While the movie "Anders onville", based on Mackinley Kantor ‘ s best-seller, is
still in the planning stage, Broadway is seeing a hit play iy Saul Levitt, "The
Andersonville Trial," about the trial of Capt© Henry Wirz who commanded the no
torious Confederate prison camp© George Scott(the prosecutor of "Anatomy of a
' Murder".)is a proseeutor again.Levitt, incidentally, was a WWII "Yank" Magazine
combat correspondent who entered Buchenwald concentration camp when, as he puts
it, "the ovens were still warm."
"On the Beach" which premiered all bver the world, got generally fine reviews
but New York StateTs Civil Defense Director, Lt. Gen© Clarence R. Buebner, was
not among its admirersoHe rapped it for disregarding the possibility of defense
against radioactive fallout.He called it a fantasy lacking "scientific basisfor
some of its 'notions of radioactive phenomena."
Bob Hopefs holiday tour of Alaska bases (reuniting him with his WWII troupe of
Frances Langford, Jerry Colanna and Skinnay Ennis) proved too much of a strain,
as his docters had feared.....he suffered dizzy spells and again was told he*d
have to take it easy.
Movie MiscejLLany. .©.©.me pentagon is letting a Japanese movie company snoot
scenes at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii for "Hey, Pineapple!"..«it's about Haw
aiians who fought in the Army in Korea. Sinatra note..Frankfs doing a Marlon
Brando.....he*11 direct "The Execution of private Slovik," with Steve McQueen
playing the title role® And speaking of directors,John Ford, who needs no intro
duction, has retitled his latest cavalry opera..from "Captain Buffalo" it ' snow
"The Trial of Sargeant Rutledge." Meantirrie,Ford*s old sidekick, John Wayne,has
finally wrapped up his own directional effort down in Texas..claims "The Alamo"
cost over $12 million, with a cast of £,500. In it, Wayne plays Col. David Cro
ckett, Richard Widmark as Col* James Bowie, and Laurence (.MRoorn at the Top")
Harvey is Col* William Travis.
In TV, Col. Gregory ,rPappy" Boyington of Leatherneck fame, having authored the
best selling,. "Baa Baa Black Sheep," now takes on the job of host-narrator for
‘ "Danger; ,Zone",new documentary series of interviews with adventurous people.
Four WACS selected as "Wac of the Month" at First Army installations had a
happy time in the big city. Sp4 Juanita Pendexter, Sp4 Joan Mount, PFC Flixena
Cole and PFC Carolyn Ward toured New York City, greeted by such Broadwayites as
Tom Poston and Farley Granger while doing the town* Poston's just out of the
comedy "Golden Fleecing" and Granger's readying a TV dramatization of Sinclair
Lewis* "Arrowsmith".
TOPS IN POPS.®••••fit's Frankie Avalon's "Why" at the top of the "Billboard
Magazine" Honor Roll, with Marty Robbins' "El Paso" coming in second©Third win
ner is Guy Mitchell with "Heartaches By the Number", and the other seven lined
up in this order: "The Big Hurt"(Toni Fisher); "Running Bear"( Johnny Preston) ;
"Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"(Freddie Cannon); "Mack the Knife"(Bobby Darrin)
"It's Time to <3ry"(Paul Anka);‘ "Among my Souvenirs"(Connie Francis) and "Uhl Ohi
Part II»( Nutty Squirrela).