Boulder Dam (Warner Bros.) (1936)

E R Publicity D A M Thrilling Drama ‘Boulder Dam’ Is Booked by Strand “Boulder Dam,” a Warner Bros. production heralded as a drama of thrilling action, heroic deeds and glamorous romance, is scheduled as the feature attraction at the PEHOATEOL ONIN vee Shes The picture is based on Don M. Templin’s story of the building of this mighty project, and the lives of the daredevil workmen who blasted their way through solid rock and scaled the walls hundreds of feet above the river, is painted in the picture in eolorful detail. Death faced these dynamic workers at every turn, and many of their deeds of heroism, depicted in this film, will go down in the history of this great undertaking. The picture is enlivened by song numbers written by the famous team of Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel and sung by Patrieja Ellis. Ross Alexander portrays a shirking, disgruntled mechanic in a mid-West garage. In a fist fight with his boss, the latter is killed by a fall, and the mechanic flees. He lands at Las Vegas, where the dam was being built. In a dance hall and cafe he is about to be ejected as a tramp when Patricia Ellis, in the role of a singer at the club, intervenes, buys him food and takes him to her home, where he is welcomed by her kindly family. The mechanic goes to work and sives the lives of many of his fellows at the risk of his own. Lyle Talbot, in the “heavy” role, is in love with the girl and also knows of his’ successful rival’s past. He gives Ross twenty-four hours to quit the town, but on that last day an incident occurs which changes the whole aspect of the situation and brings the picture to a close in a smashing climax. There is a strong supporting east which includes Eddie Acuff, Henry O’Neill, Egon Brecher, Eleanor Wesselhoeft, Joseph Crehan, Olin Howland, William Pawley, Ronnie Cosby and George Breakston. Frank MacDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Actress Balks At Kissing Face Like Cactus Leaf Patricia Ellis was glad that she had to kiss Ross Alexander only twice during the filming of “Boulder Dam,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to the Eee OS Theatre on Even twice was too much, according to the young actress. Not that Alexander is a young man whom leading ladies dislike to kiss. Thousands of feminine fans throughout the country will rise to his defense when it comes to that. It was just that he was practically unkissable in his film make-up. During the majority of scenes, Alexander wore a thick, stubby four day growth of beard. With this fine crop of property bristles, a leading lady could scarcely be blamed for eschewing kisses. “One might just as well kiss a cactus,” declared Miss Ellis. “Boulder Dam” is a drama of love and heroism based on a story by Dan M. Templin. Besides Miss Ellis and Alexander the cast includes Lyle Talbot, Henry O’Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and scores of others. Frank McDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Page Four Bids For Film Stardom Battling death a thousand feet in the air and riding a runaway dynamite truck on the edge of a precipice, are only two of the breath taking stunts dared by Ross Alexander, (above) in the filming of Warner Bros.’ great drama of the world’s greatest engineering job “Boulder Dam,” in which the young actor will make his bid for screen stardom at the... Theatre on_._......--- Mat No. 204—20c (Review ) Story of Boulder Dam is Thrilling Screen Drama Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis and Lyle Talbot Have Leads in Strand Hit | The construction of the huge government power project at Boulder Dam was so rich in thrilling drama that it could hardly help being the background of an exciting and mov ing motion picture. Many of these incidents are incorporated in the new Warner Bros. drama ‘‘Boulder Dam,’’ which pleased all spectators at its local premiere ab: une. 5 Theatre yesterday. The story carries a glamorous romance in which a pretty singer in a dance hall inspires a shirker, disgruntled with the world, to do heroie deeds and to make something of hig life. There are scenes showing the construction of the dam, including the wrecking of a runaway dynamite car and the saving of a man hanging from a boom hundreds of feet above the river bed, an actual happening. The picture starts with the shirker accidently killing his boss in a brawl. He flees and finally wanders to the Boulder Dam, then under’ construction. He meets the pretty singer, falls in love with her and is regenerarated. But there is a rival for her love who nearly upsets the apple cart when he discovers the other’s past and orders him to quit the town on penalty of being exposed. A strange and unusual incident takes place, however, which changes the course of events and brings the picture to an amazing climax. The picture is enlivened by tuneful airs written especially for the production by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. These are sung by Patricia Ellis, in her role as a dance hall entertainer. Miss Ellis has a most pleasing voice and a charming manner, and her portrayal of the character shows unusual sympathy and understanding. She is a _ very clever artist for one so young. Ross Alexander, recently come to films from the New York stage, has his first leading screen role in this picture. He handles his part easily and well, and fully justifies the confidence placed in him. Lyle Talbot again stalks across the screen as the villain of the piece, and again demonstrates his versatility as a thespian, for he plays either heavy or _ heroic roles with equal artistry. Others in the cast who do exceptionally good work include Eddie Acuff, Henry O’Neill, Egon Brecher, Eleanor Wesselhoeft, Joseph Crehan, Olin Howland, William Pawley, Ronnie Cosby and George Breakston. Frank McDonald has done a fine piece of work in directing. Dramatic Film Of ‘Boulder Dam’ At the Strand Today The Warner Bros. production, “Boulder Dam,” which colorfully exploits the exciting incidents connected with the construction of the mighty power project, COMES LOS BNO ia se es Theatre today, with Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis and Lyle Talbot in the leading roles. Alexander and Miss Ellis have the romantic roles, with Talbot portraying the “heavy role” of rival for the love of the pretty dance hall singer, played by Miss Ellis. The picture is crammed with dynamic drama, daredevil action, heroic deeds and thrilling incidents in addition to its romance. Miss Ellis also adds a colorful touch to the picture by singing two songs specially written for the production by the noted song team of Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. The story concerns an automobile mechanic, cocky and sure of himself, but who shirks his work at every opportunity. In a fist fight with his boss, the latter falls and strikes his head in such a way that it kills him. The mechanic flees, gets to the Boulder Dam in his wanderings, and there meets the pretty dance hall singer and is inspired by love to make something of himself. He is recognized by his rival, however, and his hopes of happiness seem blasted, until an unforseen and most unusual incident occurs. The picture is based on the dramatie story, “Boulder Dam,” by Dan M. Templin and was directed by Frank MacDonald from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Others in the east include Eddie Acuff, Henry O’Neill, Egon Brecher, Eleanor Wesselhoeft, Joseph Crehan, Olin Howland William Pawley, Ronnie Cosby and George Breakston. Camera Boom Swings Men 65 Feet A camera “boom” which could swing a platform of camera equipment and four men to a height of sixty-five feet, was used during the making of the Boulder Dam sequences in the Warner Bros. picture ‘Boulder Dam,” wh'ch comes to the Theatre on The picture features Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis and Lyle Talbot. Actors Get Seasick Riding in Elevator You don’t have to be on the ocean to get seasick. Ross Alexander, Lyle Talbot and a dozen others in the east of the Warner Bros. picture, “Boulder Dam,” which comes POMIb Ieper. Betta ie Theatre on SiS Aes , got seasick riding on a large cable elevator. The “elevator” is a huge erate-like affair which, with the aid of a donkey engine and cables is pulled from the floor high up into the rafters of one of the Warner Bros. stages. For more than three hours one day, the actors were hoisted up and down the range of the cable in order that the scene could be covered from all camera angles. When the scene was finally through, and the elevator descended to the floor for the last time, it was found that practically all i were suffering from acute seasickness. Ross Alexander Does Daredevil Feat For Film Ross Alexander took the most thrilling ride in his life during the filming of the Warner Bros. picture, “Boulder Dam,” which COMOBHTO THE. 2m eae nis Theatre OD: rite eae aaa? Perched on a small platform on the end of a seventy foot boom, the actor was swung from the ground sixty-five feet up the side of a vertical rock wall. There he took his place on a ledge with a group of daredevil workmen, formerly employed at Boulder Dam, to make the scene. Although one of the real workmen had previously been made up and dressed as Alexander’s double, the actor decided he wanted to scale the wall himself. Alexander was later made an honorary member of the “Hellcat Crew” by members of that organization who had appeared in the scene with him. The “Helleat Crew” is composed of the most daring of the workmen who helped in the construction of Boulder Dam. “Boulder Dam” is a drama of love and heroism based on the story by Dan M. Templin. Besides Alexander, the cast in cludes Patricia Ellis, Lyle Talbot, Henry O’Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and others. Bursting With Excitement Ross Alexander (right), Patricia Ellis and Lyle Talbot don’t look excited, but the amazing drama in which they head the all star cast is bursting with excitement. It’s “Boulder Dam” now showing CUE SEC et teen, OE cn Pests fee: Theatre. Mat No. 202—20c