Broadway Gondolier (Warner Bros.) (1935)

PRODUCTION DETAILS Dick Purcell (Dick Powell) is the driver of a New York taxicab. He is passing the Metropolitan Opera House when he is hailed by two slightly inebriated opera critics. They are discussing the opera of the evening when Dick, with the usual good hearing of taxi pilots, pops his head through the window of the cab and bursts forth in the song from ‘‘ Rigoletto.’’ From the eritics, Dick receives a recommendation to the manager of a big broadcasting studio E. V. Richards (Grant Mitchell). Richards’ secretary, Alice (Joan Blondell), arranges an audition with Richards and Mrs. Flagenheim (Louise Fazenda) for Dick. Dick is unable to get to the studios for the audition and Eduardo de Vinci (Adolphe Menjow) his teacher, sings in his place. Years before de Vinci had sung at La Scalla but time had been cruel to his voice. The audition is a nightmare to Richards and Mrs. Flagenheim. Prof. de Vinci decides to go to Italy and arrange for Dick’s career there. Mrs. Flagenheim also decides to go to Italy in search of romantic talent. Alice accompanies Mrs. Flagenheim. Dick drives Alice in his cab to the boat and then stows away on Ruchard Pureell...2 Mrs. Flagenheim Prolene Ted FioRito & Orchestra Judy Canova Family................. pS ES a ed eae chee Cee the ship. In Venice Dick finds De Vinci selling vegetables. The professor makes a gondolier of Dick. Mrs. Flagenheim is on the Grand Canal one night when she hears a beautiful voice issuing from a Gondola. She insists this is the voice she is seeking for her program in the United States. Dick is signed as the Flagenheim Gondolier without revealing his identity. Alice is aware of the hoax but does not tell Mrs. Flagenheim, In New York Dick has been built up by a great publicity campaign. His debut is sensational but. one night he blows up and reveals his true identity over the air and then dashes from the studio and disappears. The studio is besieged with wires and letters demanding the return of the singer. The day of the program Alice is searching frantically for Dick. She is making a final telephone call in a pay station when she hears Dick’s voice come over a loud speaker. She arrives back at the studio while Dick is still on the air. Her arrival almost breaks up the program but he finishes and at the fade-out Dick is in the arms of Alice with a brand new contract from Mrs. Flagenheim safely tucked in his pocket. igha. 2a Dick Powell ee Se ee Louise Fazenda . ic eee ee Adolphe Menjou ee eee Mills Bros. a eee Hobart Cavanaugh ererereserer tee ._..... Joseph Sauers Ee re George Barbier Me ete ar ee Bob Murphy Rea Fee sree, Joan Blondell 82) a eer aa William Gargan Ae Judy Canova Family Pape ee 2 ee Grant Mitchell esta ee Rafael Storm Sac ie eee ee James Burke SSRIS ETE EH a RG REST June Travis “BROADWAY GONDOLIER’’ 100% with Dick Powell—Joan Blondell 15% Adolphe Menjou—Louise Fazenda 75% William Gargan 60% George Barbier 60% Grant Mitchell 60% Ted FioRito and his Band 60% The Four Mills Bros. 60% Directed by Lloyd Bacon 20% A Warner Bros. 40% Productions Corporation 5% Picture 25% PCO Se perion Ping by. Based on story. bY............cc00006 Photography bY..../5 o.oo: Pils LOW... see ALPieeel... sa ine be ee Music and Lyrics by.........0......... Musical Divector Page Ten foe ne Lloyd Bacon Warren Duff and Sig Herzig eae Sig Herzig, E. Y. Harburg and Hans Kraly Re wi thes ar George Barnes Se jhs Dae a George Amy Se SE Anton Grot aM eo ee TE Orry-Kelly Al Dubin and Harry Warren seit so ae ieee ie Leo F. Forbstein Dick Powell Dick Powell, born in Mt. View, Arkansas, won a screen contract with Warner Bros. through his musical talents, having been lifted bodily from a Master of Ceremonies position in a Pittsburgh theatre to an important part in “Blessed Event.” He had started as a soloist with an orchestra in Kentucky. Signed up with a theatre orchestra there, he attracted such attention that he eventually became Master of Ceremonies at this theatre in Pittsburgh. His pictures include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Gold Diggers of 1935,” “Flirtation Walk,” “Happiness Ahead,” “Dames,” “Wonder Bar,” “College Coach,” “Footlight Parade,” “Convention City,” “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Blessed Event” and “42nd Street.” His latest picture is “Broadway Gondolier” which comes to: the...) Theatre. Five Boys And A Guitar Joan Blondell Joan Blondell, born of theatrical parents in New York City, has been closely associated with the theatre all her colorful life. Her father and mother appeared for many years in vaudeville under the well known set-name, The Blondells. She graduated from several schools, including the John Murray School of the Theatre in New York and the College of Industrial Arts. After winning success on Broadway, she was given a screen contract and made an instantaneous hit. Her most recent pictures include “Traveling Saleslady,” “Kansas City Princess,” “Dames,” “He Was Her Man,” “Smarty,” “ve Got Your Number,” “Convention City,” “Havana Widows,” “Footlight Parade” and her current production “Broadway Gondolier,” which comes to the .......... Theatre on .............006 Reeninceen 2 The Mills Brothers always bill themselves as ‘‘four boys and a guitar.’’ But Dick Powell has crashed the group and joins in the harmony in a scene from ‘‘ Broadway Gondolier,’’ Warner Bros.’ fun festival at the ae tes Theatre. Mat No. 204—20c (Review) ‘Broadway Gondolier’ Is Musical Hit Of Season All Star Cast Headed By Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Adolphe Menjou And Louise Fazenda Long known as producers of the best musicals, Warner Bros. have set a new high standard in ‘‘Broadway Gondolier,”’ which had its first local showing yesterday, at the .................... Theatre. The picture is really much more than a musical film. Possessed of an engaging story—and a different one—a ro mantic setting that reunites the popular stars of “Gold Diggers of 1933,” Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, catchy tunes and hilarious comedy, it is delightfully presented by an all-star cast which also includes Adolphe Menjou and Louise Fazenda. Powell and Miss Blondell again prove to be an ideal screen couple, and Miss Fazenda and Adolphe Menjou render outstanding comedy performances that caused endless peals of laughter. The story revolves about Dick Powell, as a New York taxicab driver, in his efforts to launch upon a singing career. In this ambition he is aided by Menjou who convincingly portrays a broken down Italian musical teacher. The story moves in whirlwind fashion from busy Manhattan to dreamy Venice where Powell is pressed into service as a gondolier, Miss Fazenda and Joan Blondell are encountered here by the erstwhile cab driver and tutor, and the love interest is started. Returning to New York in the guise of a real gondolier, Powell becomes an overnight sensation on the radio, but gets into difficulties when his rival, a part played by William Gargan, threatens to expose the fraud. The climax sees the romantic entanglements all straightened out, but how this comes about is what furnishes a most unusual finish for this extremely enjoyable piece of screen entertainment. Besides the four principals in the cast, especialy fine portrayals are furnished by Gargan, Grant Mitchell, Hobart Cavanaugh, George Barbier, June Travis and Bob Murphy. In addition to this fine array of talent, there are three groups of radio headliners in the picture, the Four Mills Brothers, Ted FioRito with his nationally famous orchestra, and the Canova Family, all of whom join the singing star, Dick Powell, in ably presenting the fascinating music of the ace song-writing team, Warren and Dubin. “Broadway Gondolier” was filmed from a screen play by Warren Duff and Sig Herzig based on a story by the latter with E. Y. Harburg and Hans Kraly. It was Bacon. directed by Lloyd Adolphe Menjou Adolphe Menjou was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., of French and Irish parentage. He was educated at Culver Military Academy and Cornell University where he studied mechanical engineering and got a smattering of college theatricals. After graduation he turned to the stage and joined a stock company in Cleveland, Ohio. Later he decided on a screen career and played with several important players, including Marguerite Clark, before the war broke out. He went to the front with the Cornell unit as a private and came out a Captain. Entering picture work after the war, his first big success was with Charles Chaplin in “A Woman of Paris.” Some of his more recent pictures include “Gold Diggers of 1935,” “Journal of Crime,” “Easy To Love,” and “Convention City.” He is now appearing in “Broadway Gondolier” which comes to TNO: is.ceectsccs Theatre on ............ : Louise Fazenda Louise Fazenda began her screen career as “atmosphere” for which she was paid $2.50 a day. Shortly after that she had a chance to play a “mammy” role for $5.00 a day and made such a hit that led to an engagement with Mack Sennett. Since those days she has played featured roles for every major studio. Among the pictures in which she has appeared are “Wonder Bar,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Racing Youth.” Her current production is “Broadway Gondolier,” in which she will appear in a stellar role Sh theses Theatre on ............. William Gargan William Gargan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., July 17, 1905, and educated in the St. James High School. His first job was as a salesman, after which he became a private detective. He admits he was no great success as a sleuth, and turned to other jobs until he got a chance to play in David Belasco’s “Aloma of the South Seas,” in which he had the part of a Hawaiian. His first real stage hit was in “The Animal Kingdom” and he was called to Hollywood to take the same part in the screen version. The most recent pictures in which he has appeared include “Don’t Bet on Blondes,” “Traveling Saleslady” and “Black Fury.” His current picture is “Broadway Gondolier,” coming to the Theatre on ..............8 Grant Mitchell Grant Mitchell was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 17, 1874, a son of General John Grant Mitchell. He took his academic degree at Yale University and a post graduate course in law at Harvard. He had nearly thirty years of stage experience before entering picture work, with ten years on Broadway, playing in such productions as “It Pays to Advertise,’ “The Tailor Made Man,” “The Champion” and many others. His more recent pictures include “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Traveling Saleslady,” and “Gold Diggers of 1935.” His current picture is “Broadway Gondolier” now showing at the . Theatre.