Beloved Brat (Warner Bros.) (1938)

(Advance) BONITA GRANVILLE HAS 16 FROCKS FOR NEWEST ROLE Bonita Granville feels that she has definitely grown up. In her few years of motion picture work, she has never been given more than two or three changes of costume for any picture. But in “Beloved Brat,” her latest Warner Bros. film, she plays the daughter of an extremely wealthy family. As a result, Howard Shoup, one of the studio’s style creators, designed sixteen changes of costume for her. “Tmagine, ’m going to wear sixteen pretty frocks!” the talented 14year-old actress exclaimed to everyone she met when she found out about it. Included in the wardrobe is a blue suit, a white dress, a few sweater and skirt outfits, a gingham dress, a scotch plaid outfit and lots of other dainty clothes. They were even thinking of designing an evening gown to go with high-heeled shoes for Bonita to wear in a party scene but Mrs. Granville put her foot down on that. She thought her daughter had time yet to grow up. Instead, she wears a pink dress with patent leather slippers to the party. Pere Westmore, studio make-up chief, was called in to give Bonita five hairdresses to wear in the various stages of the film. She was pretty thrilled about that, too. All in all, she feels that she’s definitely grown up. “Beloved Brat,” the story of a bad little girl who was regenerated, was directed by Arthur Lubin. It opens next week at the Strand Theatre. Included in the cast are Dolores Costello, Natalie Moorhead, Donald Crisp, Emmett Vogan and_ Lucille Gleason. Black In Fashion Natalie Moorhead, who plays Bonita Granville’s mother in “Beloved Brat,’ coming to the Strand Theatre, believes that the truly smart woman concentrates on black this season, and accordingly includes much of it in both her screen and personal wardrobe. In the picture she wears a simple black wool dress which zippers down the front from its severely plain high neckline to the hem of the flared skirt. With this goes a little black hat narrowly piped in silver kid. Miss Moorhead also wears a black velvet dinner dress in the picture which has a high neck simulating a dog-collar because it is made of solid rows of steel cut beads. Bands of the gunmetal colored beads also outline the shoulder and wrist-length sleeves as well as the bodice. 20 Kiddies In Film Fifty pretty little girls, ranging from 8 to 14, were needed for the school sequences in “Beloved Brat,” the picture starring Bonita Granville which comes to the Strand Friday. But finding the little girls was only the beginning of the studio’s difficulties. They had to hire six extra teachers, since California law requires a teacher for every ten children on the set. Another problem was assembling the children from all corners of the lot when they were needed for a scene. A minor difficulty was getting a sufficiently large quantity of ice cream and cake to be consumed in a birthday party scene. Not a single tummy-ache resulted, however, which makes a perfect score. NOT A COLOSSAL JOB Bonita Granville recently was taught to knit by her mother. The first thing she knitted was a sweater for the chromium dog on the radiator cap of her ear. Mat 203 — 30¢ DOLORES COSTELLO — Glamorous star of a few years ago, now returns to te screen and to a career which promises to be even more brilliant than her earlier one. She is featured in ‘‘ Beloved Brat,’’ which comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday. (Advance ) Dolores Costello Returns To Screen Dolores Costello is one famous star who has “come wack” after a considerable absence from the screen with no regrets for having dropped out. In fact she counts her years away from the films as an asset. “Tt’s regrettable that there exists a prejudice — amounting almost to superstition — about come-backs,” Miss Costello observed recently. “Actually, a year or so away from the screen is often the thing which restores one’s perspective, renews one’s store of energy and force, and means bringing back to films much more of what it takes than ever before.” Miss Costello makes her own come-back in Warner Bros.’ new picture, “Beloved Brat,” which is coming Friday to the Strand. She is also under contract as a featured player to the studio in which she became a star in years gone by via such pictures as “The Sea Beast,” “Glorious Betsy” and “Noah’s Ark.” “There is no disputing the fact that even a short absence from the screen is dangerous,’ Miss Costello admits. “But with the right spirit, an actress can win her way back as I saw demonstrated by a certain young star not long ago. The fact that she won and outdistanced old rivals who had remained on the screen continuously was one thing that gave me courage to resume my own career. Said she, ‘Motion picture life is so hectic for a popular star or leading woman that there is a great tendency to get into a rut —to get dizzy, to stop thinking, and go through the whirl of part after part and all that goes with it in a sort of daze, only half aware of what is happening.’ “A complete rest overcomes all this, makes her clear-minded and sane again and gives her a grasp of things. But when she tries to come back she discovers that actresses of her age who have been grinding their lives out in constant activity are regarded as ‘young current favorites,’ and she, because she dropped out for a time, is ‘the grand old veteran.’ She is told by producers ‘the public has forgotten you— ‘but don’t worry—we believe we can win your fans back for you.’ And so on. Sounds discouraging, doesn’t it? “But these obstacles are artificial. I know Ill find that the public hasn’t forgotten after all.” The beauty and charm which Miss Costello presents in “Beloved Brat,” should go a long way toward winning back for her the stardom which she deserves. Indeed, since announcements of her forthcoming picture have reached the public, she has received any number of congratulatory letters from former fans who are eagerly looking forward to seeing her on the screen again. Her role in the film is that of a school teacher, who with her understanding ways manages to reclaim girls who have been classified as -“incorrigibles.” Bonita Granville, youthful veteran of “bad girl” roles, is her chief charge, and the conclusion to the picture is heart-warming, carrying with it some sound advice both to parents and children. It is a problem film which gives a _ wellplanned and workable solution to the problem which it presents. “Beloved Brat’ was directed by Arthur Lubin. Included in the east, besides Miss Costello and Bonita, are Natalie Moorhead, Donald Crisp, Lucille Gleason, Emmett Vogan and many others. Jean Negulesco wrote the original story. Makes Ranch Pay Donald Briggs, new Warner Bros. player who is featured in “Beloved Brat,” at the Strand Theatre, is one of the few members of the Hollywood colony owning a ranch in San Fernando valley who makes his place pay its own way. He has a paying grove of lemon trees. Had Early Start Dolores Costello, glamorous star of the silent days of pictures, who is making a comeback in “Beloved Brat” at Warner’s made her debut on the screen at the age of six when she played boys’ roles for Vitagraph in Brooklyn. Her father was Maurice Costello, matinee idol. [4] (Advance) SONG BIRDS HALT PRODUCTION BUT NOT FOR LONG The business of making pictures is an enormous one, but it sometimes takes a very small thing to throw the machinery completely out of gear. For instance, recently during the filming of “Beloved Brat” at Warner Bros. studio, two canaries escaped from their cage, and took to the rafters where they sat singing gaily in celebration of their newfound freedom. A scene between Bonita Granville and Donald Briggs, young leading man, was brought to an abrupt halt when the canaries’ ecaroling was picked up on the sound track. Eleetricians, prop men and laborers galloped around the cat-walks, high over the stage, like monkeys, trying vainly to corral the birds. Finally, Director Arthur Lubin, who learned his job in quickie studios where no excuses are accepted for a minute’s delay, showed the results of his training by sending to the prop department for a canary cage with a couple of stuffed birds perched inside. He planted it so it showed in the scene, and started his cameras turning again. “Now if the blanked canaries sing, we’ve got an alibi,” he said, and production went along without further interruption. “Beloved Brat” is the story of a spoiled rich girl, Bonita Granville, who is regenerated in a corrective school. Notables in the cast inelude Dolores Costello, Natalie Moorhead, Donald Crisp, Donald Briggs and Emmett Vogan. The picture which is coming to the Strand Theatre next Friday was directed by Arthur Lubin. Gave Good Advice When Donald Crisp was directing Douglas Fairbanks in “Don Q” many, many years ago, he was approached one day between scenes by a young boy who played a bit part in the film. “I want to become a director,” the lad said. “Are there any tips you can give me?” Crisp spent an hour with him, and explained as best as he could the technique of direction. A few months ago when Crisp reported for work on the set of “Beloved Brat,” which comes to the Strand Friday, he met the young man again. He was Arthur Lubin, director! Lubin thanked him for the advice which had helped him realize early ambitions. Helps The Needy Most actors and actresses go through a lean period in their lives when a five course meal looks like an offering from the gods. Lucille Gleason was no exception. She had her share of tough breaks. During that period, she determined to do her share to help needy actors if she could. Now Miss Gleason spends every moment away from motion picture work helping her fellow actors. She belongs to every organization of actors in Hollywood and New York. She donates all she can afford to their charities. Her desk is filled with unused tickets that she bought for benefits. Between scenes of “Beloved Brat,” her current picture which comes to the Strand Friday, she sewed sachets which will be raffled off at a frolic for the benefit of some needy folks in Hollywood. HAS DOUBLE TALENT Donald Crisp was a director in Hollywood before he became famous as an actor. Among the films he directed were “Don Q,” “Secret Service” and “Mark of Zorro.”