Beauty and the Boss (Warner Bros.) (1932)

Review *“Beauty And The Boss’’ Is Gay And Refreshing Comedy Drama Refreshing in its satire and one of the most enjoyable comedy dramas presented in recent weeks, “Beauty And The Boss,” a Warner Bros. production, began an engagement at the .... Theatre yesterday. Warren William and Marian Marsh, last seen toether win “Under Eighteen,” are cofeatured, with dry-faced Charles Butterworth as the comedy lead. Besides these, there is a strong supporting cast, WARREN WILLIAM including Da Cut No. 18 Cut 15c¢ MatSe yid Manners, Lilian Bond, Frederick Kerr, Mary Doran and Polly Walters. “Beauty And The Boss” was adapted for the screen from “A Church Mouse,” a reigning Broadway hit by Paul Frank and Ladislaus Fodor, Hungarian playwrights. Joseph Jackson, one of Hollywood’s most skillful screen writers, adapted it for the screen, and Roy Del Ruth, whose most recent successes were “Blonde Crazy” and “Taxi,” starring Jimmy Cagney, directed it. The theme of the story is that of an ill-dressed, but beautiful secretary who finds that the busy bee must transform herself into a butterfly in order to find love. Her employer, a master of men and money, is a puppet in the hands of women and, in her efforts to protect him, she unconsciously falls in love with him herself. The story has some daring moments, but they have been handled so delicately by Director Del Ruth that they charm rather than shock. There are gay scenes in Paris and Vienna, with Warren William as the playboy of the boulevards, leading a company of lovely women and _ whoopsie youths in a mad parade of fun. Warner Bros. have given the production their customary care and richness of setting against backgrounds of utter luxuriousness. Warren William and Marian Marsh, loveliest of the younger stars, make a splendid team in this as they did in “Under Eighteen.” William proves himself one of the finest actors in pictures today, and Marian, with each new picture, reveals talent as an emotional actress. In this she gives the finest performance of her brief but brilliant career. I. day of run New Fashion Creations In “Beauty And The Boss’’ In “Beauty And The Boss,” the Marian Marsh-Warren William co-star Page Eight ring vehicle which opened at the... . Theatre yesterday, the central feminine character of the story transforms herself from a shrinking, timid secretary to a beautiful and much desired young lady. As in all such transformations, clothes play an important part. One of the most beautiful white satin evening gowns ever designed by Earl Luick, famous studio stylist, is part of Miss Marsh’s extensive screen wardrobe. With two draped scarves flowing from each shoulder and tied in a bow at the end of the back decolletage, it is a triumph of the dressmaker’s art. She wears it with an entrancing short wrap of applegreen satin, trimmed luxuriously with blue fox. This and other creations are causing gasps and sighs from the feminine portion of the .... large audiences. Expressions of a more discomforting nature are said to emanate from the many husbands in the audience. Miss Marsh is ably assisted in her characterization by Warren William who plays the other half of the title role, David Manners and Frederick Kerr. Charles Butterworth adds his whimsical humor to the plot while sex appeal is supplied in abundant quantities by Yola D’Avril, Lilian Bond, Mary Doran, Polly Walters and Barbara Leonard. It is a Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production. ye day of run Marian Marsh And William Are “Doubles” For Barrymore And Dolores Costello It would be a slight exaggeration to say that John Barrymore and Dolores Costello, otherwise Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore, both have doubles at the Warner Bros, studio in Hollywood. But certainly at that production centre there’s a young actor and a girl whose resemblances to the famous married couple played a decisive part in securing their first screen opportunities. They are Warren William and Marian Marsh, co-featured in “Beauty And The Boss,” which began a... . day engagement at. the iss ce MeAtre.). 614: ibs Marsh, who is Miss Costello’s prototype, got her first big chance when she was cast as Trilby in John Barrymore’s “Svengali.” And that was because Barrymore, after observing the screen tests of numerous applicants for the role, was forcibly impressed by Marian’s pronounced likeness to his wife. As for Warren William, who looks extremely like Barrymore, he was chosen to be Miss Costello’s leading man in “Expensive Women.” The accident of resemblance, however, has been in both cases the beginning of a series of roles which clearly demonstrate that neither Miss Marsh nor William have to rely on their physical resemblance to carve out their own screen success. In their last appearance together in “Under Eighteen,” both scored heavily. “Beauty And The Boss” includes in its large cast many prominent players of stage and screen. Among them are Charles Butterworth, David Manners, Frederick Kerr, Lilian Bond, Mary Doran and Yola D’Avril. Roy (“Blonde Crazy” and “Taxi’”) Del Ruth directed. ebra day of run Manners’ Yacht Won’t Launch Skipper On Marital Sea—Yet! Here is a tip for female fans of David Manners. The young author declares that he is not going to consider marriage until he has accomplished his present ambition, which is to own a yacht. Until just recently, the yachting idea was just a vague yearning on his part, but it blossomed into something definite while he was at work on “Beauty And The Boss,” a Warner Bros. picture featuring Marian Marsh and Warren William at the .... Theatre. It seems that Director Roy Del Ruth is a yachting enthusiast and the proud owner of a 75-foot launch. In an interim between, scenes, David picked up a copy of a yachting magazine which had been laid aside by Del Ruth and the two went into a long confab on the subject. The main thing that David learned was that not only does it cost a lot to buy a yacht, but the upkeep also requires many nickels. If he finds that he can support a boat in the style it is accustomed to, David will then begin thinking about the marital business. “Beauty And The Boss” is a spritely comedy romance of a Cinderella-like secretary and her philandering boss. Roy Del Ruth’s direction carries with it a deft touch. The cast includes Charles Butterworth, Lilian Bond, Frederick Kerr, Yola D’Avril, Mary Doran and others. Marian Marsh, the screen’s youngest star, appears opposite Warren William, with whom she was seen in “‘Under Eighteen,” in the Warner Bros. pic ture, “Beauty And The Boss,”’ now at the .... Theatre. Cut No. 1 Cut 15c Mat 5c Ain day of run Location Near Airport Creates Difficulty In Filming Picture Location of the Warner-First National studios near the United Airport in Burbank, California, was the source of extreme difficulty in the filming of several scenes in “Beauty And The Boss,” the Warner Bros. picture now at the.... “Theatre, in which Marian Marsh and Warren William are co-starred. The shots in question required Miss Marsh, William, Charles Butterworth and Mary Doran to enter, take off, land and disembark from a giant Fokker. The action shots were obtained easily but recording of sound was made almost impossible by the ten to seventy-five planes in constant movement around the airport. After several shots were spoiled, Director Roy Del Ruth was finally able to time the sound recording with the periods of least disturbance around the airport. Other prominent players who appear in “Beauty And The Boss,” although not in the airport scenes taken with such difficulty, are David Manners, Lilian Bond, Frederick Kerr, Yola D’ Avril id Barbara Leonard. Roy Del Ruth, director of the successful James Cagney pictures, “Blonde Crazy” and “Taxi,” directed “Beauty And The Boss” from the successful stage play, “The Church Mouse.” oD th day of run Charles Butterworth Now A Dancer—No Kidding! Making his first appearance as a dancer on the screen, Charles Butterworth, in “Beauty And The Boss,” the Warner Bros. production which comes to the .. .. Theatre next... ., is said to have one of the funniest dance routines ever filmed. Garbed in the dignified formality of full dress, the frozen-faced Butterworth becomes slightly intoxicated in a Parisian night club and attempts an Argentine tango. The result, from the first snap of the comedian’s fingers until, in a low curtsy that somehow goes wrong, and he sits down firmly on his partner's bended knee, is __ hilarious comedy. Butterworth appears throughout the film, in addition to the dance sequence, furnishing comedy support for the costarring team of Marian Marsh and Warren William, appearing together again after their roles in “Under Eighteen,” which raised Miss Marsh to stardom. Miss Marsh is cast as a secretarial Cinderella who eventually discovers the value of sex appeal in business, much to the discomfiture of her highly efficient employer, portrayed by William. The story has been characterized by metropolitan reviewers as “the smartest dramatic comedy of the season.” The large cast of “Beauty And The Boss,” which was directed by Roy (“Blonde Crazy” and “Taxi”) Del Ruth, includes David Manners, Frederick Kerr, Lilian Bond, Mary Doran, Yola D’Avril and many others. Current Readers Del Ruth Displays Diversity Of Talent With “Beauty And The Boss”’ Roy Del Ruth, director of “Beauty And -The Boss,” the Warner Bros. picture now at the .... Theatre, shows another facet of his diverse talents in the direction of this latest Marian Marsh-Warren William picture. “Beauty And The Boss” is a gay romance, differing entirely from Del Ruth’s two previous efforts, both James Cagney pictures. In the first the direction stressed light comedy and in the latter dramatic’ action was emphasized. He was equally successful in the direction of both and was rewarded with the direction of “Beauty And The Boss” as a tribute to his versatility. Supporting Marian Marsh and Warren William in this Del Ruth-directed hit are Charles Butterworth, David Manners, Frederick Kerr, Mary Doran and Yola D’Avril. Young Star’s Popularity Grows Greater Daily Marian Marsh, who in less than a year has risen from the status of an extra to stardom, has received approximately 90,000 fan letters up to the present date, and the rising tide climbs higher with each succeeding picture she makes. The first flood of fan mail followed “Svengali” last spring. “Five Star Final,” “The Road to Singapore,” “The Mad Genius,” “Under Eighteen,” and now “Beauty And The Boss,” the Warner Bros. picture at the ... . Theatre, have increased the talented young girl’s popularity by leaps and bounds. In “Beauty And The Boss,” Miss Marsh appears opposite Warren William, with whom she was cast in “Under Eighteen.” The large supporting cast includes Charles. Butterworth, David Manners, Frederick Kerr, Mary Doran, Lilian Bond and Yola D’Avril. Roy Del Ruth directed. Feature Marian Marsh Gets Chance To Compare Her Desires In “Beauty And The Boss”’ By Frank DavuGHErtTy If Warner Bros. hadn’t chosen Marian Marsh to become a_ star, Marian wouldn’t have minded becoming someone’s secretary. What’s more, all her friends say she’d have been a mighty fine one. Marian, whose new picture, “Beauty And The Boss,” is now at the.... Theatre, had planned -on just such a career even when her older sister, Jean, was already in the movies. At that time it was her thought that about all Marian could hope for would be sufficient work in pictures to put her comfortably through school. Then she would devote all her energies to the job of being some executive’s efficiency expert, typist and counsellor. During production of her new picture —in which she enacts the role of a prim, efficient and utterly sexless secretary— she had a chance to compare her earlier tastes and ambitions with her present ones. The result, in spite of her added knowledge, is exactly as she surmised. “I’m confident I’d be perfectly happy as a secretary if I wasn’t doing this work. A secretarial career has a lot of appeal for me,” she stated with complete assurance, adding, “Don’t you think the average girl, with average desires, would feel the same way if placed in a spot where she could stack up both vocations? Of course, I don’t mean that nearly every girl wouldn’t prefer to be in pictures rather than in an office, if given a choice. I do feel, however, that most girls would have views a lot like mine.” Judging from the manner in which Marian has thrown herself into the business of making a success in pictures, she would have been equally successful in the world of commerce. On the studio lot she has become the most letter-perfect reader of lines among the company’s players, never missing a cue nor missing a line. She was asked about the legend that she “had a talent” for lines. “Talent?” she laughed. “It takes a lot of hard work, that’s all. I generally work with my voice and diction teacher every night until ten-thirty. From then till midnight I rehearse my lines for the next day.” Having a speculative turn of mind, the interviewer ventured to suggest all work and no play might make Marian a dull girl. It seemed all so machine-like. The _ girls we, knew as a youth went in for ordinary pursuits, such as park benches and full moons and similar things. Her blue eyes mocked as she dimpled. “That’s like this picture, in a way. Pm supposed to comb my hair back severely and I’m not supposed to have thoughts of anything but work. The very idea of love is too shocking for me to admit to anyone but myself. Of course in the end I get my man—like the Northwest Mounted Police—but not till I find out that a good figure means more than being good at figures.” “If you weren’t in pictures,” she was asked, “would you still want to be a secretary ?” Under the yellow cornsilk hair her eyes, bluer than ever, took on those mischievous lights again. “What other kind of work do you think has the same advantages?” she countered. “First of all you are associating with the executive type of mind. Then, too, the object of most young working girls—at least presentable ones—is to get married.” “Well, what other working girl has the same chance to meet and be intimate with—in other words, to display her charms to—the same eligible sort of male? Business men with secretaries are generally able to afford wives. Most of them do, eventually, and the percentage of working girls who are married to them, in case you don’t know, is enormous.” “But that wasn’t your reason for wanting to be a secretary?” “Goodness, no! I don’t want to be married yet. If I had gone into business I wouldn’t marry until I first had made a success in the business. You can always marry. You can only be a success once or a failure forever.” Featured with Miss Marsh in “Beauty And The Boss” are Warren William, David Manners, Charles Butterworth and Lilian Bond. Roy Del Ruth directed.