A Modern Hero (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Tpyisess Given “Ti sodern Hero 7 mag ificent role, si ing and dynamic n iD # promfeld, and sur tre on Pages the Barthely swept like & meteor rinlnd skies @ few yi and the hundreds of Txt Bromfield readers 7, ‘A Modern Hero” a vg overnight, will at last 7H sir desire to see that 5 powerful characterizaight to life with all ‘nee and color on the ding ladies are re ie the five important ; res, i] Jean Muir, now a gown right, again plays sofa demure little coun"% There is Marjorie Ram time comparatively reima career has been a “hin of marked successes at roles; Florence EldDwothy Burgess and fusdale, each of whom is My dy in her own right. ivucipal male parts are Ma; Theodore Newton, Mwvanaugh, William Jan‘@ \. Kerrigan, Arthur likey Rentechler and i Tucker, hunfield’s story is a pen tthe conflicting moods ui of a youth whose ta one of the financial! it Europe, and whose ™ * popular circus "Gp we career as a leopard vs ended when one of ‘chewed off her arm. 4 \ dreug rider in his /Biatshow, the young man FY With discontent and He is & promiscuous doesn’t hesitate to use uiveness for his own ad ad he rises to great HF" the financial world. Fuh, —s , + Speman of his ; Many fine i ode Which manifests i. love for his illegiti. The story reaches “tonal crises and has i ng climay, ire directed by G. i is y famous UFA prote u from Ger’ = Production of ” ‘ This is his tan picture, 4 ) ~ On The Cast 5 Leading Ladies With Barthelmess In ‘‘Modern Hero’’ Five leading ladies are required by Richard Barthelmess for “A Modern Hero,” his latest Warner Bros. picture which ecmes to the Theatre on ; Jean Muir, who many belteve will be the Maude Adams of the screen, has the role of the small town sweetheart of Barthelmess in the early sequences of the story. Marjorie Rambeau plays the part of his mother, a former leo pard tamer, and later a fortune teller. Florence Eldridge, wife of Fredric March, is his light of love who helps him get away from the circus and started on a business career. Dorothy Burgess is the daughter of the wealthy man who becomes the partner of Barthelmess in the automobile industry, the one girl among his many loves whom he marries. Verree Teasdale is his companion of later years when married life begins to pall. The picture is based on the popular novel by Louis Bromfield which gives a vivid and colorful characterization of a man who is torn by traits in herited from a financial genius conflicting and a popular and beautiful woman of the cireus. The one drives him into ruthless battles other in high finance and the into just as ruthless love affairs. Production Story Circus Staged For ‘A Modern Hero’ in Barnes Tent Show There’s the scent of tanbark and jungle beasts and the tang of pink Richard Barthelmess’ latest Warner Bros picture, “A Modern Hero,” which comes to the Theatre on , for theres a show within the production, lemonade = in All members of the companys who take part in the cireus se quences were moved on location near El Monte, California, where fT Wee. epee CE show was Barnes famous tent sequestered for the Here the main tent was put up with the shows around it, the menageries Winter, various side with their lions, tigers and other wild beasts in cages, and ele phants dragging at their chains. The freaks were there, the shell game tricksters and the ballyhoo artists, with all the accompany ing noise and bustle and confu sion that eharacterizes a cireus, Here the big show was put on with Barthelmess riding a big white horse and doing stunts In the central ring, with the Barnes cireus trapeze artists doing their work as extras and Mable Starke, the most famous lion tamer In the world, giving her death defying act in the cage for wild beasts, Nor nor the vendors missing. Later the picture background moves on from the romantic ¢ircus setting to the battle arena of high finance, none the less glamorous, where the humble cir cus rider fights his way to power only to be crushed eventually. In the cast with Barthelmess are Jean Muir, Verree Teasdale and Dorothy Burgess, all his inamoratas in turn, for he is a man of many loves. Others include Marjorie Rambeau, Hobart Cavanaugh, William Janney, Theodore Newton and Arthur Hohl. G. W. Pabst, the famous German producer, directed. were the clowns soda pop peanut and We know you'll all recognize the handsome gentleman above as Richard Barthelmess, but this is to advise you that he is now starring in “A Modern Hero” at the Strand. This Warner Bros. dramatic hit was taken from the best seller by Louis Bromfield and has been transformed into an intensely interesting film. The great cast includes Jean Muir, Marjorie Rambeau, Verree Teasdale, Dorothy Burgess, Florence Eldridge and William Janney. Mat No. 14—20c Produc ‘A Modern Hero’ by Louis Bromfield Is Best Selling Novel “\ Modern Hero,” Richard Barthelmess’ latest starring vehiele for Warner Bros., which comes to the ; theatre on , Was one of the best selling novels of the past year. It was written by the famous novelist, Louis Bromfield, many of whose books have been dramatized for the stage oF screen. In this story he has penned a colorful characterization of a youth of conflicting traits trace‘able to his financial genius father, and his mother, & popular cireus idol, A cireus rider with his mother’s tent show, he works diseontentedly at his job until opportunity opens for him to enter business for which he has his father’s ability, and becomes a captain of industry. Frone his father he inherits a ruthlessness which is indicative of both his business and his many love affairs, although tempered by a certain kindliness he gets from his mother. Bromfield’s _ first novel, “The Green Bay Tree,” was published in 1924 since when he has written many volumes including “Early Autumn,” which was awarded the Pulitzer prize as the best novel of the year, “Possession,” “A Good Woman,” “The House of Women,” & play, “The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg,” “Awake and Rehearse, Hours” and “Twenty Four “Night After Night,” the latter two having been adapted to pictures. “§ Modern Hero” was adapted to the screen by Gene Markey and Kathryn Seola and directed by G. W. Pabst, the famous UFA director. Film Shows Vivid Contrast in Styles Of Past 30 Years Chicago in the florid days just beyond the turn of the century provides part of the interesting background pattern for the early sequences of “A Modern Hero,” the Warner Bros. picture starring Richard Barthelmess now showing at the Theatre. A number of relies of the “good old days,” two-horse hacks, and other horse-drawn vehicles supplying a reminiscent touch that Dad and Mother will recall with regretful sighs. Costuming of the period also is strictly followed, the women’s dresses being conspicuous for their leg-o’-mutton sleeves, tight waists and long street-sweeping skirts. For “gents” the fourbutton sack coat, with high lapels, peg-top trousers and heads crowned with derbies are de rigeur. These stand out in strange contrast to the modern costumes seen in the latter part of the picture. The story of “A Modern Hero,” adapted from Louis Bromfield’s best seller, carries the principal character, from approximately 1902 up to the present time, tracing his spectacular rise from a cireus rider to a modern captain of industry, a man brilliant, magnetic, who is as ruthless in love as in high finance. Jean Muir, Verree Teasdale, Marjorie Rambeau, Florence Eldridge, Dorothy Burgess and others are prominent in support of Barthelmess. G. W. Pabst, famous German director, makes his American debut with this production. The screen play is by Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola. Florence Eldridge Will Make But One Picture in a Year Florence Eldridge, who has one of the leading feminine roles opposite Richard Barthelmess in the Warner Bros. picture, “A Modern Hero,” now at the Theatre is a one-a-year picture woman, refusing steadfastly tc make more, and “A Modern Hero” is her one contribution for the present season. Years ago, when she married Fredric March, she was headed for stardom on Broadway, having played important roles in such stage productions as “Cat and Canary,” “Cheaper To Marry,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Ambush.” Going to Hollywood she tried her hand at a few pictures but found that it interfered with her domestic life. Not wishing to give up acting altogether, she decided to make just one picture a year and has adhered strictly to schedule, last season having made “The Great Jasper.” The season before “Thirteen Women,” and before that “The Matrimonial Bed.” In “A Modern Hero” she has the role of one of Barthelmess’ many inamoratas. The other women with whom he has affairs include Jean Muir, Verree Teasdale and Dorothy Burgess. Marjorie Rambeau has the role of Barthelmess’ mother, a popular circus beauty whose son is the result of a romance with a financial giant of the times. The picture is based on the novel by Louis Bromfield which gives a vivid and colorful characterization of a man torn by conflicting traits of inheritance. It was directed by G. W. Pabst, famous German producer, from the sereen play by Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola. Star Story Barthelmess Takes Off 15 Pounds To Play Slim Athlete With a sereen star it is not so much a question whether he “ean take it” as whether “he can take it off.” After a succession of roles in which he was of indeterminate age, Richard Barthelmess found himself considerably overweight when he was cast for the title role in Warner Bros. picture, “A Modern Hero,” “now showing at the eas Theatre. In the early sequences of the picture, Barthelmess has the role of a youth of twenty, a slim and athletic cireus rider. He examined his figure in a mirror shortly before starting the picture, then hurried to Palm Springs. A course of sun. baths, tennis, swimming, golf and horseback riding reduced his poundage by fifteen within two weeks, and he returned lithe, slender and agile, and actually looking as young as he is supposed to. The picture, based on the novel by Louis Bromfield, is the colorful story of a circus rider who climbs to financial fame and who is as ruthless in business as he is in love. There is a strong east supporting Barthelmess which includes Jean Muir, Marjorie Rambeau, Verree Teasdale, Dorothy Burgess and Hobart Cavanaugh. G. W. Pabst, famous German director, directed the picture, his first American production. Page Nine OOO