Bright Lights (Warner Bros.) (1935)

Bright. Lights Publicity Joe E. Brown Is Coming to Strand In Funniest Film Joe E. Brown is coming to town. His latest comedy romance, “Bright Lights,” a First National filed with mirth and melody, is scheduled as the fea ture attraction ‘at the...2....%. PHOS OMG Os sc. 5 6 seca ss aes The production is a hilarious comedy of “back stage” with songs coming in naturally as part of the action of a _ theatrical troupe. Seores of beautiful chorus girls appear in tuneful and fascinating dance and song numbers staged by Busby Berkeley, who directs the entire production. The picture is said to be the best in which Joe E. Brown has appeared. His antics are reported to bring uproarious laughter, pathos, romance, and high drama. Joe himself sings, dances and does acrobatic stunts with the famous tumblers, The Maxellos. The story by Lois Leeson centers about Joe, a hoofer and comic in a burlesque show, whose stage partner is his wife, Ann Dvorak. Patricia Ellis, a mad cap heiress, gets a job in the burlesque show as an adventure. William Gargan, publicity manager for a big Broadway producer, recognizes her, and engages her to play on Broadway. He also is taken with Joe’s act and signs him for many times the salary he is getting. Ann is shut out in the cold, and goes back to her old vaudeville job.How Patricia took Joe for a ride and how it works out to a reconciliation with Ann forms the plot, around which the action develops to a new and surprising climax. The scenes include’ the Old Grand Theatre, Los Angeles, which was one of the finest in the country fifty years ago. There are four songs, one sung by Ann Dvorak, one by Patricia Ellis, one by Esther Burke and chorus, all written by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. The fourth song is sung by Joe E. Brown, written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Joe EH. is supported by Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill and others. picture, Some Menace! Patricia Ellis is only 18 years old but she’s the bold bad woman who tangles up the lives of Joe E. Brown and Ann Dvorak in Joe E.’s funniest film, “Bright Lights” coming to the___... Theatre on.22 as Raed 5 Mat No. 105—10 BS Joe E. Brown, Ann Dvorak and Patricia Ellis dance with tears in your eyes—but they’re tears of laughter—in Joe E.’s film masterpiece “Bright Lights,” the First National comedy now showing Obie ae bie ASS Theatre. Mat No. 217—20c Joe E. Brown in “Bright Lights” At Strand Today Joe E. Brown, the funnelmouthed comedian, comes to the Mr hG Seet theatre today in what is heralded as his most uproarious comedy romance. In addition to Joe’s laughprovoking stunts, there are four lively songs, for the picture is one of back stage life and the Singing comes in naturally. Joe E., himself, sings and dances and does acrobatic stunts with the famous Maxellos. Scores of pretty chorus and dancing girls appear in the theatrical sequences but “Bright Lights” is neither a musical or a farce, but a stirring romantic comedy. The story is by Lois Leeson and concerns Joe E.’s quick jump from a burlesque comedy troupe to a big Broadway actor, playing with a madcap heiress, Patricia Ellis, out for adventure. His wife and partner in the _ burlesque show, Ann Dvorak, is out of it and goes back to small time. Joe’s head swells which causes many complications which lead to a unique and amazing! climax. Brown himself started his the atrical life as a comedian in a burlesque show, and the burlesque sequences are made the more natural by the use of an entire troupe which was playing in Los Angeles when “Bright Lights” was being filmed. The cast includes William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, Arthur Treacher, Gordon Westcott,. Joseph Crehan and William Demarest. Busby Berkeley directed. Brown Prizes Uniform of Dizzy Dean One of the most prized objects in the large collection of sporting trophies and momentos owned by Joe E. Brown, First National star, is the baseball uniform worn by Dizzy Dean last year when the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series pennant. Joe E. Brown is now appearing in “Bright Lights,” at the SO Ve oer ae theatre. Joe E. Brown Does Flip Flop Over Flying Maxellos Business men when they meet after a long separation, solemnly shake hands. “Monkey-business” men do the thing just a bit differently, as illustrated by Joe E. Brown, wide-mouthed comedy star in his latest First National picture “Bright Lights,” showing at the theatre. Joe had appeared personally on the stage in 1931 with the acrobatic Maxellos— two weeks in New York, and a week in Cleveland. Eight months ago, as guests of honor at the Variety Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., the famous tumbling troupers and Brown renewed their acquaintanceship. On a First National stage, recently, the Maxellos—ready to practice for their appearance in “Bright Lights”—waited for cue. Then Joe HE. Brown made his entrance. It was a run and a flip-flop over their heads into their midst. Not at all surprised the five acrobatie brothers joined in the hand-stand. Joe E. Brown works with the five Maxellos in an acrobatic nightclub floor show number that is part of the picture’s running story. “Bright Lights” is a riotous comedy with music, based on a story by Lois Leeson and adapted by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. In the cast besides Joe E. Brown are Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill: and the Maxellos. now Patricia Ellis Gets Chance to Sing Patricia Ellis, young First National featured player who has long wanted to sing in a picture got her opportunity in “Bright Lights,” which comes to _ the Sahota s Cua TROBELO: AON: shea & Rep with Joe E. Brown starring. (Review ) Joe k. Brown Has Finest Picture In Bright Lights Ann Dvorak and Patricia Ellis Participate in Comedy Film Triumph Joe E. Brown is always funny. This wide mouth film comic has an ever growing host of fans who follow him through his cinema adventures with unwavering loyalty and hearty laughter. Anyone of them, and their name is legion, will willingly do battle to prove that Joe Brown is the funniest comedian before the public today. Consequently, each successive Brown picture strives to improve on the last one, and there is far more argument as to which picture is the funniest than as to which player can claim that distinction. One thing seems certain however. That is, that the First National comedy “Bright Lights” in which Joe E. Brown appeared for the first time locally at the Theatre yesterday, is by far the finest picture he has made in many years. In the first place it is far more than a farce. It igs a real comedy, replete with thrilling action, romance and pathos as well as laughter. In addition, it has four catchy, snappy songs, and it has several specialty numbers in which scores of beautiful dancing girls participate. Joe E. Brown portrays the part of a small time burlesque comediay in a troupe which is touring the provinces. His wife is Ann Dvorak, who is also his stage partner. As the story opens, a runaway madeap heiress eludes detectives and joins the burlesque troupe. The part of the heiress is played by Patricia Ellis, a charming 18 year old featured player who wears a number of exceedingly striking gowns in the picture. On the train is William Gargan, playing the part of an advance man for a New York stage production about to have _ it’s premiere—the annual “Frolices.” The stage advance man picks up Joe E. Brown’s act, and conceives the idea of teaming Joe and Miss Ellis in the Broadway show. This leaves Miss Dvorak, as Joe’s wife, quite out of the picture. Miss Dvorak, with loving selfsacrifice, decides to step aside and let Joe havei all possible success. There is a flirtatious affair between Joe and his new part Back In Burlesque ner, Miss Ellis, which, of course, ends as it should. Joe E. Brown, as the clowning, hoofing burlesque trouper, giving a slapstick imitation of a “drunk,” is terrifically funny. Miss Dvorak splendidly limns the comedy contrasts by her presentation of a loving sacrifice. She JOH £. BROWN in “Bright Lights” at the Strand Mat No. 107— 10¢ also scores in a song, “Toddlin’ Along With You,” while Miss Ellis, in her first screen song, is quite capable in her number, “Youre An Eyeful of Heaven.” There’s another typical burlesque song and dance sequence in which Esther Burke, just out of actual burlesque and on sereen for the first time, sings “Powder My Back.” The Maxellos, famous acrobat tumblers are excellent. Special mention is due to Joseph Cawthorn, Arthur Treacher, Henry O’Neill and Gordon Westecott. The songs, which indicate hit ratings, were written by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon and Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The picture was capably directed by Busby Berkeley, with splendid photography by Sid Hickox. The story, by’ Lois Leeson, was made into a nicely balanced screen-play by a collaboration of Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. The entire production has definite tonic qualities. Regardless of whether or not one is a confirmed Joe E. Brown addict, he will feel. better after seeing “Bright Lights.” Joe E. Brown started his stage career as a burlesque show comedian. Now he’s one again, with Ann Dvorak portraying his partner and wife, in First National’s comedy with music “Bright Lights,” which opens at the... Zags TR EWETE. (OF cee | ee Mat No, 205—20c Page Seventeen