The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 8

8 BROOKLYN EAGLE, FRIDAY, DEC. 27, 1940 I 1 Hepburn a Delight In Music Hall's Film Plays Tracy in Screen's 'Philadelphia Story'; 'Ecstasy at Long Last, Opens at Ambassador By HERBERT COHN Katharine Hepburn is back in the movies. That's news. After a two-year absence, it's grand news. Besides, she Isn't doing any galloping or gallumphing.

That's grander news, for now she is Just acting, and when Miss Hepburn doesn't spend part of her playing time doing a rare brand of setting-up exercises, there are very few who can top her as an actress. She Is magnificent 'PHILADELPHIA STORY A Itttrt-Qoldwrn-Mtm pieturt 41-ructcd bj Otoni Cukor from a urtcn play by Donald Otdcn Stewart based on tha itate tucceu by Philip Barry. Pr-itnted at tba Radio City Miuie Ball. Tha Cast C. K.

Dtxter Hum Cary Orant Tracy Lord Katharina Hepburn 't i XA It i r. I i I k4 0 3 ft I I I ADRIENNE MAXWELL is getting a preview of whot looks like a Happy New Year. Adrienne will make her debut as vocalist with Eddie Lane's orchestra at the Bossert 61 Room New Year's Eve. With her is Al Von Opel, soloist with band. THE BARRYS are a dancing sensation at the Beachcomber.

Boro's Restaurants Please Every Palate Whatever Your Favorite Dish, You'll Find It Served in Brooklyn in Proper Atmosphere 'Tobacco Road' Still Going Strong Erskine Caldwell' Tobacco Road" celebrated two landmarks yesterday. John Ford, who is to direct the movie version for 20th Century-Fox, went on a location tour in the Tobacco Road country the same kind of a location tour taken by the MURDER INC. GETS NO. 2 RATING IN 1940 HEADLINES Up-State Rail Tragedy Placed First By Experts Fair Bombing Fourth Albany, Dec. 27 Death In the derailment of the New York Central's Lake Shore Limited as it roared westward behind schedule through the Mohawk Valley provided the No.

1 headline In New at the Radio City Music Hall where she is playing Tracy Lord, Philip Barry's problem child and the satirical goat of his spoof of Main Line society in "The Philadelphia Story." She makes the picture Just as she made the show when it was at the Shubert Theater last year. Now she has Director George Cukor to keep her reins taut. Donald Ogden Stewart to give Barry's play more motivation and an occasional tightening pull, James Stewart and Ruth Hussy to play the snooping newspaper people delightfully, and Virginia Weidler to make precocious Little Sister Dinah a heart-winning little brat. And all of that, but particularly Miss Hepburn, is what makes "The Philadelphia Story" so splendid a holiday picture. It is among the three nicest shows on the main stem.

It is that despite Mr. Barry's original playwrlghtlng. He hasn't designed a first-rate play; he has drawn first-rate characters, set them to talking and allowed confused Tracy Lord to throw over her fiance (John Howard), avoid marriage with the inquisitive scandal sheet writer Stewart), and try a second time, as a newly-enlightened girl, with divorced hubby No. 1 (Cary Grant). Whatever else there is to "The Philadelphia Story" is by-play that brightens it, makes it friskier and wordier, and makes it seem a richer and more-important work than it really is.

Donald Ogden Stewart hasn't been able to do anything about that. He merely cut the play into scenes, gave it action, trimmed the verbiage here and there, and cleansed the dialogue when it went beyond the word "stink" in livid ness. He left the characters as they were, and that is good, for his characters make Mr. Barry shine. Tracy herself is the most com plex.

She is an Intellectual and psychological snob. She's on a Philadelphia Main Line horse socially, but she's got wacky personal ideas as well: Mr. Barry describes her completely as "a prig and a perennial spinster." Subconsciously she considers herself akin to a lovely goddess. When she bubbles with Pomerey "26, she becomes more natural, natural enough to come down to the eye-leVel of the middle-class writer and have a one-night affair with him. George Kltteredge, Tracy's husband-to-be for a while, is the fellow Mr.

Barry likes least. He is the personification of the holier-than-thou element of Philly society a fellow who once dug coal, but who now is selling it as a vice president, hopes to sell it one day as president and is very proud of his job and of the social standing it earns for him. He's the kind of fellow who has been elevated but not broadened; he, Is hurt by The Drapers Open Al Booth Theater Ruth and Paul Offer A Delightful Revue Of Sketches and Dancing By ROBERT FRANCIS One-man or one-woman shows as a general proposition are hard to take. No matter what the qual- i Macaulay Connor -Jtmei Stewart Elltabeth Imbrle George Kltttredat- Uncle Willie Seth Lord Margaret Lord Dinah Lord Sidney Kldd Ruth Huiiey John Howard -Roland Youni -John BalUdar -Mary Hull Vlriinta Waldler Henry Danlell Tracy's naturalness wtan she's gay with champagne. Macaulay Connor, the writer, and Elizabeth Imbrle, tha candid-camera photographer, are the people Barry likes best.

They are real, they have no social inhibitions and they resent those who think that social rank makes them better. So they resent practically everybody else in "Philadelphia Story," which makes things briskly comical. Miss Hepburn knows how to be comical. So do Jimmy Stewart, Miss Hussy, Roland Young (who Is the lady-chasing uncle) and little Miss Weidler. They play right into Mr.

Barry's hand and the result Is delicious. Hedy Lamarr't 'Ecstasy' On View at Ambassador "Ecstasy" was never an Important film. The New York censors made It important. It was only an experiment in motion picture symbolism with no punches pulled. It tried to express passion naturally from Its conception in the life of Anna, the unhappy wife of her father's elderly friend, through its fulfillment and Its tragic climax.

In its struggle for naturalness, it included a sequence of Anna au naturel. That much nature the censors could not stand. Nor could they condone Illicit love. So "Ecstacy" and Its experiment in symbolism and naturalness was kept out of New York. Its publicity was counted in scores of columns and the notoriety for "Ecstacy's" Anna, Hedy Lamarr, won her a Hollywood contract.

That much good came of it. Experimentally it was a dud. It was a bad motion picture slow, poorly played, pretentiously arty and uncommonly dull, for all of tha hullabaloo it caused. Recently it was purified with Inserted diary hints of marriage and deletion of most of the sequence of Hedy in the altogether. The censors have given It their blessing and now it can be seen at the Ambas sador Theater.

The experiment hasn't improved with time. It is still poor symbolism, and In the cleansing process it has become senseless and banal besides. The censors' blessing, I'm afraid, wont be as long remembered as their ban. H. C.

espionage. A special agent of the Federal plant are typical of the protective measures suggested by the FBI after its surveys. Credentials Urged He urged that each employe and official be issued a credential card. It was suggested that, the card be printed on a type of safety paper which would diminish the possibility of alteration. The card would give the employment number, name, physical description and photograph of each employe, as well as his assignment in the plant.

In addition the FBI suggested that badges with employment numbers, and in different colors and shapes to designate shop assignments, be worn by employes at all times on the plant property. 'Gullibility' ClteU An FBI official asserted that the detailed surveys by G-Mcn have verified "to an appalling extent the conditions of a laxity and gullibility" revealed by the preliminary Investigations by the service agencies. "It shouid be understood that the plant surveys which the FBI Is making have no purpose other than to prevent the impeding or sabotaging of our defense plans," the official explained. "We are not concerned with employer-employe relationships, working' conditions, attitudes relative to unionism or wage or labor negotiations. The FBI is concerned only with the pre Defense Plants Found Wide Open for Spies G-Men Crack Down After Survey Shows Laxity in Guarding Against Saboteurs Here is the second of a series, based on cases in the ties of the Fed 'Escape on Bill At Loew Houses 'Tin Pan Alley' New Feature at Boro RKO Theaters "Escape" and "Over the Moon" are co-teatured toaay tnrougn Monday at nine Loew theaters.

These are the Alpine, Bedford, Broadway, Coney Island, 46th Gates, a Oriental and Premier. The Westerner" and "I Want a Divorce" are bracketed today through Sunday at the Bay Ridge. "The Mark o' Zorro" and "Youth Will Be Served" are to be shown there Monday through Wednesday. "YouH Find Out" and "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" are at the Brevoort today through Sunday, to be followed by "Wyoming" and "The Long Voyage Home" Monday through Wednesday. The latter two films are a', the Melba today through Monday and at the Century today through Sunday.

"The Wizard of Oz" and "Test Pilot" are due there Monday through Wednesday. "North West Mounted Police" and "Christmas in July" are at the Kings today through Monday. At RKO Theaters "Tin Pan Alley" and "A Dispatch from Reuters" are at ten RKO theaters today through Monday. These houses are the Flushing, Madison. Richmond Hill, Prospect, Bushwick.

Eyker, Greenpoint, Or-pheum, Tllyou and Republic. "The Letter" and "One Night in the Tropics" are due at those theaters next Tuesday through Jan. 6. "Tin Pan Alley" and "A Dispatch from Reuters" are at the Kenmore today through Monday, to be followed by "The Letter" and "A Night in the Tropics" next Tuesday through Jan. 8.

"Arise My Love" and "Rangers of Fortune" are at the Shore Road today through Monday. "The Westerner" and "I Want a Divorce" are to be shown there next Tuesday through Jan. 6. Hew Year's Eve Al Majestic The traditional New Year's Eve vaudeville program, long a popular institution at the Brooklyn Majestic Theater, will be "staged there on Tuesday evening, with a cast Including Frances Comstock, last seen in "Two for the Show," and Al Shayne. There will be two performances, the first at 8:30 p.m.

and the second at 11:30 p.m. Starlet Gets a Gift Among the Christmas presents of Paramount's newest star, Stirling Hayden, and the studio's youngest centract player, Carolyn Lee, were invitations to attend President Roosevelt's Birthday Ball in Washington Jan. 30. vention of espionage and sabotage. Insane Worker Found "It is apparent that at a time like this the safety of the nation, of a factory and of lis employes demands adequate personnel records.

It has been suggested as a result of many FBI surveys that appropriate Inquiries be made concerning the character, contacts and background of all employes." During one survey, plant officials advised an FBI agent that applicants for employment were Investigated. However, the agent ascertained that one employe hired recently to work In a vital engine room was lnane. He had been dismissed from a previous job because of his mental condition. By AL DELANEY If you spend the holiday season, either with the Little Lady or with visiting friends from out of town, rushing to this place or to that, perhaps you'd like to Investigate a few of the following places, all of which have some distinctive feature that sets them apart. Long before you reach the doors of the Morillon, 2026 Church the Christmas tree atop its roof will have served as a cheerful beacon.

If you don't care to make your way through the popular cocktail lounge, there's an entrance to the main dining room on E. 21st St. One of the most handsome places In Flatbush, the green leather settees are in close harmony with the color scheme of chartreuse and burgundy, and the soft lighting is pleasantly effective. Evidences of Jack Lynas' facile paintbrush are all over the place, If you can squeeze in the time, get a card reading from Van, who's here daily except Sunday and on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. She's fun, even if you're skeptical of fortune tellers.

Bears Makes I Purr Then there's Sears, 1621 Church Ave. There's something about the service and the warmth of the appointments that makes us purr. Even more fascinating than a set of electric trains is a visit to the kitchen, which Is the only completely electrically operated one in Brooklyn. Always open to the public for inspection, the kitchens are Immaculate labyrinth of stainless steel ovens, refrigerators and labor-saving devices, presided over by Anthony, Negro chef supreme. Don't overlook his French dressing when you order your salad, and the chicken, served nightly in one form or another, may be familiar, but you've never tasted better.

Incidentally, the lollipops the management slips to the kids are crumptious. Mammy's Pantry, 122 Montague Is one of the handsomest places on the Heights. Its charming Old Williamsburg exterior is as authentic as the restaurant's two rooms, the Brooklyn Heights Room and the more formal Old Dominion Room. The latter, full of stunning Santo Domingo mahogany, 1 our favorite. If you're within traveling distance, drop in for the Sunday morning breakfast featured here.

The spoon bread has a lot to do with the beatific smile Heights church-goers wear during church service. Delicacies at Oetjen's Many people wouldn't think of going anywhere except to Oetjen's, where the Florida Room, presided over bv urbane Jimmy Sf hirr, Is as pleasant a place as you could find in which to enjoy such delicacies as devilled lobster and the famous rarebits. If you're a star gazer, you can observe the celebrities from the Flatbush Thcatrr who keep popping up between shows. And the grill room is a thoroughly genial apot for a quick snack if you're theater or elsewhere bound. TKe Vandeveer.

1160 Flatbush Ave is one of the coziest of the informal restaurants. Seating about 125, it's one of those little places where the waitresses get to know your pet little dining quirks In no time at all, Infinitely better than those that, mother UMd to make are the hot biscuits Butter them well and they'll make your palate turn aomersaulus. Then there's the Bedford Plaza Restaurant, 1270 Flatbush where the family trade likes to dawdle over their drinks In the very new and smart cocktail lounge be-lore adjourning to the dining room, net Ous to mix you his special, a tvrlone of bitters, colntreaii and Wccardi rum. jum to we whether young artist, David Fredenthal, to produce the illustrations for the special edition the decennial of the novel. The illustrated "Tobacco Road" was published yesterday by Duell, Sloan and Pearce, the first edition to add an artist's Interpretation to an author's, a playwright's, and now a director's.

New Musical Film For the first time In recent screen history, personalities of Broadway have been united with screendom's great Western star in a musical motion picture, Republic's "Melody Ranch," which brings together Gene Autry, Jimmy Durante and Ann Miller. FLATBUSH STAR Henny Youngmon is featured with Frances Faye ond Teddy Pow- bond on the stage of the Flatbush Theater this week. vails In the ballroom, but open house will be observed throughout the rest of the restaurant. It's perfectly obvious why the Rl-voli, 1095 Flatbush, adds another room to the establishment every so often. The food, particularly the Schnitzel a la Holsteln, fulfills the promise of the tempting window displays.

The atmosphere in the Blue Room is Just right for that pre-d Inner cocktail, and the service staff in the main dining room anticipate your wishes with a regularity bordering on the monotonous. No need for us to study a menu when dining at the other Joe's, the one at 8 Nevins St. Until something infinitely better comes along, we'll continue to alternate between the roast beef and spaghetti, then eye with understanding the quotation printed on the wall that reads: "Serenely full, the epicure would say 'Fate cannot harm me I have dined today'." Incidentally, Joe's will hold open house New Year's Eve, Food that's subtly seasoned with a fine Italian hand Is dished up in goodly portions at Chubby's Italian Kitchen, a new spot at 615 Fulton across from the Fox Theater. Before entering, stop for a minute or so to watch the chef baking the Pizzeria in the window bake oven and you'll begin to understand why practically every one goes for the dish. Considering the size of the restaurant, the service staff Is large and the prompt attentionyou'll receive will Ret you to the movie I you headed for in good tttna.

eral Bureau of Investigation, revealing methods being used to protect defense plants against sabotage and By ALLEN C. DIBBLE Washington, Dec. 27 (U.R) York's 1940 news panorama. Seventeen of 38 editorial experts of as many Associated Press newspapers placed the train's leap to destruction, killing 31 and injuring 100, ahead of all other State happenings which battled for frontpage attention with the European war and the Presidentail campaign. Seven voted it second, five selected It third.

Death of another fashion killings for profit by Murder, one of the largest crime rings ever exposed, provided the next best story In the opinion of the participants in the fifth annual poll to determine the most significant 8tate stories. 308 Points for Derailment The derailment received 308 points and Murder, 249, on the basis of ten tallies tor first place, nine for second, etc. The remainder of the "big 3. Politics Ouster of Republican National Committeeman Simpson, G. O.

split over Dewey and Willkie, G. O. election vote increase, 167 points. 4. Bombing at the World's Fair fatal to two detectives, 164 points.

5. First army war maneuvers, 150 points. 6. Cornell's "fifth down" tempo rary victory over Dartmouth, 139 points. 7.

Conscription and Governor Leh man's preparedness steps, 122 points. J. President Roosevelt's railroad coach conference with W. L. MacKenzie King, 117 points.

9. Trial of 14 charged with con spiracy to overthrow the Government, 99 points. 10. Communist Leader Browder's conviction on passport fraud charges, 94 points. An Irish ex -cop, William O'Dwyer, took office as Kings County District Attorney in January.

A month later he made the first arrests of members of an incredible crime syndicate to whom more than 100 killings have been traced. Four men await execution in Sing Sing Prison, more than 50 have arrested as defendants or material witnesses. New Star Revue Opens With Cast of Seventy Boasting of the largest cast of the season, numbering 70 singers, dancers and comedians, Eddie Lynch's fast-stepping holiday week girlie revue 'Temptations of 1941," opened today in the Brooklyn Star Theater. Among the favorites In the cast are Charmayne, in a series of sensational dances; the La Rosa Sisters, "queens of Marnee, the swing and sway girl; Buster Phillips, known as Miss T. N.

and Lolita, held over for a second week by popular requast, In the comedy and specialty bits are Steve Mills, Ernie Harmon, Herby Faye, Danny Turkcr and Joe Lyons. The special added attraction is Charlotte Vogue, with Count Boris in an Illusion act. The Star management announces that in addition to the regular shows several added features will be presented in the special New Year's Eve performances that are to be Riven from In the evening till 3 In Lh morning. ity of the entertainment or the abilities of the entertainer, there can be, for this reporter at least, too much of a good thing, and two hours and a half of undiluted individual effort usually set him to groping for his hat. However, last night at the Booth, Ruth and Paul Draper unveiled a joint exhibition which proves that you can combine the two to add up to a grand evening in the theater.

The whole audience, including your correspondent, sat enthralled to the final curtain. The program, divided between Miss Draper's mimicry and nephew Paul's dancing, admits of not a dull moment. If anything is wrong with it at all, it is because the former doesn't do quite enough, or perhaps it is In the shuffling of the cards. Maybe a little more Judicious mixing would make for Improvement. In any event, you will come out of the theater feeling slightly cheated by Aunt Ruth.

Likely, this is just another proof of her sure touch theaterwise. You catch the Flatbush train, wanting more. The above may sound as though Nephew Paul's dancing is sec ondary. Such, however, is far from the case. This department pretends to no authority pertaining to the ballet, but for sheer beauty of coordination In the matter of hands and feet, it finds him top-drawer from the first to his final 12th number.

Most impressive are a "Folk Medley," danced to anything from "Yankee Doodle" to "Turkey in the a delicately lovely "Gavotte" and a Spanish sequence called "Malenguena." Miss Draper confines her talents to three numbers: an hilarious children's Christmas party, a middle-aged farm wife out of a Maine village and a variety of characters in and about a church In Italy. Her mimicry, of course, is perfect and her satires are delicious. Miss Draper has been busy at this sort of thing for a good many years. Time, we are told frequently, marches on. Miss Draper marches with it, or perhaps one step ahead.

She has an extraordinary faculty for peopling a stage with the little men and women "who aren't there" and keeping them all fresh and up to the minute. There should, as we remarked, be more of them. MOVIE TIME TABLE BROOKLYN AT.HF.B "Trait of th 12:38. 3:30. 6 25.

9:20: "On NUhl In th TroBic," 11, 1:50, 4:45, 1:40, 10:35. In Question." 25, 9:17: "Moon Over Burma," 11, 1)62, 4.54, 7:40, 10:38. METROPOLITAN "Thlf-r of Budad." 12:07, 3:25, 6:43, "Dulo," 3:05. 5.23, 8:41. PARAMOUNT "lave Thy Nflthhor" 10.

1:19. 4 38. 7:57, 11 IS; "South of Bun." 11:41, 3. 6:10. 1:38.

UTRANn "That ftn nf Mine." 11:30. 2:20. :25 110 "ScindaU" (on late), 1:05, 3:50, 5:50, MANHATTAN ASTOR "The Great Dictator," 1:45. BROAD WAT "Fan (aula," 9 40. CAPITOI, "Comrade 11.15, 4:33.

7:12. 9:51, 12:30. S'4, -40. 1.54. rRITKRION Nellie Kelly," 9 30.

11 25. l.iu, 0:10, 7:05, 10:55, 12:50. LITTLE OARNFGIK "Oranei ol Wratn. 13:15. 2:40, 5:05.

7:30, 10. MtlHIC HALL "Philadelphia Start 8:50. 11:30. 2:15. 4'55 7:50.

Hat show. 10:40, 1:22, 4:05, 7, 1:35, PARAMOUNT "Love Thy Nelthbor," 9:01. 11:46, 2:31, 5:14. 7:55, 10:33. IMS: itaae ahow, 10:44, 1:29.

6:57, 9:31. RIVOLI "Victory," 10. 11:50. 1:40, 3 30, 5 20. 7:10.

9. 10:90, 12:40. ROXY "Chart Hanna" 9 36, 15 11, 1 44, A 23. 10 24, itaie thou, 11.27, 1. 01, 4.34, 7.14, 9.44.

Bureau of Investigation approached the gate of an important plant engaged in national defense production and entered without a challenge. He repeated this performance at a second and then a third gate. No one questioned him. IRVING BERKE is the singing emcee at the Rainbow Inn. it's worth the praise we've been heaping on it.

By the way, the chicken potpie on Saturday night is as good as you'll get anywhere. Another Favorite, on the Slope Down in the Park Slope Stevens, at 296 Flatbush is well up near the top of the list of our favorite restaurants. Situated to the rear of a romantically lighted cocktail lounge, the dining room is Just the right size to help you retain your Individuality. After 9 o'clock, there's dancing to a small competent band. The boxed hedges that line the outside of restaurant are reminiscent of the Paris that used to be.

A block or two further down Flatbush Ave. is Michel's, where the holly-laurel decorations lend a pleasing touch to the rich mahog any paneling of the main dining room. And no matter how long you've been away, Alexander, the headwalter, is almost sure to greet you by name. If for no other reason than we like to hear the happy tinkling of the glasses, the corded oak cocktail lounge, with Its tete-a-tete booths, is a nice place to sit and talk after drinking the good coffee this place serves. For Steaks and Chops The expertness with which the steaks" and chops are prepared at the Mldwood, 1145 Flatbush will have you talking about them for a long time.

Ray Reilly's orchestra plays and, even if our mother didn't come from Ireland, we greatly admire the way "Mc-Nnmara's Band" Is put over by the vocalist, whose name we didn't catch. You might not believe it, but we dined at Joe's Fulton St. Restaurant the other night with a friend who had never ordered the devilled crab served there. Slightly seasoned with lemon Juice, it is our idea of Joe's prize dish. If you've wondered why Joes Manhattans are better than any others you've tasted, It's because both a dry and sweet vermouth are used as Ingredients.

At Ormond's. 1274 Fulton you mav eat your good food under the collective eye of one of the i friendliest managements In town. Charlie, George and Harry, guiding lights of the establishment, are as nice a trio of restaurateurs as we know. It's good news for Ormond New Year's Eve patrons that the ballroom. In wnich a full-course dinner will be served has been completely rircoraled In a tasteful A reservation policy pre He wore no identifying badge.

The agent then toured the entire factory, poked around among highly confidential activities and asked curious questions. Still no one asked his identity or purpose. Fortunately, he was an agent of the United States Government and not of some foreign power which might be Interested In learning national defense secrets. The agent had been assigned to the plant by Director J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI to determine laxities in protective measures against saboteurs and spies.

The survey, an integral part of the FBI counter espionage system, was started in September, 1939, at the request of the Army and Navy Departments. Danger Revealed A cursory check by these agencies had disclosed a laxity in certain vital areas of Industrial production which, if not eliminated, might constitute a damaging weak-nesa to the Internal security in a time of crisis. The army and navy, intelligence services designated many key factories then engaged or scheduled to start production on defense orders as a priority list for survey by the FBI. At the present time, more than 1,200 of the plants on the priority list have been surveyed. Recommendations made by the special agent who strolled unmo- tested through a vital defense.