TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 December 1939, Page 2

TALKIES

In ils search for American themes Cor its feature productions Hollywood has done its share of Abraham Lincoln stories. No more words of praise or excited adulation or adoring screen plays could add to his glory. 'JJut Darryl F. Zanuck, in his production of "Young Mr Lincoln," spurns a portrayal of the tradition of Lincoln's greatness 1» give us instead a searching motion picture of the young Lincoln. It is the story, told with wit, simplicity and power, of the gangling young man lighting for the lives of two innocent boys and saving them in the dramatic revelation of the famous "moonlight murder" trial. It is the story of young Lincoln's wrestling, storytelling, courtship and lightning wit. In a word, the Lamar Trotti screen play reveals the real and human Lincoln. RESCUES CO-STAR BEERY SAVES ROONEY FROM INJURY. Wallace Beerv's youthful experience as an animal trainer and team ster saved .Mickey Rooney l'rom being seriously injured at Hollywood Park, during a scene for "Stablemates." The action called for Rooney to lead his mount back to the stable after a morning 'breeze' around the track. Beery was at his side in the scene. While they were ..Avalking . one of the large light relleetoi's fell to the ground- The noise and the glare that hit ihe horse's eye caused the animal to rear high into the air, just above Rooney. Like a (lash. Beery saw what was happening. As the horse started to bring ils torcleet. to the ground, the star shoved his shoulder against the horse's Hank causing it to miss the boy actor. The star took the whole tiling as a matter of course. "That's nothing," he said. "You should liavo seen some of those circus horses when they decided to go on a rampage. You had to learn to heave them out e!' the way like a football guard or you'd end up as a footpad for a horse." TIM HOLT PLAYS FAST ACTION ROLE Tim Holt, son of the noted screen star, Jack Holt, and now a coming star in his own right, is featured 111 the cast of RKO Radio's "The Girl of the Gambler." Leo Carrillo and Steffi Duna have the other principal roles. Young Holt is cast as a daring American gambler whose romance with a beautiful Mexican cn tertainer involves him in a feud with El Rayo, famous bandit. The story is said to be packed wilh action and drama amid picturesque settings. Donald Macßride, ChrisPin Martin, Edward Raqucllo and Paul Fix have important supporting roles. STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NEVER BEFORE TOLD NOW REVEALED The thrilling, romantic, eventful youth of Abe Lincoln makes Darryl F. Zanuck's production of "Young Mr Loncoln" a complete screen surprise and excellent entertainment, according to advance reports based on 'sneak screenings' of the unusual film. Ignoring the great Lincoln with whom everyone is familiar. this Cosmopolitan production for 20th Century-Fox is a photoplay stirring with its drama, action and emotion; it depicts young Abe wrestling, fighting,'' telling funny stories, falling in love. The highlight of the original screen play by Lamar Trotti shows the voung lawyer defying a frenzied ~ lynch mob and defending two innocent boys in the famous moonlight murder' trial—young Lincoln's first challenge. This is a Lincoln few people are ' familiar with. At the age of 28 he 5 was a brawny-armed youth, a shy i young lover and a 'regular fellow, s Covering approximately seven years 1 of his youth, the film culminates in 7 the frontier trial.