Broad Minded (Warner Bros.) (1931)

Publicity With A Punch! JOE E. BROWN HITS THE TOWN WITH LAUGHING TORNADO, IS SUPPORTED | Acrobat, Refuses To BY ONA MUNSON AND WM. COLLIER, JR.| Give Up Ambitions “Broad Minded,” First National Comedy, Starring Joe Brown, Uproariously Received By First-Night Crowd At Theatre (Review Featuring the Fine Cast) William _ Collier, Jr., Marjorie White and Joe E. Brown in the First Na tional comedy, “Broad Minded ?-at-the== =, Cut No. 14 Cut 30¢ Mat roc Everybody at the Theatre last night when Joe E. Brown appeared as the star of the First National comedyromance, ‘‘Broad Minded’’ seemed suddenly to act as if there were not such a thing as worry in the world. Funny play and funny players, added to a good story and expert direction and photography, worked like laughing gas, and set everybody on the highroad to happytown. Joe E. outdoes even himself in the unique character of a timid follower of the eternal feminine, who, by an odd turn of fate is made the caretaker of a young roustabout "ith money—whose father wants him cen so far from the women that _j1 never think of them. ———o. pataly Rimnson, sets out buddy in a baby Austin, and on the road meets some of the most astonishing adventures that ever befell wayfarers anywhere. Ona Munson is delightful as Constance, the pretty girl who captures the heart of the amorous gadabout, played by William Collier, Jr. — Marjorie White, with prettiness and an unerring comedy sense, is the object of the wide-mouthed attentions of Ossie. Holmes Herbert is the millionaire papa who sends his son on the road to more complications, instead of fewer. Margaret Livingston is the very modern girl who sets her eap for the rich boy, and gives up, only after a battle royal. Grayece Hampton does the solicitious aunt, who tries unsuccessfully to chaperone Constance and Bela Lugosi plays a hot-headed Spaniard who resents the arrival of the bulging Austin—and the brave Lotharios from the East. The casting is perfect and the story is exceptionally crammed with mirthmaking possibilities. It is by those clever writers of Broadway hits, Kalmar and Ruby. Mervyn Le Roy, who, if we are not in error, directed the grim sequences of “Little Caesar” starring Edward G. Robinson, has succeeded admirably in his direction of “Broad Minded,” a picture absolutely different — bridging the gap between comedy and melodrama with remarkable understanding of the requirements of each. But it is old Joe E., who makes the unique situations so ludicrous. He has had many triumphs but none quite so big as this one. Ossie Simpson makes you laugh with, and laugh at, the star—and wish for him some of the luck with the ladies which comes to his rich charge. Don’t miss “Broad Minded.” STRAN JOE E. ote NY . BROWN BROAD MINDED Cut No. 20 Cut 20c Mat 5c for the West, with Acrobat Curse Not On His Family Joe E. Bre,.n, starring at the TPratre in the First National comec +, “Broad Minded,” when asked whether he wants his children to be actors, replied with his characteristic grin “Now that the curse is off the family — now that I know they won’t be what I once was, an acrobat — they can be anything they want to be!” Joe E. Brown is the proud father of two husky lads of and fifteen daughter who will soon be one. thirteen and a The boys are as violent baseball fans as their dad. Featured in “Broad Minded” are Ona Munson, William Col lier, Jr., Marjorie White, Holmes Herbert, Thelma Todd, Grayce Hampton, Margaret Livingston, Bela Lugosi and George Grandee. Mervyn Le Roy directed. Most Versatile Of Directors Presents Brown In Comedy (Biography, May 15, 1931) Mervyn Le Roy, who directed the slapstick classic, “Broad Minded,” the Warner Bros. production starring Joe E. Brown, has been as eminently successful as he recently was in his direction of the terrific melodrama “Little Caesar,” starring Edward G. Robinson. Mervyn Le Roy was born in 1900 in San Francisco and began his theatrical career in vaudeville and the legitimate. He entered pictures when twenty years old as assistant cameraman, went gaily climbing through the different production capacities until 1921 when First National made him a full-fledged direc. tor. Among his pictures are “Harold Teen,” “Oh Kay,” “Naughty Baby,” “Hot Stuff,” “Broadway Daddies,” “Little Caesar” and “Broad Minded.” Among the principal hobbies of Mr. Le Roy are tennis, horseback riding and polo. E, | Joe. E. Brown, Now at Ohio Boy, Beaten By Theatre Starring in “Broad Minded,”’ Travels the Rocky Road (Biography, May 15, 1931) Joe E. Brown, now at the _... Theatre as the star of “Broad Minded,” the First National comedy, was only nine years old when he became the youngest of the Five Marvellous Ashtons, a troup of aerial acrobats who were star attractions with Ringling Bros. and other circuses. Joe played with them during the summers, going back to his home in Toledo to attend school in the winters. Although the manager got a <|fair sum from the shows he kept ¢{most of it for himself, paying the boys barely enough to keep soul and body together. One of the man’s ways of making the boys promise to come back was to beat them, a fact which Joe never revealed to his mother. The Brown family had come from Holgate, Ohio, where Joe Evan was born in 1892, one of seven. Toledo was thought a more likely place for Mr. Brown to get contracting work, as seven mouths were quite a number to properly fill. The “Evan” in Joe’s name is indicative of the Welsh blood of his mother, the Brown had been originally spelled Braun, Joe was in San Francisco in 1907 at the time of the disturbance which is referred to as “the fire.” He was fifteen and enjoyed it all as if it had been a show staged for his especial benefit. He left the Ashtons the next season and fared even worse. He stayed two years, up to |the time when he was told that if he didn’t do a trick fall as taught, he’d get a flogging he’d remember. Joe fell and broke a leg. Then he thought he’d follow baseball. He had always been a fan and finally tried out with a St. Paul team when he was seventeen. He was later with the New York Yankees, more as a clown than a clouter. Vaudeville and burlesque followed. He appeared in “Listen, Lester,” “Jim Jam Jems,” “Greenwich Village Follies,” “Betty Lee,’ “Captain Jinks” and “Twinkle Twinkle.” His pictures are “Crooks Can’t Win,” “The Circus Kid,” “Hit of the Show,” “On With the Show,” “Song of the West,” “Sally,” “Hold Everything,” “Top Speed,” “Maybe It’s Love,” “Going Wild,” and “Broad Minded.” Mr. Brown is five feet eight inches tall, weighs one hundred and fortyeight pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. He is married to a nonprofessional. The Browns have two boys aged fifteen and thirteen, and a daughter less than a year old. Holmes Herbert Here, In “Broad Minded” With Comical Joe E. Brown (Biography, May 15, 1931) Holmes Herbert, who plays the part of the stern father of the young scapegrace in “Broad Minded,” the Warner Bros. comedy, in support of Joe E. Brown, now at the Theatre, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and educated in England at Rugby. He was successful on both stage and screen in this country and Britain. He entered pictures in 1917. Among the many in which he has been seen are “On Trial,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “The Careless Age,” “Her Private Life,” “Madame xX,” “The Thirteenth Chair,” “Untamed,” “The Kiss,” “The Ship from Shanghai,” “Say It With Songs” and “Broad Minded.” Mr. Holmes is five feet eleven inches in height. hundred and sixty-five pounds and has gray eyes and blonde hair. His pastimes are golf, swimming and riding. He is the husband of Beryl Mercer. ‘tured in “Sroawd Minded” He weighs one}. Funny Fem White has the feminine Marjorie comedy role in the Joe E. Brown starring Vehicle, “Broad Minded,’ coming 1O-the= eee ON Cut No. 16 Cut 15¢ Mat 5¢ “Broad Minded” Star Takes Twelve-Mile Broad-Jump (Advance Reader) Joe E. Brown, who comes to the eGR ee Theatre next in “Broad Minded,” the First National comedy takes a twelve-mile step in a scene of the sidesplitting play. On location he is shown running into the door of the Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. The next shot shows him in the lobby of the same hotel, apparently. This scene, however, was taken in the studios at Burbank twelve miles’ away. Fea: are Ona Munson, Marjorie White, William Collier, Jr., Margaret Livingston, Thelma Todd and many others. Mervyn Le Roy directed. One Of Canadian Winnipeg Kiddies Here In A Comedy (Biography, May 15, 1931) Marjorie White who plays the part of the charming Penelope in “Broad Minded,” the Warner Bros. comedy starring Joe E. Brown, now at the Theatre was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and went on the stage when she was four years old as a singer. She. was known as a child wonder, travelled all over the country and was educated by private tutor who travelled with her. Her father was a grain merchant in Winnipeg. Neither of her parents were unusually talented. During the war she quit a vaudeville tour to entertain Canadian soldiers, appearing in various camps as a singer and dancer. She then joined the “Winnipeg Kiddies.” After the armistice she made a vaudeville tour of the United States with a “sister.” The act was known as “The White Sisters.” They replaced Topsy and Eva after the Duncan sisters left the show. After that she made another vaudeville tour with Eddie Tierney. She next joined the “Hello, Lola” company. She recently completed an engagement with “Lady Fingers,” Lyle Andrews’ Broadway production, in which she was featured. Miss White signed a Fox contract in May, 1929. She prefers to sing and do comedy roles, is a good dancer and a natural comedienne, is dainty, pretty and reserved, almost @ childlike in manner, and not at all temperamental, She spends much of her time studying voice and dancing. She likes to fly and has an ambition to own her own plane. Marjorie White is five feet ten and one-half inches in height, weighs one hundred and three and has hia . . ye | A) blonde haiz and China him S@60n “Broad Minded” features Miss White as Penelope who is courted by the wide-mouthed comedian. Tremendous Crowds Acclaim Love a la minute! Laffs ala second! He can’t take it — but he can dish it out — in his own perfect style! A FIRST NATIONAL & -VITAPHONE PICTURE Cut No.7 Him The World’s Worst Lover STRAND ut 4oc Mat toc in his funniest mirth riot BROAD MINDED WITH ONA MUNSON WILLIAM COLLIER, JR. MARJORIE WHITE Broadway and 47th Street Page Three