British Agent (Warner Bros.) (1934)

‘Leslie Howard and Kay Francis are strikingly effective’ — pai variety Leslie Howard An Expert On Weapons Of “British Agent’ In one of the sets of “British Agent,” the First National picture which comes to the................ PAPBATGS-O0 oo. cicnr » Leslie Howard astonished the experts by showing a more detailed knowledge of firearms than the experts, themselves. The set was an old attic in Moscow, where the counter-revolutionists maintained a_ secret arsenal. Stowed about the place Were guns, ammunition, hand grenades and a bewildering assortment of small arms. Among the genuine props were two machine guns of a type that Russia used prior to the time that the Allies supplied newer equipment. It was a little known weapon. Leslie Howard, who saw active service during the World War, was the only one on the set familiar with it. The attic in which the arsenal was housed in an eerie place of distorted corners and menacing shadows, overlooking the alleys of Moscow. The offset walls around whose edges no light seemed to penetrate help to give the effect of menace and mystery that the action in this set demands. The rafters, following the lines of uneven gables, cast strange shadows that seem like flat gargoyles grinning from the murky ceiling. The picture, inspired by the best selling novel by R. H. Bruce Lockhart, is a drama of the love of an unofficial diplomat and an aristocratic Russian lady turned Red and their conflict between their love for each other and their separate countries. Leslie Howard and Kay Francis have the stellar roles while others in the cast include William Gargan, Phillip Reed, Irving Pichel and Walter Byron. International Favorite Mat No. 11—20e Leslie Howard Born in London, Leslie Howard was brought up to be a bank clerk. His parents were non-professionals and lived in the suburbs of London. He attended a private school and went to Dulwich College to learn all about banking. When the war came, Leslie enlisted and fought throughout its duration. Banking and clerking were too prosaic after his experience in ; France, so he donned mufti and turned to the stage. He was 10c engaged for an obscure role in “Peg O° My Heart,” playing in the provinces as a novice. Among the successful stage plays Mr. Howard has starred in are “Berkeley Square,” “(Outward Bound,” “Her Cardboard Lover,” “Mr. Pim Passes By” and “The Green Hat.” On the screen, he has been seen in “Of Human Bondage,” “Captured,” “Outward Bound,” “A Free Soul,” ‘Smilin’ Through,” “Never The Twain Shall Meet” and “Service For Ladies,” this one being made in England. He is now appearing in “British Agent” for First National Productions, a picture which comes to the .................... Theatre on Three Actors Play Important Roles As Howard’s Cronies With the exception of his scenes with Kay Francis, the bulk of Leslie Howard’s | sequences in “British Agent,” the First National production now showing at the.................. Theatre, are played with his three friends, an American, an Italian and a Frenchman. The combination forms a quartette of brave men, marooned from the rest of the world in war-torn Russia and their activities and dangerous adventures add much of the dramatic suspense in the picture. The American is played by William Gargan, who repeated his Broadway success in the sereen version of “Animal Kingdom” and other hit pictures. The Italian role is played by Cesar Romero, whose _ biggest Broadway role was in “Dinner At Hight,” which made him a national favorite. Phillip Reed, who has appeared in many pictures, his most recent being “Registered Nurse,” “Jim Leslie Howard in “British Agent”’ at the Se Strand Mat No. 12 my The Gent” and “Dr. Monica,” has the part of the Frenchman. “British Agent” is a smashing love drama set in the cataclysmic days of the Russian Revolution, inspired by the novel of R. H. Bruce Lockhart. Leslie Howard Had Hard Struggle to Win Success Star of “British Agent’? Thinks Lucky Gold Coin Brought Him Luck F’ Leslie Howard were asked what his most treasured posSession is, he would unquestionably designate a certain gold sovereign. Few people, even his intimate friends, know that he wears it on a fine gold chain around his neck. Fewer still know the story behind the gold piece. It sounds like the dream of a romantic press-agent, but it is entirely true. The theatre had always fascinated him, and he found an opportunity to be an actor, and with it the usual disappointments of the struggling thespian — shows that closed almost as soon as they opened, tours that suddenly stopped, layoffs and promises. Down to Last Quid Howard’s store of sovereigns dwindled steadily, until the young actor was down to his last ‘‘quid.’? Reluctantly he left his lodgings one day to begin spending his last The gold coin had been around his neck as he rode on to the field for the opening chukker. When he changed his clothes in the clubhouse at the end of the game, he found, to his consterna LESLIE HOWARD —KAY FRANCIS tion, that the gold sovereign was missing. Howard offered a liberal reward for its return. Reward Saves Home Next day the news came to Howard by telephone that the gold sovereign had been found. Oddly. enough, the man who found the gold piece, Howard learned, had been in financial difficulties for sometime and was on the point of being dispossessed from his home. The reward was a life-saver for him, but Howard insisted on trebling the amount of the reward and sent the man on his way rejoicing. In ‘‘British Agent’’.Howard is co-starred with Kay Francis. The picture, inspired by the best selling novel by R. H. Bruce Lockhart, is the passionate drama of an unofficial British diplomat and an aristocratic Russian lady. pound. But he never got that 100% far. On the way he encountered “i = a job and from that moment forBRITISH AGENT 100% tune began to smile without inae Suggested by the novel by terruption on Leslie Howard. im R. H. Bruce Lockhart 10% Howard is not only an enthueae with siastic polo player but a good William Gargan 10% one. Shortly after ‘‘British Philli oF : : illip Reed 10% Agent,’’ his current production ee : rving Pichel 10% which comes to the ................0. Wal B 0 PReatee O0lice iniacn.ces, , went bealter Byron 10% fore the cameras, the actor found _ Ivan Simpson 10% himself booked for one of the Directed by Michael Curtiz 20% fastest polo matches of the season. A First National Productions Corporation 40% ABE Stephen Locke Leslie Howard EUR 23 See en ce ete Ae Me Kay Francis BECO es Ph rg pet ng eee William Gargan PTO ing oO a I ye Sk Phillip Reed FAMOUS a aS el Wier I kt, Irving Pichel DOOLEY ois. SO ye ONE Wate cs eee ee ork Walter Byron TOUGNS en A ee Ivan Simpson Bir Wolter Corrister cco a Oe Halliwell Hobbes WOON ccc ee, SR Oe aes Arthur Aylesworth COMMBSHONET OF WOT ie oO J. Carroll Naish Del alo ie A Oe One an ok ee Cesar Romero OV WOU OY q5 ie, odes ae ea ee Alhponse Ethier PN 55 2G De GS OS a sans Tenen Holtz Pile. C OPPSLEP OER cee Se, Pee Doris Lloyd HOME iS Si ce ok Ny, Se Na er ee ee Marina Schubert Capel “OUCEP Rass wc Say a eS George Pearce PO i Sie es i oR eS ee Gregory Gaye DROW erecs ieee WR aL ee a --Paul Poreasi LUTE os. el gs otis os DOS = eS Addison Richards ONEET: BOCTEIAI YG a Walter Armitage Diapechores 2 A es ee I. a Michael Curtiz Suggested by the novel by ...........0.cccccce R. H. Bruce Lockhart SOT COM: WD Dic aed is es eee Laird Doyle Palo gue Ameer Se os os, a OR Ee Frank McDonald PROLCO TONY: Dif on an ee .... Ernest Haller AIT STP OT ON ao oe alec hala Sn va ae Anton Grot POURS POOP aegis Tom Richards NR ap ne a rg ee a ea Orry-Kelly ERO NICAL DIU COLOR Bie was aciiSude soci cxcantsiaten: Nicholas Kobliansky Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by ..........0....: Leo. F. Forbstein Page Thirteen Ni f