Secrets (United Artists Pressbook) (1933)

“SECRETS PROVES ANOTHER T ‘ Star, Director, Cast, Story, Admirable “SECRETS” United Artists The crowded house handed in their verdict without leaving their seats in no uncertain terms. A steady thunder of applause for at least half a minute signalized the fadeout of a picture that held them unwaveringly for an hour and a half. As “Secrets” summarizes in a pan¬ oramic epitome the life of its heroine, so does it summarize all that Mary Pickford has meant to the motion pic¬ ture fans of America since “The Good Little Devil.” The old Mary Pickford of fifteen years ago comes back with all her demure deviltry, her sparkling¬ eyed mischief, in an opening sequence that kept the audience in gales of laughter as she played out the forbid¬ den romance and elopement with Les¬ lie Howard. No actress could have surpassed her and few could have equalled her as the stricken mother during the pioneer days in California, her dead baby in her arms while her husband and his lone companion stood off the cattle rustlers with their shotguns. Years of training in the too completely forgot¬ ten pantomime of the silent drama were distilled into those few scenes, while women and men in the house alike choked and sobbed into their handkerchiefs. Frank Borzage clicked off another production in his best style as he manipulated the progress of “Secrets.” His handling of the final sequence, with the subtly convincing half-light¬ ing of Miss Pickford to make her age genuine, was not the least of his ar¬ tistic triumphs. The casting of the picture ranks with finest efforts of the last five years. Leslie Howard was decidedly more satisfying than he had been in “Smilin’ Through.” Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frederici, Doris Lloyd and Ned Sparks brought an abundance of life and authentic feeling to their parts. Ray June’s photography deserves a special citation. Frances Marion’s screen play is a masterly performance from first line to last. There should be a huge audience throughout the country for a picture like this. And the Pickford fans should storm the box-offices to see their favorite in what many will call the finest picture of her career The screening was over. Fan magazine writers and news¬ paper correspondents whose columns are read all over the world, streamed out of the Hollywood projection room. Happy smiles wreathed their faces. Mary Pickford had come through with a great hit in “SECRETS.” On the left, is reproduced the exact review published by the Hollywood Reporter, one of the leading motion picture i merely just one of the many rave reviews that greeted “SECRETS.” Soon fan magazines with millions of circulation and newspaper syndi¬ cates that cover every important city in the world will be publishing the good news that one of the biggest pictures of all times is headed towards the public of movie fans who are the ones who eventually put the coins on your box-office counter. Here you have bigness to exploit — names like Mary Pickford and Leslie How¬ ard. “SECRETS,” a famous stage play and now an even greater screen story and all directed by Frank Borzage, who is responsible for “Seventh Heaven” and more recently, “Farewell to Arms.” Let the folks know that “SECRETS” is coming to town. Exploit it from every con¬ ceivable angle. The pent-up interest in the return of America’s Sweetheart to the screen, will be amply felt at your box-office. Leslie Howard right now is riding the crest of a wave of popularity, and is one of the sincerest, most lovable, romantic ac¬ tors that the American public has idolized in many years. Make any claims you want for “SECRETS” and the picture itself will live up to them. It has charm, the sweep of masterful scenes and the tremendous greatness of a picture that carries you right up to the present day — and what a finish! They’ll leave your theatre know¬ ing that they have witnessed a human document that tops them all. Movie Memory Contest The cast of “SECRETS” is chuck¬ ful of famous movie names in addi¬ tion to those of the leading players). No doubt you will remember Ethel Clayton, Bessie Barriscale, Huntley Gordon, Florence Lawrence and other names that date way back to the old Biograph days. These players have been given bit parts in the closing sequences of “SECRETS.” Here is your chance to pique the curiosity of the older members of your audience, movie goers who have been followers of the silent screen for many years and who are now numbered among your steady custom¬ ers. Under the heading of “Test Your Movie Memory” you should publish photographs of scenes shown on the right in which the above mentioned actors and actresses appear. Your cap¬ tion should read as follows: “See ‘SECRETS,’ Mary Pickford’s latest starring vehicle at the Rivoli Theatre, and identify members of the sup¬ porting cast by answering the ques¬ tions listed below. Some are easy, others will tax your memory and knowledge of screen history. The first STAR OF STARS IN THE I PICTURE OF PICTURES! ten patrons who turn in all correct answers at the box office will receive two guest tickets for ‘SECRETS’.” Then publish questions such as the following: 1. Who first appeared in “The Bachelor Father,” with Marion Davies and since then in “Love Me Tonight,” with Maurice Chevalier; “Trouble in Paradise” and “Luxury Liner”? 2. Who is one of the atmospheric players, but who in the early silent picture days was a star and a “serial king,” known to movie fans every¬ where for his feats in “The Perils of Pauline”? We have prepared this Movie Memory Contest in mimeographed form which contains twelve questions similar to the ones mentioned above. You can secure copies of this contest free of charge from your nearest United Artists Exchange. Be sure and illustrate it with stills similar to the ones shown on the left. If you are j unable to get the photos you want at your exchange order the stills for [the Movie Memory Contest direct [from United Artists Exploitation De¬ partment, 729 - 7th Avenue, New York City. They are 10c each. MARY RD STAR OF STARS! Sweeping on to greater glory with this, the summation of all she has meant to the screen ! 0 No finer role could have been given any actress to play/ No actress could have played it finer/ jPlCKFORDI with r LESLIE HOWARD A FRANK BORZAGE Production I UNITED ARTISTS PICTURE | 14 — One Col. Ad (Mat. 05; Cut .20) i. o<* SCCftCTS LESLIE HOWARD A UNITED ARTISTS PICTURE V v* FRANK BORZAGE PRODUCTION 12 — Two Col. Ad. (Mat .10; Cut .40)