Willie’s
lust.
From top to bottom of the cast,
including scores of amateurs,
Rossen’s cast rises to the challenge
of showing what a monkey de
mocracy can be in hands like
Willie Stark’s.
Crawford is splendid in the
film’s major role, but no better
actually than Miss McCambridge,
film newcomer, as the hard-bitten
Sadie Burke; or than John Ire
land as the befuddled, tortured
patrician in Willie’s reaper.
You should not miss them, or
the others, in “All the King’s
Men.”
ON THE BLOCK — Claudette
Colbert plays the leading
jeminine role in the comedy,
“Bride tor Sale,” opening to
day at Keith’s.
Where and When
Current Theater Attractions
and Time of Showing
Screen.
Ambassador—“Miss Grant Takes
Richmond”: 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, 7:50
and 9:55 p.m.
Capitol—“The Gal Who Took
the West”: 11 a.m., 1:45, 4:30,
7:15 and 10 pm. Stage shows:
1, 3:45, 6 30 and 9:15 p.m.
Colombia — “That Midnight
Kiss"; 11:35 a.m„ 1:40, 3:40, 5:45.
7:50 and 9:55 p.m.
Dupont—“Monsieur Vincent”:
1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:35 and 9:40 p.m.
Keith’s—“Bride for Sale”: 11:35
a.m„ 1:35, 3:35, 5:40, 7:40 and
9:45 p.m.
Metropolitan—“Special Agent";
11:15 a.m., 1:50, 4:35, 7:20 and
9:55 pm.
Little—“Hamlet”; 10:20 a.m., 1,
3:40, 6:20 and 9 p.m.
National—“The Fighting Man
of the Plains.” 11 a.m., 12:50,
2:40, 4:30, 6:19, 8:05 and 9:55 p.m.
Palace—“Pinky”; 11 a.m., 1:05,
3:15, 5:25, 7:35 and 9:45 p.m.
Pix — "Down Memory Lane”;
2:15, 4:55, 7:35 and 10:10 pm.
Playhouse — “All the King’s
Men”; 9:40 and 11:40 a.m„ 1:45,
3:50, 5:50, 7:55 and 10 p.m.
Trans-Lux—“The Fallen Idol”:
11:30 a.m., 1:20, 3:05. 4:55, 8. and
11:10 p.m. “Holiday Inn"; 6:30
and 9:30 pm.
Warner—“Miss Grant Takes
Richmond”; 11 a.m., 1, 3, 5, 7:05
and 9:10 pm. “Always Leave
Them Laughing”; 11:15 p.m.
AMUSEMENTS.
AMUSEMENTS._
_ A Come Anytime After 5 P.M.
j£f0Fl/f£lAf I See Two Complete Features
I * n a/ivy* I "Fallen Idol,"
I TOritTc y At 5,8,11 p.m.
U l/ "Holiday Inn,"
~ At 6:30, 9:30 P.M.
a
x Si/H?taa fo a
^ way wto * f
I
__ I
, Irving Berlin's
*BU_ Chrirtmoi'Pktur* Starring ^1 ■;
|Jm^ Bing Civsby
1WW *lred Astaire •
, - ; ■ wilk MARJORIE VMONM WAITER
REYNOLDS • DALE • ABEL
1L#X .mmSunni-inii •
H Prluc***
W Um* Ptey ty &•»*• iMyon • Ad#yt»lion by l\m*t Pic*
ir*-* '
STARTS TOMORROW-OPEN 10:45 A.M.
14th at H N.W.—-Hus Our Completu Newsreel Digest
- I
Hollywood Diary '
Gene Autry One-Nighters Pay Off Well
--By Sheilah Graham-— .
HOLLYWOOD.
Gene Autry made $800,000 on
his last tour of 56 one-nighters in
61 days. He goes out again Jan
uary 14 for 67 dittos in 71 days.
His aim—$1,000,000. It’s all very
stylish. The troupe travels by
chartered bus; the two horses by
horsecar, and Gene pilots his own
plane.
Ronald Colman has a clause in
his contract that he is not to re
ceive any advertising for his ap
pearance in the Bing Crosby pic
ture, “Mr. Music”! This is some
thing new and unheard of for
an actor.
Celeste Holm explains why she
turned down the plum "South
Pacific” touring lead. “It would
have meant leaving my husband
and son for two years. It’s dif
ferent for a New York play—then
they could join me. But not on
the road.” Celeste’s engagement
in “She Stoops to Conquer” with
Maurice Evans, in New York, is
for two weeks only.
Glenn McCarthy can take pun
ishment, then come back for more.
He lost every cent of the $450,000
invested in his first picture, "The
Green Promise.” Now he is look
ing for a new movie to produce.
Every one told him he would lose
his shirt in the mammoth Sham
rock Hotel in Houston. I hear
the place is always about 80 per
cent full. That’s good.
* * * *
Jean Parker’s about-to-be-di
vorced husband, Curtis Grotter,
says he has the finances to pro
duce “Rebellion” in Mexico City.
No, Jean won’t be the star. But
~ AMUSEMENTS.
Douglas Fairbanks might be. He J
is reading the script.
Ray Milland’s next picture is ,
“Jack of Diamonds.” It’s about
the fascinating—to the gals who '
get them—diamond-cutting in
dustry.
Lila Leeds can legally come
back to California before her five- }
year exile is over. All she has to
do, according to her lawyer, Grant •
Cooper, is ask permission. I hope
she will be allowed to earn a
living. That’s the shortest cut to
rehabilitation.
James Mason is the heavy in
“Death on a Side Street.” And
Dan Duryea, while not exactly the
hero, plays a sympathetic role.
Sounds like good casting.
John Wayne says he had heard;
that Howard Hughes was hard to
get along with. And he was ap
prehensive about their picture,
“Jet Pilot.” But to date every
thing is peaches and cream, with
the two men conferring cosily
AMUSEMENTS.
STARTS TODAY!
a. RKO KEITH’S *
jama all she wanted ..
WAS OAE tMClf
$vsmw/ ^
of a charmfng husband /SMh^2^L// ;
hunter who knew aH about matrimonev ft
... but too little about love I You’ll
want to see it..
6*0*** 1
(SS-SKSn
4«| ^tfrPf TOR SA^ f
ff.« ICMIOONO • CM*e«* ABNT
“^7 7' «» MAX »At» * 0 Vj .7. .
•&' f ^ ' ■
frodvcW by JACK M. SKMOAll • Dint** by WHUAM 0. RUStaU
Sctmo Way by bull Maiming aaU hi* Aialar
SPOTLIGHT OM MIXICO
THIS IS ^AMERICA
STARTING WITH A A
SPECIAL ADVANCE SHOW TONIGHT
at Warner at 11 p.m. 1
and at Ambassador at MIDNIGHT,
Last Showing Tonight "Miss Grant Talccs \
Richmond" at Warner at 9:t5 p.m. and' 1
Ambassador 9:55 p.m. • No Advance in Prices I
> • •
REGULAR CONTINUOUS
PROFORMANCES Start TOMORROW
at WARNER at 10:45 a.m.
at AMBASSADOR at 1 p.m.
1 JffWfJPfl/
--larraaiTiimasMa
ivery day. The starting date to
low November 29.
Lon McCallister gives 16-year
ild Lois Butler her first screen
:iss in "Blaze of Glory.” Having
tudied Lon’s technique with
feanne Crain and June Haver,
^ois says "I can’t wait."
* * * *
Denise Darcel’s ex-GI ex-mate,
Villiam Shaw, makes his acting
iebut in “Stardust” at the High
and Playhouse. Denise came to
his country as a war bride.
Joan Fontaine with Sir Charles
dendl at all the current parties
~Tsee GRAHAM, Page A-15.)
AMUSEMENTS.
I Iacr\ 2ACHM«rc
rirnil ‘SPECIAL A6ENT’
I nmj Jsjiy Marshal
g|M2 POPULARWTS BR0U6KT BACKij
! AMUSEMENTS.
AMUSEMENTS.
I
End« .Tcday « Coluwbli • “THAT MIDNIflHT KISS'* Txlinlo»l»r
Osrryt F. Zmuckprsssnts
THE POMNANT LOVE
STOPY OF A OWL WHO
PASSED FOP WHITE-1
JEANNE CRAIN • ETHEL BARRYMORE ^
ETHEL WATERS • WILLIAM LUNDIGAN m
noouciD (v DARRYL F.ZANUCK •micro •» ELIA KAZAN i
TODAY W6
*rtfE „
THE \
SURPRISE
. PICTURE ^
OF THE YEAR I
starring
GLENN FORD
CHARLES COBURN
GLORIA DE HAVEN • JANET LEIGH
I with BRUCE BENNETT Screen Ptey by Theodore Reeve*
Ok S&tyt'
^ RscsrAjnC Artist
I
w TT., ptcturt* -'1 By” *' *
^sur »t Jto'-Ail"*-- '3— ;
NOW I
XSN^l
CABOT & DRESDEN"
A Now Thrill in Oaneing,
MORRIS a RYAN
Look Who Droppod In
THE WORKMANS,
birthful Musicalitios,
Ends Today _ “THE GAL WHO TOOK THE WEST” Technicolor
CAPITOL On Stage * GRACIE BARRIE . . . Others__
-HE
f PULITZER PRIZE
WINNING NOVEL
| BECOMES A VITAL, «
j VERY GREAT
« MOTION PICTURE
Jk
you. And if you couldn't
be bought, he’d ruin you!
■ im 1 . ...—■mm—
(OIBNIIA PICTOttS
ynurts
ROBERT ROSSER'S PRODUCTION
Prize Novel "Ail The King’s Men’’ by Robert Penn Wuren
•Joanne DRU John IRELAND-John DEREK-Mercedes McCAMBRIDGE
ViMm hi Hw Somr mi fc«*W ky ROBERT ROSSEN
STARTS
TODAY
the PLAYHOUSE
15th AND H STREETS • ST 8500
DOORS
OPEN
9:15 A.M.