The Legion of Missing Men (Monogram) (1937)

Credits-Publici The CAST Bob Carter... RALPH FORBES Don Carter... BEN ALEXANDER Carcine. George Regas ING ae cata ciate Hala Linda Bil Pe yirens cccssce James Aubrey MUSOSY.jseitnicusens: Paul Hurst Colonel Laurente... Frank Leigh Sheik Ul Ahmed... Roy D’Arcy Hollywood Mechanic Ralph Forbes’ numerous appearances in army pictures stood him in good stead during the filming of Monogram’s “Legion of Missing Men.” Though never having been in a real army, Forbes had learned, in various movie armies, how to operate a machine gun, so that when the guns being used in the battle scenes of “Legion of Missing Men” became jammed with desert sand, Forbes knew how to perform the operation necessary to put the guns back into working order. “Legion of Missing Men” is now Dia Vin ore te eccceccndasscteets with Ben Alexander, Paul Hurst and Jimmy Aubrey also in the cast. Forbes Prominent In Hollywood’s Social Circles English Leading Man Currently Starring in “Legion of Missing Men,” Monogram Feature at........ Theatre Ralph Forbes is one of the most distinguished of the younger knglisn screen players who make up so large a part of the Hollywood film colony as well as the personnel of the Broadway stage. Born in London, tingland, Forbes was educated at Denstone College in Stratfordshire. His stage training was received in London repertorre, and one of his earliest appearances was in the William A. Brady production of “The Green Hat Forbes.was in the cast of the war play “Havoc,” whose London run was so successful that the play was brought to New York. His first major movie appearance was in “Beau este.” Since then he has appeared in a series of pictures which has kept him steadily before the movie public, the latest of which is “Legion of Missing Men” for Monogram. Among his successes are “The Whip,” “Smiling Through,” “Thunder Below,” “Christopher Strong,” “The Fountain,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “The Phantom Broadcast” and “The Avenger” for Monogram. “LEGION OF MISSING MEN” MARCHES INTO THEATRE FOR THRILLING RUN Ralph Forbes and Ben Alexander are seen in a tense moment from the “Legion of Missing Men,” the new feature at the .recenecninnensnnmeee Theatre, which features thrills and action in its gripping story of two brothers who meet in the Foreign Legion and vie for the love of a dancing girl of the Arabian cafes. Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 2 | The STORY (NOT FOR PUBLICATION) bob Carter, Muggsy and bilgey are buddies 1n the rrenchn foreign Legion. Bob’s brother Don whom boo has not seen for ten years, jolms the Legion. Bob 1s giad to see Don but sorry he has joimed up. iney go to a cafe and there Don taus for Nina, a trench girl in love with Bob. bob, however knows Nina as warcia’s girl and warns Von to have nothing to do with her. Von disregards bop’s warning and uarcia encounters Nina and Don together. Garcia provokes Don into hitting him and Don is arrested and thrown into prison. With the aid of Ul Ahmed, an Arabian shiek, Nina helps Don to escape. Bob learns of this and with Muggsy and Bilgey pursue Don and Ul Ahmed. As they catch up with them a horde of Arabs surround them and they are taken prisoners to Ul Ahmed’s headquarters. Bob finally agrees to work some captured machine guns for Ul Ahmed after the sheik tortures Don. Ul Ahmed with the four Legionnaires and his Arabs launches an attack against a fort and a thrilling battle ensues. In the thick of it Bob manages to turn his machine gun on the Arabs and mow them down. In the battle Don is killed but the fort is held for the Legion. As he is dying Don tells Bob that Nina has always loved him and everything she did was to help him. Only Character Piayers Share Renown of Stars ‘'wo classes of Hollywood players are well-known the _ world aiound, while those above and below and in between remain for the most part anonymous: top flight stars of the rank of Garbo, Gable, Crawford and Shirley ‘l'emple— and the character actors whose perfect bits supply the flesh and blood of countless movies, both good and bad. As a matter of fact, the chance of the character parts being well acted is actually better than that the great star will also be a great actor. taul Hurst, who plays the part of a roly-poly, carefree Koreign Legionnaire in “Legion of Missing Menke? MOWs Ae the ainscnemes 'heatre, is one of those excellent character actors without whose performance many a picture would have been savorless. A naturally funny face and figure is supplemented by genuine acting ability and a lifetime of experience. Hurst had five years’ experience on the stage before he entered the movies. Following this he spent some time directing pictures in independent studios, and then entered the business as an actor. He has worked on every major lot in Hollywood, and has to his credit a list of pictures which includes everything from westerns to spectacles. “Legion of Missing Men,” in which Hurst plays support to Ralph Forbes, also has in its cast Ben Alexander, Hala Linda and Jimmy Aubrey. It was directed by Hamilton MacFadden. “Legion of Missing Men” New Feature at... Uheatre Ralph Forbes Stars in Monogram’s Story o f French Forei gn Le gion Dramatic effect and suspense is the goal of every motion picture and stage director. One of the successful methods of heightening the effect of a tense, even grim story, is to supply comedy relief; whether an audience knows why or not, it is glad to be able to laugh at some unexpected humorous situation when matters grow too serious. Frequently used and unfailingly good is the device of supplying the hero with two funny pals who do the silly things the hero would never think of doing, stick by him loyally, get him into trouble and out of trouble, if need be die for him. “Legion of Missing Men” is a story of a World War veteran who, unable to settle down to the rou ' Ralph Forbes Holds Hollywood Record For Mythical Film Battles Star of “Legion of Missing Men” at gi) e619! cole) hp eure ate tsar etaan Theatre Never Served in Army But Has Been Cast Frequently in Movie War Roles Not often does a man fight through three different wars, in the service of two countries, without ever joining an army! Yet that is the unique experience of Ralph Forbes, actor and confirmed civilian, whose professional career has carried him on numerous excur His Majesty the King of England, but this time on duty with the Colonial troops. Once again the actor joined the army for Monogram’s “Shock,” in which he played the part of a shellshocked British officer. In “Legion of Missing Men,” the sions into the military, the latest |\picture which once more returns of which is “The Legion of Missing Men,” which will come to the Forbes began his histrionic career in a war play, “Havoc.” The London run of this play, in which the young actor also began his make-believe military experience, was so. successful that it was brought to this country for New York City production. This was the beginning of Ralph Forbes’ steadily growing American popularity and, indirectly, the beginning of his screen career. Played in “Beau Geste” The first movie which was of real importance to Forbes was “Beau Geste,” in which, again, he was cast as a soldier, still in the service of Forbes to the military, the actor plays the part of a member of the French Foreign Legion. Though the government insignia is new to him, the desert costumes and turbans are not, for he wore them in “Beau Geste.” Engrossing Story “Legion of Missing Men” tells the story of a World War veteran, played by Forbes, who, unable to settle down to the routine of peace time, has joined the Foreign Legion. Complications arise when Forbes’ younger brother joins the Legion and falls in love with a cafe singer who is already in love with the older man. The boy is court-martialed after a fight over the girl, and is then released from | jail by enemy Arabs who wish him to assemble some captured machine guns for them. The older brother, learning of the boy’s whereabouts, goes to the rescue with two of his friends. They succeed in turning the machine guns on the Arabs before they are able to attack the Legion but in the course of the bitter fight the younger brother is killed. Before he dies he confesses to Forbes that the girl is really in love with the older man and has done everything with his welfare at heart. New Discovery The role of the dancing girl is filled by Hala Linda, a talented young Swedish actress new to the American screen. The younger brother is portrayed by Ben Alexander, veteran youngster of stage and screen. The names of Paul Hurst and Jimmy Aubrey in the fae promise effective comedy reief. “Legion of Missing Men.” was produced for Monogram Pictures by I. E. Chadwick, and directed by Hamilton MacFadden. ; tine of peace time, joins the French Foreign Legion. The hero of the piece is Ralph Forbes; his two funny buddies, who get drunk with him, defend him, quarrel with him, involve him in difficulties and finally die fighting shoulder to shoulder with him, are played by Paul Hurst and Jimmy Aubrey. The dramatic action of the ‘Legion of Missing Men” is set in motion when the hero, Forbes, meets his younger brother whom he has not seen for ten years, in the Legion. The boy falls in love with a cafe dancer who is, in turn, in love with the older man, and he gets himself courtmartialed by fighting over her with his lieutenant. It is after the boy escapes to the Arabs that his older brother and the two funny buddies risk their lives in rescuing him. In addition to Ralph Forbes, Paul Hurst and Jimmy Aubrey, the cast of “Legion of Missing Men” includes Ben Alexander as the headstrong younger brother and Hala Linda, a talented young Swedish actress, as the cafe dancer. Advance reports are that the picture is fast, full of action and capably acted. | REBELLION | Ralph Forbes as the gallant soldier of the “Legion of Missing Men,” Monogram’s gripping drama of the Sahara QECEN Cater eee Theatre, is re-|" * volting against the orders of his commander to attack the strong Arab stronghold with only a handful of men. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 3 | LEGIONNAIRE | Ralph Forbes has probably fought in more mythical film battles than any other Hollywood star. The popular English actor is again seen as a gallant soldier in Monogram’s “Legion of Missing Men,” the exciting new feature Gb Ane cs eee tone Theatre. Forbes plays the leading role in this dramatic story of the forgotten men of the French Foreign Legion, in | which Ben Alexander and Paul Hurst also appear. One Col. Cut or Mat No. i. Space Savers! Ralph Forbes, who plays the leading role in Monogram’s “Legion Of Vussing-Wen~ -at-thes.0. accuse Theatre, is considered one of the best informed fishermen in motion pictures. He is an expert onthe best fishing lakes and streams. “Being an actor isn’t as much fun as it’s supposed to be.” Ralph Forbes was quite definite about that on the set of Monogram’s “Legion of Missing Men.” Forbes plays an officer in the Foreign Legion and besides having to wear a tight fitting uniform, he was exhausted by the burning heat of the desert sun. “Legion of Missing Men” opens at also in the cast. Dot Biography Ben Alexander ben Alexander ... a boy star Wwilo has growil Up iM pictures... and sucCessfuy pridged wie gap from Child LO auule roies ... Burs picuure ... wien ne was wviiree... was witn Kanny Ward... at the oid Lasky studio... When he was seven and eigni did same sort of roles which made Jackie Coogan and jackie Cooper famous ... was under starring contract to First National four years ... during which he did PENROD ... made earlier by Wesley Barry ... PENROD and SAM, BOY O’MINE and other hits . .. dropped out of pictures at fourteen to enter Hollywood High School... graduated and entered University of California at Los Angeles to take premedical course ... intended to be a surgeon ... and had no idea of returning to pictures ... Director Lewis Milestone persuaded him to return to screen to play the boy soldier who lost his leg in ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT .. . performance was so outstanding that producers wouldn’t let him leave films again... Latest is LEGION OF MISSING MEN for Monogram ... Used to do highly sympathetic . . . frequently pathetic parts ... later pictures include “The Most Precious Thing in Life,’ “Once to Every Woman,” “Brown of Culver,” “This Day and Age,” and “It’s a Wise Child”... Hobbies are boats and police work . godfather is Jack Finlayson, assistant police chief of Los Angeles ... thinks if he quit acting now would be a policeman ... is five feet ten and a half inches tall and weighs 150 pounds ... has blue eyes and blonde hair.