20 Million Sweethearts (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Film Play Reveals Romance of Radio Behind the Scenes First National, in another timely and revealing production, “Twenty Million Sweethearts,’’ which is scheduled as the feature attraction at the Theatre on , pictures the joys and tribulations, the glamor and the romance, in the lives of radio entertainers as gathered from peeping behind the scenes. The story, by Paul Finder Moss and Jerry Wald, presents the intimate side of the singers and announcers whom everyone has heard over the air, but whom few have seen or know. While there is a well knit plot with comedy and drama and romance intermingled, the picture is enlivened by many musical num bers, both vocal and _instrumental. There are four catchy airs written by the ace song writers, Harry Warren and Al Dubin. One, “I’ll String Along With You,” sung first by Dick Powell and then by Powell and Ginger Rogers, is said to be one of the biggest hits of the year. Pat O’Brien furnishes much of the comedy as the well meaning but bungling talent scout who beosts many an unknown to fame only to get into disgrace himself through his wildly enthusiastic but unethical promotion schemes. A new romantic team is brought to the screen in this picture with Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers, as screen lovers, both of whom have been trained in thg art of singing and acting. Dick, «us the singing cabaret waiter who leaps to fame as a radio crooner almost overnight, finds that the path of love runs anything but smooth even for the great. Miss Rogers has the role of Diek’s radio singing sweetheart who is misled into thinking that he prefers fame ana fortune and other lovely ladies to herself. Grant Mitchell plays a straight role as the manager of a great radio broadeasting company with Henry O’Neill as his. assistant. Allen Jenkins is said to provide many laughs as a children’s hour entertainer, while Joseph Cawthorne, as one of the firm’s wealthiest advertising clients, enacts another comedy role. There are several big specialty Four Mills Brothers Sing Famous Song For Radio Romance The Mills Brothers sang to a distinguished audience on a First National sound stage, dur ‘ing the production of “Twenty Million Sweethearts” the radio romance which comes to the hts Cee Theatre: ON: isaac with Pat O’Brien, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers in the featured roles. While the quartette’s famous number, “Oh, I Heard; Yes, I Heard,” was recorded by the cameras, listeners gathered from all round the First National lot. Other members of the east, although not on call, were present including Grant Mitchell, Allen Jenkins, Joseph Cawthorne, Joan Wheeler and Henry O’Neill, as well as many other famous actors of the First National Studios who had heard the Mills Brothers were going to sing for the picture. The four boys, with their guitar, sing and play for the screen in their inimitable way. Close-ups show how the almost unbelievable orchestra music is produced by simply blowing through cupped hands. The Mills Brothers furnish one of the thrilling numbers in this comedy romance that is filled. with specialties. The picture is based on the story by Paul Finder Moss and Jerry Wald which was adapted to the screen by Warren Duff and Harry Sauber. Ray Enright directed the picture. The catchy airs sung by Powell and Miss Rogers are by that ace song writing team of Warren and Dubin. numbers, including the Four Mills Brothers, whose voices are known from Coast to Coast, Ted Fio Rito and his band, equally famous, who render their catchy orchestrations while Dick Powell warbles, and the Three Radio Rogues. Altogether the picture is said t» be one of the most colorful productions to come to the screen as well as one with the widest variety of entertainment. Ray Enright directed from the screen play by Warren Duff and Harry Sauber. Something Wrong, Boys? Something seems to be the matter with Dick Powell and Pat O’Brien in this scene from “Twenty Million Sweethearts.” Ginger Rogers, who is also in the cast. Theatre this week and find out. Perhaps it’s Drop in at the Strand You'll get a big kick out of this side-splitting comedy. Mat No. 15—20c One of the uproarious scenes from the new musical comedy “Twenty Million Sweethearts,” coming to the Strand. Dick Powell, Pat O’Brien, Ginger Rogers and Allen Jenkins are in the cast. Mat No. 14—30e Three Radio Rogues imitate Air Stars in Unique Film Act One of the unique features of “Twenty Million Sweethearts,” the First National radio romance which: comes to the ..................... LHGatte ONS. cake ce ng: os. a, , i8 an introductory broadeast by the Three Radio Rogues, the famous imitators of the stars of the air. The three rogues, Jim Hollingwood, Eddie Bartell and Henry Taylor, have so thoroughly perfected the art of imitating the human voice that it is practically impossible for the listener to tell whether he is hearing an imitation of the star or to the star himself. The remarkable part of their artistry is the fact that they can not only imitate the speaking voice in any kind of dialect but the exact tone in singing. In “Twenty Million Sweethearts” these three imitate a wide variety of radio talent including the most popular speakers and ecrooners. Their imitations for the picture include Ben Bernie, Russ Colombo, Singing Sam, Morton Downey, Arthur Tracy, the Street Singer, Rudy Vallee, Amos and Andy, Joe Penner, Kate Smith and Bing Crosby. This is but one of the many novel features in the picture which combines comedy drama and romance with the catchiest musical hits of the year. The picture also introduces a new romantic team in Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers both famous for their singing voices as well as acting ability. Other specialty numbers _inelude songs by the Four Mills Brothers and their guitar, and music by Ted Fio Rito and his band. Pat O’Brien has the leading comedy role while others in the cast inelude Allen Jenkins. Grant Mitchell, Joseph Cawthorne, Joan Wheeler, Henry O’Neill and Johnny Arthur. The picture was directed by Ray Enright from the screen play by Warren Duff and Harry Sauber based on the story by Paul Finder Moss and Jerry Wald. The music and lyrics are by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Players With Wide Variety of Talent Appear in New Film An unusual cast with a wide variety of talents was engaged by First National to enact .the various roles in the radio romance, “Twenty Million Sweethearts,’ which comes to the Rs Soe S TNECAtTO ON. ..c.ose. te This was due to the fact that while the picture is a comedy drama, it carries many singing numbers as befits a story of the radio. Pat O’Brien heads the list as a fast talking talent scout. This is his fourth big picture, having appeared before in “Gambling Lady,’ “College Coach,’ and “Bureau of Missing Persons,’ although he has been known on the sereen for years. Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers have romantic roles as well as singing parts, and both are exceptionally well qualified. Dick was a Singer and orchestra leader for years before engaging in picture work. He also has demonstrated his ability as an actor in “Convention City,” “College Coach” and in the musical spectacles “42nd Street,” “Footlight Parade,” and “Gold Diggers of 1933.” Miss Rogers, formerly a favorite on the musical comedy stage, has in recent years been playing both straight roles and singing parts in pictures. She was one of the leads in “Gold Diggers of 1933” and “42nd Street.” Grant Mitchell, who will be remembered in “Heroes for Sale,” “Convention City,’ “Lilly Turner” and other pietures plays a straight role as the radio manager. One of the big novelties of the picture is the Four Mills Brothers, who are known to radio fans all over the country. Ted Fio Rito and his band form another of the specialty numbers. Still others in the cast include Allen Jenkins, the noted screen comedian, Joseph Cawthorne, long famous on the musical ecmedy stage, Joan Wheeler who recently made a hit on Broadway in “Growing Pains” and Henry O’Neill. Miss Rogers Tells secret of Her NickName of ‘‘Ginger’’ George Herman Ruth couldn’t by any stretch of the imagination be called a “Babe,” nor can “Ginger” Rogers, pert screen star, be called “Ginger,” if the color of her hair were referred GINGER ROGERS appearing in “Twenty Million Sweethearts” at the Strand Mat No, 1 10¢ to, which most movie fans think is the source of the nickname. “Ginger’s” tresses are the shade of spun gold. They were never the color of ginger. Dick Powell was the first te learn how Ginger got her nick name. when the two were singing latest musical film together, the First National romance of the radio waves, “Twenty Million Sweethearts” now showing at the Baa ane Oe Theatre. Her real name is Virginia. When in kindergarten, the chil dren couldn’t pronounce her name. Ginger was as near us they could get and the nickname stuck. Miss Rogers has the role of a radio singer and the sweetheart of Dick Powell, also a crooner. Others in the cast include Pat O’Brien, Grant Mitchell, The Four Mills Brothers, Ted Fio Rito and his band, Allen Jenkins and Joseph Cawthorne. The picture is a lively comedy romance with many catchy musieal numbers written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Ray Enright directed it from the screen play by Warren Duff and Harry Sauber, based on the story by | Paul Finder Moss and Jerry Wald. Page Twenty-three