The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

30 THE BIOSCOPE August 19, 1931 THE 1931-1932 production programme of Warner Brothers is announced by Max Milder, the company’s managing director, who lays stress on the fact that “ star values are dominant in the motion picture field to-day.” For this coming season he promises Warners have over fifty stars and featured players lined up for pictures. Such stars as George Arliss, John Barrymore, William Powell, Dolores Costello, Kay Francis, Barbara Stanwyck, Constance Bennett, Winnie Lightner, Bebe Daniels, Edward G. Robinson, Marian Marsh, James Cagney, Leon Janney, Chic Sale and Walter Huston, and others who will be presented in new Warner vehicles possess a following among the public which is of great value and significance. " We believe,” says Mr. Milder, “ that we are offering for 1931-1932 the most imposing and brilliant list of ' names ’ that any producing company has ever gathered together. “ Stories as well as Stars ” " Good stories are also of utmost importance. We now have the largest library of screen material by writers of recognised ability, who stand in the first rank as scenarists, dramatists and novelists, of any producing company. “ In players, stories, directors, technical operation and all other phases of motion picture production, we believe that our programme for 1931-1932 will set a new standard of excellence. " Warners will produce 35 feature-length pictures during the coming season, including : — Three pictures starring William Powell, one of the new Warner stars signed within the past few months. The first will be ” The Road to Singapore,” based on a play by Roland Pertwee. The second will be ” Divorce Detective,” from a story by Dashiell Hammett, author of " The Maltese Falcon,” while several stories are under consideration for the third. "Alexander Hamilton” will star that most distinguished of actors, George Arliss. This will be a screen version of the stage drama written by Mr. Arliss in collaboration with Mary P. Hamlin, and is to be the most ambitious production Mr. Arliss has yet undertaken for Warners. George Arliss will also be presented in " A Successful Milder’s Promise for 1931 Warner Brothers to Offer More Pictures— “ and Better ”— Calamity,” a screen version of a successful play by Claire Rummer. This story of a middle-aged business man with a family of incorrigibles is particularly adapted to the star. A John Barrymore starring vehicle, entitled " The Mad Genius,” is based upon the famous play by Martin Brown. Marian Marsh, who played “ Trilby ” to Barrymore’s " Svengali,” has the leading feminine role. Of three productions starring Barbara Stanwyck, the first is entitled “ Night Bebe Daniels William Powell Nursp,” and is an intensely dramatic rendi tion of the novel by Dora Macy. In support are Ben Lyon, Joan Blondell, Clark Gable and Charles Winniger. The other two vehicles selected for Miss Stanwyck are " The Purchase Price,” a story by S. K. Morehouse of a girl who started in poverty and fought her way to a place in the sun, and "Betrayed,” an adaptation of the play " Top of the Hill,” by Charles Kenyon. Constance Bennett and “ Papa ” " Bought ” will star Constance Bennett, with a supporting cast including Richard Bennett (her father in real life), who plays her father in this picture. Miss Bennett will also be presented in " The Dangerous Set,” by Gregory Stone. There are at least three starring vehicles for Kay Francis, of which " The Rich Are Always With Us ” will be the first. " The Hungry Wife,” an adaptation of Arthur Richman’s sensational play, “ Heavy Traffic,” will be Miss Francis’ second vehicle, and her third will be “ Exclusive,” a " modern woman ” story by Carolyn Sharpe. " Expensive Women ” will mark the return to the screen of Dolores Costello. This is based on a novel, " The Passionate Sonata,” by William Collison, to be published in the autumn. Three Winnie Lightner pictures will include " Side Show,” an original circustory by William K. Wells, who wrot “ The Cock-Eyed World.” Charles Butterworth is to co-star with Winnie Lightner. Next will come " Big Hearted Bertha,” by Leona Wilkens. Then there will be "Mr. Hercules,” based on a story by Gwyn Evans, the Welsh author, and “ Paid To Dance,” by Arthur Caesar, a story of a Parisian gigolo. Lew Ayres Again " A Handful of Clouds ” will star Lewis Ayres. Based on a story by Rowland Brown, it is a gangster melodrama. “ The Public Enemy ” traces the development of two youngsters in Chicago into hardened racketeers. Written by Kubec Glasmon and John Bright, ex-Chicago newspaper men. The leading role is played by James Cagney, supported by Edward Woods, Jean Harlow, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Beryl Mercer and Leslie Fenton. " Pleasure First,” by Marjorie Fischer, deals with the easy-going husbands and wives of to-day. “ Honeymoon Hotel ” is based on the story by Steuart M. Emery. The Star Witness,” another production about which most enthusiastic reports have been received is from a story by Lucien Hubbard, with Charles (Chic) Sale, Walter