Modern Screen (Dec 1934 - Nov 1935)

(Above) Bette Davis, Roscoe Karns and George Brent in "Front Page Woman." (Left) Charles Boyer and Loretta Young teamed in "Shanghai." (Above) The picture you've been waiting for — "China Seas." And wotta cast — Wallace Beery, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow! A TOUR OF TODAY'S TALKIES See Modern Screen's Movie Scoreboard, page 10 BY REGINA CANNON Front Page Woman (Warners) Well, it may be all in the spirit of good, clean fun and, then again, you may be meant to take it big, but anyway you look at it, this is good entertainment. As its title indicates, it's about the ever-colorful activities of the newspaper tribe and how they pay each other off by grabbing news beats — known in the profession as scoops — from each other. Bette Davis and George Brent are on rival sheets. Of course they're in love and, since all's fair in IT and war, they go to it on a big murder yarn. The fact is that their goings-on will give you a laugh and the people in City Rooms throughout the country a big shriek for, believe it or not, these two young people are the only ones on their respective sheets covering the big tale. Of course, it could only happen in reel life, what with every cub on a staff collecting "info" on a real daily. However, this little (?) deviation from truth was doubtless injected for plot purposes. The dialogue is snappy and Miss Davis pretty fine. Mr. B. is slightly more convincing than usual and Roscoe Karns rates high. Preview Postscripts No wonder George Brent proves so devastating to some of our best leading ladies, for he has both Irish Blarney and a romantic past. A deadly combination. He was born on the Emerald Isle and was educated there — at least he went to school when there weren't any revolutions to distract him. But in spite of his meager schooling George developed into a bright young man, so bright, in fact, that he was asked to leave his homeland after leading one uprising too successfully. He went back, though, and joined forces with the Irish Players in Dublin. From there he came to America and Hollywood. Miss Ruth Chatterton is his "ex" and her former husband, Ralph Forbes, is his best friend. Miss Garbo and Mr. Brent were great pals before Greta sailed for home. While she's on her vacation, George may be found in dim corners of restaurants or behind grand pianos with Miss Katherine De Mille . . . Bette Davis hails from the East where she had some stage training. Hollywood regarded her as just another attractive, entertaining gal 'til she created the biggest furore yet seen or heard during the recent Academy Awards. The country rose in arms when Bette was not mentioned as a possibility for the prize due to her splendid work in "Of Human Bondage." She attained far more publicity because she wasn't mentioned than if she'd won the grand sweepstakes. Married to Harmon Nelson, a childhood sweetheart and orchestra leader, she claims their marriage is a success solely because neither of them meddle with the other's business. When Harmon plays in San Francisco or other cities close by, Bette lives with him in an auto camp and cooks and scrubs like any hausfrau. She keeps a watchful eye on his diet at all times but never his business. That's Harmon's idea, too, so maybe the fact that the little woman earns thousands of times more than friend husband won't send this marriage on the Hollywood rocks, after all . . . Roscoe Karns has the fastest talking apparatus and the deepest dimples of any actor in the studios. Things are ever lively on a set where Roscoe hangs out — and he's on plenty of them because when a scene falls flat the director howls, "Get Karns." He made his Los Angeles debut on the stage in "Front Page" and was the only one in the house not breathless. Has had a penchant for newspaper tales ever since and was in his glory on this set. This set, though, would put any editor in his glory. It was more complete and perfect in every detail than any newspaper office that ever existed. Teletypes, air-cooling systems — every modern improvement down to extra large spittoons made this a Newspaperman's Paradise. There was plenty of excitement on other sets, too, what with burning down a huge apartment house for one scene and having a fancy electrocution in another. *** Orchids to You (Fox) A flossy, frivolous number about life as it parades through a swanky New York flower shop, this is guaranteed not to tax your mental capacity, although it may prove a strain on your credulity. Even though it is handsomely cast and produced — they use twelve truckloads of flowers and have the (Continued on page 91) TALKIE TIPS ON CURRENT CINEMA FARE 16