- . Sixty-Sixth Year
EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writers only. This must be noted in all reprints.
UNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1955 NIGHT EDITOR: MARY ANN THOMAS
Leaders Lacking Motivation
Looking Back
At 1955 Season
A REVIEW
OF YEAR'S
DRAMA, MOVIES,
TELEVISION
THE HAPPY TIME -- Michael Staebler shows off player piano to
Nancy Obneauf in scene from summer Speech department play.
NATIONAL Students Association President
Stan Glass hit the nail on the head Friday
when he questioned student motivation for at-
tending the Students-Faculty-Administration
Conference. He hoped motivation stemmed
from a sincere interest in University problems
and recognition of students' responsibility and
desire to help find solutions.
But secondly he thought students might have
felt required to attend because it was part of
their responsibility or job as student leaders.
A few smiles resulted from the remark but it
struck home to many students and may have
stimulated some mental reflection beneficial
to the University's student government.
Students' participation at the University this
year has all too often been motivated by Glass'
latter consideration. With few exceptions the
philosophy has been - take care of my mini-
mum responsibilities and commitments in ef-
ficient fashion and then go home.
Emphasis seems to be on retaining all the
old lines of thought and working on all the
old projects and making the best of them.
Extensive thinking and research on issues with
the resultant original ideas has been sadly
lacking among the Univerity's student leaders.
MAYBE it's the fault of the system where
the emphasis is on competition up through
the ranks to top posts. Students have worked
hard as dfreshmen, sophomores, and juniors to
reach number one positions and figure upoa
attaining the rank they have reached their
ultimate University goals.
But the fact is senior student leaders have
the leadership responsibility for expressing en-
lightened student opinion at the University.
It demands more than administrating Home-
coming Dances, pep rallies, and passive obser-
vation on current all-campus and national stu-
dent problems.
It demands voluntary and intense considera-
tion of the bigger issues concerning men and
women of student age. It demands the moti-
vation to which Glass referred.
Student leaders attended the Students-Fac-
ulty-Administration Conference. But yester-
day with a voluntary opportunity to attend the
Michigan Region Conference of the National
Students Association senior student leaders
were conspicuous by their absence. The Con-
ference provided the type of intellectual dis.
cussion (NSA President Glass, NSA National
Executive Committee Chairman Clifford Sheats
and former NSA vice-president Phil Berry) on
student problems that might have stimulated
some of the necessary incentive among student
leaders.
Weekly attendance of SGC meetings, over-
concern with individual organizations adminis-
trative details will not give the University
forward-looking student leadership. Student
Government Council will be a long time rising
out of the realm of internal organization while
respect for student opinion will correspond-
ingly suffer.
--DAVE BAAD, Managing Editor
OLDTIMER GUS (J. Carrol
Naish), boss in "Memory of Two
Mondays," one-act play in Mil-
ler's "A View From the Bridge."
COMEDY IlT "Bus Stop" open-
ed with star performance by Kim
Stanley. The William Inge play
went on to win a variety of
awards for the best play of the
season.
-Daily-John Hirtzei
POLICE DETECTIVE Ernie Roberts (Thomas Crane) asks Tommy Albright (Russ Brown) what pro-
yoked him to kill; a scene from the Hopwood-winning play, "The Worlds of Tommy Albright."
DAC Leads'5 Local Drama
China Veto Danger to Peace
By ERNEST THEODOSSIN
Daily Drama Staff Writer
The Dramatic Arts Center domi-
nated the local drama scene dur-
ing the first half of this year.
DAC productions may not al-
ways be the most outstanding en-
tertainment, but they are gener-
ally the best of the little theater
work done in this town.
Once, at the close of their first
season, they achieved top profes-
sionalism in an exciting reading of
Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist
play, "No Exit."
Speech Department students
continued in their two-year plan,
giving selections from Western
playwriting through the ages.
Their one-act playbills, designed
to allow novices an opportunity to
get experience, were often ama-
teurish and dull.
But it was worth a season of one-
acts to witness Paul'Rebillot's "The
Foolish One," a satirical fantasy
about mankind. Rebillot directed
his work and brought his cast to
perfection. Decor and costuming
were the most original and strik-
ing seen in years.;
There was also Anna.Russell, in
special concert, joyfully and gently
tearing to pieces the whole of
Western music. Comedienne Rus-
sell was delightful in her usual
zany style.
Drama Season consisted mostly
of Broadway flops, but Eva le Gal-
lienne was a sellout in "The South-
west Corner." As in the past,
Drama Season continues to prom-
ise much more than it delivers.
Summer saw the Speech Depart-
ment carrying the local drama
load and striking home in Samuel
Taylor's homespun "The Happy
Time" after several dismal at-
tempts at sophisticated Broadway
comedy.
There were enough plays to see,
but not enough worth seeing; and
one or two good productions seem-
ed like very little to compensate
for the many poor ones.
THE threat of Nationalist China to use her
veto power in the Security Council of the
United Nations to block admittance of Outer
Mongolia may tend to seriously harm peace
prospects in the Far East.
Outer Mongolia is part of a "package deal"
to admit 18 new members to the UN, five Com-
munist and 13 pro-Western states. Russia has
said she will veto the plan if any of the five
fail to make the grade.
The question is why, In the face of 52-2 votes
in favor of the plan in the General Assembly
and Special Political Committee, and two direct
appeals from President Eisenhower to General-
issimo Chiang Kai-shek not to use a veto, would
Nationalist China decide to take such a risky
step?
Diplomats have suggested two answers which
seem quite logical.
The Chinese may feel that their days are
numbered n the UN whichever way they turn.
On one hand, if they veto the deal, it is re-
ported many countries would make an effort
to unseat the Nationalists in the General As-
sembly. On the other hand, the admission of
18 new members might undermine the For-
mosa regime with possibly as many as 10 of
them voting in the future to seat Red China,
with others abstaining in a showdown.
THERE seems to be a growing sentiment in
the world that Red China is the country
that is best suited to represent a "China" dele-
gation. While it may be argued that the Reds
are merely a grown-up satelite of Soviet Russia,
it can also be said that the Nationalists are
little nore than an extension of the United
States. Without U.S. support Formosa prob-
ably would have already fallen under the Red
Chinese flag.
The thing Chiang fears most is the creation
of "two Chinas" with the Reds on an equal
level with the Nationalists. Communist China
is developing economically and politically very
rapidly and is eventually destined to share the
world position now held by the Nationalists.
Anything Chiang can do to injure relations
between Red China and the U.S. will delay
Western recognition of Peking.
If Red China continues to develop at her
present rate, eventually the West will have
to recognize her. Possibly the U.S. believes
this point is already at hand and wishes to
increase further her relations with the Reds.
If Formosa makes this impossible by her ac-
tions, the U.S. might take a second look at
the aid and support being directed in Chiang's
direction.
However, since Formosa is strategically i6-
portant from a military standpoint, this coun-
try cannot afford to completely leave her to the
mercy of the Reds with the precedent already
set, it would be in a rather embarrassing posi-
tion.
'Any effort to eject the Nationalists from the
UN could probably be blocked by the U.S. but
the bargaining power of China's UN seat,
which this country needs so badly in its con-
ferences with Red China, would be greatly
diminished, if not destroyed.
WITH Red China developing as she is, her
chances of obtaining world recognition is
not inconceivable. However, in the event that
Formosa does sabotage the "package" plan in
the UN, the Reds may well try to remove her
competitor on the globe by the only means left
-- by force.
While war is not likely to get approval from
UN member nations it would then look a little
unrealistic to have no existing Chinese repre-
sentative in this world body.
More important, however, is the fact that a
war over Formosa could erupt into a world
war. Thus, if Nationalist China carries through
her threat, she may deal a serious blow to
the effort for world peace.
-DAVE TARR
Since September...
By DAVID MARLIN
Daily Drama Staff Writer
THIS HAS been an eventful, if
not entirely praiseworthy, dra-
ma season to date. Student audi-
ences have been offered a variety
of theatrical forms but have had
to rely mainly on professional
acting and long-accepted plays for
quality.
It is further to be regretted that
there are only four permanent
dramatic groups in a thriving uni-
versitY community such as Ann
Arbor. Considering the talent, real
and potential, that exists on cam-
pus and the available paying cus-
tomers, it seem shameful that
there have been so few plays pre-
sented and such a small number
of them artistically rewarding.
The Dramatic Arts Center heads
the list numerically as well as in
quality. These professional players
have met the chief need of our
critical audiences-excellent pro-
ductions of intelligent plays writ-
ten by contemporary as well as
classical dramatists. University
communities are traditionally re-
ceptive to the works of such
authors as Checkhov, Moliere and
Shaw. The DAC productions of
"The Seagull" and "The Physician
In Spite Of Himself," as well as
Anouilh's "Thieves Carnival," ful-
filled these needs. Their next pro-
duction, T. S. Eloit's "The Confi-
dential Clerk," should be eagerly
awaited.
* * *
A SPIRITED production of
"Gondoliers" represents the sole
offering of the Gilbert & Sullivan
Society so far but more of the
operatic repertoire will follow.
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre has at-
tempted, with dismal results, "My
Three Angels" and "The Night of
January 16th." Perhaps their
ability will increase in proportion
to their selections for Inge's "Pic-
nic" and Wilder's "Our Town" are
on schedule.
The Speech Department import-
See DAC, Page 5
PULITZER PRIZE went to Wil-
liams' "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof,"
starring Barbara Bel Geddes.
EVA LE GALLIENNE appeared
here in May Drama Season, in
"The Southwest Corner."
'HITS' OR 'NEAR-HITS':
Broadway Drama Fare
Best In Years
By DAVID NEWMAN
Daily Drama Staff Writer
BROADWAY'S theatrical season is at its height.
Marked by a wealth of new stars, exciting performances, and
acclaimed productions, the current season has more to offer to the
practiced and the occasional theatre-goer than past years.
Practically every play or musical now playing is a "hit" or "near-
hit," an exceptionally large number of young actresses have achieved
overnight stardom, and both the old veteran playwrights and the new
dramatists have produced a surprisingly large number of experimental,
unusual, and successful works.
In the lucrative realm of musical comedies there are only two
new productions added to the five. carry-overs. Rodgers and Ham-
merstein have come up with "Pipe Dream" based on John Steinbeck's
"Sweet Thursday," and although the reviews were mixed - most of
the critics feeling that the two masters had turned out a pleasant but
SON ACCUSES FATHER in this story of conflict through the
ages, "The Skin of Our Teeth" presented by the Speech Department
in March. Left to right: Paul Rebillot, Valerie Schor, Norm
Hartweg and Henrietta Hermilin.
TV HERE TO STAY:
Color Leads Teevision
Advances; Martin Tops
By LARRY EINHORN
Daily Television Writer
TELEVISION, like sliced bread and chocolate-covered halavah, is
here to stay.
This is largely due to the advancements made by the young
television industry during the past year, the greatest since the in-
stallation of the nation-wide coaxial cable in the late '40's.
Better programming, the addition of color and a greater audience
are the major factors in this big forward step.
An additional 2,000,000 TV sets put into use in 1955 brought the
number of sets in American homes
to the amazing total of 38,000,000.
This means that there is atele-
vision receiver for almost one out
rl of every five people in the U.S.
M aterial And advanced transmitting facili-
> ties have brought television to al-
abroad where it was used as anti- most everyone in the country who
American propaganda. desires it.
r p n But the major advancement this
THERE WERE other pictures year hasrbeen in the realm of mak-
which were partial artistic success- ing color television a reality. Last
es. "East of Eden" introduced the year at this time a color show was
late James Dean and some novel an infrequent event that occurred
shots with CinemaScope photogra- possibly twice a month. Last week
phy. While it was sensitively per- there were over thirteen hours of
formed, it was dramatically obvi- regularly scheduled color shows.
ous; and its intelligent perform- * * *
,
__
I
TODAY AND TOMORROW:
The Trying Times
Bly WALTER LIPPMANN
i
W HAT, we cannot help wondering, is Khrush-
chev up to in his tour of India and Burma?
He is violating all the rules of diplomatic inter-
course among governments. He is treating the
governments of India and of Burma as if they
did not exist, as if he, not they, had the right
to lead their peoples in their relations with the
rest of the world. There seems to be no bounds
whatever to the insults, and to the downright
lies, which he is directing at the Western gov-
ernments with whom he has so recently been
talking peace.
What, then, is he up to? If the smiles of July
weie calculated, what is the calculation behind
the venom now?
Or is there no calculation? Is Khrushchev,
as Disraeli said of an opponent, "inebriated
with the exuberance of his own verbosity?" If
it is that, what has happened to Bulganim who,
so close observers at Geneva have been saying,
was a restraining influence on Khrushchev's
exuberance?
Or is it both calculation and intoxication?
It looks so to me-as if the Kremlin had reached
a decision of high policy to take the initiative
in resuming the offensive in the cold war and
that Khrushchev, who is an uncouth and ex-
uberant man, is following the new line in his
uncouth and exuberant way.
the smiles in July was that we would "lower
our guard," the danger 'of the Khrushchev
agitation today is that it will provoke us to
react unwisely.
In act, it has, I am afraid, provoked Mr.
Dulles into making a serious mistake in regard
to the dispute between India and Portugal over
Goa. This territory is legally a province of
Portugal. Geographically it is an enclave on:
the western shore of India. Khrushchev has
been making inflammatory speeches about In-
dia's right to annex Goa.
Our position has been and, according to Mr.
Dulles speaking on Tuesday our position still.
is, that we do not take "any position on the
merits of the matter." Our interest, in other
words, is to remain friends with both Portugal
and India, not to be entangled in their dispute,
and to do what we can to encourage a peaceable
solution.
AFTER Khrushchev's speech about Goa in
which he backed India unreservedly, it
might have been useful for Mr. Dulles, speaking
for the United States, to re-state our position
of disinterested friendship. Instead, he allowed
himself to be provoked by Khrushchev's in-
sults. Khrushchev having taken the Indian
side, Mr. Dulles agred to a joint communioue
not very exceptional show -- the
reputation of the authors com-
bined with the box-office power
of star Helen Traubel gleaned a
million dollar advance sale.
The other new musical comedy
is a Carroll Channing vehicle based
on the silent movie days, called
"The Vamp." Although Miss Chan-
ning gained praise for her' per-
formance, the show itself did not
fare well at the hands of the critics
and the star is here the major, per-
haps the only, attraction.
IN THE FIELD of serious dra-
ma at least three new plays have
been accorded raves from every
member of the critics circle.
"The Diary of Anne Frank," by
the Harketts, has been termed an
electrifying and beautiful play, and
has made a star out of young
Susan Strasberg who plays the
title role.
Christopher Fry's adaptation of
Jean Giradoux's "Tiger at the
Gates," a play based on the efforts
of Hector to prevent the Trojan
War, may well be the best play
of the season. English actor Mi-
chael Redgrave's performance as
Hector has earned him great
praise, and Diane Cliento as Helen
of Troy has suddenly become a
major acting personality.
"The Lark," a careful and sensi-
tive study of Joan of Arc, penned
by Jean Anouilh and adapted and
translated by Lillian Heilman, has
been hailed in all corners, and
the players, especially the star
Julie Harris, have garnered ex-
tremely favorable comments.
'MARTY' BIG SURPRISE:
Movie Techniques Replace
By ERNEST THEODOSSIN
Daily Drama Staff Writer
LIKE a cracked mirror, the 1955
Annp Arbor movie scene reflected
the confusion of Hollywood,
The film yesterday was still
battling over technical processes.
Producers were wondering if tele-
vision was useful for anything be-
sides advertising. Stereophonic
sound threatened to start a war
between producers and distributors
who did not want to install extra
equipment, and color film methods
were in heated competition.
Hollywood was grinding out
movie corn by the bushel. Biblical
spectacles, super-duper musicals,
and westerns were common.
Branches of the armed services
received full length propaganda
treatment.
But originality was a scarcity.
* * *
IT WAS therefore very startling
to find a little low-budget, stand-
ard-screen, black-and-white effort,
"Marty," heading the list of
American cinema products.
"Marty" was an honest repre-
sentation of American social prob-
lems. W riter Paddy Chayefsky
conceived his people in universal
terms. His picture was basically
realistic; but as realism is not al-
ways art, so "Marty" was not al-
ways art.
"Marty" could nrovoke auiienep
TOP FILM - Ernest Borgnine
and Betsy Blair in the tender,
moving "Marty."
for Delbert Mann achieved an
over-all sensitivity.
REALISM SEEMED to be the
quality producers were most striv-
ing to achieve, hoping that it
could pass for greatness. The
British-Italian production (f
Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
was done in just such a style.
Filmed in Italy in Medieval
cathedrals and palaces, it startled
the viewer into believing he was
actually seeing Medieval Italy.
But its emphasis onddocumenta-
tion destroyed Shakespeare's mon-
umental words, and while Susan
Shantall was a lovely Juliet, nei-
ther she nor Romeo Laurence Har-
ances could not overcome its weak
script.
"Mister Roberts" sacrificed its
original drama for straight com-
edy. "Night of the Hunter" offer-
ed arty weirdness. Again acting
surpassed the integrated whole.
"Daddy Long Legs" was the
most appealing musical, despite its
weak score and its heavy emphasis
on 15-minutes ballets. Fred As-
taire danced with indestructable
ease and grace.
Greta Garbo's "Camille" was re-
vived, re-establishing her great-
ness. There were some new and
some old foreign pictures. Two
French comedies, "Beauties of the
Night" and "Mr. Hulot's Holiday"
displayed the subtle comic sense
of the French.
Strindberg's "Miss Julie" was
also revived and remains an over-
powering experience, as does Coch-
teau's "The Strange Ones." Both
are by now considered screen class-
ics.
If the local movie scene was
BETTER VARIETY, quiz and
dramatic shows are now seen on
TV than at any previous time.
And a 'brand new conception in
entertainment, the "TV Specta-
cular," has found its place in the
reegular weekly-schedule of shows.
The most astronomical rise of
a single show in the history of
television occurred this summer
when "The $64,000 Question" made
its debut. "Question" has been
the top show on television ever
since it gave away its first dollar
to a winning contestant.
Over one-third of the nation
was seated in front of their TV
sets one night last spring when
Mary Martin starred in "Peter
Pan" on the "Producers Show-
case." This presentation was not
only the -finest show of the year,
but television's greatest single ac-
complishment to date. ,
Old-time movies, so-so local
shows and wrestling matches are
slowly but surely becoming things
;C
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