Bright Lights (Warner Bros.) (1935)

Bright. Lights. Publicity In His Biggest Hit Joe E. Brown had stars, songs, girls and gags to help him make what is heralded as the biggest film hit of his career, “Bright Lights,” which opens at the 2S AE Theatre 07s Mat No. 104—10c Joe E. Brown Has Been Injured in All His Pictures Joe E. Brown, star of the First National comedy, “Bright Lights,” which comes to the ES A Rea tren sONr Ss cha. ers says he thoroughly enjoys doing stunts in his pictures despite the fact that he has been hurt more often than any other person on the screen. “When this temperamental back of mine annoyed me following a fight scene in ‘Alibi Ike.’ I began to check back and discovered that I have been, hurt in practically every picture in which I have worked,” he said. “Of course injuries, so far as I am concerned, date back before I made my first picture in 1925. I have always been that type of actor who is called upon to perform some sort of stunt. But I don’t want anyone to double for me in dangerous stunts.” In “Bright Lights,” Joe E. Brown does some unusual acrobatie work in hig role as a burlesque show hoofer and crooner who makes good. “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 the star, are Ann Dvorak, Miss Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, the Maxellos and others. Lyrics and music of the four songs in the film are by Dixon and Wrubel and Kalmar and Ruby. Busby Berkeley directed. Ann Dvorak’s Film Tears Are Real Most actresses, working in an emotional scene which requires weeping, have to resort to pseudo tears. Ann Dvorak, on the contrary, can weep at will. This came in ANN DVORAK with JOE E. BROWN in “Bright Mat No. 106— 10c filming of “Bright Lights,’ in which she played opposite Joe E. Brown in this First National comedy, with music, which comes to the....... TheatTe OM s catcut near Miss Dvorak’s tears were real for all the tenderer scenes of sentiment. handy during the Page Eighteen Joe E. Re-Writes Play Dialogue During Filming Joe E. Brown, star of First National’s new comedy with music, “Bright Lights,’ which COMES: tO= the, oie tee oi theatre Gis, ER scr doe , not only played the stellar role but acted as a dialogue director in the _ pro duction. complete A score or more changes of speeches from the wording of the manuscript of the screen play were made at the star’s suggestion. These embrace not only his own speeches, but those of Patricia Ellis, Ann Dvorak and William Gargan. Busby Berkeley, director of the picture, says that Brown’s suggestions were real improvements on the “script.” “Joe has an instinctive feeling for laugh lines and for lift and tempo,” said Berkeley. “As a consequence, we rewrote the dialogue on the set during production whenever it seemed to require a build-up.” “Bright Lights” is a hilarious comedy, with many catchy songs, starring Joe E. Brown. Others in the talented cast include Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, Arthur Tijeacher, Gordon Westcott and the Maxellos. The picture was directed by Busby Berkeley from the screen play by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby based on a story by Lois Leeson, as adapted by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. The lyrics and music are by the famous teams of song writers Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel and Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby . New Nose Wins Dancer Role in Joe Brown Film Dorothy. Claire wins a .role with Joe E. Brown by a brand new nose. Dorothy—who used to eall herself Dolly Jarvis—has a nice little part as a show-girl in the new Joe E. Brown comedy “Bright Lights”, the First National picture now playing at the seh mean neath’ oat ep Theatre. Dolly had danced in several First National musicals under Busby Berkeley’s direction, and wanted to progress. “You are pretty enough, Berkeley told her, “but your nose is a bit too Roman and photographs badly in profile.” That was enough for Dolly. She headed straight for New York, went to a famous plastic surgeon, and obtained a new nose. Two months later a little redhaired girl with a saucy, tiptilted Irish nose obtained an interview with Berkeley who directed “Bright Lights.” She had renamed herself “Dorothy Claire.” Berkeley looked puzzled. His famous memory for faces had failed. It was only when the girl explained about the nose, that “Buzz? pegged her as the former “Dolly Jarvis.” “Bright Lights” is from the pen of Lois. Leeson, as adapted by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. The screen play was written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel and Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby wrote the four songs used in the production. The big suporting cast ineludes Ann Dvorak, Patricia E1lis, William Gargan Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, Arthur Treacher, Gordon Westcott and The Maxellos. Joe Brown Does Own Dangerous Picture Stunts Members of the troupe making the First “Bright Lights,” which is coming to the PaeRP An ae tony » heard what sounded National comedy ie Nusa AC at een Theatre on like an argument coming from the star’s ‘dressing room on the sound. stage. “T’m not going to let you do it, Joe!” That the voice of Busby Berkeley. “That’s what you think—I’m going to do it,’ declared the voice of Joe E. Brown. was unmistakable The company found out what it was all about when the camera and lights were set up for the next sequence. Then the star comedian personally did a dangerous leap from an upper box, swinging on a curtain rope, and taking a nasty fall. It was a scene that had been originally scheduled for a stunt man. “He insists in doing all the dangerous stuff,’ said Berkeley, flattening his hands in a helpless gesture. Joe E. Brown picked himself up from the stage floor and grinnned widely. “Tm not hurt!” he shouted. Two famous song teams wrote the four musical numbers which are incorporated in the picture. They are Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel, .and Bert Kalmar with Harry Ruby. The big supporting cast includes Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, Arthur Treacher and Gordon Westcott, with the acrobatic team, The Maxellos, as an added attraction. Catchy Songs and Riotous Fun in Joe Brown Film Three major songs and a comedy number with many choruses, similar to “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” are used in First National’s new comedy, “Bright Lights,” which comes to Sheree Theater on i355. Three of the songs were written and composed by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel, one of the studio’s song teams. The fourth was written, by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, coauthors of the comedy. The songs are: “Yowre An, Eyeful of Heaven,” a rhythmical fox-trot, sung by Patricia Ellis; “Toddlin’ Along With You,” a popular ballad of the “torch” type, sung by Ann Dvorak; “Powder My Back,” a typical burlesque novelty, sung by Esther Burke and members of the chorus ensemble; and “She’s An Acrobat’s Daughter,” sung by Joe HE. Brown, star of the picture, accompanied by Hiil Billies. The last is the Kalmar-Ruby song. The others were written by Dixon and Wrubel. “Bright Lights’ is a musical only in the sense that it is a backstage story in which the songs are part of the action. It is a hilarious Joe E. Brown comedy based on a story by Lois Leeson and adapted by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. In the cast, besides Joe E., are Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill. and The Maxellos. Busby Berkeley directed the production from the screen play by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. MOVIE & 5. Who is this Star? 6. Was she on N. Y. stage? 7. In what Joe Brown films? 8. Born in? GRATED 1. What is his middle name? 2. What sport is his hobby ? 3. What is his home State? 4. What is his current hit? Mr. Quiz-Qnich = bs wee STAR rs a\y 9. Who is this Star? 10. Married to what actor? : 11. In 'BrightLights'? Mat No. 207—20c ANSWERS 1. Evan 2. Baseball 3. Ohio 4. “Bright Lights’’ 3. Patricia Ellis 6. Yes 7. “Elmer the Great,” “Cir cus Clown” and “Bright Lights’ 8. New York City 9. Ann Dvorak 10. Leslie Fenton 11. Yes Joe k. Brown Boards The Platform Of Wrong Train Famous Comic Mistakes Fast Mail For The “Bright Lights”’ Special Hopping off a railroad train that has attained a fair speed is no easy matter. Even veteran brakemen often suffer falls by miscalculating train speed. That is why members of the train crew of the Santa Fe ‘‘Chief’’ tried to restrain Joe E. Brown during the filming of the First Na tional film ‘‘Bright Lights,’’ which comes to the Theatre: nests. oF eee But the screen star is an acrobat. So he waved away their offers to pull the emergency cord and stop the train. Swinging from the steps of the Pullman, he not only landed safely running, but added a handspring for good measure. The comedian’s spectacular leap from the train was by no means a part of any scheduled screen scene but was due, it was explained, to the fact that Brown mistook a real train for a reel train. The comedy with music, “Bright Lights,” was being shot on location at a railroad station in Pasadena. For several hours, a special train which had been leased for the picture, shuttled in and out of the station. Finally, with no special notice to the company, the “prop” train was side tracked to make way for a fast passenger train, the “Chief.” Brown, and Ann Dvorak, who has a leading role in the picture, were seated on the platform when the train rolled in. The comedian, thinking the train to be the one used for the picture, told Miss Dvorak that he had left his hat in a seat — and climbed aboard. The next minute, the train started out of the station. On the train, Joe promptly discovered his error and hurried to the vestibule. The conductor and brakemen protested that he “eouldn’t make it,” and said they’d stop the train. But Joe laughed, dropped off, and _ returned by the railroad tie route to the station location. Busby Berkeley, director of the picture, had been figuratively tearing his hair. “Joe,” he yelled, “where have you been?” “Oh,” said Joe, “I started out on a railroad journey — but I changed my mind.” “Bright Lights” is from the pen of Lois Leeson; the story adaptation was by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin, and the screen play by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Two famous song teams contributed the musical numbers— Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel, also Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The big supporting cast includes Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O’Neill, Arthur Treacher, Gordon Westeott and The Maxellos. Ambition of Gargan Is Big Dude Ranch Horses are William Gargan’s weakness. He doesn’t like to bet on horses—he likes to ride on 7em! Working in “Bright Lights,” new First National comedy starring Joe E. Brown, that opens at the iva ees Theatre on......... ; Gargan told members of the cast that some day he plans to own a real dude ranch, stocked with a first-class selection of saddle mounts. “Tll be my own horse wrangler, too,” he said.