... . THE Old Vic Theatre Company's 44 Henry IV. brought to light in October last the 44 greatest Falstaff in living memory RALPH RICHARD SON. With one voice the critics lauded his robust, intelligent performance. Gone the pot-bellied buffoons of the past. Arrived, Shakespeare's own creation, racy, idiomatic, and credible. Mr. Richardson is a director of the Old Vic Company as well as a player. He ...

... . By JOHN RUSSELL. GREAT persons are always something of a bore on the stage. Hearts sink at the idea of plays about Beethoven or Napoleon; dis belief simply cannot be suspended in the face of familiar actors dressed up as Wellington or respect fully addressed as Miss Bronte before a back- cloth of faithful Yorkshire grey and white. Asked to believe that we are in Nelson's cabin, or with ...

... I BEST WISHES I FROM THE STARS TO THE SKETCH AND ITS READERS. LI ZH BETH SCOTT These Columbia, Warner, M.-G.-M. and Paramount stars this year of peace revive their pleasant custom of sending greetings to The Sketch and its readers. LRU REN BflCALL i a IHbI 1 j ROSALIND RUSSELL N.B. The original autographed photographs published here will be sold, to first applications, for 10s. each, in ...

... STARBORNE TO THE SKETCH READERS. MORE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MESSAGES. Your favourite stars of M.-G.-M., Paramount, Columbia, and Warner Bro Din together to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A Coloured plate is inserted in this issue. N.B. The original autographed photographs published here will he sold, to first app tns, for 10s. each, in aid of the Hospital for Sick Children ...

... WE TAKE OFF OUR HAT TO- MR. GABRIEL PASCALt for commandins an army of stars and featured players and cohorts of extras for Caesar and Cleopatra.'' Producer-director GABRIEL PASCAL stood right out on the camera crane directing the dramatic Sphinx sequence in 44 Ccesar and Cleopatra Odeon Marble Arch). Below him lay 400 tons of sand, peopled at one time by 110 stars or featured players and 2000 ...

... . I Londoners are testing their reactions to the work of the famous abstractionist PABLO PICASSO, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where a large selection of his most recent paintings are on view, together with a number of pictures by Matisse. The photograph was taken in Picasso%s Paris studio, where he, the paramount influence in modern art, has painted all through the German occupation. ...

... . MLLE. BERTRAND, attached to the Consular Service. MLLE. DE MIRIBEL, attached to the French Foreign Office. MLLE. CAMPANA, a Consul of the Second Class. MLLE. ELIZABETH CHEVREUX, Secretary of the French Embassy in London. MLLE. CAVAILLES is a Secretary in the French Embassy. MLLE. SUZANNE BOREL holds the rank of Counsellor. ALWAYS politically-minded, but debarred by her sex from officiul ...

... . The marriage of LADY MOYRA PONSONBY, only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Bessborough of Stansted Park, Hants., to MR. DENIS BROWNE, the ortho- pcedic surgeon, son of the late Mr. Sylvester Browne, of Sydney, took place at Grosvenor Chapel. The attendants were LADY SARAH JANE HOPE, LUCY BARTLETT and RICHARD STRUTT. Right The christening of the infant daughter of CAPTAIN CHARLES T. ADDIS ...

... (^fin-up rJirl: Ql,o.42. Qfj^ona (freeman Paramount player MONA FREEMAN was a professional model at fourteen. She is nineteen now but photographs like a lovely child. She appeared as a fourteen- year-old in 44 Till We Meet Again, and had a one-line scene in 44 Our Hearts Were Growing Up. An ash-blonde with hazel eyes, she is 5 ft. 3 in. tall and weighs 112 lb. Mona's father is English her ...

... I fP/iett I Golden Shred I reappears upon, the V. breakfast table V know that f The Worlds Best J a Marmalade J z'j being made aeain V Until then the Marmalade to buy is I V c/tf. James Robertson Sons (P.M.) Ltd. Golden Shred Works London, Paisley, Manchester, Bristol. Soon no w-- AECTEX THE RETURN OF t)antella SHIRTS TO MATCH VAN heusen:.. I COLLARS 4 'i-- J fAajc |V^ K B |IL^V MULTIPtI ...

... COLOUR INI THE LONDON PARKS Brightly- coloured coats are adding to the beauty of London's winter scene this year. Tailored with a half-belted back, front tie and unpressed pleats to give a full-skirted effect, this one is in a soft shade of red. The hat is brown, with rolled brim and high crown. Green lovely colour for blonde or brunette is another first favourite of victory year. Tailored in ...

... . THE first post-war St. Andrew's Day celebrations at Eton took place on Saturday, December 1, technically a day late, under ideal weather conditions. Remarkable to relate, there was neither rain, fog nor mud, and the number of private cars gave everything a near-peace-time flavour. The Wall Game between the Oppidans and the Collegers was disappointing as the Collegers never scored, and never ...