Mr. Robinson Crusoe (United Artists) (1932)

SURE-FIRE MATERIAL TO PUT YOUR PICTURE OVER Tahitian Music Mirrored in Doug’s Film Alfred Newman, Composer, Captures Mood of South Sea Airs One of the outstanding features of “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” the Douglas Fairbanks picture which comes to the. theatre.. is the musical score which supple¬ ments it. Alfred Newman, famed composer, did it, and by so doing he has lent infinite quality and color to the South Sea idyll pictured in the Fair¬ banks film. The quaint and plaintive strains of the South Seas undertone the movement with a striking obli¬ gato, much of which is pitched in minor keys. As the greater portion of the Polynesian alphabet is made up of vowels, so is the South Sea music composed largely of minors. Mr. Newman has capitalized the native music in his score, the result being one of his best pieces of work. And this is a big order when it is considered that much of the best music emanating from Hollywood has come from his pen. Customs of the South Seas, glori¬ ous pictorial value and unique cos¬ tuming lend great novelty to “Mr. Robinson Crusoe.” The story deals with a man isolated on a desert island, where he works out his own salvation after the, manner of Robin¬ son Crusoe, except that he is con¬ fronted with many harrowing experiences. William Farnum, Maria Alba, Earle Browne and others contribute much to the interest of the picture, which was directed by Edward Sutherland and whose story was written by Tom Geraghty. NATIVE~ARTISANS HELP DOUG TO MAKE FILM Polynesians Work Wonders in Making Settings for "Mr. Robinson Crusoe" Forty Polynesians and Chinese, uncanny artisans, solved a big probr lem for the Douglas Fairbanks com¬ pany on the islands of Tahiti and Moorea, where Doug made scenes for “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” the cur¬ rent offering at the . This picture deals with the ad¬ ventures of a modern Robinson Crusoe who forsakes civilization and riches to prove that even in this day and age a man can work out his salvation on a desert island with only his wits, his bare hands and a sense of humor. All that Robinson Crusoe did, Doug does, and more. In fact, of his own free will he exiles himself on a small South Sea Isle, landing with nothing but the clothes on his back and a dog, and eventually building a pent house with all the comforts of home, in¬ cluding hot and cold running water, a valet named "Friday the Thir¬ teenth,” and a lively romance with a girl named “Saturday.” Where / the 40 Polynesians and Chinese artisans came in was in constructing from cocoanuts, sea- shells, sawfish, etc., all of the in¬ genious implements used by Doug in his Crusoe castle. From Liana twigs, they made rope; from iron- wood they made implements; from bamboo, water pipes and traps to catch animals; from pendanus leaves, walls and mats. “And what a native can’t make from a cocoa- nut,” said Doug, “isn’t in a mail order catalogue.” Douglas Fairbanks™ "Mr Robinson Crusoe' 8—One Col. Scene (Mat 05c; . Cut 30c) Douglas Fairbanks™ "Mr Robinson Crusoe' 3 —Two Col. Scene (Mat 05c; Cut 50c) Doug’s Arrival in the South Seas Signal for Record Jollification Receptions and Feasts Attended by French Governor, Tribal Chief and Native Belles The joint arrival at Papeete, Tahiti, of the Douglas Fairbanks company and the chartered yacht, Invader, to film “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” opening . at.. was the signal for a reception and jollification such as has never been exceeded in the South Seas! Fairbanks arrived at Papeete from San Francisco via the Union Royal Mail Liner, Makura, while the In¬ vader made port one week later. With Fairbanks were Edward Suth¬ erland, director; Tom Geraghty, writer; William Farnum, actor; Maria Alba, leading lady, and Aileen Bauer, linguist and Miss Alba’s -chape rofi, in — a ddi ti on — to—s ever ai technicians. Sea-Going Studio The Invader, besides appearing in the picture, served as a sea-going studio for Doug during his stay in the South Seas, carried Earle Browne and C. L. Lewis, produc¬ tion executives, and several mem¬ bers of the technical crew, in addition to a cargo of equipment, including four monkeys and two parrots, a load of dynamite and other explosives. Doug was welcomed to the islands by Governor General Jore on behalf of the French government, and an immediate bombardment of recep¬ tions began, featuring wild pig feasts and native dances, attended by tribal rulers and South Sea belles. In return for this hospitality, which reached its peak with the arival of the Invader, Fairbanks gave the natives their first view of talking motion pictures. With spe¬ cial equipment taken with him, Doug staged a show for the benefit of the Pierre Loti Memorial, ojfer- ing as the feature attractions “Mickey Mouse” and “Around the World in Eighty Minutes.” Not a Travelogue The picture Doug filmed in this tropical paradise is not a travelogue but a- South Sea epic_in -.which h e plays the role of a modern Robin¬ son Crusoe, with a man Friday, whom he calls “Friday the Thir¬ teenth,” and also a dog, even as Crusoe had. In fact, the dog is quite a character himself, having been Doug’s pet for the past ten years. He is just a mutt, Doug says, but with a strong strain of airedale. About ten years ago he strayed into the studio, adopted Doug as his master, and has been there ever since. So Fairbanks took him to the South Seas, where he made his bow as a screen actor as the Mr. Rob¬ inson Crusoe’s companion, one of the principal roles. Everybody in Fairbanks Company Given Nick-Names by Tahitians Doug’s Name, in English, Was “Supreme Renown,” and Production Manager Was Dubbed the Equivalent of “Sex Appeal” A fine old Tahitian custom is that of giving a Polynesian name to every newcomer visiting Papeete, according to Douglas Fairbanks, who went to the Society Islands to make “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” the new United Artists picture starring Doug at . in conjunction with . South Sea natives specialize in brief apparel, picturesque language, keen observation and a quaint sense of humor, Fairbanks says. They size you up the minute you hit their islands and then figure out a nick¬ name that fits you. With one eyeful of Maria Alba, Fairbanks’ leading lady, they in¬ stantly called her, Tiare Apetaih, which means “Flower of the Clouds.” And with a glimpse of William Far¬ num, who plays the role of a wealthy sportsman in this modern Robinson Crusoe cinema, they shouted, “Tata- moni,” meaning “Many Riches.” Then along came Harry Ham, com¬ pany manager, wearing a pair of blue shorts, whereupon the Polynesians shouted, “Piripau Ninamu!” which is their quaint way of saying, “Mr. Blue Pants!” Earle Browne, playing the part of a professor, and who looks very serious, drew the moniker, Pope Maitai, which is Tahitian for “Good Missionary.” Eddie Sutherland, whose pet aversion is his brief stature, was dubbed, Poto, or “Shorty.” And the business manager, Dave Rose, was called Tata Tahip, “The Man Who Counts.” Charles L. Lewis, produc¬ tion manager, won the prize title in Tana Neheneh, meaning “Sex Ap¬ peal.” Pet Monkey’s Prank Causes Near-Tragedy on Fairbanks’ Yacht Monkey business aboard the yacht “Invader,” which formed part of Douglas Fair¬ banks’ expedition to the South Seas to film “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” now at the .. was responsible for a near-tragedy. On the twelfth day out from Los Angeles, “Gagi,” one of the “monks” in the cargo, turned on a bathtub faucet and ran out nearly all the fresh water. When dis¬ covered, he took to the rig¬ ging, the crew in hot pursuit, and gave a busy half hour un¬ til captured. Fortunately, tropical rain replenished the water supply. Tarpaulins were spread and the tanks re¬ filled. The monkey was sentenced to the ship’s brig for the rest of the cruise. Tom Geraghty, writer, who takes a cigar out of his mouth only when he goes to bed, was called Tanana Pupui, or “Smoking Volcano.” Douglas Fairbanks himself seemed to be the only one jn the whole party who was taken seriously, perhaps be¬ cause he knew a lot of magic tricks and astounded the natives by pulling rabbits out of hats. They called Doug Roonui, meaning "Supreme Renown.” And they called his dog Ourii Maru, or “Lovely Dog.” Douglas Fairbanks Became Actor Soon After College Graduation Star Displayed Histrionic Talent in School, So Family Friend Won Him Place in Stock Company Douglas Fairbanks, who comes to the...Theatre on., in “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” was born in Denver, Colo. In that city he was educated at the Jarvis Military Academy, at East Denver High School and at the Colorado School of Mines. His boyhood training at Denver included fencing, dancing Delsarte, dramatic literature and a wide range of athletic exercises beside regular academic studies. When he was seventeen Frederick Warde, a family friend, met young Douglas Fairbanks and added him to his repertoire company in New York, where the youthful aspirant ran the whole gamut of Shakes¬ peare, acquiring valuable experience which he supplemented in special courses in Harvard University. Be¬ fore long, Douglas Fairbanks was a Broadway star, the youngest of his rank. Lured to Movies Then he yielded to the lure of the movies at a salary of $2,000 a week. He was induced to enter the film field by David Wark Griffith, during a chat at the New York premiere of Mr. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation.” His first film production was “The Lamb.” It was made for the old Triangle Company. Others even more popular followed, so that it soon appeared the stage success of young Fairbanks was being repeated on the screen. His happy sense of virile comedy and thrilling acro¬ batics whetted the popular film taste and a new type of picture was es¬ tablished. For a period, he distributed his pictures through Artcraft, which was afterward acquired by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. These were produced by Douglas Fair¬ banks Pictures Corporation and in¬ cluded “In Again, Out Again,” “Wild and Wooly,” “Down to Earth,” “Man From Painted Post,” “Reaching for the Moon,” “Modern Musketeer,” “Headin’ South,” “Mr. Fix It,” “Say, Young Fellow,” “Bound in Morocco,” “He Comes Up Smiling,” “Arizona” and “Knick¬ erbocker Buckaroo.” Started Own Company - Afterward - he allied himse lf and his own producing company with United Artists Corporation, the other founders being Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith. Fairbanks is still one of the owners and producing members of this corporation. As his own producer and star, Douglas Fairbanks made such films as “His Maiesty, the American,” “T h e Mollycoddle,” “The Mark of Zorro,” “The Three Musketeers,” “Robin Hood,” “The Nut,” “The Thief of Bagdad,” “Don Q, Son of Zorro,” “The Black Pirate,” “The Gaucho,” “The Iron Mask”; with his wife, Mary Pick- ford, he co-starred in “The Taming of the Shrew,” all-talking film ver¬ sion of Shakespeare’s “glorious comedy.” Douglas Fairbanks has always been original and forward-looking in his attitude toward the motion pitture, sparing neither time nor financial resources in achieving the particular end he may have visual¬ ized. He created a sensation by his production of “The Three Muske¬ teers,” which cost him $700,000 to make and which was highly spec¬ tacular. Not content with that, he gave half a year of his time to re¬ search and production on a romantic drama twice the magnitude of the picturization of the Dumas story— “Robin Hood.” This film has been revived many times since its orig¬ inal presentation. “The Thief of Bagdad” was fantastic, imaginative and thrilling. The sets and effects of “the flying carpet” alone cost the star small fortunes. Always Hires Best A pioneer, Fairbanks imported from Europe three specialists in color work, spending a fortune for technical advice and experimenta¬ tion before a foot of film of “The Black Pirate” was taken. Then he screened the romantic adventure tale entirely in Technicolor, con¬ tributing to the industry his genius has so largely affected, the first full length color film by the new process. In “The Gaucho” he brought for¬ ward a leading lady named Lupe Velez. “The Iron Mask” offered his voice from the screen for the first time, being a sequel to “The Three Musketeers” and presenting him again as D’Artagnan. - An d n o w in‘“Mr. Robinson Cru — soe,” he took an entire company to the South Seas to make his picture. Maria Alba A Tintype Maria Alba, appearing opposite Douglas Fairbanks in his new United Artists feature, “Mr. Robin¬ son Crusoe,” at the. likes tennis, horseback riding and walk¬ ing, and dislikes olives, hot Spanish food and persons who make a noise when they, chew gum. In fact, she is very nervous, can¬ not sit still long and is particularly annoyed by any disturbing noise such as pounding or nervously tap¬ ping fingers on a desk. Blue Favorite Color Her favorite color is blue. She dislikes vegetables and eats them with much effort. Also she dislikes lamb, but is very fond of rich foods. These, due to her nervous tempera¬ ment, do not make her gain weight. She enjoys the movies very much, and also the stage, because from them she feels she can learn much. She likes to cook and keep house, and does so, much to the delight of her husband, Dave Todd, casting director at Fox. Also she likes warm weather, but doesn’t like pajamas because she thinks they are not feminine. She weighs 105 pounds, and is five feet tall, and does not like apartments; is very fond of flowers and trees and nature, and prefers Beverly Hills, although she lives in Hollywood. Sometimes she exercises iti the morning, but has no regular routine for this. She is very fond of danc¬ ing and dances by herself frequently at home, singing her own accom¬ paniment. Also she is very fond of shoes of all sorts, which she says is an “old Spanish custom.” Oratory Pet Aversion She dislikes garlic in salad, but is very fond of oil and vinegar, and likes canaries very much. Her pet aversion is the fear that some day she will be called upon to make a speech. Like most other folk, she enjoys driving a car and prefers small cars to large ones. And she prefers to drive down streets lined with trees rather than those which are bare. She does not like tall buildings. TRIP TO SOUTH SEAS EXCITING ONE FOR DOUG FAIRBANKS Stowaways, Storms and Attempted Suicide Among Company’s Eventful Experiences Douglas Fairbank’s 3,658 - mile cruise from San Francisco to the South Seas where he made “Mr. Robinson Crusoe,” now being screened at the . furnished plenty of excitement. A stowaway was discovered the first night, and the third day out a steward went insane and jumped overboard to commit suicide, and had to be rescued. On the yacht, Invader, which car¬ ried Doug’s technical staff, fire broke out twice en route to Papeete. The vessel was loaded with gasoline and explosives, which added to the excitement. Following this “Gagi,” the monkey-mascot ran out all the fresh water. And the Invader, which sailed down in 22 days, took six weeks of storm-bucking head-winds to return. The mainsail was ripped off in “dirty” weather, one seaman had appendicitis and another was swept overboard in a storm. However, this man caught a life line and was dragged back from D,avy Jones’ locker. Douglas Fairbanks//! *Mr Robinson Crusoe' 7—1 Col. Scene (Mat 05c; Cut 30c)