| Show r b ema jema Capital Critics Hail fail Thelma Ritter r lj Paramount's New Marie Dressler Dressier IL By Y Erskine Johnson V I They're bet it if from the sound stage 4 It at Thelma flitter Ritter slides to tolate late ate as Hollywoods Hollywood's nevin new v Dressier in Paramount's rating Season but I ISy Sy led her into admitting that ir r knew Abe Lincoln t a couldn't have have she's she's just justs s movie queen queens queeni i s that is r. r under linder 50 5 kind of thing keeps up t O OBrien O'Brien will be the new and Roddy McDow- McDow r ell will viii step into C C. Aubre Aubrey r Smiths Smith's shoes any day now I Thelma though isn't saying how far under 50 I Ugh ugh she winked Im Imin Im in no position to be younger than I springtime I Ive I've a hunch its it's because Thelma doesn't want to embarrass any movie dolls who'll be calling her mama or granny the way the script says There are a lot of belles whose birthday candles candles candles can can- would heat up lip a chilly room quicker than Thelmas On the movie screens Thelma looks like the Before in a a. makeup makeup makeup make make- up ad But catch her away from the sound stages and she's a looker who's a dead ringer for the late I Alice Brady George Seaton who knew Thelma Thelma Thelma Thel Thel- I ma when she was aas eating air between between between be be- tween two slices of old day bread started the ball rolling by giving her a bit in Miracle on Street A Fox contract for three pictures a n year followed and Thel Thel- mas ma's been jabbing movie-goers movie In Inthe Inthe inthe the ribs ever er since in Letter to Three Wives Vives Ill Get By Perfect Perfect Perfect Per Strangers and All About Eve E Now she's flying around the wild blue yonder as a star as the result of her performance in The Mating Season And without being being- stuck up on billboards with a V neckline and anda a dagger in her mitt either I Thelma thought it over and andI I laughed I Spot announcements photographers photographers taking my picture people j interviewing me the guy in the supermarket telling me Im I'm gonna I win an Oscar I didn't plan it this way I didn't bargain for this I I said to George Seaton the other day Kid youve you've loused up my life Maybe Thelma never ne made Broadway but she was some pumpkins as a leading lady in stock companies Some towns liked em big and blond she snorted Me I just had a good figure I was a cutie In stock you didn't need talent Only a wardrobe your pants f far farces a r c e s like Twin Beds Parlor Bedroom and Bath Ladies Ladie Night in a Turkish Bath and Up in Mabels Mabel's Room didn't help Thelma accumulate accumulate accumulate a wardrobe like Rosalind I Russells Russell's though I She ended up each season with sexy sexy negligees nightgowns and step But nothing you could put on onto onto onto to go to the delicatessen she giggled I remember one play called My Little Irish Cinderella I wore a calico dress blue denim drawers and carried a live hen under my arms ry f f t F J h. h r. r y a fA i J S t S 1 a af 7 A Ii il f s A jf tl- tl t i lf f. f ff f fJ if i f T I I Thelma Ritter Is close to 50 and she began her movie career only I Ia a short time ago but already she is receiving a stars star's attention i |
