Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 June 1937 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1937

Slapstick Written by Bard, Claim

Romance Key to Success, However, Groucho Declares.

By JAMES THRASHER, Maybe 1937 will be remem-

‘bered, among other reasons,

as the year in which the entertainment world rediscovered William Shakespeare. This summer showmen are bowing to the Bard in several different quarters. Both big networks are renovating and streamlining most of the

plays for radio use. Maurice Evans is preparing to take “Richard II” on the road. Tallulah Bankhead is trying on brunet wigs for her role as the menace in “An-= thony and Cleopatra” next season. Orson Welles, 21, is trying to take on 50 years before fall, when he is to play “King Lear.” * But probably the big thing in the 1937 line of sock and buskin is the

fact that the Marx Brothers have |

decided to model their future madhouse movies more nearly after the Shakespearean mode. In other words, comedy and romance are going to get more of an equal break.

Here's An Example

Take “A Day at the Races,” which opens Friday at Loew’s. Allen Jones and Maureen O'Sullivan take care of the ‘heart interest,” and they're more than just a stop-gap to allow the audience to catch their breath between laughs. Groucho, who has a way of being as serious off the screen as he is berserk before the camera, recently uttered a few words by way of explanation. ; “The majority of Shakespeare's comedies, which are out-and-out slapstick, have romantic themes. Even in ‘Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy, Shakespeare has a comic nurse as a go-between for the lovers,” says Groucho. “To be good, comedy must be believable, no matter how insane,” he continues. “That’s why we have gone in for romance. It makes for realism in comedy, and romantic situations are often humorous.

~ Ideas—He Gets ‘Em

“In our present picture, we have a definite story, and each gag 1 related to the plot. There is a scene where Allan climbs a tree to serenade Maureen. He says he will sing in Maureen promises to marry im “At this, people pop out of windows and throw old shoes at him. This is good for a legitimate laugh and suggests other comedy possibilities. In throwing a shoe at him, I might fall out of a window into a rain barrel and get stuck. I don't, but it’s not a bad idea.” ~ The Marxes seem to be going to the other extreme now that they are started.” Not only do Miss O’Sullivan and Mr. Jones play their roles “straight” as the young lovers, but even - Groucho and his dignified friend, Margaret Dumont, have nut more realism into their love making. “After 10 years on the screen and stage,” says Groucho, “I figured it was time I was giving her a break.”

$20,000 Coat Is Studio Headache

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, June 30.—Some of those jewels and furs audiences see on theater screens-are the real thing, That fur coat Miss Jean , Arthur wears in “Easy Living,” for ‘example, is so genuine it caused a series of headaches in the studio one day while the fim was in production.

It’s sable. And the New York furrier who loaned it to the studio placed a value of $20,000 upon it.

So, when the time came for Miss Arthur to apear before cameras, and the coat couldn’t be found immediately, there was plenty of scurrying about the studio.

The anxious moment was over, however, when the stand-in for Miss Arthur was found admiring herself in a dressing room. The coat, of course, was the added attraction.

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

APOLLO

“Slave Ship,” with Warner Baxter and Wallace Beery, at 11:31, 1:33, 3:35, 5:37, 7:39 and 9:41.

CIRCLE

“Mountain Music,” with Bob Burns and Martha ayes at 11:48, 1:53, 3:58, 6:03. 8:08 and 10:13.

LOEW'S

“Captains Courageous,” with Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew and Lionel Barrymore, at 11, 145, 4:30, - 7:15 and 10. Walt Disney's “Cartoon Revue” at 12:55, 3:40. 6:25 and 9:10.

LYRIC

“Another Dawn,” with Errol Flvnn and Kay Francis, at 11:30, 2:15, 5:10, 7 58 and 10:30. Vaudeviile (on stage), t 1:05, 3:50, 6:45 and 9:30.

OHIO

“Parole Racket,” with Paul Kelly. Also “Fair Warning.”

AMBASSADOR Louis-Braddock fight pictures. Also

“Wake Up and Live,” with Walter Winehell 4, Ben Bernie. :

ALAMO

“Tco Many Wives,” with Ann shir-’ ley. Also ‘Tundra.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES.

MARX BROTHERS JOIN ROSTER OF SHAKESPEARE'S REDISCO

PAGE 15

WHEN HOLLYWOOD FANS’ TAKE IN MOVIE

| fice.

Mack Sennett Comedian Turns to Film Directing

Times Special

HOLLYWOOD, June 30.—It is April 14, 1912, and is hot in Hollywood. Somewhere in the North Atlantic, the liner Titanic is sinking, crushed by an iceberg, but residents of Hollywood are uncomfortably hot. Especially so 23-year-old Edward Francis Cline, who is sitting in the not-so-elaborate office of the Triangle Film Corp. waiting to see film producer

Mack Sennett.

Mr. Cline is a huge fellow, over sixc

feet tall and weighing 220 pounds. His mop of sandy hair refuses to stay near ‘his scalp, each individual

‘hair preferring to seek its own des-

tiny. His handsome face is bronzed The shouts of the newsboys telling of the Titanic tragedy ring in his ears, and Mr. Cline fervently wishes he had a tubful of that icy water for himself. Mack Sennett booms into the waiting room. Movies were young in those days, and producers could be seen with ease. “Come in here, Cline,” he commands, leading the way to his: ofMr. Sennett, three years later become famous as producer of : e “Mack Sennett Bathing Beauios) es an idea that young Cline, whom he chanced to see walking down Hollywood Blvd., is the ideal type for a movie policeman in a series he is about to begin called “The Keystone Kops.”

Boasts of Ability

“What makes you think you're funny?” curtly questions Sennett.

“I can make anybody laugh,” con- |

fidently answers Cline. “That so,” says Sennett unconvinced, “well, make me laugh!” The producer’s lunch sits on his

desk. . Mr. Cline eyes it for a second, then picks the tray up, tosses it in the air and allows the various dishes and their foodstuffs to fall upon his head. A heavy plate knocks him silly and he stumbles to the floor, a stupid grin on his face. Sennett howls. You're terrific,” he says, the Keystone Cop!” Today that same Edward Francis Cline .is in 3 mores De s he’s not

“you're

an’ actor any more; ’s a director at R-K-O, and he’§ still making people laugh—but now by proxy. His latest laughter-provoking effort is a comedy starring Bert Wheeler and Bob -Woolsey, ' entitled “On Again, Off Again,” to be released shortly. | Knows Comedy Tricks Being the . original “Keystone Kop,” and later assistant to Mack Sennett in the days when a Sennett comedy was the ne plus ultra of all film laugh provokers, Mr. Cline is in a position to know the wherefore of comedy-productions. But the director admits, quite readily, that humor is a pretty elusive thing in this modern day and age. He attributes greater interest in world affairs by the general public to the strange reaction of audiences to comedies at times. They’ll laugh themselves sick one night,” “says Mr. Cline,” and sit sullenly silent the following night. The reason must be that people are affected, say by the threat of war in Europe on one particular night and are not in a mood to laugh. The next evening, the threat has passed and they’ll laugh.” Comedies, he said, receive more preview showings than any other type of production. “On Again, Off Again,” for example, was shown five times to five different audiences in Hollywood theaters before it was finally okayed. “It’s nearly impossible to gauge

Eau ! “Fair Warning”

“Parole Racket”

Betty Furnoss

-| situations.

SWIM-DANCE

WESTLAKE

PAUL COLLINS’ ORCHESTRA

Every evening except Monday

KEITH'S THEATER Continuing Through Saturday, July 10 Federal Players’ Final Stage Production

‘‘A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT’’

By Clemence Dane NIG RE a A ONLY—PRICES 40¢, 25¢, 156 W SELLING— :

STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:15

PHONB LINCOLN 9090

laugh reactions on a single attendance basis,” explains Cline. “One audience will enjoy certain comedy The theater can empty and the seats be filled with another group, who will witness the same scenes without even a chuckle. A director will see one of his best ‘gags’ fail completely only to discover another and perhaps less important one getting the big howl. “The only test is to have, say, three audiences out of five laugh with the picture. If you can do that you're pretty good,” believes Mr. Cline. One factor that the R-K-O director insists upon is that his actors themselves honestly believe the scenario to be filmed is highly hu ous. Not one scene in “On Again, Off Again,” Mr. Cline told this “writer, was placed before the cameras until both Wheeler and Woolsey had gone over it carefully —and laughed over it long and loud.

NEW INGENUE SIGNED

Marjorie Lord, 18-year-old brunet from the New York stage, now provides the romantic interest of the current Wheeler and Woolsey comedy, R-K-O’s “On Again-Off Again.” She succeeds such well known: players as Dorothy Lee, Betty Grable, Mary Carlisle and Barbara opopnen.

Hollywood goes to the movies. picture star, takes in her first movie since a trip around the world. Her companions are Mary Carlisle and James Blakely. Martha Raye (right) seems afraid that she’s going to be late, but her new husband, Buddy Westmore, apparently isn’t bothered.

At left, Anna Q. Nilsson, silent

FIREWORKS ON RIPPLE PARK BILL

Everything from fashions to fireworks will be offered Broad Ripple Park patrons for the holiday

week-end, according to W. B. Hubbs, manager. The entertainment is to begin with a. fashion show of beach wear at 3 p. m. Sunday. A parade of professinal models will be augmented by a dance orchestra and specialty dance numbers. On Sunday and Monday evenings there will be fireworks displays, picnicking, dancing and swimming.

LEAH RAY GIVEN LONGER CONTRACT

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, June 30.—Leah Ray, beautiful young singer-actress, has been given a one-year extension of her contract with 20th Cen-tury-Fox studios. She played the featured feminine lead opposite Tony Martin in “Sing and Be Happy,” and she has an important role in Sonja Henie's new picture, “Lovely to Look At.”

Positively Last 3 Days

LOUIS— BRADDOCK

Official Fight Picture

Plus “Wake Up and Live”

Ambassador

Reservations

Now on Sale

Symphony Tickets Available For General Public.

Reservations for the 1937-38 Indianapolis Symphony = Orchestra season are now on sale to the general public, Franklin Miner, orchestra manager, said today. This announcement was made, Mr. Miner said, to correct an erroneous impression that reservations still are being held for last year’s subscribers. Subscription tickets to both the Friday afternoon and Saturday evening series are available. Subscriptions are being taken by members of the Indiana State Symphony Society’s women’s committee, under the direction of Mrs. P. R. Mallory. Choice seat locations are being distributed in the order in which subscriptions are received.

ERERS'

Film Story About Films Fools Cast

Routine Is Upset When

Actors Confuse Script And Real Orders.

By PAUL HARRISON

HOLLYWOOD, June 30.— (NEA) —It’s very confusing, the situation on the set of “Music for Madame,” the Nino Martini-Joan Fontaine picture. For there’s a movie within the movie; one camera crew shoots a second camera crew in the act of shooting some

sequences in a musical.

Visitors and technicians and even the players themselves have a hard time remembering that when the dummy director yells “Cut!” it’s just part of the story, and that the scenes are supposed to continue until the real director, John Blystone, says, “Cut!” Several takes have been ruined by premature outbursts of laughter on the: sidelines.

Equally bewildering is the fact that Martini and Miss Fontaine, the stars, are playing the roles of movie extras. But the roles of the stars are being played by obscure character actors.

Deliberate Fooling

One phase of this movie of moviemaking is deliberately inaccurate. When you see the picture you<will see an orchestra on the sidelines, and it apparently will be accompanying the singing of George Shelley as he warbles in a ‘balcony scene, But that isn’t the way songs are recorded in Hollywood today. They're recorded in advance, and for the actual filming, the players go through the action in time with the music which is -played back through loudspeakers. Indeed, that’s the way this particular scene is done. The orches-

tra you'll see will merely be going

through the motions. The accompaniment, and Shelley’s singing, already have been recorded. But in this case the trick is justified because the off-stage orchestra is

COOL OZONIZED AIR

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2 LAST DAYS! ‘ERROL

win JAN HUNTER pt. FRIEDA INESCORT

28} Herbert Mundin +G. P. Huntley, Jr. : Directed by WM. DIETERLE / B® Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold

TWO Comedy Ventriloquists In One Act!

Ross, Pierre & Schuster , Lt

oer Namo " Plus 12 SWEETHEARTS 12!

BELMONT

necessary to the story. It is conducted by Alan Mowbray. One of the supporting actresses in this picture is Lee Patrick, who's well known to Broadway audiences. She was hired by R-K-O when she was appearing in “Stage Door.” R-K-0 also bought the screen rights to that stage hit. But now to her astonishment Miss Patrick finds herself working in “Music for Madame,” while “Stage Door” is being filmed on an adjacent sound stage. Hollywood is like that. Joan Fontaine pretends to be very ‘much annoyed with me because I

Hillbilly Hilarity!

Lo EIR BLL LAL L349

have continued to identify her as Olivia de Havilland’s sister. Being a relative of a star always has been a hindrance in Hollywood. But judge ing from the studio’s plans for her, the future seems well enough insured. Chances are that Miss Fontaine will be Fred Astaire’s leading po in “A Damsel in Distress.”

RUDYARD

ROI ICR

FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW . SPENCER TRACY LIONEL BARRYMORE

\ Tr 4 of

DISNEY § CARTOON -

REVIEW NING

Tonight's Presentations at Your

Neighborhood Theaters

SOUTH SIDE

EAST SIDE HAMILTON 2116 E. 10th St. “QUALITY STREE STRAND 1332 E. Wash, St. Lydia | Roberti Y’S BABY P 4 JL E. a sh. etty urness aramodun in Poe “FAIR -WARNING” 114 E. Washington B | JO U Double Feature “WANTED—JANE TURNER” Phantom Empire—No. 4 3155 E. RIVOLI Bit Comfariably COOL Indianapolis” Own Starlets aDafeme Plus! On the Scree Ben Bernie, * UP LIVE” «GREAT HOSPITAL MYSTERY” Double Feature ne Lan “NANCY STEELE IS MISSING” “EVERYTHING IS THUNDER” Double Feature Virginia Bruce “WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG” “LOVE LETTERS OF A STAR” | R VY I'N G Double Feature Jun ne Travis EXILE

Double Reature own “WHEN'S YOUR BIRT AYE Double Feature NOBODY’ “TROUDLS IN MOROCCO” Three Stooges Lee Tracy “RANGER, COURAGE 10th Doors Open On Stag LYDIA KERSTING DANCE REVUE Walter Winchell "Patsy Kelly TACOMA 2442 E. Wash. St. TUXEDO 4020 E. New York 5507 E. Wash. St. “MEN IN «SING ME A LOVE SONG”

W. 10th St.

4630 E. 10th EMERSON Comfortably COOL Don eche “50 ROADS TO TOWN Bette Davis “MARKED Woma Starts Sat.—“A STAR IS BORN 6116 E. Wash. St. GOLDEN Double Feature Tonight and Every Night The Latest Attractions Comediés—News Reels—Cartoons WEST SIDE Howard & Blaine HOWARD Eric Linden Cecelia Parker “GIRL LOVES BOY” Selected Shorts STATE. “GIRL OVERBOARD” “HOPALONG CASSIDY RETURNS” W. Wash. & Belmont Double Feature Anton Walbrook “SOLDIER AND THE LADY” Douglas Fairbanks Jr. “ACCUSED” — RX 2540 W. Mich. St. D A | S Y Double Feature Miriam Siopins “MEN ARE NOT GOD “OFF TO THE RACES” SOUTH SIDE 2203 Shelby St. GARFIELD Double Feature Ann Dvorak “MIDNIGHT COURT” “SEVEN SINNERS” 8S. East at Lincoln LINCOLN Double Feature Roland Foun “MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES” Edmund Lowe “Isrlioyage”

FOUNTAIN SQUARE

Our New Cooling Syst Keeps Youn Comfortably bg Always Double Feature Ben Bernie

UP AND “STEP LIVELY, JEEVES”

SANDERS At Fountain Square

Double Feature ohn Howard : “EASY TO T 3 “SITTING ON THE MOON”

AV ALON Pros. & Churchman

Double Feature “ALONG CAME

Doris Kenyon “IT COULDN'T OF HAPPENED”

ORIENTAL 1105 S. Meridian

NORTH SIDE

Illinois and 34th Double Feature pa 5 Haley “WAKE UP AND

“A DAY WITH THE “DIONNE QUINTUPLETS” bf Il d 1500 Roosevelt — ouble Feature o ywoo George Bancroft ‘“RACKETEERS IN EXILE” “CASE AGAINST MRS. AMES” Central at Fall Creek ZARING Special Feature Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers Edw. E. Horton “SHALL WE DANCE?” 16th & Delaware CINEMA Double Feature Loretta Young “LOVE IS NEWS” “CALL IT A DAY” 42nd & College UPTOWN Double Feature . Wallace Beery ‘GOOD OLD SOAK” “23% HOURS LEAVE” St. Cl. & Ft. Wayne ST CLAIR Double Feature . Betty Furness “FA WARNING” Conrad Nagel “GOLD RACKET” Udell at Clifton U D k L L ouble Feature Claudette Colbert MAID OF SALEM” «COME CLOSER FOLKS” Talbott & 22nd TALBOT I. estinghouse Air-Conditioned For Year Around Comfor The only "North Side Theater Controlling Both Temperature and Humidity—

No Drafs Double Featore. Jon Howard “LET THEM LIVE” “WE’RE ON THE JURY”

30th at Northwestern REX

~ First Showing North Ray Milland “BULLDOG: PRUMMOND ESCAPES” Selected Shorts

GA R RI C K *beutic Feature 8: “RACING LADY" 0" — UNAVY'BORN MECCA RoATs “DOWN TO THE SEA" “ROAMING LADY”

; 19th & College Double Feature Stratford ouble Feature “MYSTERIOUS CROSSING” “BULLDOG EDITION

D R E A M 2361 Station St.

Double Feature Martini “GAY DESPERADO”

Nino “PENROD AND SAM”

LOOK GIRLS ! THEY'RE COLLECTING AUTOGRAPHS FROM THE HORSES!

HERE THEY ARE IN THE BIG SHOW

TIME MARXES ON! A YEAR AGO="A NIGHT AT THE OPERA!" AND NOW THEIR BIGGEST HIT —

FORWARD MARX! TAKE A TIP FROM | ME, FOLKS “A DAY AT

THE RACES" IS THE FUNNIEST EILM OF YOUR LIFETIME!

WELL, TAKE IT WISH | HAD

LIKE HER!

YOU'LL WANT TO TRUCK DOWN THE AISLE WITH THE DARKTOWN RHYTHM STRUTTERS !

MUSIC ~ GIRLS — SPECTACLE !

STICK AROUND TOOTS — WERE GOING TO FIND OUT IF YOURE A REAL JEWEL OR. JUST PASTE !

AND

E ALLAN JONES NEVER SANG SO GLORIOUSLY. § MAUREEN -O'SULLIVAN NEVER LOOKED

SO LOVELY —

WHAT A ROMANCE !

Thrill-a-Minute ‘Romance

i —— 2 WELL THAT GAL |. | IS CERTAINLY.

“A DAY A

T THE RACES! pu

{THIS 15A VERY DELKATE itd "|OPERATION.GIVE ME MY SAW=-AND THEN ITS FULL

2\ SPEED AHEAD TO THE RACES

FIX HIM UP NICE AND PRETTY FOR THE BIG RACE , BOYS!

DONT LOOK

ARE READY

THIS GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, DOC. HIS TEETH

A BLUE-RIBBON STEED AS SURE AS MY NAME IS DR. HUGO

HACKEN BUSH =~

70 FALL Out!

* —PLUS THIS ADDED FEATURE—

THE DEVIL IS DRIVING =532=>