External loaded swf controller

programming flash
1

I have an external swf that loads in a file using this code:

var paused:Boolean = false;

play_mc.onRelease = function()
{  
loadMovie("1a.swf", 1);	
	
}

pause_mc.onRelease=function(){
	
if (_root.paused == true);
{
	

_level1.play();
_root.paused = false; 
trace("play");
}else{ 

  _level1.stop();  

   trace("pause");
}
}

But the pause button doesn’t seem to function. Any ideas?
P.S. It has been ages since I last used AS2. But now I have an old project that needs this type of external control player!