Word: background
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...that spectators will be forced to consult the program in order to identify friends in the cast. At the graduate performance given last night the length of the play and difficulty of shifting scenes indicated that deletions will be made, perhaps several scenes put on without benefit of special background in order to improve the time element...
...study of History for itself, and especially, the training involved, are ultimately just as important reasons. One studies history, especially modern history, in order to acquire a perspective toward things of his own day. This has a particular application for persons intending to enter some profession where a historical background is valuable. Or one takes an interest in some phase or period of history because it is pleasant to understand and revitalize what used to be. This reason is probably as important as the "cash nexus" to those who intend to "spend their life in history," either as teachers...
...considered momentous because it was the first direct quotation from a President in years. But like his predecessors, President Hoover soon decreed that questions must be in writing, reserved the right to reply or not. Also he established three categories of White House news: 1) directly quotable; 2) background information ("off the record") not to be quoted, but to help toward intelligent reporting; 3) strict confidences...
...look like a moth, sleek Katharine Hepburn gives a performance in Christopher Strong which frequently brings Frankau's drawing room tragedy sharply to life. The picture-in which the title rôle is secondary-can therefore be considered a success; its purpose was to provide a glamorous background for an actress whom experts consider Hollywood's most notable box-office find since Joan Crawford. In her first cinema (A Bill of Divorcement, last autumn) Katharine Hepburn came as close as anyone can to stealing a picture from John Barrymore. Before that she had been a stage actress...
...plot, though hackneyed, receives a sincere portrayal from the principals. A nice modicum of reserve in every detail of acting prevents, happily, the full realization of the chance for gross emotionalism. Such a background, of course, forms a perfect foil behind any genuine female charm, and Miss Helen Hayes takes full advantage of her chance. She is an unconvincing Chinese, but a superb mistress of the situation. Lien Wah's delicately expressive hands, and quaint self obliteration weave an incapable feminine charm through all the mess of uninteresting Oriental gore...