WILLIAM'S FAVORITE THEME

Hepburn Brilliant on Brilliant on Hipp's Screen

By W. WARD MARSH "Suddenly, Last Summer" Hippodrome

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"SUDDENLY, SUMMER,“ drama, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. Script by Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal from the play by Williams. A Columbia release of à Sam Spiegel production played by the following cast: Catherine Holly..... Elizabeth Taylor Mrs. Venable...... .Katharine Hepburn Dr. Cukrowlez.

Dr. Hockstader..

Mrs. Holly

George Holly

Miss Foxhili.

"Montgomery Clift Albert Dekker .Mercedes McCambridge Gary Raymond Mavis Villiers

Nurse Benson ... ... ... ... ... .... ..Patricia Marmont

Sister Felicity. Joan Young Lucy.... ....Marla Britneva with Shella Robbins and David Cameron

It seems to me most unlikely that you will see finer playing most unusual, or more exacting direction this year than you will find in "Suddenly, Last Summer," સ malignantly powerful and strictly adult film which came to the Hippodrome yesterday, W. WARD MARSH

By this time everyone must know that playwright Tennessee Williams invariably deals with psychoses and the otherwise abnormal patterns in life. They were present in his "Glass Menagerie," "Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Rosey Tattoo" but none of these plunged as deeply into one of the author's favorite themes as "Suddenly, Last Summer" does.

Too, I am not certain whether the average moviegoer will will fully comprehend through the symbolism and/or because of the purposeful obscurity in the telling that here is a study of the horrifying fate which suddenly, last summer overtook a possibly brilliant and surely pampered homosexual in a tropical coun-

try.

Not until the very close of the story is this unfortunate even glimpsed and then only in flashes as he runs, from a youthful mob bent on vengeful cannibalism.

Told in flashback form and with prudent use of camera magic in the climactic sequences, here is, simply, a brilliantly photographed stage play.

Its most unusual writing is not only by the author and Gore Vidal (whose screen credits are far apart) but, pretty obviously, also by Director Joseph Mankiewicz who is quite as expert with dialogue as he is at direction.

"Suddenly, Last Summer" slowly reveals the shocking

From the Candy Bar

"Frankie Vaughn, one of Britain's leading young singers, will make his American film debut in 20th CenturyFox's 'Let's Make Love," Marilyn Munroe's picture.' U. S. A. is still the land of what-an-opportunity.

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tale of a wealthy and cultured mother's abnormal devotion to her deviated son.

It had been their practice to go abroad each summer during which time he would write his annual poem while she collected groups of young people for his pleasure.

to have a brain operation wipe out this horrendous memory. In return for this convient lobotomy she is willing to endow a hospital. But there is a young doctor who gradually comes to believe the 'girl, and in the exotic garden created by the mad, mad boy, the doctor brings out the awful truth.

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Director Mankiewicz has not only caused Katharine Hepburn: to modify her well known mannerisms but has prompted her to give one of her rarest performances as the brilliant  ́if decadent mother.

Elizabeth Taylor is good in the early chapters and in the climactic sequences she is But last summer she sufyoung, sympathetic and human fered a vascular spasm and enough to tell all without rewas unable to go. In her place vealing more than the authors went her beautiful niece who intend the audience to have. had been compromised and shamed, and was only too glad to go abroad and act as the hostess in her aunt's place.

The Tragedy

Albert Dekker is strong as the commercial head of the institution, looking for its next and extra dollar. Mercedes McCambridge is forceful as the greedy, grasping mother of the Then came the tragedy, and unfortunate heroine, and Gary the niece was brought back Raymond as her son is properly under a nurse's care and hosblatant. I report with regret pitalized, babbling about the that Montgomery Clift is condisgraceful end of her cousin. siderably less than adequate as It becomes the mother's plan the famed brain surgeon.