Anthony Adverse (Warner Bros.) (1936)

EXPLOITATION CONTACTING THE READERS | With the millions of “Anthony Adverse”’ readers in mind, we’re offering this page to play up prestige of author and novel. Stunts are intended to interest literati, clubs. and all possible book-contacts. As possible angle you might match advance trade and newspaper-reviews on film itself side by side with book-review excerpts printed below. Might look well in your lobby set-up to catch side glances of patrons. GETTING THE LITERATI To PLUG PIC The book, ANTHONY ADVERSE, has probably created more ex citement than any single novel published in the Twentieth Century. It has been hailed on all sides as a masterpiece of literary endeavor. Capitalizing on this, you'll want to contact all the literati and cultural big-wigs of the vicinity. You have a product here which justifies it, both from your standpoint and their own. “TESTIMONIALS If you have an erudite critic in town, his word of commendation will have plenty of meaning. It’s possible that he ran a review of book after appearance of first edition. Do what you can to get him to re-issue review or criticism tying in with coming of pic. Use his line of comment in form letters to patrons, or in any way it will do you some good. When approaching him, be sure to show Hervey Allen’s opinion of film, reproduced elsewhere in this book. LOBBY DISPLAY Use testimonials in lobby display blowups. In the event you have no big literary names locally, we're listing for you some of the epithets of praise used by a bunch of the big time book critics on lead ing newspapers. EXCERPTS OF CRITICISMS ON ANTHONY ADVERSE ‘A titanic novel of adventure ...a delightful, unexpected windfall of ripe and abundant romance. Anthony Adverse is essentially a story and a very great story. But it gathers up so much wit and wisdom that Hervey Allen is revealed on every page as that rare thing, nowadays, a creative humanist. It may become the best-loved book of our time.” .. . Peter Monro Jack, in the N. Y. Times. — ‘| hazard the opinion that Anthony Adverse is the most perfectly con. ceived and exquisitely designed historical novel ever done by an American author. It will lay hold upon a vast multitude of readers and grip them fast by its fascinations. For it is a living book; it vibrates; it sings itself into the very marrow of the bones.” . . . Paul Jordon-Smith, in the Los Angeles Times. ‘Hervey Allen has covered himself with glory and has added a glory to American literature. In Anthony Adverse he has produced a classic of our generation and the next—a book of weight and force that will, I think, gather momentum for a long journey through posterity.” Gorham Munson, in N. Y. Sun. “Hervey Allen sets up a romantic and magnificent landmark in American fiction ... . Anthony Adverse contains so astonishing a wealth of incident, vigor and prodigious learn ing that it marks Hervey Allen as probably the most potent of American novelists, ...."’ William Soskin in the N. Y. Evening Post. “A lush story that makes the blood ———~— race gayly ...” Phila. Ledger. “A Page Sia book for the ages . . . brilliant and exciting.” . . . Boston Transcript. “Has the fire and thrill of “The Three Musketeers’ . . . Chi. Trib. RECORD “.. . It is the complete adventure story which will give those readers who seek escape from hum-drum lives the most ample and satisfying meal they have ever had.”’ . . . Geo. C. Buzby, SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS ‘To say that there is not a dull line in its 1200 pages is negative praise, too slight for anything so magnificently imagined and so superbly brought to life. It is a great book. Great in the profoundest sense of that abused word. A noble book, from which one arises refreshed and revitalized. Not often in a lifetime does one have such a literary experience. Written in prose of the most beautiful, poignant, and lustrous quality, this alone would commend it far above the ordinary. For sheer artistry it is supreme.” . . . Jane Judge. AN EDITORIAL FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR _ “A great new novel has emerged from the flood of current fiction. It is the already popular and provocative Anthony Adverse, by Hervey Allen. American in authorship, it is international in scope, picturesque in period and rich in historical scene and incident. More than all, it is a life story of profound understanding and implications, yet told in the modern fashion, with the difference that the manner is unhurried and the range is unrestricted. USING ALLEN PRESTIGE: Hervey Allen has gained almost as much prominence through “Anthony Adverse” as has the hero of that memorable book. Surprisingly little statistical information has been made available about him. Few people know, for instance, that he is the author of several books of merit, all written before ‘Anthony Adverse.” The information about him which appears in the publicity section of this book should be of interest to literary clubs, libraries and newspapers. 8 x 10 still, above, available from Campaign Plan Editor. Order Still No. Allen |. CONTACT CLUB HEADS You'll want to contact presidents and personnel of every literary club and organization in your vicinity. Give “em statistical info on production, special stills, etc. to pass around at their meeting. Have one member in each situation give talk and announcement all of which will build your opening. The more they talk, the better, so don’t neglect ‘em on this one. Speech which you could make to these groups is available on another page of this section. TELLING THE STUDES be ’ When making your contacts on the book angle, be sure to tell the students, especially those in English classes. Perhaps school principal will give you a few minutes to make the speech which appears in this book from school auditorium.