Universal Weekly (1933-1935)

12 UNIVERSAL WEEKLY Jan. 13, 1934 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS REOPEN IN ON Monday, Carl Laemmle, Jr., postponing his trip for several weeks, announced the cast of "The Countess of Monte Cristo." This is the first production to go into work at the studios of Universal City which reopened yesterday. The cast announced is an all-star aggregation, assembled by Stanley Bergerman, who will supervise, and Karl Freund, who will direct. Gene Lewis, who wrote the dialogue for "I Like It That Way" has written the dialogue for 'The Countess of Monte Cristo" and will also direct the dialogue scenes. Fay Wray, Paul Luk, Star Cast of "Count< First Picture To G< Half Of The 1933 The cast includes Fay Wray, Paul Lukas, Roger Pryor, Patsy Kelly, Robert McWade, John Sheehan, Reginald Owen and Ellallee Ruby. Ellallee Ruby is a newcomer to the screen and this is her first picture. She was discovered in New York by Carl SAN FRANCISCO HAI In the Chronicle by Geo. C. Warren Fay Wray and Nils Aslher in a tense scene from “ Madame Spy.'” This stirring drama of international conflicts tcill open at the Roxy Theatre on Fein nary 9th as the fourth of a quartette of Universal knock-out pictures. So splendid is the work of Fay W ray that she has been selected to play the name part in another Continental production. This time it is “ The Countess of Monte Cristo.” “/COUNSELLOR AT LAW,” the fine play by Elmer Rice, has reached the screen as a more exciting story than it was on the stage, where the comedy was emphasized. John Barrymore is starred in the picture at the Golden Gate Theatre, playing George Simon, the East Side lad who has reached the heights as a lawyer. William Wyler, who directed the picture, has given the bustle of the offices of a busy man with fine effect, and has made an intelligent, quick moving story in which some of the minor elements of the play have been omitted. Elmer Rice, who wrote the play, also prepared the screen drama, which therefore carries out his ideas perfectly. + + + Motion Picture Says * ‘‘Counsellor At Law ” Is Grand Picture — Sure To Enjoy It — Well Acted THEY shof the stage play, literally, word for word, scene as faithfully as Ihe camera could do so. It was a good play. It's a grand picture. You are caught up into the busy, exciting, violent turmoil of the law offices of a firm of sensational trial attorneys whose clients are colorful criminals of both sexes. John Barrymore's performance of the flashy lawyer, who slavishly worships a contemptuous wife (Doris Kenyon), is only one of the reasons for seeing this picture. With nothing spectacular to say or do, Bebe Daniels, as the confidential secretary, makes herself felt and remembered. Isabel Jewell almost steals the picture as the blonde telephone girl. The pace is breathless, the story is caught up and passed rapidly from character to character, leaving one at the end regretful that there is not to be any more. You'll enjoy this, no matter what your age, sex, or tastes. (Universal) BEBE DANIELS OPPOSITE Bebe Daniels plays the secretary, who is secretly in love with Simon. The performance is an excellent one, subdued, emotional, interesting. Doris Kenyon is the wife, a woman cold in temperament, who married Simon for his money, and whose children by her former husband treat their stepfather with contemptuous indifference. Isabel Jewell gives a fine impersonation of the telephone girl, a talkative, saucy, competent employe, quick with retort and quite able to take care of herself. Melvyn Douglas, who has not been seen in the screen in many months, spent on a tour of the world with his wife, Helen Gahagan, plays the lover of Mrs. Simon and offers a fine performance of the part. There are good bits by Thelma Todd, Mayo Methot, Marvin Kline, Angela Jacobs, Vincent Sherman and others.