Newspapers / Zebulon Record (Zebulon, N.C.) / Sept. 17, 1937, edition 1 / Page 11
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" I'll#* llritli* Worf lied** (SYNOPSIS) Anni (Joan Craivford), a humble cabaret siuger, receives as a gift, a large sum of money from an eccen tric nobleman. With this she goes to a fashionable mountain resort, Eotchen, where she meets Rudi (Robert Young), socially promi nent. Rudi, though already en gaged, proposes to Anni. Every thing looks bright for her future, but Anni is unhappy nevertheless. She knows she is a fraud, and knows, also, that the town postman and telegrapher, Giulo (Franchot Tone), is aware of the fact. But Giulo loves Anni, too, and just as she is about to be exposed, he pro poses to her. And the two lovers ride away together in a donkey cart. Cooking Forward with Feo Taxicabs register the heartbeats of the big city. As they race up and down Park Avenue, turn toward Broadway and flit to the Bronx, they register fares and simultane ously enumerate loves, lives and deaths. This is the thought which Norman Krasna presents in the new' Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer picture, "Big City,” a first-hand account of metropolitan life when taxi drivers strike and great political and judiciary forces stand by Norman Krasna, himself a city trained man, w'ith a large newspaper experience to his credit, reveals those actual happenings that people long to know' about. Spencer Tracy plays the role of a taxi driver and Luise Rainer is his Rumanian wife. Thrills of pitched battles, a frame-* up, a glimpse into the “inside” of taxi oa'> racketeering are backgrounds for the romance. One of the more elaborate scenes is a replica of the annual sportsmen’s dinner at .Jack Dempsey’s restaurant in New York. A production unit went to New York to film this sequence in the actual restaurant, and Dempsey appears in the episode. Among the highlights of the produc tion are the battle at the dock, partici pated in by famous athletes who quell a taxi riot, Tracy’s wild dash through traffic driving a taxicab, the trailing of racketeers w'ho foment the taxi war, and an explosion sequence. One of the most impressive church ceremonies in the world was also repro duced, in full and with every detail authentic, the high mass of the Rumanian church, sung with some of the oldest ecclesiastical music in existence. The scene was filmed for the episode in which Luise Rainer, falsely accused of a crime and sought by the police, takes refuge in a Rumanian church in New York. The service was staged by the male choir and soloist of the Russian Orthodox Church of Los Angeles, under supervision of Rev. C. Prosor. The Rumanian service is very similar to that of the Russian. A bass soloist and full male choir sing the service, the bass singing the service and the chorus the responses. “Big City” contains moments of tension and deep feeling, intervals of distress, but every incident in this extraordinary new picture has its vital part in the great panorama, with its differing races, rival organizations, impending political powers and opposed human interests. The cast is a large one, and includes, in addition to the two co-stars, Luise Rainer and Spencer Tracy, such dis tinguished players as Charley Grapewin, Janet Beecher, Eddie Quillan, Oscar O’Shea, Helen Troy, William Demarest and John Arledge. Frank Borzage directed the picture. Other forthcoming M-G-M attractions include “The Women Men Marry,” “My Dear Miss Aldrich,” the sensational melo drama. “Madame X,” “Double Wedding,” and “Live, Love and Learn.” Screen fans art awaiting, also, with great interest, “Conquest,” formerly called “Marie Walewska,” starring Greta Garbo and Charles Boyer. Undoubtedly, the M-G-M film fare for th coming weeks will be varied, unusual and attractive. PICTURE OF THE MONTH I Rudi (Robert Young) meets Anni (Joan Craw ford), cabaret entertainer, who is masquerad ing as a grand lady, and falls in love with her. Crisp Facts Alxmt-j Franchot Tone Honeymoon City, picturesque Nia gara Falls, was the birthplace of Fran chot Tone. Here, as the son of Frank J. Tone, now president of the Carbor undum Company, he enjoyed manv cul tural advantages. After attending Hill School, Franchot went to Harvard University and was graduated from Cornell, later taking courses at the University of Ronnes, F ranee. He started his professional stage ca reer by appearing with stock companies in Buffalo and Greenwich Village; then acted with Katharine Cornell in “Age of Innocence,” the Theatre Guild and th Group Theatre. He won immediate attention with his first talking picture, “Today We Live.’.’ Since then, he has done almost twenty important roles, including “Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” “Reckless,” “Mutiny on the Bounty,” “The King Steps Out,” “Suzy,” “The Gorgeous Hussy” and “They Gaye Him A Gun.” In “The Bride Wore Red,” Franchot appears opposite his wife. Joan Craw ford. World s A Stage And Hollywood Gets All Actors Maureen O’Sullivan will be steeped in stage traditions when she completes her role in “My Dear Miss Aldrich.” With the exception of herself, every member, of the cast is a stage graduate. Walter Pidgeon, after a succession of starring roles in Broadway hits, makes his debut as a motion picture leading man. Edna May Oliver grew up on the stage. She played bit parts for thirty years before her characterization in “Cradle Snatchers” rocketed her to fame and motion pictures. Charley Grapewin ran away from home to join a circus. He headlined in vaudeville before making his name fa mous on Broadway. Rita Johnson is another stage actress who went into movies oecause of her performances on the Broadway boards. Janet Beecher, like Edna May Oliver, • started in the theatre. She has the dis tinction of being one of the few ac tresses who was given her first big mo tion picture part without a screen test. EXPERIENCE Bruce Cabot is still getting electrical “experience” following completion of “Bad Guy,” in which lie portrayed a lineman. His electric refrigerator went haywire, consuming $11.29 worth of current last month. (Sanies from M-G-ATs <<c lhe Bride Wore Red ) . Rudi (Robert Young) invites Anni (Joen Crew ford) to meet hit select circlefriends, army officials and titled aristocrats. Warren William Developing New Type of Hair Oil *• Warren William, whose mechanical gadgets have made him Hollywood’s Number One inventor, is working on a new problem. He’s trying to develop a lotion which will hold the hair in place no matter how the wind is blowing, or how stren uously the person is exercising. “The trouble is,” he explained to Director Sam Wood on the set of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Madame X,” “this side hair of mine is always flap ping down over my ears.” “Ye gods,” moaned Sam, as he ran his fingers over his thinning locks, “you should worry. Wait till you get in a class with us guys who need to re place the divots.” Trust Fund Left To Edward Norris Eddie Norris received the surprise of his life when his late father’s attorney visited the “Bad Guy” set recently and advised him that he was financially ' de pendent. Before his father, Dr. Richard C. Nor ris, died three weeks ago, he set up a trust fund for his actor-son. the attorney in formed him. The legacy will provide a comfortable living, Norris was told, but the actor, now playing the best role of his career, announced that he would not retire. Gladys George Sings First Song Gladys George has returned to her mus ical comedy days to record her first song in eight years. The number, “You’re Setting Me On Fire,” was written by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright for the New Orleans case sequence of “Madame X,” in which Gladys plays the title role. Admittedly nervous when she started, for she hadn’t practiced since the stock company days when she was singing leads in such shows as “Little Jesse James,” “No, No, Nanette,” “Gingham Girl” and “Irene,” Gladys came through with flying colors on the second recording, to the applause of Director Sam Wood and the entire company. • ONE-PIECE SLACKS GOOD FOR ATHLETICS Slack suits of the two-piece variety that pull out at the waistline when active sports are played, have long been the an noyance of Betty Furness. As a result Betty designed a one-piece slack suit, with the blouse stitched firmly to the slacks. A zipper fastens it up the side and can be used as a useful orna ment on either shoulder. Os white wing strut, the suit has red, celluloid zippers. Betty tops it off with a red beanie and slack shoes. Anni (Joan Crawford), however, decides to give up her false position for the love of Giulo (Franchot Tone), the town postman, who knows who she really is, but loves her for her self alone. « Spot News & Spare time finds Nelson Eddy looking over football manuals. . . . He’s to be gridiron hero in “Rosalie.” . . . Betty Jaynes enjoying the midget auto races. . . . She knows every driver and the rec ords they’ve made. . . . J)idy Garland rushing the season by posing as a scare crow for Hallowe'en art. * * • Robert Taylor, co-starred with Eleanor Powell in “Broadway Melody of 1938,” got so interested in a night tennis game with George Murphy that they played un til three next morning. . . . Robert Wild hack, “sneezing professor” in “Melody,” is trying to have his sneezes patented. * * * Myma Log is fond of a glass of half pineapple mixed with orange juice. . . . Greta Garbo, despite her velvet gown for “Conquest,” really hasn’t been bothered by Old Man Sol, because she’s doing her scenes down at San Pedro. ♦ * * Pete Smith has been invited to act as honorary referee at the game between the Green Bay Packers and the College A 11- Stars, scheduled for the first week in September. He recently finished a spe cialty, “Pigskin Champions.” '/fs. I.ols of U nnipum Joan Crawford wears a red dress in her new starring picture, “The Bride Wore Red,” which weighs thirty pounds, ft is made of more than two million red beads, cro cheted on Crepe Romaine. The dress contains fifteen kilos, or fifteen thousand strings of beads, each kilo weighing apjvrorimately two pounds and three ounces.
Zebulon Record (Zebulon, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 17, 1937, edition 1
11
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