So's Your Aunt Emma (Monogram) (1942)

ZaSu Pitts, Tragedienne, Forced to Stay in Comedy The theatregoing public of the present era will not accept ZaSu Pitts as anything except a comedienne. But it is a fact that her first great screen successes were registered in roles which were sombre and tragic, and unrelieved by any trace of comedy. ae ee ear in the starring role of the Monogram comedy-drama, ‘“So’s Your Aunt Emma!” A number of years ago, in the era of silent pictures, Miss Pitts was the star of such tragic films as “Greed” and “The Wedding March,” and became definitely established as a leading exponent of the serious drama. Indeed, the famous Erich von Stroheim, who directed her in both these pictures, on many occasions declared that she was the screen’s greatest tragedienne. But in the succeeding years she appeared in a number of comedy roles, and thus her future career was irrevocably fixed. How firmly this flustered, querulous figure became associated with comedy in the public mind is illustrated by the experience of the studio which produced the tragic spectacle, “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Miss Pitts played the tender, dramatic role of the mother in the story, tortured by worry and uncertainty while her son was serving in the trenches. But at the first preview of the picture a strange thing happened. Every time Miss Pitts appeared on the screen the audience laughed, and her saddest speeches were ‘greeted with hilarious merriment. It was not because the scenes were not well done and in the proper mood of the story, for Miss Pitts is a consummate actress, but she had become the victim of her own skill as a comedienne. And so all the scenes in which Miss Pitts appeared had to be made over again, with another actress in the role of the mother. The cast supporting Miss Pitts in “So’s Your Aunt Emma” is headed by Roger Pryor, and also includes Warren Hymer, Gwen Kenyon, Douglas Fowley, Elizabeth Russell, Wheeler Oakman and Irving Mitchell. Jean Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Parsons, and the story by Harry Hervey was adapted for the screen by George Bricker and Edmond Kelso. Lucky Actor In Long Runs Roger Pryor is known in stage circles as one of the theatre’s luckiest actors. Pryor comes to the atre on in the leading male role in “So’s Your Aunt Emma,’ the mirth-filled Monogram comedy-drama starring ZaSu Pitts. Before he entered motion pictures, Pryor spent many years on the New York stage, and almost invariably landed engagements in plays which proved unusually successful, with consequent long runs. Thus, he was in “The Sea Woman,” whicn ran for a year at the Harris theatre; “The Royal Family of Broadway,” for 46 weeks at the Selwyn; “Apron Strings,’ for 40 weeks at the 48th Street theatre; and “Up Pops the Devil,’ for another 40 weeks at the Masque. Pryor finally attained Broadway stardom in “Blessed Event,” and on the completion of this run went on the road as costar with Violet Heming in ‘Always Juliet.” Other well known Hollywood players appearing with the wistful Miss Pitts in “So’s Your Aunt Emma” are Warren Hymer, Gwen Kenyon, Douglas Fowley, Wheeler Oakman and Bud McTaggart. The picture was directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Lindsley Parsons. Odoriferous A pungent odor pervaded a sound stage at Monogram studios one morning during the filming of “So’s Your Aunt Emma,” the hilarious comedy which comes to theatre on ; with ZaSu Pitts in the starring role. As a matter of fact, the scent emanated from strong linament applied to the person of Miss Pitts, who had bruised her arm when she fell on the afternoon previous, during the making of a scene. “This place smells like a joint!” exclaimed Roger Pryor, sniffing and looking about. “Well—dear me!” quavered Miss Pitts with a shy smile. “O— er—I suppose you mean a sore joint!” Tooter An accomplished all-around musician is Roger Pryor, who comes to Ga sierire ie theatre on “So’s Your Aunt Emma,” the Monogram comedy-drama in which he is featured with ZaSu Pitts. Son of the famous bandsman, Arthur Pryor, and himself a conductor, Roger is an expert performer on the piano, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and other musical instruments. | “OH, DEAR ME” | Cute Eleanor Counts brings a gasp from ZaSu Pitts in “So’s Your Aunt Emma,” Monogram comedy at the theatre. But Eleanor ‘would make anyone gasp. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 4 Graduate Warren Hymer, who comes to the Theatre: One! ee support of ZaSu Pitts in the Monogram comedy-drama, ‘“So’s Your Aunt Emma,” is a graduate of Professor Baker’s famous “47 Work-shop” at Yale University, where many famous actors and playwrights have received their first instruction in theatrical subjects. eeneeresene | ZASU'S AN UNDERWORLD MOLL | 6 ZaSu Pitts Learns t e Gangsters’ Lingo The spectacle of the soft-spoken ZaSu Pitts “standing up” to a group of glowering gangsters, and reading them the riot act in their own rough language, is one of the hilarious highlights of “So’s Your Aunt Em ma,” the Monogram comedy which comes to the ie tea ee theatre on In the role of Aunt Emma, Miss | Pitts is suspected by the gangsters of being Ma Parker, notorious gun woman, and to accomplish her purposes the gentle old maid resolves to carry out the deception. A newspaper reporter teaches her the uncouth jargon of ‘the underworld, and she creates a distinct impression of genuineness when the gangsters hear her deliver a_ steady stream of such choice expressions as “Dummy up—before I flatten As “Ma Parker,” a gun gal of gangland, ZaSu Pitts is at her hilarious | YUM!” best in “So’s Your Aunt Emma,” the new Monogram action comedy at the theatre. She paralyzes the underworld. Two Column Cut or Mat No. 21 ZaSu Pitts Is Plain Home Body Both Onand Off Screen Perhaps more than any other actress, ZaSu Pitts in pri vate life is essentially as she Miss: Pitts. comes: to the. theatre on as the star of the Monogram ma,” great city—and wins. When Miss Pitts is at work before the cameras there is a measure of exaggeration in her speech and in the fluttery gestures of her hands, but in other respects she is just as she is in real life. When her day’s work is finished, the unassuming actress does not sweep into the social life of the evening like a grand dame, loaded with jewels and costly furs and radiating the glamorous aura of the theatre. Rather, she hastens from the studio to enjoy the quiet pleasures of her home and family. The self-effacing ZaSu is simply a plain, home-loving body with simple tastes and a decided aversion to display. She never wears jewelry. Every gown in her personal wardrobe is of some shade of blue, for the very sufficient reason that she “likes blue.” When she sits on the studio sound stages between scenes she usually wears a blue shawl, knitted by herself, and in scenes in which her feet are not seen she wears crocheted slippers. She is actually that present-day rarity, an oldfashioned girl, on the screen and off. No matter where she is, she is just—ZaSu Pitts. The cast appearing in support of Miss Pitts in “So’s Your Aunt Emma,” includes Roger Pryor, Warren Hymer, Gwen Kenyon, Douglas Fowley, Elizabeth Russell, Bud McTaggart and Gene O’Donnell. Lindsley Parsons produced, with Jean Yarbrough as director, and the original story by Harry Hervey was adapted by George Bricker and Edmond Kelso. CREDITS Produced by LINDSLEY PARSONS Associate Producer BARNEY SARECKY Directed by JEAN YARBROUGH Screenplay by GEORGE BRICKER and EDMOND KELSO Original Story HARRY HERVEY Film Editor JACK OGILVIE Photography MACK STENGLER Sound Engineer GLEN GLENN appears on the screen. comedy, “So’s Your Aunt Em in which she matches wits with the underworld of a x | ZASU PITTS | Comedy fans are in for a treat at the theatre beginning aoe Or oa , When “So’s Your Aunt Emma” opens with ZaSu Pitts as an underworld moll. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 3 Roger Pryor, which has produced actors and musicians for several generations, decided early in life that he wanted to be a business man—but the lure of his theatrical heritage proved too great to overcome. Pryor comes to the atre on in the leading male role of ‘‘So’s Your Aunt Emma,” the Monogram comedy-drama starring ZaSu Pitts. Educated in his native New York at Dwight School and other private institutions, Pryor eventually entered the commercial world with his brother, but soon afterward capitulated to the stage when a friend offered him a tryout in the leading juvenile role in a play put on by the Myskle-Harder Stock Company in New Brunswick, Connecticut. Pryor remained with this company for two years, and then made his first Broadway appearance in ‘The Back Slapper.” From this point on, success came scion of a family¥ From this point on, Miss Pitts, thoroughly frightened at her own temerity, becomes the centre of an exciting series of events, which culminate in the complete discomfiture of the underworld. The cast supporting Miss Pitts in the starring role of ‘“So’s Your Aunt Emma” is headed by Roger Pryor, and also includes Warren Hymer, Gwen Kenyon, Douglas Fowley, Elizabeth Russell, Bud McTaggart and Irving Mitchell. Lindsley Parsons produced the picture, with Jean Yarbrough as director, and the original story by Harry Hervey was adapted for the screen by George Bricker and Edmond Kelso. Kansas Girl Is Screen Veteran A screen comedienne who occupies a niche all her own is ZaSu Pitts, who comes to the theatre on in the starring role of the Monogram comedydrama, “So’s Your Aunt Emma.” The wistful ZaSu was born in Parsons, Kansas, and was educated in the public schools of Santa Cruz, California, whither she went with her parents at an early age. Going to Hollywood when she was 18, Miss Pitts made her screen debut with Mary Pickford in “The Little Princess,” and embarked on a career which has given her a longer period of stardom than any other performer in motion pictures. Miss Pitts’ supporting cast in “So’s Your Aunt Emma” includes Roger Pryor, Gwen Kenyon, Warren Hymer, Douglas Fowley and Bud McTaggart. Lindsley Parsons produced, with Jean Yarbrough as director. O86" 00.0 00! were Family Heritage Led Young Businessman fo Stage Career rapidly, and Pryor apeared in many such popular successes as ‘Paid,’ “The Royal Family of Broadway,” “Modern Virgin” and “See Naples and Die.” Among the well known players with whom he appeared were Claudette Colbert, Gail Kane, Margaret Sullavan, Blanche Yurka and Violet Heming. In 1932 he attained Broadway stardom in “Blessed Event,’ going to Hollywood shortly afterward to make his debut in motion pictures. Son of Arthur Pryor, famous band master, the young actor mastered many musical instruments. Other well known players supporting ZaSu Pitts in “So’s Your Aunt Emma” are Warren Hymer, Gwen Kenyon, Douglas Fowley, Bud McTaggart and Wheeler Oakman. Jean Yarbrough directed for producer Lindsley Parsons, and the original story by Harry Hervey was adapted for the screen by George Bricker and Edmond Kelso. :