Taming of the Shrew (United Artists) (1929)

iLt ALL-TALKING ALL-LAUGHING COMEDY / SMASH/ MARY piCKForr and Douglas F4imM in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Joining of the Sinew" Adapted and directed by SAM TAYLOO, Mary as a fiery-eyed Amazon and Doug as doughtiest of all cave men in the funniest talking picture ever made! 20—Two Col. Ad (Mat 10c; Cut 50c) A Big Opening A custom of Shakespeare’s time was the raising of a flag at the start of each performance. As a matter of fact, Doug' las Fairbanks did this while the “Tam' ing of the Shrew” was being filmed. The flag usually bore the crest of the coat'of' arms of the patron Lord. Have a flag made and go through with the ceremony at the opening performance. Get the of' ficials of your city to assist. It creates interest and is good for feature stories in the newspapers. Shakespeare Ballyhoo Dress up a man to resemble the typi' cal, exaggerated old Shakespearean actor of twenty years ago, with a high hat, high collar, flowing tie, swallow-tail coat, spats and the like. Have him walk the streets. He can either distribute litera- ture on the showing of “Taming of the Shrew” or by word of mouth spread the news of its showing. Along the same lines, a Towne Crier or a Petruchio or Baptista, may be used for this purpose. Novelty Floats Atop of a flat truck place a woman dressed as Katherine in a cage. Outside have a man in the garb of Petruchio laugh heartily at the girl’s plight. Hang signs from each of the four sides of the car telling about your showing. Prize Shrew Tamers Tie-up with one of the local news¬ papers on a contest which^ comes under the general heading of: “What is the best method of taming a shrew?” Insert in your list of rules the clause that the answers must comment upon the method used by Douglas Fairbanks in Taming of the Shrew”, and whether he was right or wrong in his approach. Choose a committee consisting of high ranking of¬ ficials in your city, popular news figures, and a member of the local Shakes¬ pearean society or the Board of Educa¬ tion to pick the winners. Advance Teaser Gag The “Taming of the Shrew” offers unlimited possibilities in advance teaser campaigns. Start with “The Big Three of Motion Pictures!” End with “Shakes¬ peare, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fair¬ banks.” Play with the word, “Tamed”. For example: TAME?. She was not! TAME?. She was not! TAMED?. She was ???? See MARY and DOUG in “Taming of the Shrew” THE GREAT TAMERS OF HISTORY! Daniel tamed the lions. Xantippe tamed Socrates. Cleopatra tamed Anthony. But wait until you see Doug and Mary in “TAMING OF THE SHREW” Writers’ Contest Work out a contest with one of the local newspapers in which unfinished speeches from the play appear in print to be completed by patrons. For ex¬ ample, publish the lines: Petruchio: Why came I hither but to that intent? Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea, puffed up with winds. Rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat? Have I not heard. Prizes are to he given to those filling in the remaining lines, who send in the best ten word slogans for the picture. Essay Contests Get your local newspaper editor to stage essay contests hinging on different angles of the picture and the principals. Specify that all articles are to be in 150 words or less. Award prizes for the best, the most original and the most humor¬ ous selections. Go after the patronage of the youngsters by getting the schools interested in special essay contests. RADIO TALK Have this article broadcast from your local radio station. It concerns facts in which every¬ one is interested and presents them in a way certain to build patronage. If necessary, pay to get it on the air. It’s a winner. Now here IS some real news for our radio listeners! As you all know, those two popular favorites of the motion picture world, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, announced sometime ago that they were engaged in making a photo¬ play which would serve as their first co-starring vehicle. That production is “Taming of the Shrew”, Shakespeare’s glorious comedy, and the announcement I have to make tonight is that this picture soon is to make its appearance The rollicking farce showing Miss Pickford as the stormy but beautiful Katherine; the dy¬ namic Douglas as swaggering, boastful, Petru¬ chio, and chock full of Shakespearean wit and humor, opens at the.theatre next .for a run of.days. “Taming of the Shrew” is the answer of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to the insistent demands of the motion picture public that they appear in a film together. Pioneers that they are, they have always wished to bring Shakespeare to the screen and it was nat¬ ural that, of all the Bard’s works, “Taming of the Shrew”, so modern in theme, would be the stars’ choice. The play is not heavy in any respect. It is comedy from the first fade-in to the fade-out. It is the story of the vexatious Katherine, desirable in all attributes save one—an ungovernable temper (Exhibitors Note: Production stills of “Taming of the Shrew” to be used with the above tie-in may be purchased from the United Artists Corporation, New Tor\, at the usual price —10c each.) which has put all suitors to rout. How Petru¬ chio, undaunted by her tongue, laughs in her face, torments, humiliates and infuriates her in his process of “taming”, provides entertainment which is described as being a “fifteenth century comedy with twentieth century laughs.” All of the Shakespearean color and atmos¬ phere has been retained in the motion picture version of the play, from gorgeous and lavish settings of the Italian City of Padua, right down to the sparkling dialogue. Sam Taylor, noted for his many comedy suc¬ cesses on the screen, directed the production with an excellent supporting cast, consisting of Edwin Maxwell, Dorothy Jordan, Geoffrey Wardwell, Joseph Cawthorn and Clyde Cook, adding materially to its enjoyment. With regard to the showing of “Taming of the Shrew” at the*.theatre, I also have another important announcement. Manager.has authorized me to say that during the run of the photoplay, if any motion picture “fan” desires pictures de¬ picting a scene in “Taming of the Shrew”, this may be obtained free of charge simply by send¬ ing your name and address to this station. Ar¬ rangements have been made with the Holly¬ wood studio of Miss Pickford and Mr. Fair¬ banks to give you these pic¬ tures, so if you will write to Station.they will be mailed to you with no cost, immediately. Mari/ uouqias PICKFORD""" FAIRBANKS Douglas A RIOT OF MIRTH! You’ll rock with laughter when the wildcat (Mary Pickford) meets her Waterloo at the hands of the mad, masterful cave¬ man (Douglas Fairbanks). W II in an adaptation of Shakespeare's TAMING Of Ttif StiRfW ALL'TALhlNG......ALL'LAUGHING COMEDY SMASH./ Adapted a-Directed by SAM TAYLOR,.United Artists Picture Page Two 19—Three Col. Ad (Mat 20c; Cut 75c)