FATHER AND SON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 5

FATHER AND SON

"Of Human Hearts." a dramatic story ©f Abraham Lincoln's . day, which is coming to the Avon, provides Walter Huston with his first screen opportunities since his triumph in "Dodsvorth." He appears with James Stewart and Beulah Bondi in the new picture, a graphic human interest story directed with brilliance by Clarence Brown.

Like "Ah Wilderness!" its interest is in human characters, and its drama in the play of violent emotions, though its theme is entirely different.

. Huston plays the part of a pioneer preacher, conscientious though zealous, Who becomes estranged from his son because the boy prefers medicine to saving souls. Beulah Bondi is wife ■and mother, seeking to follow both !in blind adoration. Father and son Sght. The son leaves to study. The father dies. The mother sells all she ■owns to educate the boy. During the {American Civil War he becomes a (great surgeon, but forgets his tragedvgtricken mother until Lincoln himself brines him to realisation.

Interesting characters are played by Charles Coburn as the bibulous village doctor. Guy Kibbee as the skinflint storekeeper. Clem Bevans as jHder Massey. Charlev Grapewin as fMr Meaker, Gene Lockhart as "Quid." 'John Carradine has the role of Lincoln. An Ohio village built on location .U*ar Lake Arrowhead Drovides most «f the settings. Leatrice Joy Gilbert [plays the heroine. Ann Rutherford, as a child. Gene Reynolds acts Stew- ! art's bovhood. Hundreds appear in "war and crowd sequences. ' An unusual souvenir of California's Sioneer days is used in. the film. It i the two-seated waggon driven by falter Huston and Beulah Bondi. The •waggon was driven from Hereford, Texas, SO years ago. to Banning. California, by "Dad" Stewart and his wife. They settled at Banning: Stewart homesteaded a large acreage and eventually founded the town's bank. , "The waggon which bore them and their goods to the -west remained in service, as they ranched, prospered, and raispd their family. If fulfilled it<= last task when Mrs Stewart died. The rear seat was removed and the old waggon was used .td'.bear her to the grave. Since then ft'has remained in one of the barns of the ranch. A NEW STAR "The gayest and most enjoyable pictore I ever worked on in my life!" ""."That fs the way Douglas Fairbanks, Jnni. sums up his experience in starr'ng with Danielle Darrieux, the Trench beauty, in her first American

Walter Huston in "Of Human Hearts"

motion picture, Universal's "The Rage l^ r ! s ' romantic comedy drama An«r lri : , , i min l t( i the Avon - Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick, and Louis ™ZZl r< \ h he! l d the b «»iant cast supporting the two stars. t,J' Sh? .a most amazing memory," he said. 'Never forgets a word, iniJUL 0 !»' *° r S es , tur e. They say she ™™?h= % S ? e t k f n S"sh in only six months. But she did more than that. t™. 1 ,f i ?. rned t0 think and act—in English."