"Music in My Heart” At Crystal Palace

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 5

"Music in My Heart” At Crystal Palace

Reputed to be one'of the most poignant and penetrating dramas of. the year, Columbia’s “Convicted Woman” will, open at the Crystal 'Palace today. Among the many unusual features of the new film is its- stellar cast which includes Rochelle Hudson, Frieda Inescort, Lola Lane, JUne Lang, Iris Meredith, Lorna Gray, and Linda Winters. Glenn Ford plays the only important male foie. “Convicted Woman” tells the inside story of a, woman's prison and is said to Be a forceful and bitter indictment of, the greed and selfishness which make such a place a living hell. Miss Hudson is seen as the young girl who is unjustly committed to a house of correction. . On her arrival, she is immediately plunged into a maelstrom of hate and fury which culminates in a sensational riot, the suicide of one of the girls and the resulting exposure of the shocking conditions. It is not until a benevolent social worker, played by Frieda Inescort, is made head of . the institution that any improvement in the life of the girls takes place. The climax is one of the most startling, ever filmed, resulting in romance for Miss Hudson and justice for the girls. Tony Martin is the singing star of “Music in- My Heart,” the associate feature. He is a popular lyric tenor and has been equally successful on screen: stage, and radio. Before em-barking-ona singing career he was an orchestra musician. .

Playing opposite Martin, and sharing his amusing adventures in the film is lovely Rita Hayworth. Her singing, dancing, and flair for sophisticated comedy will surprise only those who forget that she is the former Rita Cansino, of the internationally, famous Spanish dancing family. Cast as Rita's younger, match-mak-ing sister, Edith Fellows also plays a singing and comedy role in “Music in My Heart." Edith possesses a coloratura soprano voice of amazing range and' brilliance, a fact attested to by many noted operatic stars who have urged the child to prepare herself for a wholly musical career. Andre Kostelanetz. fourth of the quartet of principals, needs no introduction. His orchestra, equally at home in “swing” and the classics, is famed wherever music is heard. Martin sings six songs in “Music in My Heart” and the numbers are enhanced immeasurably by the brilliant accompanying of Kostelanetz and his 45, musicians.

There were a few tears in many oldtimers’ eyes at Fox studios recently when Warner Baxter said farewell to the studio after 12 years. Warner has decided not to sign any more longterm contracts. He wants to make just one or two pictures a year, and wants to pick his own stories; Already he has bought, eight stories, the most important being “Washington Correspondent,". which. . he. no doubt will make for some independent studio.