3 Sons Oguns (Warner Bros.) (1941)

PUBLICITY (Lead Story) Gay Trio Drafted In ‘Three Sons O’Guns’ Wayne Morris, Tom Brown and William Orr are the three slap-happy jitterbugs who portray the title roles in Warner Bros.’ fast-paced comedy, “Three Sons O’Guns,” which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday. The three fellows are cast in a new kind of film treatment of conscription. It’s about a trio of draft-dodgers-at-heart. Morris is trombone-happy, but suddenly decides to get a job and support his mother, incistory was dentally be coming draftexempt. Orr is theatre-happy, but takes time off his phoney rehearsals to get married — right after he gets his questionnaire. Brown is fun-happy, and settles right down to list every ailment he ever had. At the head of this brood is unhappy Irene Rich, who deplores her sons’ lack of character. Marjorie Rambeau is the aunt who lives with the family and laments the boys’ easy-going and selfish ways. Because of her responsibilities, the boys’ mother has even been kept from marrying an old flame, Moroni Olsen. Miss Rambeau fixes everything when the boys appear at the draft board. She points out that Bill isn’t really married, as his showgirl wife’s divorce isn’t legal. Wayne and Tom, too, haven’t a thing that should disqualify them from service. And ACTORS SAMPLE ARMY LIFE One hundred eighty-five men between the ages of 21 and 35 were called to the colors recently. They arrived at the designated meeting place and were told to change into uniforms and report for active duty—in Warner Bros.’ “Three Sons O’Guns,” which opens at the Strand Theatre on Friday. These men are Hollywood extras who received a taste of Army life when called to work in the story about the draft and army life. The men, fully equipped, reported to Stage 16. Here they were joined by three more soldiers, Wayne Morris, Bill Orr and Tom Brown who portray the title roles. Twenty rehearsal drills were necessary before the men appeared photogenically to be veteran soldiers. They fell in and out of ranks 58 times during the day and also went through nine roll-calls. They presented arms eight times. Although mighty tired when dismissed, the extras agreed that it was a day well spent. Many had already taken their physical examinations and expected to be called for active service very soon. Mat 101—15c Tom Brown she hopes it’ll “make men out of ’em”! What the army does to three such featherbrains is the point of the film. It’s as exciting to the movie audience as it is to their screen mother, Irene Rich. The well-timed original screen written by Fred Niblo, Jr., and directed by Ben Stoloff, talented megaphonist. ARMY “MAKES MEN’ OF PICTURE STARS A new and gay twist has been given the subject of conscription for Warner Bros.’ fast-paced film on that subject, “Three Sons O’Guns,” which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday with Wayne Morris, Tom Brown and William Orr in the title roles. Irene Rich portrays the mother and Marjorie Rambeau the aunt of the three featherbrains who have little but trombones, theatricals and sports promotions on their minds. It’s when the boys get their draft questionnaires the film’s action goes into high gear. They immediately start to air any exemption possibilities. When they appear at the draft board, it’s the irate Miss Rambeau who storms in and denounces them as shiftless and worthless, but good army material. What the army actually does for three such _ irresponsible youths is the point of the story and makes for a thrilling climax. The film’s direction was handled by Ben Stoloff and Fred Niblo, Jr., wrote the original screen play. TROMBONE, STRAND STAR’S FIRST LOVE For the first time in his motion picture career Wayne Morris doesn’t have one love scene with a beautiful girl in his current role in Warner Bros.’ “Three Sons O’Guns,” opening at the Strand on Friday. In the picture Wayne devotes all his attention to a trombone. The script calls for him to lose two positions as a result of practicing trombone lessons during business hours. His one ambition in life is to join a big name band. When he finds himself getting nowhere, Morris is saved by Uncle Sam. He is drafted into the army and becomes the regimental bugler. Squiring a trombone doesn’t necessitate a smoothie appearance. Wayne, as a result, doesn’t have a slick hair comb once during the picture. His hair just hangs loosely over his forehead. (Opening Day Story) DRAFT DODGING ‘NO GO” IN “THREE SONS O°GUNS’ For bang-up film entertainment, Warner Bros.’ “Three Sons O’Guns,” opening at the Strand Theatre today, promises to be one of the funniest motion pictures of the season. In the title roles are a rascally trio of talented young players, Wayne Morris, Tom Brown and William Orr. Their mother is played by Irene Rich, and Marjorie Rambeau is the aunt. The film’s cavorting is about the three boys, wastrels all, and their attempts to dodge the draft. Always problem children, trombone-playing Wayne, actor Bill and_ sports-promoter-jackof-all-trades Tom, give Miss Rich a heartache to add to her headache when the conscription questionnaires arrive. Jerked out of inertia, Wayne magnanimously accepts a job, that he can claim his mother a Mat 102—15c WAYNE MORRIS dependent. Bill can’t talk his girl, the lovely Suzanne Peters, out of waiting for a church wedding, so he elopes with a dizzy show girl. Tom wonders about what ailments can keep him out. It takes Miss Rambeau to tell them off and assure the draft board of her nephews’ eligibility. Army life does for the boys what their mother and aunt had felt it would and the two are a couple of proud, happy women at the film’s end. Ben Stoloff directed the original story by Fred Niblo, Jr. Old Team in New Film Irene Rich has been young Bill Orr’s mother for so long she says she is beginning to worry about him at night. Irene first “adopted” him in “The Mortal Storm,” in which the German army forced a cruel separation. Now the happy relationship has been renewed in Warner’ Bros.’ “Three Sons O’Guns,” at the Strand on Friday. This time the American army is going to take her boy away in the draft. Mat 201—30c THE "THREE SONS O'GUNS" and their mother, Irene Rich, have a gay time of it in the Warner Bros. film, at the Strand on Friday. The title roles are filled by William T. Orr, Wayne Morris and Tom Brown, above, and Marjorie Rambeau is featured. (Review) ‘Three Sons O’Guns’ Cavort in Strand Film A trio of carefree softies who take America for granted and start looking over exemption possibilities as soon as their ques tionnaires for the draft arrive Warner Bros.’ fast-moving new film, “Three Sons O’Guns,” which opened at the Strand Theatre last night. The title roles are filled by three zestful young fellows, the popular Wayne Morris, Tom Brown and William Orr. Their perplexed mother is portrayed by the lovely Irene Rich and the great character actress Marjorie Rambeau plays the aunt who came to tea ten years ago and is still living wth the family. Beautiful and piquant screen newcomer Suzanne Peters adds the romantic interest. Tom is the youngest of the boys, a_ spoiled, self-centered brat. Then comes Bill, who fancies himself an actor and surrounds himself with a phoney theatrical troupe. The third son is Wayne, the family’s only employed member, who keeps losing his jobs because of his practicing the trombone in the washrooms. None of the trio has ever had a responsible moment. When their conscription questionnaires arrive things start to happen in the family. Wayne grabs a job he’d turned down so that he could “support his mother” for the benefit of the draft board. Bill proposes to Suzanne, who loves him, but insists on waiting for a church wedding. This won’t suit his exemption ideas, so he elopes with one of his show girls. Tom develops a list of ailments. Again Wayne loses his job for trombone-playing, before they are to appear at the draft board. At the board, the three start elaborating their exemption claims when Miss Rambeau marches in and denounces them as disgustingly healthy material provides the unusual twist in for the army. Even Bill’s marriage is proven illegal. It takes the army to make men out of these three, as is thrillingly depicted in the closing scenes of this enjoyable comedy. Ben Stoloff directed the original Fred Niblo, Jr. screen play. ACTORS. DRAFTED IN GAY STRAND FILM Recently Wayne Morris, Bill Orr and Tom Brown filled out draft blanks simultaneously. This time they filled them out for the benefit of the camera, not Uncle Sam. The boys play three irresponsible sons of Irene Rich in Warner Bros.’ “Three Sons O’Guns,” opening at the Strand on Friday. Their film portrayals were anything but patriotic. Discussion centered on exemption possibilities. Director Ben Stoloff yelled, “Action!” Orr spoke first. “We can’t let mother re-marry. If she does, she won’t be dependent on us.” Brown, noticing the physical and mental exemptions, said hopefully, “I’ve been called an idiot lots of times. Besides I’ve been having trouble with my eyes lately.” Orr then screamed, “A wife. That’s what I’ll get.” As Morris, deep in thought, started to leave the room he remarked, “I’m not only going to support Mom, but I’m going to get a job. I’ll even do that for mother,” in a grand manner. a &€ SYNOPSIS (Not For Publication) Charley Patterson ...Wayne Morris Pent LOUIS” bo. 0s2:.. 0. deh wee Marjorie Rambeau Margaret Patterson eer i). Irene Rich PRODUCTION Directed by BEN STOLOFF Margaret Patterson Rich) (Irene has her hands full with three slap-happy sons. Charley eos oe sc oe thin ts s vase cn ce Remanes Cee Tom Brown Kennet s g.c5s. Boi... William T. Orr WA r ys Tyler occ cen nce canseseoeeadense sees Susan Peters Philip Talbot ...................--.:-seees Moroni Olsen ceo) te ee aOR OER EDS re) Barbara Pepper Buffalo Bill Oxenstern .................John Kelly Clee Oc, ere erreerres Fritz Feld Henry Gresham ................ Charles D. Waldron PERAGOGCK %.. ccfite csc oos noe ponncoay tense Charles Halton Mrez Tyler... ..6500564...8 na ne Florence Shirley SN ner: Ao RoR DTN William Davidson Reyndlde "ss. R edt: Frank M. Thomas Original Screen Play by Fred Niblo, Jr.; Director of Photography, Arthur Todd, A.S.C.; Art Director, Dialogue Director, Harold Winston; Film Editor, Terry Morse; Sound by Francis J. Scheid; Gowns by Howard Shoup; Makeup Artist, Westmore; Music by Howard Jackson. Stanley Fleischer; Perc Running Time........ 65 Minutes (Wayne Morris) keeps losing jobs because of practicing his trombone in washrooms. Kenneth (Bill Orr) fancies himself an actor. Eddie (Tom Brown) is a sports promoter. When they try for draft exemptions Aunt Lottie (Marjorie Rambeau) appears at the board to testify there’s nothing wrong with Charley or Eddie and Kenneth’s marriage — intended to help dodge the draft—isn’‘t legal. They go to camp. Margaret visits the boys and discovers that the army’s really “made men” of them.