Secrets (United Artists Pressbook) (1933)

“SECRETS” PUBLICITY SECTION Simple Romances Still Excel, Says Mary Wise-Cracking Has No Place in "Secrets," Star's Newest Picture Cycles may come and cycles may go, but the age-old love story of the man and woman who fight their way to happiness together, overcoming all obstacles, remains basically the great¬ est and most satisfactory screen theme. It all depends upon the way and by whom the story’s told. So declared Mary Pickford, who considered more than thirty vehicles, including stage plays, best-selling novels and screen originals, before she chose “Secrets,” which comes to the., for.as the story best calculated to prove of universal appeal. Simple Love Story “Secrets” is a simple love story, according to Miss Pickford, a down- to-earth romance of plain people, without so-called sophistication, wise¬ cracks or “daring situations.” There’s an elopement to foil a rich American father who wants his daughter to wed a titled Englishman instead of a poor clerk; a young couple battling the hardships of west¬ ern ranch life; battles with cattle rustlers; the rearing of a family; eventual prosperity, clouded by the husband’s affair with another woman; a loyal, devoted wife who refuses to let threatened scandal wreck their happiness. These are the ingredients with which Miss Pickford and her sup¬ porting cast, including Leslie Howard opposite the star, Director Frank Borzage, Scenarist Frances Marion and a technical staff have made “Secrets.” Both director and scenarist are two-time winners of Academy of Mo¬ tion Picture Arts and Sciences awards, highest honor in filmdom, Borzage with “Seventh Heaven” and “Bad Girl,” and Miss Afarion with “The Big House” and “The Champ.” Mary, likewise, is an Academy winner, hav¬ ing been given the award for her work in “Coquette.” Picked Own Cast A stickler for careful preparation, Aliss Pickford made sure that her story was “right” before she permit¬ ted a camera to click, and she per¬ sonally selected every principal in the cast. The role of John Carlton, cattle rancher, is a departure for Leslie Howard, who has risen to screen heights in pictures such as “Outward Bound,” “A Free Soul” and “Smilin’ Through,” and it was because he was so eager to play an American wes¬ terner opposite Aliss Pickford that he cancelled a long-planned voyage to his native land after completing his part in “The Animal Kingdom.” Among the members of the cast are the dead-pan comedian, Ned Sparks, who deserts his usual suave city-type portrayal for the role of a sharp-shooting ranch hand, C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frederici, Doris Lloyd, Mona Maris, as the woman who tries to lure Howard away; and Allan Sears, who played leads opposite Miss Pickford in the old silent picture days, and now returns in a villainous characterization. Has Four Locales “Secrets” has four principal locales — Salem, Mass.; the desert country of Southern California; Monterery, California, and Washington, D. C. Except for a couple of locations, necessary for cattle stampede and “chase” sequences, all of “Secrets” has been filmed on the largest sound stages at the United Artists studios, where exterior - interiors, allowing lighting, photographic and recording effects impossible to obtain out of doors, cover several acres’ space. Another Screen Find Is one of the screen idols of to¬ morrow playing a role in Mary Pick- ford’s “Secrets” at the .? Hollywood experts think so. Lyman Williams, handsome 19-year-old blonde, makes his debut in support of the star, appearing in important sequences with Miss Pickford and her leading man, Leslie Howard. Young Williams, member of a prominent Kalamazoo, Mich, family, won his acting spurs with stock com¬ panies in the middle west before at¬ tempting to crash the gates of Holly¬ wood. According to Director Frank Borzage, the youth is endowed with the ability, looks and intelligence that should take him far in a screen career. ’■'Mary Pickford star of "Secrets'* 1 — Two Col. Star Head (Alat .10; Cut .40) MARY PICKFORD in “SECRETS” A FRANK BORZAGE Production ■with LESLIE HOWARD From the play “Secrets” by Rudolf Besier and Mav Edginton Written for the screen by Frances Marion Directed by Frank Borzage a United Artists Picture CAST MARY MARLOWEl MARY CARLTON}. JOHN CARLTON . MR. MARLOWE . MRS. MARLOWE . SUSAN CHANNING . LORD HURLEY . “SUNSHINE” . JAKE HOUSER . SENORA MARTINEZ . WILLIAM CARLTON] AUDREY CARLTON 1. as children SUSAN CARLTON f ROBERT CARLTON J WILLIAM CARLTON] AUDREY CARLTON [. in middle ; SUSAN CARLTON ROBERT CARLTON Art Director . Photography . Sound Recording . Film Editor . Costumes by . .... Mary Pickford .... Leslie Howard . C. Aubrey Smith . . Blanche Frederici . Doris Lloyd .... Herbert Evans . Ned Sparks . Allan Sears .Mona Maris f Lyman Williams J Virginia Grey ] Ellen Johnson [Randolph Connolly f Huntley Gordon J Ethel Clayton ] Bessie Barriscale [Theodore Von Eltz . Richard Day . Ray June . Frank Maher .... Hugh Bennett . Adrian Synopsis In a New England village of the late 1860’s William Marlowe, banker and ship owner, and his ambitious wife are planning to marry off their lovely daughter, Mary, to Lord Hurley, English nobleman, over the protests of the girl, who has secretly given her heart to John Carlton, a young clerk in her father’s establishment. Marlowe, discovering the affair, discharges Carlton, vows he will keep the upstart from getting another job in New England, and hastens preparations for the alliance with the Briton. That night Mary and Carlton elope. The young couple’s honeymoon is spent on the long covered wagon trek to California, where they build a home and find happiness in the desert country, despite the privations and hard work of ranch life. Their only help as they undertake cattle raising is a former Confederate soldier who answers to the name of “Sunshine.” They are even prospering in a small way when a band of notorious cattle rustlers, headed by “Red Jake” Houser, descend on the homestead. The outlaws arrive while Carlton and “Sunshine” are away from the ranch. Mary, alone with the baby, defies them. They threaten her and little John and ride away with the steers just before Carlton and “Sunshine” return. Urged on by Mary, Carlton organizes the settlers of the valley into a posse, which takes the law into its own hands and hangs three of the rustlers, including “Red JAke’s” brother. Little John is ill when the surviving desperadoes, vowing revenge against the Carltons, attack the cabin. John and “Sunshine,” aided by Mary, fight them off. In the midst of the battle Mary discovers that little John has died. Mary binds the wounds of “Sunshine,” and when “Red Jake” starts to sneak through a window and is leveling a pistol at John, she snatches up a rifle and kills the rustler. The cabin is in flames as a posse rescues the besieged ranchers. The ensuing years smile on the Carltons, bringing them prosperity and social position in their adopted state. Four more fine children are born—two sons and two daughters. Inspired by Mary, John Carlton has become a force to be reckoned with in politics. It is her loyal support and devotion that always has urged him onward, until now he is running for governor. On the eve of election, at a brilliant reception in the Carlton’s Monterey home, a beautiful Spanish woman, Senora Martinez, faces Mary and demands a showdown over the affections of John. John, facing his wife and the senora, owns up to an affair with the fascinating vampire, then immediately denounces her, branding the pretty stories he told as lies— all lies. Again the years roll by. Their children, grown to maturity, have just learned that their father. Senator Carlton, has refused renomination and is planning to leave Washington with their mother for the family ranch in California. William, Robert, Audrey and Susan Carlton are furious. The very idea of “father wanting to drag mother out West!” It dawns upon Mary and John that they are the children now—and they want to be left alone to enjoy the twilight years together. Their sons and daughters cannot understand why they wish to leave, until the parents explain that in every marriage there are secrets—secret joys—secret sorrows—which only husbands and wives can share. Finally, outwitting their children, Mary and John again elope, speeding away in a motorcar to enjoy themselves—and their secrets—without anyone to bother them. Mary Pickford Due in "Secrets/' With Best Cast of Her Career Leslie Howard Leading Man and Frank Borzage Director of Thrilling Tale Adapted by Frances Marion A cademy Winners Help To Film “Secrets” Director and Scenarist Win Awards for Artistry in Past Year Two double-winners before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and two runners-up worked with Mary Pickford making “Se¬ crets,” the United Artists picture, which comes to the . Theatre on . The double-winners are Frank Borzage and Frances Marion, the former for direction of “Bad Girl” and “Seventh Heaven” and the latter for scripts of “The Champ” and “The Big House.” The runners-up are Ray June, cameraman, and Richard Day, art director. All worked hard with Miss Pick¬ ford, herself an Academy winner for her “Coquette.” And behind all of them was M. C. Levee, Mary’s pro¬ duction manager, who was president of the Academy last year. In front of the cameras was another all-star cast. Miss Pickford’s leading man was Leslie Howard and the other girl, Mona Maris. Others in the cast are C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frederici, Doris Lloyd, Her¬ bert Evans, Ned Sparks and Jerry Stewart. “Secrets,” it will be recalled, is based upon the stage play of Rudolf Besier and May Edginton which was produced in New York by Sam Harris. Director Borzage Once a Star in Films Was Also Miner and Rancher Be¬ fore Taking Up Acting Game Frank Borzage, director of Mary Pickford’s “Secrets,” coming to the .next ., was a miner, rancher, property boy, stage leading man, screen actor and “wes¬ tern” star before he exchanged his make-up box for a megaphone. Born and educated in Utah, Borzage came to Hollywood at the age of nineteen, after wide stage experience. His first work in the film capital brought him $5 a day and street car fare. A few years later he became one of the highest-paid directors. A leading man in the late Thomas Ince’s productions, Borzage later went on his own and played in his own “westerns.” As a director, Borzage burst into fame with “Humoresque,” which won the Photoplay medal. He again won the Photoplay medal with “Seventh Heaven,” which also captured the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award. More recently, he was for the second time given the Academy award, for “Bad Girl.” Some of his other productions were “They Had to See Paris,” “Song O’ My Heart,” “Liliom,” “Young As You Feel,” “After Tomorrow” and “Farewell to Arms.” Former Stars Meet Although Ethel Clayton and Bessie Barriscale have been screen and stage personalities for many years, they appear together for the first time in Mary Pickford’s “Secrets” at the .In fact, these “big name” stars of the silent picture era, both long residents of Hollywood, had never met until they were intro¬ duced on the set during the filming of “Secrets” by Director Frank Borzage. Miss Clayton and Miss Barriscale appear in supporting roles in se¬ quences with Miss Pickford and her leading man, Leslie Howard. Surrounded by one of the largest casts in her long career and directed by Frank Borzage, two-time Academy winner, Mary Pickford comes to the . theatre on . in “Secrets,” an adaptation of the celebrated stage play by Rudolf Besier and May Edgington. And thus, ac¬ cording to all advance reports, mo¬ tion picture fans will see the star in one of the best pictures she has made. “Secrets” gives Miss Pickford what she believes is an ideal vehicle. In the first place, it is “motion picture” from beginning to end, and in the second place the story is a simple one of love and elemental emotions, with no wise-cracking and no sophistica¬ tion. It is Miss Pickford’s sincere belief that simple tales, simply told, will be the salvation of the screen, just as they are bound to be in literature. Prepared for Months Months of preparatory work went into the picturization of “Secrets.” In every branch, Miss Pickford spared no expense and time in procuring the best material and the best personnel, as will be borne out by a glance at the production staff and the cast of players. Both before and behind the camera were “names” known through¬ out the world. In the latter category were Frances Marion, scenarist, and Frank Borzage, director, who recently were awarded their second trophies by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci¬ ences, thus joining the very small army of two-time winners in Holly¬ wood. Also behind the cameras were Ray June, cameraman, and Richard Day, art director, who were recent runners-up in the Academy awards. And, both be¬ fore and behind those cameras, was Miss Pickford herself, who won an Academy award for her “Coquette.” In front of the cameras was an all-star cast in every sense of the word. Leslie Howard, English star, was Miss Pickford’s leading man, and Mona Maris is the “other woman.” Then there are C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frederici, Doris Lloyd, Herbert Evans, Ned Sparks and Jerry Stewart. Several Ex-Stars But in addition to these Miss Pick¬ ford surrounded heself with several stars of another day, actors and ac¬ tresses who use to count their salaries in thousands of dollars week¬ ly. These included Bessie Barriscale, Ethel Clayton, King Baggott, Flor¬ ence Lawrence, Francis Ford, Theo¬ dore von Eltz, Huntly Gordon and Paul Panzer, among others. The story of “Secrets” is in three sections, showing Miss Pickford as a young girl, as a young woman and as a middle-aged woman. Its locales are Salem, Mass., the Middle West and California, with a final locale in Washington, D. C. From begin¬ ning to end there is breath-taking action, and that, after all, is the prime requisite of a motion picture. Rubber Shoed Horses Steel-shod horses and sensitive sound-recording systems in Holly¬ wood motion picture studios do not mix, it was discovered, when the Mary Pickford company started shooting on “Secrets.” Horses and carriages clattering up to the star’s film home made so much noise that voices of players could not be heard. Director Frank Bor¬ zage solved the problem by ordering rubber shoes for every animal in the scene. Mary Pickford in *SecretsW* Leslie Howard 5 — One Col. Scene (Mat .05; Cut .20)