Blessed Event (Warner Bros.) (1932)

D th day of run Term “Blessed Event’’ Used in Place of ‘‘Stork’”’ The term ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ so skillfully and humorously treated in the Warner Bros.’ production of that 7 tHe: Mow: at Theirs Theatre, is threatening to put the stork out of business. Any new way of saying an old truth is a welcome addition to the literature of the times. And when the new expression deals with a matter so vital as birth or death, the man who coins the new phrase for it is apt to become an immortal. Out of the World War came at least one new way of describing death, **Gone west.’’ It has become a part and parcel of our everyday language. Now, after generations have talked about storks and the doctors’ little black bags and cabbage leaves and **delicate conditions,’’ there is something new in the vocabulary of those who predict the arrival of babies. It’s a ‘‘Blessed Event.’’ Short, pat, logical, ethical, proper and not irreverent, it has been accepted by the English speaking world as a welcome relief from the trite phrase, ‘expecting the stork.’’ Only a few times in the history of civilization has the method of announcing anticipated babies been really changed. The stork has held almost undisputed sway over biological seerets for centuries. ‘*Blessed Event’? may put an end to all such nonsense without shocking the sensibilities of the most sensitive. Introduced into general use by a wise-cracking New York columnist, it has caught the public fancy, is seen everywhere in print and heard everywhere by voice. It has been incorporated into a successful motion picture by Warner Bros. which is now being’ ‘shown at: the: see Theatre. Lee Tracy and Mary Brian are supported by a marvelous cast of veteran actors, headed by Mary Brian, as the leading lady; Allen Jenkins, Ned Sparks, Ruth Donnelly, Milton Wallace, Frank McHugh, Dick Powell, Walter Walker, Edwin Maxwell, and others. The story is an adaptation of the play by Manuel Seff and For “4 Wilson: the screen play written. awe Green. “Roy Del Ruth di- rected. Ou day of run Dick Powell’s a Rare TreatA Crooner Who Can Act A crooner who can act or an actor who can croon are the hardest things to find in the world of entertainment. Which is exactly why Dick Powell won a long term movie contract before the public at large had ever heard of him, much less seen him on the screen. Dick (no relation to William) Powell is the personality-plus crooner in the current Warner Bros. film, ‘*Blessed Event,’’ at the ...............008 Theatre. Primarily, he wasn’t an actor who could croon; he is a crooner who can act—and how! When Warner Bros. executives were casting about for someone to fill this role in ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ they went all the way to Pittsburgh to get Powell who was acting as master of ceremonies at the Stanley Theatre there. They did not have much hope of getting a consummate actor; but they had to have someone who looked like a crooner and who could really croon. Imagine their surprise when the first few days’ ‘‘rushes’’ of the picture convinced them that they had found what was supposed to be practically non-existant—a crooner who could act. Before the picture had finished production, Powell was in possession of a long term Warner Bros.’ contract. He returned to Pittsburgh to finish his engagement at the Stanley Theatre before returning to Hollywood to embark on his screen career. Dick Powell, Popular M.C. Cast in “‘Blessed Event’’ Dick Powell, who has been master of ceremonies at the Pittsburgh Stanley Theatre for the past three years, will appear in Warner Bros’. screen edition of ‘‘Blessed Event,’? which opens at the ............... Theatre................ z The role to be played by Powell is that of Bunny Harmon, a radio crooner. Roy Del Ruth directed ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ which features Lee Tracy at the head of an all-star cast. YOUR §S LEE TRACY and MARY BRIAN, who are featu alded “Blessed Event,” opening at the red in the widely herSts precine. Nace aang Ceti tonight. It was adapted from the Broadway stage hit and from all reports is one of the outstanding of this season’s photoplays. Out No.8 Out30c Matidc ADVANCE Al Jolson Comments On “Blessed Event” Al Jolson, generally acknowledged to be one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, is probably better able to judge entertainment values than the average citizen because of his long and successful associations with stage and screen, his ‘‘ Jazz Singer’’ having been the greatest money-maker since the talkies came in. Al saw ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ the Warner picture coming to the ............ sieidceten tyke Theatre Next 5 ssa ska. with Lee Tracy, Mary Brian and Dick Powell, on the West Coast just after it was completed. He immediately __ wrote to Darryl Zanuck, chief execu tive in charge of production, to tell him what he thought of the picture. Here’s Jolson’s letter: ‘*Dear Darryl— **T don’t know when I enjoyed anything more than I did ‘Blessed Event.’ To my mind, ‘Blessed Event’ and ‘Front Page’ are the two outstanding pictures of newspaperdom. **Make more pictures like ‘Blessed Event’. Very truly, Al Jolson.’’ Lee Tracy Sends a Wire To Walter Winchell When Lee Tracy, Warner Bros. featured player, learned that Walter Winchell, a Broadway buddy, was ill, he was quick to send a typical Tracy telegram of sympathy from Hollywood. Lee, who plays Alvin Roberts, columnist in ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ which COMES G0 > The? ii des Theatre ‘*Sineerely sorry you are tuned) out but old Alvin Roberts is ready to pinch hit the blessed events if needed Stop Have discovered Hollywood has as much system as a guy with St. Vitus Dance.’’ ’ ‘Blessed Event” Has 3 Players from Stage Cast Three original members of the cast of ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ the Broadway play by Manuel Seff and Forrest Wilson, which comes to the ............cs0c00 AS CTT oc eee een as a Warner Bros. picture, were drafted to appear in the forthcoming screen version. Allen Jenkins appeared in the stage cast as a gangster, while Milton Wallace was Mr. Moskowitz, the gentleman from the Bronx who wanted to have the birth of a baby announced by the columnist hero. Isabel Jewel plays the role of a night club entertainer. They play the same roles in the picture, which has Lee Tracy for the featured role. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth. Ste Ps SS —— Pretty Mary Brian Seen Again in “Blessed Event” Mary Brian, who was recently seen here with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in ‘*Tt’s Tough To Be Famous,’’ has the leading feminine role in Warner Bros.’ forthcoming screen version of ‘*Blessed Event.’’? It comes to the SEA ie cts aes PROAERO: CaaS Sek ety with Lee Tracy and Miss Brian heading an all-star cast. Roy Del Ruth directed the picture, which is now being listed as the greatest comedy of the year. Among the players who have important places in the cast, besides Tracy and Miss Brian, are Allen Jenkins, Isabel Jewel, Milton Wallace and Dick Powell. The first three are from the original stage play, while Powell, who makes his screen debut in this picture as a radio crooner, is already being groomed as a future star. Allen Jenkins Has Same Role in “Blessed Event” He Played on the Stage Allen Jenkins whose role as Frankie Wells in the Warner Bros. picture, ‘“Blessed Event,’’ playing now at the Beet inner See EE Theatre, has brought him suddenly into national notice as a character actor, is an old hand with New York audiences but a newcomer to the screen. Jenkins was brought to Hollywood from New York to play this particular role after representatives of the studio had watched him play the same part in the stage production, ‘‘ Blessed Event.’? Previous to that Jenkins had played an important role in the New York production of ‘‘The Last Mile’’ and in the sensationally successful ‘‘ Five Star Final,’’ which was later made into a picture by Warner Bros. Following his introduction to pictures in ‘* Blessed Event,’’ with Lee Tracy and Mary Brian, Jenkins found enough interesting parts waiting him in Hollywood to enable him to stay on. It is doubtful if producers there will let him return to New York for many months to come. “Blessed Event’? Adapted From Sensational Play ‘*Blessed Event,’?? Warner Bros.’ sereen version of the stage hit by Manuel Seff and Forrest Wilson, COMES: TO UNO Ba ea ook Theatre Ee ee Re » labeled the greatest and most authentic of the columnist dramas. The cast comprises the following players: Lee Tracy, Mary Brian, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Ned Sparks, Dick Powell, Milton Wallace, Edwin Maxwell, Emma Dunn, Walter Walker, Harold Waldridge, Sheila Terry, Ruth Hali, George Chandler, Frank McHugh, Tom Dugan, Walter Miller, Harry Seymour, George Meeker, Jessie DeVorska, Bobby Gordon, Herman Bing, Charles Levinson and Isabel Jewel. Three of these players—Allen Jenkins, Milton Wallace and Isabel Jewel—are former members of the original Broadway stage cast of ‘*Blessed Event,’’ which was the sensation of Broadway. Roy Del Ruth directed. ORT CURRENT Lee Tracy Gets Off A Few Wisecracks About “Blessed Event’? News ‘‘The hand that rocks the cradle and which used to rule the world,’’ says Lee Tracy, ‘‘is no more powerful now than the hand which tells the world whose cradle is going to be rocking next.?’ The ‘‘Blessed Event’’ has taken it’s proper place in the day’s news along with deaths, elections, murders and divorces, Tracy believes, and a good prediction is worth two announcements in public interest, any day. Tracy, playing the leading role in the picture, ‘‘Blessed Event,’’ for Warner’ Bros..at the ssc... 8s Theatre, a story which rather closely parallels the career of a famous New York columnist, is an actor by profession but a newspaper man by adoption. He has as many friends in one profession as in the other. Stop Up Your Keyhole! Stop! Hold everything! Think before you speak! There may be a columnist at your keyhole now! You can’t escape them. You can’t ignore them. You will just have to grin and bear it. ‘“Scoop,’’ the reporter has been replaced by ‘‘Snoop,’’ the columnist. Even your thoughts aren’t your own. How and why he does it is told fearlessly and hilariously in the picture ‘*Blessed Event,’’? featuring Lee Tracy and Mary Brian, as filmed by Warner Bros. from the stage play of ‘* Blessed Event,’’ is a side-splitting text book on how keyholers keyhole. ‘Blessed Event’ Role Wins Dick Powell Long Term Contract Prone to prophecy though it is, Hollywood seems to be justified in its forecast of stardom, within the next year, for Dick Powell of Pittsburgh. He made his debut on the local screen in ‘‘ Blessed Event,’’ the Warner Bros. laugh sensation now at DUG rset ee teak ees Theatre, as ‘“Bunny’’ Harmon, radio band leader and crooner, and registered so strongly in a east of brilliant and seasoned actors that the girls are going ga-ga over him already. As the result of his workin this sensational picture he was placed under a long term contract by Warner Bros. and it is whispered that they will groom him for stardom. Famous Stage Players Cast in “Blessed Event’ Milton Wallace, now playing in the Warner Bros. production of ‘‘ Blessed Event’? a6 fhe. ae. Theatre, was one of the principals in the original cast of ‘‘Abie’s Irish Rose.’’ He appeared in 1776 performances during the classic run of that comedy at the Republic Theatre, New York. Allen Jenkins, another member of the ‘‘Blessed Event’’ cast, followed Spencer Tracy as Killer Mears in the Broadway production of ‘‘The Last Mile;’’ he was also a member of the original cast of ‘‘Five Star Final.’ Lee Tracy and Mary Brian head the all-star cast which is such a senSahon Ab (thee a ne Theatre. “Blessed Event,”? because it is the only genuine col umnist picture, will un doubtedly be played up by newspaper critics. Plant these stories with critics and editors. Pass Five