Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 47

SECTION Chicago Olntmne THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1968 FEATURES aiotsements SOCIAL LIFE FASHIONS BRIDGE TV TODAY HighligMs and tlovics Inside back pages of this section Sentiment of the '30s 'Comes to Dinner I BY CLIFFORD TERRY UESS WHO'S Cora-1 -jr ing to Dinner" ex-amines a theme of the 1960s thru a style of the 1930s. The subject of interracial marriage was probed four years ago in "One Potato, Two Potato," but Producer-Director Stanley Kramer has reached back long before that for his modus operandi, com-1 ing up with the antiseptic V' The candidate and his wife: "State of the Union." Hepburn and Tracy Filmdom 'Saga tli: Hi i tlH 7 "GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER" Directed 4 prrtace kr Stanley Kra-eter, acneantar kr William Rose, a C-lenrtia Pictares release, at ma Chicate tkeattr. THE CAST Matt Dravtea Sneacer Tracy Christina Drartea Katharine Henbara Jena Prentice Siee Peitier Jaey Drayton Katharine Heearrten Moasignar Ryan Cecil Kellaway Mrs. Prentice Bead Richards Mr. Prentice E.

Glenn Sr. TIHie Isabell Senfer Hilary St. Ccerat Viryima Christine Carbee Hay Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn think things over. ficial, never giving evidence that she has bothered to think things out just fallen in love with love. Poitier handles his role with his familiar good-guy, -m ch-starch-in-the-soul mannerisms, allowing his emotions to surface only in an argument with his "pen-sioned-off mailman" father, and perhaps it is well he is turning to directing to help break out of those Show Window Negro assignments.

Incidentally, I fail to see what's so contrived about the impressive credentials of the doctor, since it would have taken such a person to attract Miss Houghton theoretically, and since Kramer and Rose obviously wanted to narrow down the matrimonial objections to the basic one. Despite its virtues and detractions, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" would be just another ordinary film about an extraordinary subject were it not for the presence of the cinema's most appealing and talented team. Again, they are in opposition to each other, but not in the snappy-comeback style of an "Adam's Rib" or "Pat and Mike." Just the sight of these two standing next to each other for the last time is enough to bring one to tears. Miss Hepburn, seemingly moist-eyed the entire film, again brings a beauty and "no bunk" strength to her part, but it is Tracy's picture and she knows it. His face is shockingly wan, a startling contrast from his previous movie "Mad, Mad but his professionalism has lost nothing.

In a type of scene that has become a Tracy Special, he wheels into a drive-in on a little-kid impulse and mistakenly orders fresh Oregon boysen-berry sherbet from a gum-chewing waitress the film's most delightful sequence. And his finale wrap-up remarks, which would be nauseatingly sickening if attempted by someone else, come off because of the marvel of this man. One fleeting shot especially a profile of that great massive that tough-soft face-has to be one of the great moments in motion picture history. Magnificently transcending the facile script, he puts the final punctuation on a two-hour epitaph for a man whom Hepburn once lovingly called "as fundamental as a baked potato." lawyers in a battle involving women's rights. She was next cast as a fine golfer and player and he a slightly shady sports promoter in "Pat and Mike" 1952, and in "Desk Set" 1957 she was the head of a TV chain's reference department and he an efficiency expert peddling an electronic brain.

In a recently published book about the filming of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" Roy Newquist's "A Special Kind of Magic" Rand McNally Miss Hepburn discussed the patented screen relationship: "It's very male-female; I think that must be it. And on that basis it's very solid; people can see themselves in us. Competing and yet not competing. The woman very quick, on to everything, ready to go forward with anything, emotional. The man slower, more solid, very funny at times, good with quips, ultimately subduing the woman, thereby making her happy because she really wanted to be subdued, or at least to let him think she's being 1 i ckness and unabashed sentiment not necessarily a bad thing! in the generic tradition of the Frank Capra social comedy-drama.

The principals have just the right amount of chinks in their all-hair s-in-place personalities, The Problem is dissected and disposed of in a convenient 12-hour period, a wise -cracking maid and Barry Fitzgeraldian clergyman provide levity when things get a bit tense, and a final speech ties it all together in a nice, neat package. Even the overworked theme music, "Glory of Love," is from that era. The lovers, as every magazine reader should know by now, are played by Sidney THE NINE-PICTURE partnership of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, which has ended with "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," began in 1942, when she played a brilliant newspaper reporter and he a down-to-earth sports columnist in "Woman of the Year." The next pairing was in "Keeper of the Flame" 1942, with Hepburn the widow of a famous patriot-philanthropist whose funeral was being covered by Newspaper Reporter Tracy, while "Without Love" 1945 featured Tracy as a sleepwalking scientist and Hepburn a scientist's daughter who decide to marry strictly on the basis of career interest. In their next three films, the two again played husband and wife. He was a cattle baron and she a part of the spread in "Sea of Grass" 1947, and in "State of the Union" 1948 he was a business man running for President, while she was fending off romantic rival Angela Lansbury.

In "Adam's Rib" 1949, Tracy and Hepburn were opposing father something beautiful happens: The matter at hand is no longer an abstract "pigmentation problem," but a question of the happiness of two persons very much in love. ton, who looks like a young Ann Blyth, burbles around like a professional cockeyed optimist, over-oozing in her gee-whizzish giddiness, as if she had just been handed the lead in the annual high school operetta. But, then, her character is unbelievingly super- Poitier, as a 37 -year -old widower and eminent tropical disease specialist, a kind of Edward Brooke of the A.M. and Katharine Houghton, as a bright-eyed 23-year-old who met him in Hawaii and "fell in love in 20 minutes." With the doctor about to fly to Geneva for the World Health organization meeting, 1 4 Si the two stop off in San Francisco to break the news to her parents, as the prospective son-in-law seeks their approval as a prerequisite. The mother is told first, and gets off a typically-great Katharine Hepburnism: "I suppose it would be all right if I say 'My goodness.

She is shocked, but sympathetic, unlike husband Spencer Tracy, a "lifelong fighting liberal" who publishes a "great newspaper" in San' Francisco an obvious fabrication and even has a picture of F. D. R. on his desk. "I'm not pretending I'm happy about the whole thing," he declares.

"They'll both get their brains knocked out" As her parents struggle to reconcile their intellectual ideals with their emotional shrinking, they're joined by his mother and father well played by Bean Richards and Roy E. Glenn who fly up from Los Angeles. Again, the woman proves the more flexible, while her husband observes the young people are "behaving like a couple of escaped lunatics." As the -d i ner conversations break down into one-to-one dialogs the most effective between those being the two women and the doctor and his MVS Unfortunately, such scenes are all two infrequent, with Filmmaker Kramer's good intentions giving, way to erratic execution. One. of the troubles is the script by William Rose, who follows his "Russians Are Coming" precedent by getting in a few more Browning points with "God's in his heaven, all's right with the world" oversimplification.

For example, one of the questions most likely to be worried over the problems facing the childrenis fleetingly dismissed in a couple of jokes, and then never mentioned again. Other flaws are the sometimes-a noying performance of Isabell Sanford as the disapproving maid, and Cecil 1 1 away's consistently-irritating portrayal of the t-plain-folks, monsignor-leprechaun. The biggest distraction, however, is the would-be actress who wants to make it as Katharine Houghton, but who is still just Katharine Hepburn's niece. Miss Hough Adofables Bunch wxr The columnist and the reporter: "Woman of the Year." Katharine Houghton New York TONY MAYO OF NEW YORK and Southampton will marry Carol Lord when spring breaks thru again. The wedding will take place at the large Southampton summer cottage of Tony's sister and brother-in-law, Daphne and Mato Marinovich.

They're all members in good standing of the young darling adorable people set. There are really so many more young darling adorable people now than there used to be, have you noticed? You could have seen them in bunches at the Gnillermo Aguileras' and the John Barneys cocktail buffet at the Unicorn with most of the girls tripping around in midis. Mrs. Aguflera Jill and Mrs. Barney Tina are the fascinating young daughters of society beauty Mrs.

Stephane Groueff. Mummy wore a midi, too. Jill wore a white organdy midi without a ruffle in sight, but Tina settled for a rose-colored short heavy silk Oscar de la Renta trimmed at the neckline with crystal beads. It's amazing how the midi has caught on fire and is spreading. Chessy Rayner, perhaps the most influential trend setter in this silken group and a pioneer, along with Gloria Vanderbilt Cooper, thinks by next fall evening floor length History Guild Elects Officers, Receives $50,000 I.

awaWs. i tl j' 1 -t it: wd a hi I 'rrir-nf ft nff dresses will be demode. "You can sell them to the thrift shop now," she says. Older heads may not agree, but she's getting very little argument from the under 30s. I ine oniy danger is that 'rtP I now evervone mav be wear ing midis everywhere some people look absolutely terrible in them.

Before you know it that length will be finished, and the young pioneers will have to come up with something else. They will, they will. Mrs. T. Gerald Magner Jr.

lef t) shows Mrs. Hixon Glove (center) and Mrs. A. Loring Members of the Guild of the Chicago Historical society view print exhibit at stem to stern tour of the society's collections. Rowe her weaving skills in the society's Pioneer room.

Charlotte Niarchos BY LINDA LEE LANDIS 'RS. CHARLES S. Pot M1 ter, reelected yesterday, as chairman of terday of Mrs. Philip K. Wrigley.

Ulterior Motive An ulterior motive for show-' ing the crowded' storage spaces of the museum in the tour after the meeting was explained by Theodore Tieken, first vice president of the society, when he outlined plans for the society's major expansion program. Mrs. Philip D. Block Jr. and Mrs.

A. Loring Rowe will represent the guild on the society's fund drive committee. Preceded by Dr. Clement M. Silvestro, society director, the women visited the prints and photo, education, manuscript, library, and musuem divisions, and viewed a craft demonstration of weaving and quilting.

It was given by Chicago Junior League members 20th meeting yesterday in the society's building, is composed of women devoted to maintaining relics of the city's growth and life. Mrs. Potter, the former Barbara McClurg, is a great-grand-niece of William B. Ogden, Chicago's first mayor, and has long been involved in Chicago civic life as were members of her family before her. Mrs.

Edward B. Smith, who is a member of other long time Chicago families, continues as secretary, and Mrs. Robert H. Glore was elected treasurer, replacing Mrs. William F.

Petersen. A charter member of the guild, Mrs. Petersen is an honorary director. Their ranks were increased with the surprise election yes ANYHOW AT THE AGUILERA-BARNEY party, Pamela Zauderer, tall, dark and willowy, wore a red silk midi with a dainty white ruffled shirtwaist and a red, red rose pinned on one shoulder. Christina Drew, a brunette beauty, wore an organza blouse with a neckline that dived down to there and a black midi.

Cathy MacAuley wore her black velvet knickers, and Wendy Thomas wore her black velvet trousers. There were masses of dear girls in short-short skirts, too, like Wendy Vanderbilt, the Ford sisters, Charlotte Niarchos and Anne UziellL Laurie Harris in white silk with her blonde "Alice in Wonderland" hair on her shoulders you never saw so much spilling hair on everyone, either, Cynthia Phipps, blonde daughter of the Ogden Phippses, in a black paillette suit, and Maureen and Sharon McCraskey. Then there were Linda and Monte Hackett, Alexandra and Pfcilip Isles he's the hostesses' brother, Gillian Spencer-Churchill, Louise Savitt in black and white with all her lovely back out in the cool Unicorn breezes, Maggl and Clyde Newhoose, Mab Moeltke. Chessy and Pat Patcevitch, Jack Hemingway, and on and on and on. the Guild of the Chicago Historical Society, started the year off right with her announcement of a $50,000 donation by Mrs.

Medard Welch for the furnishings of a period room, circa 1830. Mrs. Welch, who lives in Winnetka, has been a generous contributor to other institutions including the junior museum of the Art Institute, and the Chicago Symphony orchestra. More news about her gift, which fits in well with the society's 2.5-million-dollar expansion plans, will be told at a later date. The guild, which had its tTRIBUNE Photos by Hardy Wletlng Plains, Nv son of the Arthur D.

Weltons of Lake Forest, will be departing tomorrow with Christopher Janus and his Greek Heritage tour to South America as the official photographer for the event. Altho the younger Mr. Welton now is a commercial photographer, his mother says, "We had to make him take a camera with him when he went to the University of Grenoble in France, and that's when his interest started." The younger Mrs. Welton will not be taking the trip. The J.

B. McGuires Marguerite Sheehy of Tiburon, welcomed their fourth child and second son, Kevin Patrick, recently. George Howerton, dean of the school of music of Northwestern university, will be the guest of Mrs. George Larson at 9:30 p. m.

Monday or. channel 11. Dean Howerton will discuss the world today for young composers, singers, and musicians. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 103 years ago. The National Repertory theater will give a performance of "John Brown's Body" Tuesday and will open Feb.

12 with a 14-week season of productions President Lincoln enjoyed. Other Chicagoans who will be present for the play and party afterward, at which Win Stracke will perform, are Poet Gwendolyn Brooks; the C. Virgil Martins; the Edward H. Weisses; Miss Mary Lynn McRee, curator of Hull House; S. Leonard Pas executive director of the Illinois Arts council, and Mrs.

Pas and Ralph G. Newman, Lincoln historian and chairman of the Illinois Ses-quicentennial commission. More Chicagoans attending will be the James Howards, the Bernard Moschels, Mrs. Albert Weisbach, Mrs. Alan R.

April, the Gene Sages, the Bernard Slepaks, Melvin K. Hoffmann, the Lester P. Ray-ners, and the Eli Schulmans. Also, Mrs. Foreman M.

Le-bold, the Jerry Warshaws, Michael Senbrat, the Donald Howorths, the Richard Baldwins, the Walter Sobels, the John Masseys, the Charles Bentons, and Baird Brown. Here and There Richard Welton of White Mrs. T. Gerald Magner Mrs. William B.

Allbright, and Sirs. Richard E. Gifford, in the floor Pioneer gallery. The costume collection in the basement with its rows and rows of plastic covered gowns drew much enthusiasm from guild members. When shown Mrs.

Lincoln's black and white long silk -gown, one member exclaimed, "Why, she wasn't so fat! I always imagined her as short and squat." Charles C. Heafy, curator of costumes, said that she was now looking for a mini, a midi, and a paper dress for the collection. Miss Margaret Scriven, in the library division, showed the broadside collection which she said people rarely realized was another word for the poster collection. Her favorite is the one which was displayed in windows of homes years ago with the inspiration, "Measles." To Theater Opening Mrs. Augustine Bo we, the Charles H.

Sethnesses Jr.y the John R. Coynes, and and Mrs. J. Dennis Freund -will be among the large group of Chicagoans who will attend the inauguration, on Tuesday evening, of the restored Ford theater in Washington, where tfOO STOPIP DON'T GO 'WAVJ I HAVE-TO TALK HIM INTO I HAVE A BOVFftENP WHO'S GOING TO I'M NOTOR BOtf FRIEMP, AND I'M NOT G01MG TO CLOBBER ANVBODVi KIP, YOU THINK OUkE SO i LintHUlUttMltKIl Your children are growing up when your daughter starts putting on lipstick and your son. starts wiping it off..