Gregory LaCava In the 30's
7/3/1933 HCN Elizabeth Yeaman
For a newcomer, with practically no experience, Judith Allen certainly is doing well for herself at Paramount. Today she was given the romantic lead opposite Bing Crosby in Too Much Harmony. Over 200 girls were tested for the part before the decision was made in favor of Judith. When she was first signed up by Paramount, DeMille grabbed her off for the feminine lead in his boy story, This Day and Age. But the requirements for Too Much Harmony are very different. Judith will have to both sing and dance in this picture. Of course, Bing will do most of the singing, but Judith will warble once or twice, according to present plans.
Grace Bradley, the red-headed night club entertainer signed up by Paramount, also will have a featured role in Too Much Harmony. And Ned Sparks, well known to the screen, has been signed for another nice part.
....
ZaSu Pitts, who has contracts to make pictures at both Radio Pictures studio and Universal and is keeping busy jumping from one lot to the other, will be available at the Radio lot during the next week or two. Her first role for this company will be one of the leads in Sweet Cheat, in which Ginger Rogers will be given her first starring opportunity. ZaSu, I hear, has a role every bit as large and important as that assigned to Ginger. William Seiter will direct this comedy.
....
For several months now rumors have persisted that Winfield Sheehan would relinquish the production rains at Fox Studio. Sheehan always seems to be good for a rumor, marital or professional. The fact that he has announced his plan to vacation in Europe, beginning this month, has led many to believe that he will take charge of foreign production for Fox. Others insist that his vacation will be largely devoted to research work on the life of Pasteur, whose achievements are planned as the basis of a forthcoming picture. Be all this as it may, Sidney Kent, president of Fox, today announced the signing of two famous theatrical producers to term contracts as associate producers. They are Charles B. Cochran, eminent London stage producer, and Archibald Selwyn, well-known New York producer. Sheehan will confer with both of them on plays and players. And, according to the announcement, all three will come to Hollywood.
At present Cochrane is presenting in London stage productions of "Dinner at Eight," "Music in the Air," "Wild December" and "Mother of Pearl." He was the first to Sarah Bernhardt, the Guitrys, Eleanor Dues, and the famous Russian ballet to the English public. He found Raquel Meller in a cabaret in a little Spanish town and later made her an international sensation.
Selwyn is equally prominent in the New York production field. His recent successes include "Private Lives," and "The Devil Passes."
....
Walter Huston was scheduled to start rehearsal with Irene Dunne today for the picture, Ann Vickers But Huston is off on a fishing trip in the mountains, and is packing into the wilds by horse. Radio Pictures is fuming because he can't be reached. Not long ago, you may recall, John Halliday went off on a similar expedition and the same studio had to enlist the aid of the state police to locate him for retakes on the Constance Bennett picture, Bed of Roses.
....
Mary Lee Manning is the latest addition to the cast of Waffles, the picture which Helen Mitchell is producing. Miss Manning will portray the mother of Sari Maritza in the film. Others in the cast are Buster Collier, Barbara Luddy, Alan Mowbray and Ivan Simpson.
....
Josephine Dillon, well known dramatic coach, leaves this week for Palo Alto to give a series of lectures on microphone speech and modern screen acting at the summer school of Stanford. Stanford, by the way, is Miss Dillon's alma mater.
....
And speaking of comediennes, Pert Kelton, I hear, is to have rather a nice role with Anna Sten in Nana. Pert gave Connie Bennett a run for her money in Bed of Roses and as a result won a term contract at Radio Pictures. And did I announced that Warren William will be borrowed from Warners for the male lead with Miss Sten? He replaces Gene Raymond, who was originally selected for the part. Word leaked out that Gene declined to take the assignment after he read the part. And Sam Goldwyn countered with a furious denial and said that Gene was too blond to play opposite Miss Sten and that he declined to dye his hair.
....
At Fox I tripped over the fact that Walter Connolly is at that studio playing in the Janet Gaynor picture, Paddy, the Next Best Thing. I wonder how long it is going to take Hollywood to appreciate the brilliant artistry of Connolly? Joseph Wood Krutch, in a recent article in The Nation, mentions Connolly has having giving one of the best performances of the past year in the stage production of The Late Christopher Bean.
....
Kay Francis fought strenuously against playing the feminine lead opposite Edward G. Robinson in Red Meat. But she finally agreed to play the part, so now Warners are trying to please Kay by seeking a story she will like. At the moment they are dickering for screen rights to a newspaper story titled Newspaper Woman. Warners have made more newspaper pictures than any other studio in Hollywood.
Gregory LaCava In the 30's
ABBREVIATIONS
EE — Los Angeles Evening Express
EH — Los Angeles Evening Herald
EHE — Los Angeles Evening Herald Express
FD — Film Daily
HCN — Hollywood Citizen News
HDC — Hollywood Daily Citizen
IDN — Illustrated Daily News
LAR — Los Angeles Record
LAPR — Los Angeles Post-Record
LAX — Los Angeles Examiner
MPH — Motion Picture Herald
1/18/1930 LAX WILLIAM BOYD PLAYS LEAD IN ARMY PICTURE
The blare of trumpets, the clatter of horses' hoofs and the flourish of sabers bring William Boyd in His First Command, the Pathe all dialogue and sound romance of the United States Cavalry now being shown at the RKO Theater.
Following his fine portrayal of the marine in The Leatherneck and his performance in Dress Parade, Boyd's appearance as a cavalryman should hold much interest for local theatergoers.
His First Command which was photographed at Fort Riley, Kansas, tells a story of a wealthy man's son who enlists in the cavalry to be near a certain colonel's daughter, with whom he has fallen in love. What happens to him in the course of his training as a soldier provides plenty of the Boyd type of comedy, but the story also develops a beautiful romance enlivened by many thrills.
Dorothy Sebastian plays opposite Boyd in this cavalry romance. Others in the cast are Gavin Gordon, recruited from the stage; Paul Hurst, Rose Tapley, Howard Hickman, and others. Gregory LaCava directed.
The RKO vaudeville stage show includes Tom Brown, with the original six Brown brothers, saxophone comedians; Flora le Vere in a novel presentation, Peggy Chamberlain and Ross Himes.
1/18/1930 EE OFFICER MAKES A ROOKIE OUT OF BILL BOYD
Although in making His First Command at Fort Riley, Kansas, William Boyd enacted a United States military man for the first time on the screen, it took a young lieutenant of cavalry to give the Pathe star his first real "dressing down." The lieutenant was D.E. Carleton, attached to A Troop, 13th Cavalry, and the incident occurred during the making of scenes near the stables of that troop for this dialogue romance, which is the current feature at the RKO Theater.
Boyd, dressed in a private's uniform, was sprawled out on the grass, resting between scenes. The high boots of a cavalryman that the actor was wearing were uncomfortable, so Bill unlaced them. Carleton saw him and decided to have some fun.
"Snap out of it, rookie, and salute," the officer commanded.
"I'm not a sol"--Boyd began.
"Silence!" roared the officer.
All right," said Bill.
"Don't say all right to me."
"All right--I mean--no."
"Say ‘Sir.'"
"Sir."
"Say, ‘yes, sir.'"
"Yes, sir."
"Stand up!"
"I'm not a soldier," insisted Bill. "I'm a"---
"You certainly don't look like a soldier. Get up!"
By this time Bill realized it was a frame-up. Looking around, he saw Gregory LaCava, the director, and Dorothy Sebastian, his leading lady, grinning from ear to ear. The star decided to "put it on" for them.
"Get up!" repeated Lieutenant Carleton.
Boyd got up.
"Stand at attention!"
Bill stood at attention.
"Why are those boots unlaced?"
"My feet hurt something awful."
"Say ‘Sir.'"
"My feet, sir, hurt, sir, something awful, sir!"
"What's this? Insubordination?"
"No, sir."
"You're a disgrace to the Army. Aren't you?"
Sir, sir."
"But for a movie actor, you take discipline pretty well," admitted the lieutenant.
Bill "took it big." He looked confused. LaCava, Miss Sebastian and the crowd were laughing.
"I knew it was a gag," he said. "Officers don't ride privates that way in the Army, do they?"
"I should say not," replied the lieutenant. "People just think they do. It's not like that in the Army."
"Haw! haw! haw!" came a loud and raucous laugh from behind a hedge and Lieutenant Carleton moved in the direction of the hedge bent upon a real dressing down.
1/29/1930 HDC Society In Filmland
James Gleason Will be host at a party for a group of friends Saturday night, at his Alpine Drive home in Beverly Hills. No wives will be bidden to the function. Guests will include:
Messrs. Irving Berlin, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh, Lew Cody, Raymond Griffith, Frank Fay, Leonard Fields, A. Van Buren, Myron Selznick, Paul Whiteman, James Gillespie, Bobby Dolan, Walter O'Keefe, John Considine, Dr. Harry Martin, Tay Garnett, Ralph Block.
Greg LaCava, Max Hart, Dave Selznick, Tom Buckingham, Sid Grauman, Rollo Lloyd, Anthony Bushell, Charles Sollars, Robert Ames, Bing Crosby, Leon Errol, Charlie Bailey, John Gilbert, Al Christie, George Volk and Dr. H.B.K. Willis.
There will be tables for cards and a buffet lunch will be served at midnight.
2/7/1930 HDC LAaCAVA GIVEN CREDIT FOR MAKING DIX STAR
Gregory LaCava, who directed William Boyd in His First Command at Fort Riley, Kansas, where all the exterior scenes for this romance of the United States Cavalry were photographed, is credited with making Richard Dix a star. LaCava directed Womenhandled and nearly all of the other early successes of Dix that were made in the east.
His First Command, showing at the Beverly Theater tonight and tomorrow, is an original all-sound and dialogue story by Jack Jungmeyer and James Gleason, written around the historic cavalry post at Fort Riley, and including all the colorful experiences of a cavalryman in the making.
The cast includes, besides Mr. Boyd, Dorothy Sebastian, Paul Hurst, ZaSu Pitts, Alphonz Eithier, Chuck Collins and Charles Moore.
2/22/1930 LAX Louella O. Parsons
You cannot say in the motion picture business "every director to his fancy." Gregory LaCava started out as a comedy director. His specialty was Richard Dix and comedy. Now he has gone into bigger and better dramas. He is to direct Beyond Victory, by Lynn Riggs, a war special for Pathe. Beyond Victory is supposed to have Ann Harding, Ina Claire, Constance Bennett and the rest of the Pathe stars. I still can't believe that it will be possible to put all these girls in one picture and keep them happy, but I am skeptical that way.
12/23/1930 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
When Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver were cast for parts in Cimarron, they did not realize that their work would result in the formation of a new team. When Cimarron was previewed a few nights ago, William LeBaron was greatly impressed with the work of these two players. As a result Herbert and Miss Oliver will be teamed in a series of Radio comedies. You can't escape the box office attraction of a good comedy team. Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey have done a lot together, and now this team is to be split up at the studio. The Herbert-Oliver team is formed just in time to keep the studio from being without one of these comedy combinations. Gregory LaCava will direct the first comedy, which is an untitled original written by himself. The picture will go into production the early part of January.
12/31/1930 HDC HOLLYWOOD IN FILMLAND
By Rachel Rubin
William LeBaron, William Beaudine, Florence Lake, Holmes Herbert, Reginald Denny, Robert Montgomery, William Powell, Carol Lombard, Mischa Auer, Gregory LaCava, Richard Barthelmess, Frank Wheeler, Paul Bern, Hobart Bosworth, Jane Murfin, Genevieve Tobin, Lionel Barrymore, H.B. Warner, Lenore Coffee, John Barrymore, James Gleason, Edmund Breeze, Henry Kolker, Mary Forbes, Chester Morris.
Miss Jean Harlow, who was one of the guests at a Chinese buffet supper given Sunday evening by Mr. and Mrs. Felix Hughes of Rossmore Drive.
1/19/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Down at Radio Pictures they are having a hard time making up their minds about Dorothy Lee. First she was to be starred, then she wasn't to be starred. Then she was to play in Turned Loose In College and now that production has been called off. The latest report concerning her is to the effect that she will have the leading role in Room and Board, which Douglas MacLean has been writing, and on which he will act as associate producer. Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver, who also were slated for Turned Loose in College, have been transferred to Room and Board. Charles Fellon is another addition to the cast and Gregory LaCava will direct this picture as his first for this studio.
1/20/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Johnny Harron has not been seen on the screen lately, but "it won't be long now."
John has a featured role in Room and Board, which is the initial starring vehicle for Edna Mae Oliver and Hugh Herbert at the Radio Pictures Studio.
Gregory LaCava, who also hasn't been doing much of late, is directing the farce which was prepared for the screen by Douglas MacLean, former comic star.
3/5/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Gregory LaCava is going to direct Mary Astor in her first starring picture, Nancy's Private Affair. He won the assignment as a result of his fine direction of Board and Room which is said to be a comedy sensation with Dorothy Lee, Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver heading the cast. Bertram Milhauser will be associate producer and Salisbury Field is adapting the story to the screen. He should do a great deal with this Myron C. Fagan play, for Field is a playwright in his own name, being the author of "Twin Beds," "Zander the Great," and "Wedding Bells." He also wrote No Limit for Clara Bow.
3/22/1931 FD Laugh and Get Rich
RKO Time, 1 hr., 13 minutes
Very funny, fast-moving comedy-drama with snappy dialogue, effective situations and great cast.
Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert have been happily teamed and they form a combination that, for well delivered repartee, laughable comedy and clearly handled situations, is pretty near perfect. The story matters little, but with these clever players, genuine entertainment is handed out and every type of audience should be satisfied. Miss Oliver, as a boarding-house landlady, and Hugh Herbert, her genial but good-for-nothing spouse, encounter many domestic difficulties, one being the selection of a husband for Dorothy Lee, their daughter. Herbert buys oil stock with money "borrowed" from his wife and also sponsors a "crazy" invention of Dorothy's sweetheart. Things look black until both the oil and the invention bring them fame and fortune.
CAST: Dorothy Lee, Edna May Oliver, Hugh Herbert, John Harron, Russell Gleason, Joyce Davis, Maude Sealy, Charles Sellon, Robert Emmett Keane.
Director, Gregory LaCava; Author, Douglas MacLean; Adaptor, Gregory LaCava; Dialoguers, Gregory LaCava, Ralph Spence; Editor, Jack Kitchen; Cameraman, Jack MacKensie.
Direction, Good. Photography, Good.
4/3/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Gregory LaCava, who recently directed Laugh and Get Rich, costarring Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert, will next megaphone Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor, for Radio Pictures.
4/6/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Gregory LaCava has clicked, to use the slang expression, like a million dollars!
This young megaphonist did quite nicely in the days of the silent picture, but was rather backward in forging ahead when the talkies came into being. He was absent from the screen for many months and just completed a new production for Radio Pictures.
The feature was Laugh and Grow Rich, co-starring that new team of Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert. The studio workers were quite proud of the film when it was completed and were unusually anxious to see what blase New York would say about it.
Blase New York said plenty–the result being that LaCava now carries a new contract in his pocket and a broad smile on his face. His picture is a hit.
Gregory's next assignment will be Nancy's Private Affair, which will star Mary Astor. Production is scheduled to start within a few days.
4/8/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Gregory LaCava is another director who has been signed up for a long term by Radio Pictures. His next assignment will be Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor. I hear that Nance O'Neill is a likely candidate for the chief character role in this picture.
4/24/1931 IDN Laugh and Grow Rich
By Harry Mines
The title Laugh and Grow Rich carries lots of philosophy. The picture carries plenty of comedy which, like the philosophy, sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't.
But this new film at the RKO theater augmented by a good vaudeville is a decidedly pleasing and human programmer done with naturalness and charm.
It isn't a special. It isn't outstanding in story, production or treatment. But it qualifies as a nice hour's entertainment.
In fact, the plot, concocted by Douglas MacLean, is a somewhat rambling affair with a rural setting. But MacLean, with the valuable assistance of Ralph Spence, has fashioned some effective moments of both farce and drama.
What' more, though, it has that grand comedienne, Edna May Oliver, in the cast and this fact alone is enough to assure the fans that a happy time is ahead.
AND MISS OLIVER
With every picture Miss Oliver makes greater inroads in popularity, and within the past few screen appearances, Notably Cimarron, she has become one of the best character actresses available. Her sense of comedy is delightfully inimitable, and her pantomime is uproarious. Of particular interest are her serious scenes.
Opposite her is Hugh Herbert giving a droll, outstanding character study of a good-natured, worthless husband who invests the family finances in oil, and thereby lets himself in for plenty of trouble.
Little Dorothy Lee in her first assignment away from the balmy atmosphere of a Wheeler and Woolsey story is attractive, capable and baby-voiced and carries the romantic interest with Russell Gleason, who has little to do, but does it well.
Otehrs in the cast are Johnny Harron as a crook, Charles Sellon, Robert Emmett Kdeane, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy. The direction of Gregory LaCava, who also did the screenplay, is study and crisp.
There is one fine sequence depicting the members of the boarding house at dinner.
ON THE STAGE
Here's the lineup of acts on the stage program:
The Three Swifts in comic juggling; Galla-Rini and sister billed as "Ace Accordionists"; Billy Kelly in "Taking the Heir"; Audrey Wycoff in a dance repertoire; Billy Black, Neapolitan Fur, Frank Wilson and the familiar and amusing fortune-telling bit presented by Redmond and Wells.
AND MISS OLIVER
With every picture Miss Oliver makes greater inroads in popularity
4/24/1931 EE Laugh and Get Rich
By Robert Hutton
Films and vaudeville share honors in providing farcical material for the delectation of RKO Theater patrons this week, who wish to escape whatever kind of weather we may be having at the moment.
Radio Pictures' Laugh and Get Rich, has, for example, an especially choice reason for being exceedingly funny. The reason is Edna May Oliver, who is cast as a lady from Boston of the real "bean and the cod, where are the Cabots?....etc., variety. In other words, the funny role she enacted in Cimarron, for example, is stressed so she becomes slightly tight and not only does the Virginia reel, but gets every one else at a fashionable New York ball to do the Virginia reel, is a scream.
TITLE IS VAGUE
Just what the story has to do with the title, I don't know.
I might add that Edna May herein appears as a boarding house keeper who consistently remembers her "blue blood" and who has a husband whose support is necessary until he buys stock in an oil promotion scheme which has all the earmarks of being terrible until . . . but that would be telling the story.
Hugh Herbert technically heads the cast as the husband. Others, most of whom have rather small but funny roles, are Dorothy Lee, Robert Emmett Keane, John Harron, Charlie Sellon, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy and Russell Gleason. Direction is by Gregory LaCava. Douglas MacLean wrote the story.
VAUDEVILLE GOOD
The vaudeville is headlined by Galia-RIni and sister, in an accordionist act; Billy Kelly and company, with the Paige Sisters, in "Taken the Heir," Audrey Wycoff in a dance revue and the Three Swifts in a trick juggling act or so.
Then, as though that were not enough, Billy Black, Frank Wilson, Raymond and Wells and the Neapolitan Four complete the program.
4/24/1931 EH Laugh and Get Rich
By Robert Hutton
Films and vaudeville share honors in providing farcical material for the delectation of RKO Theater patrons this week, who wish to escape whatever kind of weather we may be having at the moment.
Radio Pictures' Laugh and Get Rich, has, for example, an especially choice reason for being exceedingly funny. The reason is Edna May Oliver, who is cast as a lady from Boston of the real "bean and the cod, where are the Cabots?....etc., variety. In other words, the funny role she enacted in Cimarron, for example, is stressed so she becomes slightly tight and not only does the Virginia reel, but gets every one else at a fashionable New York ball to do the Virginia reel, is a scream.
TITLE IS VAGUE
Just what the story has to do with the title, I don't know.
I might add that Edna May herein appears as a boarding house keeper who consistently remembers her "blue blood" and who has a husband whose support is necessary until he buys stock in an oil promotion scheme which has all the earmarks of being terrible until . . . but that would be telling the story.
Hugh Herbert technically heads the cast as the husband. Others, most of whom have rather small but funny roles, are Dorothy Lee, Robert Emmett Keane, John Harron, Charlie Sellon, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy and Russell Gleason. Direction is by Gregory LaCava. Douglas MacLean wrote the story.
VAUDEVILLE GOOD
The vaudeville is headlined by Galia-RIni and sister, in an accordionist act; Billy Kelly and company, with the Paige Sisters, in "Taken the Heir," Audrey Wycoff in a dance revue and the Three Swifts in a trick juggling act or so.
Then, as though that were not enough, Billy Black, Frank Wilson, Raymond and Wells and the Neapolitan Four complete the program.
5/13/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Frank Sheridan is the latest addition to the cast of The Reckoner, starring Richard Dix. Sheridan also had a nice part in Big Brother, the last Dix picture which has not yet been released. Carl Gerrard also joins the cast of this picture. Full of Notions, featuring Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and Dorothy Lee, will have in the supporting cast DeWitt Jennings, Jason Robards and William Scott. Another bit of production news picked up on the Radio pictures lot is that Noel Francis will have the second feminine lead in Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor. Robert Ames has the leading male role, you known, and Gregory LaCava is directing.
6/26/1931 HDC
Young John Darrow has been given the juvenile lead by RKO-Radio in Home Town Laughter, which will feature Ricardo Cortez. Gregory LaCava will direct it, instead of Lynn Shores, who has been assigned to Sour Grapes, starring Mary Astor, instead. The LaCava opus will start July 20. Carey Wilson has just completed the script for this feature.
7/30/1931 LAR Llewellyn Miller
The studios, which have been making life hard for some of the actors' agents in these last few months, are going to have something to think about. The agents are answering with a gigantic merger which, naturally, will be a very powerful organization.
Charles Byer and Arthur MacArthur have joined forces, backed by the facilities of R.H. Barkalow and Stephen Bull, Beverly Hills capitalists. Plans are being formulated to produce both stage and screen entertainment as an added release avenue for the clients they represent.
The deal was handled by attorney James A. Flanigan and included the immediate inauguration of a radio broadcast department under the management of Hugh Ernst, formerly of the National Broadcast Company.
Byer-McArthur Inc. will maintain offices in the Taft Building in Hollywood. Among the personalities represented by the agency are Lowell Sherman, Mae Murray, Baclanova, Gregory LaCava, Ivan Lebedeff, Richard Boleslavsky, Frank Albertson, Antonio Moreno, Sidney Toler, Mary Boland, Ned Sparks, Nicholas Sossanin, Michel Lewis, Lynn Shores and many others.
Byer, formerly a screen actor, has developed his agency business in the past two years. MacArthur, prior to opening an agency in Beverly Hills, has been connected with nearly every phase of the film business.
9/2/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Exciting news from Radio Pictures lot this morning! Irene Dunne telephoned the studio from Del Monte last night to announce that she had made the seventh hole in one! The great event took place on the Pebble Beach golf course, where the star is vacationing with her husband, Dr. Griffin of New York. Hope Williams will arrive in town Friday to start work in the starring role of Penthouse. This title, I am told, will not be used, but anyway the story is an original by John Howard Lawson. Joel McCrea will have the male lead and that droll comedian, Hugh Herbert, also has been signed for a featured part. Gregory LaCava will direct.
10/5/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Robert Presnell is writing the new story for Hope Williams' initial film production at Radio Pictures.
Gregory LaCava will direct. The John Howard Lawson story, as I reported, is in the discard, due to location difficulties.
10/11/1931 FD Smart Woman
Radio 68 mins.
Good cast holds up theatric story that lacks conviction in sophisticated theme of married life.
Here is an adaptation of the stage play, "Nancy's Private Affair," which shows all the stage tricks of striving for effects at the expense of plausibility. Mary Astor is the loving wife who returns from a trip abroad tof ind that her hubby, Robert Ames, has fallen in love with a designing girl after his dough. Then Mary decides to be a "smart woman" and beat her rival with finesse. She invites an English lord to the house and plays up to him. He frames the other girl and shows her up to the husband who beings to see the light and realizes that his wife is his real love after all. With such an unconvincing story they couldn't do much, but an excellent cast throughout gets it over as fairly interesting entertainment if you can overlook the lack of sympathy in the principals--the wife for being a sap, and the husband for being a cad.
CAST: Mary Astor, Robert Ames, Edward Everett Horton, Noel Francis, Ruth Weston, John Halliday, Gladys Gale, Alfred Cross, Pearl Varvelle, Lillian Harmer.
Director, Gregory LaCava; Author, Myron C. Fagan; Adaptor, Salisbury Field; Dialoguer, Same. Editor, Ann McKnight; Cameraman, Nick Musuraca; Recording Engineer, Not Listed.
Direction, Handicapped by Material. Photography, Good.
For a newcomer, with practically no experience, Judith Allen certainly is doing well for herself at Paramount. Today she was given the romantic lead opposite Bing Crosby in Too Much Harmony. Over 200 girls were tested for the part before the decision was made in favor of Judith. When she was first signed up by Paramount, DeMille grabbed her off for the feminine lead in his boy story, This Day and Age. But the requirements for Too Much Harmony are very different. Judith will have to both sing and dance in this picture. Of course, Bing will do most of the singing, but Judith will warble once or twice, according to present plans.
Grace Bradley, the red-headed night club entertainer signed up by Paramount, also will have a featured role in Too Much Harmony. And Ned Sparks, well known to the screen, has been signed for another nice part.
....
ZaSu Pitts, who has contracts to make pictures at both Radio Pictures studio and Universal and is keeping busy jumping from one lot to the other, will be available at the Radio lot during the next week or two. Her first role for this company will be one of the leads in Sweet Cheat, in which Ginger Rogers will be given her first starring opportunity. ZaSu, I hear, has a role every bit as large and important as that assigned to Ginger. William Seiter will direct this comedy.
....
For several months now rumors have persisted that Winfield Sheehan would relinquish the production rains at Fox Studio. Sheehan always seems to be good for a rumor, marital or professional. The fact that he has announced his plan to vacation in Europe, beginning this month, has led many to believe that he will take charge of foreign production for Fox. Others insist that his vacation will be largely devoted to research work on the life of Pasteur, whose achievements are planned as the basis of a forthcoming picture. Be all this as it may, Sidney Kent, president of Fox, today announced the signing of two famous theatrical producers to term contracts as associate producers. They are Charles B. Cochran, eminent London stage producer, and Archibald Selwyn, well-known New York producer. Sheehan will confer with both of them on plays and players. And, according to the announcement, all three will come to Hollywood.
At present Cochrane is presenting in London stage productions of "Dinner at Eight," "Music in the Air," "Wild December" and "Mother of Pearl." He was the first to Sarah Bernhardt, the Guitrys, Eleanor Dues, and the famous Russian ballet to the English public. He found Raquel Meller in a cabaret in a little Spanish town and later made her an international sensation.
Selwyn is equally prominent in the New York production field. His recent successes include "Private Lives," and "The Devil Passes."
....
Walter Huston was scheduled to start rehearsal with Irene Dunne today for the picture, Ann Vickers But Huston is off on a fishing trip in the mountains, and is packing into the wilds by horse. Radio Pictures is fuming because he can't be reached. Not long ago, you may recall, John Halliday went off on a similar expedition and the same studio had to enlist the aid of the state police to locate him for retakes on the Constance Bennett picture, Bed of Roses.
....
Mary Lee Manning is the latest addition to the cast of Waffles, the picture which Helen Mitchell is producing. Miss Manning will portray the mother of Sari Maritza in the film. Others in the cast are Buster Collier, Barbara Luddy, Alan Mowbray and Ivan Simpson.
....
Josephine Dillon, well known dramatic coach, leaves this week for Palo Alto to give a series of lectures on microphone speech and modern screen acting at the summer school of Stanford. Stanford, by the way, is Miss Dillon's alma mater.
....
And speaking of comediennes, Pert Kelton, I hear, is to have rather a nice role with Anna Sten in Nana. Pert gave Connie Bennett a run for her money in Bed of Roses and as a result won a term contract at Radio Pictures. And did I announced that Warren William will be borrowed from Warners for the male lead with Miss Sten? He replaces Gene Raymond, who was originally selected for the part. Word leaked out that Gene declined to take the assignment after he read the part. And Sam Goldwyn countered with a furious denial and said that Gene was too blond to play opposite Miss Sten and that he declined to dye his hair.
....
At Fox I tripped over the fact that Walter Connolly is at that studio playing in the Janet Gaynor picture, Paddy, the Next Best Thing. I wonder how long it is going to take Hollywood to appreciate the brilliant artistry of Connolly? Joseph Wood Krutch, in a recent article in The Nation, mentions Connolly has having giving one of the best performances of the past year in the stage production of The Late Christopher Bean.
....
Kay Francis fought strenuously against playing the feminine lead opposite Edward G. Robinson in Red Meat. But she finally agreed to play the part, so now Warners are trying to please Kay by seeking a story she will like. At the moment they are dickering for screen rights to a newspaper story titled Newspaper Woman. Warners have made more newspaper pictures than any other studio in Hollywood.
Gregory LaCava In the 30's
ABBREVIATIONS
EE — Los Angeles Evening Express
EH — Los Angeles Evening Herald
EHE — Los Angeles Evening Herald Express
FD — Film Daily
HCN — Hollywood Citizen News
HDC — Hollywood Daily Citizen
IDN — Illustrated Daily News
LAR — Los Angeles Record
LAPR — Los Angeles Post-Record
LAX — Los Angeles Examiner
MPH — Motion Picture Herald
1/18/1930 LAX WILLIAM BOYD PLAYS LEAD IN ARMY PICTURE
The blare of trumpets, the clatter of horses' hoofs and the flourish of sabers bring William Boyd in His First Command, the Pathe all dialogue and sound romance of the United States Cavalry now being shown at the RKO Theater.
Following his fine portrayal of the marine in The Leatherneck and his performance in Dress Parade, Boyd's appearance as a cavalryman should hold much interest for local theatergoers.
His First Command which was photographed at Fort Riley, Kansas, tells a story of a wealthy man's son who enlists in the cavalry to be near a certain colonel's daughter, with whom he has fallen in love. What happens to him in the course of his training as a soldier provides plenty of the Boyd type of comedy, but the story also develops a beautiful romance enlivened by many thrills.
Dorothy Sebastian plays opposite Boyd in this cavalry romance. Others in the cast are Gavin Gordon, recruited from the stage; Paul Hurst, Rose Tapley, Howard Hickman, and others. Gregory LaCava directed.
The RKO vaudeville stage show includes Tom Brown, with the original six Brown brothers, saxophone comedians; Flora le Vere in a novel presentation, Peggy Chamberlain and Ross Himes.
1/18/1930 EE OFFICER MAKES A ROOKIE OUT OF BILL BOYD
Although in making His First Command at Fort Riley, Kansas, William Boyd enacted a United States military man for the first time on the screen, it took a young lieutenant of cavalry to give the Pathe star his first real "dressing down." The lieutenant was D.E. Carleton, attached to A Troop, 13th Cavalry, and the incident occurred during the making of scenes near the stables of that troop for this dialogue romance, which is the current feature at the RKO Theater.
Boyd, dressed in a private's uniform, was sprawled out on the grass, resting between scenes. The high boots of a cavalryman that the actor was wearing were uncomfortable, so Bill unlaced them. Carleton saw him and decided to have some fun.
"Snap out of it, rookie, and salute," the officer commanded.
"I'm not a sol"--Boyd began.
"Silence!" roared the officer.
All right," said Bill.
"Don't say all right to me."
"All right--I mean--no."
"Say ‘Sir.'"
"Sir."
"Say, ‘yes, sir.'"
"Yes, sir."
"Stand up!"
"I'm not a soldier," insisted Bill. "I'm a"---
"You certainly don't look like a soldier. Get up!"
By this time Bill realized it was a frame-up. Looking around, he saw Gregory LaCava, the director, and Dorothy Sebastian, his leading lady, grinning from ear to ear. The star decided to "put it on" for them.
"Get up!" repeated Lieutenant Carleton.
Boyd got up.
"Stand at attention!"
Bill stood at attention.
"Why are those boots unlaced?"
"My feet hurt something awful."
"Say ‘Sir.'"
"My feet, sir, hurt, sir, something awful, sir!"
"What's this? Insubordination?"
"No, sir."
"You're a disgrace to the Army. Aren't you?"
Sir, sir."
"But for a movie actor, you take discipline pretty well," admitted the lieutenant.
Bill "took it big." He looked confused. LaCava, Miss Sebastian and the crowd were laughing.
"I knew it was a gag," he said. "Officers don't ride privates that way in the Army, do they?"
"I should say not," replied the lieutenant. "People just think they do. It's not like that in the Army."
"Haw! haw! haw!" came a loud and raucous laugh from behind a hedge and Lieutenant Carleton moved in the direction of the hedge bent upon a real dressing down.
1/29/1930 HDC Society In Filmland
James Gleason Will be host at a party for a group of friends Saturday night, at his Alpine Drive home in Beverly Hills. No wives will be bidden to the function. Guests will include:
Messrs. Irving Berlin, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh, Lew Cody, Raymond Griffith, Frank Fay, Leonard Fields, A. Van Buren, Myron Selznick, Paul Whiteman, James Gillespie, Bobby Dolan, Walter O'Keefe, John Considine, Dr. Harry Martin, Tay Garnett, Ralph Block.
Greg LaCava, Max Hart, Dave Selznick, Tom Buckingham, Sid Grauman, Rollo Lloyd, Anthony Bushell, Charles Sollars, Robert Ames, Bing Crosby, Leon Errol, Charlie Bailey, John Gilbert, Al Christie, George Volk and Dr. H.B.K. Willis.
There will be tables for cards and a buffet lunch will be served at midnight.
2/7/1930 HDC LAaCAVA GIVEN CREDIT FOR MAKING DIX STAR
Gregory LaCava, who directed William Boyd in His First Command at Fort Riley, Kansas, where all the exterior scenes for this romance of the United States Cavalry were photographed, is credited with making Richard Dix a star. LaCava directed Womenhandled and nearly all of the other early successes of Dix that were made in the east.
His First Command, showing at the Beverly Theater tonight and tomorrow, is an original all-sound and dialogue story by Jack Jungmeyer and James Gleason, written around the historic cavalry post at Fort Riley, and including all the colorful experiences of a cavalryman in the making.
The cast includes, besides Mr. Boyd, Dorothy Sebastian, Paul Hurst, ZaSu Pitts, Alphonz Eithier, Chuck Collins and Charles Moore.
2/22/1930 LAX Louella O. Parsons
You cannot say in the motion picture business "every director to his fancy." Gregory LaCava started out as a comedy director. His specialty was Richard Dix and comedy. Now he has gone into bigger and better dramas. He is to direct Beyond Victory, by Lynn Riggs, a war special for Pathe. Beyond Victory is supposed to have Ann Harding, Ina Claire, Constance Bennett and the rest of the Pathe stars. I still can't believe that it will be possible to put all these girls in one picture and keep them happy, but I am skeptical that way.
12/23/1930 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
When Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver were cast for parts in Cimarron, they did not realize that their work would result in the formation of a new team. When Cimarron was previewed a few nights ago, William LeBaron was greatly impressed with the work of these two players. As a result Herbert and Miss Oliver will be teamed in a series of Radio comedies. You can't escape the box office attraction of a good comedy team. Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey have done a lot together, and now this team is to be split up at the studio. The Herbert-Oliver team is formed just in time to keep the studio from being without one of these comedy combinations. Gregory LaCava will direct the first comedy, which is an untitled original written by himself. The picture will go into production the early part of January.
12/31/1930 HDC HOLLYWOOD IN FILMLAND
By Rachel Rubin
William LeBaron, William Beaudine, Florence Lake, Holmes Herbert, Reginald Denny, Robert Montgomery, William Powell, Carol Lombard, Mischa Auer, Gregory LaCava, Richard Barthelmess, Frank Wheeler, Paul Bern, Hobart Bosworth, Jane Murfin, Genevieve Tobin, Lionel Barrymore, H.B. Warner, Lenore Coffee, John Barrymore, James Gleason, Edmund Breeze, Henry Kolker, Mary Forbes, Chester Morris.
Miss Jean Harlow, who was one of the guests at a Chinese buffet supper given Sunday evening by Mr. and Mrs. Felix Hughes of Rossmore Drive.
1/19/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Down at Radio Pictures they are having a hard time making up their minds about Dorothy Lee. First she was to be starred, then she wasn't to be starred. Then she was to play in Turned Loose In College and now that production has been called off. The latest report concerning her is to the effect that she will have the leading role in Room and Board, which Douglas MacLean has been writing, and on which he will act as associate producer. Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver, who also were slated for Turned Loose in College, have been transferred to Room and Board. Charles Fellon is another addition to the cast and Gregory LaCava will direct this picture as his first for this studio.
1/20/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Johnny Harron has not been seen on the screen lately, but "it won't be long now."
John has a featured role in Room and Board, which is the initial starring vehicle for Edna Mae Oliver and Hugh Herbert at the Radio Pictures Studio.
Gregory LaCava, who also hasn't been doing much of late, is directing the farce which was prepared for the screen by Douglas MacLean, former comic star.
3/5/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Gregory LaCava is going to direct Mary Astor in her first starring picture, Nancy's Private Affair. He won the assignment as a result of his fine direction of Board and Room which is said to be a comedy sensation with Dorothy Lee, Hugh Herbert and Edna May Oliver heading the cast. Bertram Milhauser will be associate producer and Salisbury Field is adapting the story to the screen. He should do a great deal with this Myron C. Fagan play, for Field is a playwright in his own name, being the author of "Twin Beds," "Zander the Great," and "Wedding Bells." He also wrote No Limit for Clara Bow.
3/22/1931 FD Laugh and Get Rich
RKO Time, 1 hr., 13 minutes
Very funny, fast-moving comedy-drama with snappy dialogue, effective situations and great cast.
Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert have been happily teamed and they form a combination that, for well delivered repartee, laughable comedy and clearly handled situations, is pretty near perfect. The story matters little, but with these clever players, genuine entertainment is handed out and every type of audience should be satisfied. Miss Oliver, as a boarding-house landlady, and Hugh Herbert, her genial but good-for-nothing spouse, encounter many domestic difficulties, one being the selection of a husband for Dorothy Lee, their daughter. Herbert buys oil stock with money "borrowed" from his wife and also sponsors a "crazy" invention of Dorothy's sweetheart. Things look black until both the oil and the invention bring them fame and fortune.
CAST: Dorothy Lee, Edna May Oliver, Hugh Herbert, John Harron, Russell Gleason, Joyce Davis, Maude Sealy, Charles Sellon, Robert Emmett Keane.
Director, Gregory LaCava; Author, Douglas MacLean; Adaptor, Gregory LaCava; Dialoguers, Gregory LaCava, Ralph Spence; Editor, Jack Kitchen; Cameraman, Jack MacKensie.
Direction, Good. Photography, Good.
4/3/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Gregory LaCava, who recently directed Laugh and Get Rich, costarring Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert, will next megaphone Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor, for Radio Pictures.
4/6/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Gregory LaCava has clicked, to use the slang expression, like a million dollars!
This young megaphonist did quite nicely in the days of the silent picture, but was rather backward in forging ahead when the talkies came into being. He was absent from the screen for many months and just completed a new production for Radio Pictures.
The feature was Laugh and Grow Rich, co-starring that new team of Edna May Oliver and Hugh Herbert. The studio workers were quite proud of the film when it was completed and were unusually anxious to see what blase New York would say about it.
Blase New York said plenty–the result being that LaCava now carries a new contract in his pocket and a broad smile on his face. His picture is a hit.
Gregory's next assignment will be Nancy's Private Affair, which will star Mary Astor. Production is scheduled to start within a few days.
4/8/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Gregory LaCava is another director who has been signed up for a long term by Radio Pictures. His next assignment will be Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor. I hear that Nance O'Neill is a likely candidate for the chief character role in this picture.
4/24/1931 IDN Laugh and Grow Rich
By Harry Mines
The title Laugh and Grow Rich carries lots of philosophy. The picture carries plenty of comedy which, like the philosophy, sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't.
But this new film at the RKO theater augmented by a good vaudeville is a decidedly pleasing and human programmer done with naturalness and charm.
It isn't a special. It isn't outstanding in story, production or treatment. But it qualifies as a nice hour's entertainment.
In fact, the plot, concocted by Douglas MacLean, is a somewhat rambling affair with a rural setting. But MacLean, with the valuable assistance of Ralph Spence, has fashioned some effective moments of both farce and drama.
What' more, though, it has that grand comedienne, Edna May Oliver, in the cast and this fact alone is enough to assure the fans that a happy time is ahead.
AND MISS OLIVER
With every picture Miss Oliver makes greater inroads in popularity, and within the past few screen appearances, Notably Cimarron, she has become one of the best character actresses available. Her sense of comedy is delightfully inimitable, and her pantomime is uproarious. Of particular interest are her serious scenes.
Opposite her is Hugh Herbert giving a droll, outstanding character study of a good-natured, worthless husband who invests the family finances in oil, and thereby lets himself in for plenty of trouble.
Little Dorothy Lee in her first assignment away from the balmy atmosphere of a Wheeler and Woolsey story is attractive, capable and baby-voiced and carries the romantic interest with Russell Gleason, who has little to do, but does it well.
Otehrs in the cast are Johnny Harron as a crook, Charles Sellon, Robert Emmett Kdeane, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy. The direction of Gregory LaCava, who also did the screenplay, is study and crisp.
There is one fine sequence depicting the members of the boarding house at dinner.
ON THE STAGE
Here's the lineup of acts on the stage program:
The Three Swifts in comic juggling; Galla-Rini and sister billed as "Ace Accordionists"; Billy Kelly in "Taking the Heir"; Audrey Wycoff in a dance repertoire; Billy Black, Neapolitan Fur, Frank Wilson and the familiar and amusing fortune-telling bit presented by Redmond and Wells.
AND MISS OLIVER
With every picture Miss Oliver makes greater inroads in popularity
4/24/1931 EE Laugh and Get Rich
By Robert Hutton
Films and vaudeville share honors in providing farcical material for the delectation of RKO Theater patrons this week, who wish to escape whatever kind of weather we may be having at the moment.
Radio Pictures' Laugh and Get Rich, has, for example, an especially choice reason for being exceedingly funny. The reason is Edna May Oliver, who is cast as a lady from Boston of the real "bean and the cod, where are the Cabots?....etc., variety. In other words, the funny role she enacted in Cimarron, for example, is stressed so she becomes slightly tight and not only does the Virginia reel, but gets every one else at a fashionable New York ball to do the Virginia reel, is a scream.
TITLE IS VAGUE
Just what the story has to do with the title, I don't know.
I might add that Edna May herein appears as a boarding house keeper who consistently remembers her "blue blood" and who has a husband whose support is necessary until he buys stock in an oil promotion scheme which has all the earmarks of being terrible until . . . but that would be telling the story.
Hugh Herbert technically heads the cast as the husband. Others, most of whom have rather small but funny roles, are Dorothy Lee, Robert Emmett Keane, John Harron, Charlie Sellon, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy and Russell Gleason. Direction is by Gregory LaCava. Douglas MacLean wrote the story.
VAUDEVILLE GOOD
The vaudeville is headlined by Galia-RIni and sister, in an accordionist act; Billy Kelly and company, with the Paige Sisters, in "Taken the Heir," Audrey Wycoff in a dance revue and the Three Swifts in a trick juggling act or so.
Then, as though that were not enough, Billy Black, Frank Wilson, Raymond and Wells and the Neapolitan Four complete the program.
4/24/1931 EH Laugh and Get Rich
By Robert Hutton
Films and vaudeville share honors in providing farcical material for the delectation of RKO Theater patrons this week, who wish to escape whatever kind of weather we may be having at the moment.
Radio Pictures' Laugh and Get Rich, has, for example, an especially choice reason for being exceedingly funny. The reason is Edna May Oliver, who is cast as a lady from Boston of the real "bean and the cod, where are the Cabots?....etc., variety. In other words, the funny role she enacted in Cimarron, for example, is stressed so she becomes slightly tight and not only does the Virginia reel, but gets every one else at a fashionable New York ball to do the Virginia reel, is a scream.
TITLE IS VAGUE
Just what the story has to do with the title, I don't know.
I might add that Edna May herein appears as a boarding house keeper who consistently remembers her "blue blood" and who has a husband whose support is necessary until he buys stock in an oil promotion scheme which has all the earmarks of being terrible until . . . but that would be telling the story.
Hugh Herbert technically heads the cast as the husband. Others, most of whom have rather small but funny roles, are Dorothy Lee, Robert Emmett Keane, John Harron, Charlie Sellon, Hector V. Sarno, Maude Fealy and Russell Gleason. Direction is by Gregory LaCava. Douglas MacLean wrote the story.
VAUDEVILLE GOOD
The vaudeville is headlined by Galia-RIni and sister, in an accordionist act; Billy Kelly and company, with the Paige Sisters, in "Taken the Heir," Audrey Wycoff in a dance revue and the Three Swifts in a trick juggling act or so.
Then, as though that were not enough, Billy Black, Frank Wilson, Raymond and Wells and the Neapolitan Four complete the program.
5/13/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Frank Sheridan is the latest addition to the cast of The Reckoner, starring Richard Dix. Sheridan also had a nice part in Big Brother, the last Dix picture which has not yet been released. Carl Gerrard also joins the cast of this picture. Full of Notions, featuring Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and Dorothy Lee, will have in the supporting cast DeWitt Jennings, Jason Robards and William Scott. Another bit of production news picked up on the Radio pictures lot is that Noel Francis will have the second feminine lead in Nancy's Private Affair, starring Mary Astor. Robert Ames has the leading male role, you known, and Gregory LaCava is directing.
6/26/1931 HDC
Young John Darrow has been given the juvenile lead by RKO-Radio in Home Town Laughter, which will feature Ricardo Cortez. Gregory LaCava will direct it, instead of Lynn Shores, who has been assigned to Sour Grapes, starring Mary Astor, instead. The LaCava opus will start July 20. Carey Wilson has just completed the script for this feature.
7/30/1931 LAR Llewellyn Miller
The studios, which have been making life hard for some of the actors' agents in these last few months, are going to have something to think about. The agents are answering with a gigantic merger which, naturally, will be a very powerful organization.
Charles Byer and Arthur MacArthur have joined forces, backed by the facilities of R.H. Barkalow and Stephen Bull, Beverly Hills capitalists. Plans are being formulated to produce both stage and screen entertainment as an added release avenue for the clients they represent.
The deal was handled by attorney James A. Flanigan and included the immediate inauguration of a radio broadcast department under the management of Hugh Ernst, formerly of the National Broadcast Company.
Byer-McArthur Inc. will maintain offices in the Taft Building in Hollywood. Among the personalities represented by the agency are Lowell Sherman, Mae Murray, Baclanova, Gregory LaCava, Ivan Lebedeff, Richard Boleslavsky, Frank Albertson, Antonio Moreno, Sidney Toler, Mary Boland, Ned Sparks, Nicholas Sossanin, Michel Lewis, Lynn Shores and many others.
Byer, formerly a screen actor, has developed his agency business in the past two years. MacArthur, prior to opening an agency in Beverly Hills, has been connected with nearly every phase of the film business.
9/2/1931 HDC Elizabeth Yeaman
Exciting news from Radio Pictures lot this morning! Irene Dunne telephoned the studio from Del Monte last night to announce that she had made the seventh hole in one! The great event took place on the Pebble Beach golf course, where the star is vacationing with her husband, Dr. Griffin of New York. Hope Williams will arrive in town Friday to start work in the starring role of Penthouse. This title, I am told, will not be used, but anyway the story is an original by John Howard Lawson. Joel McCrea will have the male lead and that droll comedian, Hugh Herbert, also has been signed for a featured part. Gregory LaCava will direct.
10/5/1931 EE Jimmy Starr
Robert Presnell is writing the new story for Hope Williams' initial film production at Radio Pictures.
Gregory LaCava will direct. The John Howard Lawson story, as I reported, is in the discard, due to location difficulties.
10/11/1931 FD Smart Woman
Radio 68 mins.
Good cast holds up theatric story that lacks conviction in sophisticated theme of married life.
Here is an adaptation of the stage play, "Nancy's Private Affair," which shows all the stage tricks of striving for effects at the expense of plausibility. Mary Astor is the loving wife who returns from a trip abroad tof ind that her hubby, Robert Ames, has fallen in love with a designing girl after his dough. Then Mary decides to be a "smart woman" and beat her rival with finesse. She invites an English lord to the house and plays up to him. He frames the other girl and shows her up to the husband who beings to see the light and realizes that his wife is his real love after all. With such an unconvincing story they couldn't do much, but an excellent cast throughout gets it over as fairly interesting entertainment if you can overlook the lack of sympathy in the principals--the wife for being a sap, and the husband for being a cad.
CAST: Mary Astor, Robert Ames, Edward Everett Horton, Noel Francis, Ruth Weston, John Halliday, Gladys Gale, Alfred Cross, Pearl Varvelle, Lillian Harmer.
Director, Gregory LaCava; Author, Myron C. Fagan; Adaptor, Salisbury Field; Dialoguer, Same. Editor, Ann McKnight; Cameraman, Nick Musuraca; Recording Engineer, Not Listed.
Direction, Handicapped by Material. Photography, Good.
Labels: Janet Gaynor, Judith Allen, Kay Francis, Pert Kelton, Walter Connolly
posted by GDH at 9:57 AM
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