Smart Guy (Monogram) (1943)

PUBLICITY ‘Smart Guy’ Is a Film With Warmth, Action, Comedy (Revi Monogram has measured ew) out a carefully apportioned amount of human interest, action and comedy, put them all together, and come up with a new film that is certain to re-| ceive a popular reception at th e box office. It’s the picture, “Smart Guy,” which opened at the theatre last night. To bake: gare: Ol these varied sib ee uations as they arise in the story, Producer John T. Coyle made an in| telligent, showmanlike choice in his | cast by appointing Rick Vallin, Veda | Ann Borg, Wanda McKay and Jack LaRue to the principal roles, and lining his supporting cast with such favorites as Mary »Gordon, Bobby Larson, Addison Richards, Paul Mc| Vey, Roy Darmour and Jon Dawson. Rick Vallin, a handsome newcomer who, this department thinks, wiil catch on at the box office like a/| prairie fire on a dry, windy day, | carries the biggest load of the story, and very capably, too. As a gambdling-house czar who is innocently accused of manslaughter, and who hires a public relations expert to build him up in the public’s eye, then goes soft when he is won over by the affections of a young, freckled lad whom he adopts to further the scheme, Vallin is convincing at all times. No less real is the acting by Bobby Larson as the young boy. Veda Ann Borg is surely successful in making the audience dislike her as Vallin’s fiancee who turns double-crosser with the press agent, Jack LaRue. And that takes good acting, for Miss Borg is a very attractive woman, and it wasn’t easy for us to accept her, at first, as a meanie. Wanda McKay is the pretty young woman who stands by loyally | when Vallin needs her the most. | Direction of the film is well-done | at the hands of Lambert Hillyer, with fine photographic work engineered by Mack Stengler. The story is one Originally submitted by Harri| son Jacobs, and was adapted for the screen by John W. Krafft and Charles R. Marion. “Smart Guy” is definitely a not-| to-be-missed movie. Veteran of Many Films | Mary Gordon, good-natured Irish actress who plays a featured role in Monogram’s production, “Smart GUY Staring nih Picea oe at the tees es theatre, has appeared in 96 films since she changed to the motion picture medium from the stage in 1930. Rick Vallin plays the starring role in “Smart Guy,” which | was directed by Lambert Hillyer, and the supporting cast is headed by Veda Ann Borg, Wanda McKay, Jack LaRue, Bobby Larson and Addison Richards, in addition to Miss Gordon. MR. SMART GUY Rick Vallin, handsome leading man, plays the title role in Monogram’s film, “Smart Guy,” which opens oP seit cy at the .......... theatre. Veda Ann Borg, Jack LaRue, Wanda McKay and Bobby Larson head the supporting cast. One Col. Mat Scene No. 1 AUTHORS ALL Veda Ann Borg, who is featured in the Monogram film, “Smart Guy,” MAIC hE StAaTts ke ab theses theatre, thinks there is nothing novel about having written a_ novel. While being interviewed on the stage one day she happened to mention that she liked to jot down poet iry and write fiction a bit, stating she had an unpublished novel in ‘her trunk of memoirs. The inter| viewer asked why she didn’t do |/something about it. “T don’t entertain any ideas that I am a writer,” said the attractive star. “As far as that’s concerned, I suppose everyone imagines himself a potential author, figuring to set his thoughts on paper some day. If | | you walked up to any person on the street and asked how his book or story was progressing, Ill wager he’d answer immediately that he hadn’t worked on it lately, or that the novel was just about finished. I wrote my book, an account of my life more than anything else, merely for my own amusement.” Rick Vallin, Wanda McKay and| Jack LaRue are the other princi ‘pals appearing in “Smart Guy.” SMART GUY'S RECEPTION PARTY | Wanda McKay, police and Addison Richards form a reception party at the hideout to wait for Rick Vallin in the. title role of Monogram’s “Smart Guy,’ drama which starts . bi NE ete at the .......... theatre. Two Column Scene Mat No. 21 i| planned to become a schoolteacher. :| sion. Film's D. A. Serves REELLOVE REEL LOVE | A Long Term Addison Richards, who plays the district attorney in the Monogram ‘film, “Smart Guy,’ which opens eyes nz gi et atthe i...) c.ceeobheatre; | has served in one capacity or another in that law-enforcement office since he started in films twelve years ago. Richards was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and earned a B.A. degree at Washington State College, where he | Instead, he poecame interested in motion pictures, and from the very beginning made an impressive district attorney, has been elected for the role ever since. In a few more years he plans to put in for a pen Rick Vallin is the star of “Smart Guy” and in addition to Richards/ Rick Vallin and Wanda McKay are Pe _|Shown in a scene from the Monothe wa ae ting cast pase ye ae gram production, “Smart Guy,” Nices 08, Veda (Ane. Borg, WRUUS) shih /startea 6: 30: at the 25055: McKay, Jack LaRue, Bobby Larson | theatre. and Mary Gordon. One Col. Mat Scene No. 2 'Story and Good Cast Makes ‘Smart Guy’ Smart Picture (Review) After seeing the initial showing yesterday of Monogram’s entertaining film, “Smart Guy,” at the theatre, it seemed clearly ‘evident to this department that there must have been more than one “smart guy” connected with the production of such a neat film. For in it the studio has com‘bined a good story with an excellenta— —¥—__— . |cast, and come forth with a picture ‘that any exhibitor should be proud Freckled Kids |to display to his patrons. | Heading the cast are Rick Vallin, Ferm Fan Club Veda Ann Borg, Wanda McKay and | Jack LaRue. Vallin, and we think you'll agree, is a surefire bet to become a star in not too many more pictures. Other roles are carried expertly by Bobby Larson, Mary Gordon, Paul McVey, Addison Richards, Roy Darmour and Jon Dawson. Briefly, the story presents Vallin as a gambling-house operator, arrested for manslaughter, but who has an alibi in his fiancee, Veda Ann Borg, who was with him at the time of the accident. To whitewash his character in the public’s eye, Vallin hires a public relations man, Jack LaRue, who suggests the adoption of a young lad, Bobby Larson, ;}as a means of establishing himself as a worthy citizen. The boy’s freckled face and innocent, interested eyes soften the heart of the VALLIN IN NAVY gambling czar, but don’t help the| Rick Vallin, star of Monogram’s situation when the fiancee and the | film, “Smart Guy,’ which starts Press agent double-cross him. As|........., Be 23 re a theatre, the story unfolds you'll find your-| was inducted into the U. S. Navy Self weeping, laughing and sitting} just four days after the picture was tense in your seat. completed. The handsome young | John T. Coyle produced the film| actor had previously been deferred | for Monogram which was directed | so that he could support his invalid by Lambert Hillyer, with Mack} mother, who at one time was prima Stengler supervising the camera| ballerina of the Russian ballet. Also work. John Ww: Kraft and Charles | just two days before induction, he R. Marion supplied the screenplay.| had been signed to a seven-year “Smart Guy” is smart casting, smart | contract by Monogram as a result | writing, smart production and smart! of his excellent performance in this entertainment. picture. Tee ee Leading the supporting cast in Roulette Wheel “Smart Guy” are Veda Ann Borg, B z : ae saad Jack LaRue, Mary Jrdon, dison Richards and Bobrings Memories by Larson. The picture was proWorking on the gambling casino| quced by John T. Coyle and direct set for Monograms “Smart Guy,” | ed by Lambert Hillyer. exciting film which opens .......... | pia eae AU THe pete ae theatre, brought | back memories to Paul McVey, charMODISTE acter actor who is featured in the| Aside from being an excellent film with Rick Vallin, Wanda Mc| actress, Veda Ann Borg is a talentKay, Jack LaRue, Veda Ann Borg | ed dress designer, actually qualified /and Bobby Larson. to engage in the art professionally. About fifteen years ago he was a| She became interested in sketching member of a vice squad in his home| ew costumes for herself when she | town, a small mid-western city, and, WaS a model in New York before helped raid many a gambling den,| She turned film actress. All the at which time they would destroy all| Clothes she wears in “Smart Guy,” the expensive machinery in the| Which opens ........ hte arate place. Of course, all the roulette/ theatre, were of her own origina| wheels and gaming tables used in) tion. Rick Vallin plays the title | the picture have been out of work-| role in the film, with Wanda Mcing order for some time. But one| Kay, Bobby Larson, Jack LaRue, | day in the past they probably served | Addison Richards and Mary Gortheir master loyally. ‘don heading the supporting cast. Bobby Larson, freckled young lad who plays a featured role in Monogram’s “Smart Guy,” which opens Bt thes oka, theatre: One .isc. ss has a fan club in Des Moines which is composed entirely of freckle-faced members. Age limit is fifteen years or younger, and freckles may be large or small, just so long as they are plentiful. Bobby is the innocent-eyed youngster who changes a gambling czar’s heart from cold to warmth as the adopted son of the gambler. Rick Vallin plays the title role, with the support of Veda Ann Borg, Wanda McKay, Addison Richards, Jack LaRue and Mary Gordon. The picture was directed by Lambert Hillyer.