The Crime Smasher (Monogram) (1943)

Radio’s Famous Detective Success in Screen Debut (Review) Cosmo Jones, the famous detective character of the radio, made his screen debut at the see ay theatre last night as the central figure of an absorbingly interesting murder mystery by Monogram and titled “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime > 99 Smasher’. The title role in the picture ic¥ enacted by Frank Graham, who has not only played this part but every other role in the series of detective playlets broadcast from the Pacific Coast for the past three years The investigator’s role is decidedly a character part, and Graham brings to the screen a detective who is refreshingly different from those who have gone before. Other featured players in the big cast are Richard Cromwell, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy, all of whom contribute importantly to the success of the picture. Good work is also done by Mantan Moreland, Gwen Kenyon and Herbert Rawlinson. During the progress of the story the principal characters are the cen; ter of a series of tensely dramatic situations, though the picture is at times lightened by genuinely funny interludes, mainly contributed by Moreland and “Slow-burn” Edgar Kennedy. James Tinling, who directed under the supervision of producer Lindsley parsons, has effectively maintained interest and a swift flow of action, and should be credited with a large share in the fine results brought to the screen. Walter Gering’s eventful story was adapted for the screen by Michael L. Simmons, and Mack Stengler was in charge of camera work. “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’”’ is an unusually interesting picture. Cosmo Jones Is New Type Sleuth A new type of detective is introduced to the screen in ‘Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’,” the Monogram comedy-drama opening AU AUG M Mue i cam ars theatre Oni oooh. ; with Frank Graham, Richard Crom well, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy in featured roles. Graham created the character of Cosmo Jones, and has just completed three years of weekly CBS broadcasts of detective playlets. Other members of the cast are Gwen Kenyon, Mantan Moreland, Tristram Coffin, Charles Jordan, Gil Stanley and Herbert Rawlinson. James Tinling directed for producer Lindsley Parsons, and the original story by Walter Gering was adapted for the screen by Michael L. Simmons. A crime wave has been Blake, a wealthy socialite, is member of one of the gangs, her and hold her for ransom. club, and during the ensuing one of the two gangs operatin The F'ast-Moving Story (Not For Publication) Jones, a correspondence-school detective, arrives in town to offer his services to the police. He happens on the scene when a gangster is killed by an opposing gang. Phyllis gan when the men try to kidnap Phyllis in front of a night ously wounded by the gangsters’ bullets, although no one realizes he has been shot. Cosmo discovers the wounded man, and Sergeant Flanagan, blamed by Chief Murphy for the shooting, is demoted. Phyllis conceals the affair from her father, and Cosmo with the help of Eustace, a colored porter, tries to find the murderer. Susan, Flanagan's fiancee, aids Cosmo in his search. Phyllis is finally kidnapped, and Cosmo decides that the act must have been committed by Phyllis father, advertise in the papers that contact with the kidnappers has been made, and each gang thinks the other is double crossing, which results in one gang being wiped out by the other. The remaining mobsters contact Blake, and through devious methods Cosmo is finally able to track the gangsters down and free Phyllis. It is discovered that the bystander was injured by one of the gangsters, and Flanagan is reinstated, so that he and Susan can now be married. THE CAST Cosmo Jones ic, Be gee FRANK GRAHAM EUIStGCG i r.0 4) eh eee eee _...MANTAN MORELAND Fiemme) ce aes ...RICHARD CROMWELL Murphy. EDGAR KENNEDY Susan +o) = 2. GALE STORM Phyllis... .. GWEN KENYON Jake... .TRISTRAM COFFIN Bates CHARLES JORDAN Tete sie. GIL STANLEY 15 Cor fy = Gl ste Ge UES aaa ae rating = ... HERBERT RAWLINSON SLIDING SCALE Frank Graham sang in churcn choirs for many years in his youth, beginning at 10 as a boy soprano and proceeding downward by easy stages until he was a basso profundo at the age of 20. Graham is now appearing on the screen of the Arse ee theatre in the Monogram detective comedy-drama, “Cosmo-Jones in “The Crime Smashers.” | COSMO JONES | Famous sleuth of the airways, Cosmo Jones, played by Frank Graham, comes to othe 35 ae. eS: Theatre in “The Crime Smasher.” One Col. Scene Mat No. 1 sweeping the city and Cosmo running around with Tom, a and these men plan to kidnap Cosmo is with Sergeant Flana gun-battle a bystander is seri g in the city. Cosmo has Blake, | SCREEN’S NEWEST SLEUTH | Radio’s delightfully dippy detective, Cosmo Jones, played by Frank Graham, makes his screen debut in “The Crime Smasher” at the.......... Theatre. Edgar Kennedy is Cosmo’s puzzled sidekick. Two Column Scene Mat No. 20 Cromwell’s Screen Career Result of Painting Skill Richard Cromwell’s skill as a painter was the direct rea Peedi ite theatre on son for his debut as a motion picture actor. Cromwell comes to the __._. in “Cosmo Jones in “The Crime Smasher’,” the Monogram drama in which he is featured with Frank Graham, Gale Specializing in art and dramatics at the high school in Long Beach, California, Cromwell won a scholarship at the Chouinard Art School lin Los Angeles, and earned money for his expenses during the course by working behind a soda fountain on the ‘evening shift. Later he worked in a gasoline filling station, and with his savings was finally able to open a small art _ store, stocked mainly with his own paintings. His first customer was Patsy Ruth Miller, who recommended his work to her friends. Among them was Anna Q. Nillson, and she, in turn, introduced him to the late Marie Dressler. Cromwell executed a painting for the actress’ hcme, and later painted several panels for the home of Colleen Moore. In 1930 Cromwell, his attention having thus been directed to motion pictures, heard that a young boy was needed by Columbia studios for the title role of ‘‘Tol’able David,” the part originally made famous by Richard Barthelmess. Cromwell, totally without professional experience, applied for the part, and won the coveted assignment against strong competition. Thus began a screen career which has proven outstandingly successful. But the young actor still continues his art studies. In addition to Graham, Miss Storm, Cromwell and Kennedy, the cast of ‘Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’” includes Gwen Lenyon, Mantan Moreland, Tristram Coffin and Herbert Rawlinson. James Tinling directed for producer Lindsley Parsons, from Michael L. Simmons’ adaptation of the original story by Walter Gering. Actor Painted For Screen Notables Richard Cromwell won an art scholarship on his graduation from high school, and afterward executed paintings for the homes of Marie Dressler, Anna Q. Nillson, Patsy Ruth Miller and other famous screen stars. Cromwell, featured with Frank Graham, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy, comes to the MARU eemore theatre<on +2253). Monogram’s murder mystery drama “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’.” Storm and Edgar Kennedy. * CREDITS Producer LINDSLEY PARSONS Director JAMES TINLING Photography MACK STENGLER Film Editor CARL PIERSON Sound GLEN GLENN Screenplay MICHAEL SIMMONS Original Story WALTER GERING Rawlinson Was Star Of Silents While he was acting in motion pictures in Los Angeles, Herbert Rawlinson saw the beginnings of the neighboring Hollywood area as a film producing center, as it was eradually transformed from a broad expanse of fruit orchards and grain fields. This veteran actor comes to the Seti AA theatre:on ie “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’,’ the Monogram murder mystery which features Frank Graham, Richard Cromwell, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy. In 1908, when the Selig Polyscope Company moved its production forces from Chicago to Southern California and built Los Angeles’ first motion picture studio in the Edendale section of the city, Rawlinson was the leading man of the city, Rawlinson was the leading man of the troupe. Other members of the company, which was under the management of Francis Boggs, were Hobart Bosworth, Nicholas Cogley and Robert Z. Leonard. Before the development of Hollywood, Edendale was later also the home of Mack Sennett’s Keystone Comedy Company, the New York Motion Picture Company and other early film organizations. The cast of “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’” also _ includes Gwen Kenyon, Mantan Moreland and Tristram Coffin, and was directed by James Tinling under the production supervision of Lindsley Parsons. The original story by Walter Gering was adapted for the screen by Michael L. Simmons. Novel Crime Film For Local Screen One of radio’s most popular character performers brings his original ether characterization to the screen in “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’,” the exciting Monogram underworld picture wich opCUS KAU HE MEN lo Met. Lane aha: theatre on Frank Graham is the radio artist who has not only enacted the role of Cosmo Jones, the eccentric detective, for three years on the Columbia Broadcasting System, but has played every part in these sketches. In his first film appearance he is, featured with Richard Cromwell, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy, this quartette heading a cast which also includes Gwen Kenyon, Mantan Moreland, Tristram Coffin, Herbert Rawlinson and many others. The film tells a thrilling story in which murders and kidnappings in the gangland city form the basis of tensely dramatic situations, and give rise to a constant succession of thrilling events. The solution of the mysterious turnings of an underworld plot presents the detective as the center of one of the screen’s most unusual dramas. “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’” was produced by Lindsley Parsons, and directed by James Tinling from Michael L. Simmons’ adaptation of an original story by Walter Gering. MIXER When Jack Dempsey was at the height of his fame Edgar Kennedy, former Pacific Coast heavyweight champion, met the Manassa Mauler in furious battles in three different motion pictures. Kennedy, since become famous as the screen’s “slow-burn”’ comedian, comes to the Ne TT ae theatre: oni. io.s..., featured with Frank Graham, Gale Storm and Richard Cromwell in Monogram’s murder mystery comedy-drama, “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher’.” | LOVING PAIR | Seaheasencrars Richard Cromwell and Gale Storm have the romantic leads in “Cosmo Jones in The Crime Smasher” at 0 (Se cae Theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 2 NEAR-CHAMPION In his first motion picture, “Spirit of Youth,” colored comedian Mantan Moreland did what so many mighty men have tried unsuccessfully to accomplish—he boxed with Joe Louis, and was still on his feet at the end of the bout! But the scenario writers planned it that way, as the saying has it. Moreland comes LOE a eS theatre on....... theater (on /23603 in “Cosmo Jones in ‘The Crime Smasher',” Monogram’s murder mystery which features Frank Graham, Richard Cromwell, Gale Storm and Edgar Kennedy. <a ween —