NAKED TO LAUGHTER

Ma Bostwick, the central character of Not For Heaven, had a certain definite appeal, but Ruby Shreve, small town milliner, and her driving insistence on her own way of life and her undevious methods of getting what she wanted, does not commend herself to as wide an audience. Her relations with the women who work for her, with the traveling salesman, Max, and the man she wants, Herman, are all clear-cut, the small town atmosphere well done -- but Ruby is more in the category of Scarlett O'Hara, whose love does not open her eyes to emotional shadings, whose business ability is no indication of intelligence in mental adjustments. Very direct story telling and characterization.