Broadway Gondolier (Warner Bros.) (1935)

*P.U BL LC ee “B’way Gondolier” Will Open Today At..... Theatre Warner Bros.’ latest musical comedy,. “Broadway Gondolier,” which reunites the popular stars of “Gold Diggers of 1933,” Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, opens at the chk seen. Theatre today. There is an all star cast which also includes Adolphe Menjou and Louise Fazenda. The story which is new, concerns a New York taxi driver, played by Dick Powell who aspires to be a singer and takes lessons from a down and out Italian teacher. The taxi driver gets an audition at a radio station, but through a series of humorous mix-ups, fails to arrive. The professor sings for him, but his one time fine voice is gone and Dick loses his chance. They go to Italy where the professor sells vegetables on the street and the taxi driver becomes a gondolier, finally singing his way to opera, and back to America to Joan Blondell the girl he loves. Adolphe Menjou, is the shabby professor while Miss Fazenda is the sponsor of a program. There is an unusual novelty in a complete radio program, which features not only Dick, Miss Blondell and Menjou singing, but Ted Fio Rito and his famous band, the Four Mills Bros., and the Canova Family. Others who have important roles are William Gargan, George Barbier, Grant Mitchell and Hobart Cavanaugh. Lloyd Bacon directed the picture from the screen play by Warren Duff and Sig Herzig, based on the story by E. Y. Harburg, Herzig and Hans Kraly. Fainting Doesn’t Stop Blondell Working Proving that she was a good trouper, Joan Blondell, Warner Bros. star, didn’t let such a “little” thing as fainting keep her from working. During the filming of a scene in “Broadway Gondolier, which comes to the .............. Theatre on she fell over in a faint. Although Director Lloyd Bacon urged her to go home for the day, Miss Blondell insisted on appearing in several more scenes. Joan Blondell Wants To Play With Muni Joan Blondell, starring with Dick Powell in the Warner Bros. musical, “Broadway Gondolier,” which comes to the ..................004. ANG BONG OM sees. o. ek .3ay , has been smitten with a new ambition— to play with Paul Muni. “I consider him one of the | greatest actors in the world today,” the blonde Warner Bros. star declared. “If I could only play opposite him in a picture I'm sure I would reach new dramatie heights.” Socialite Is Check Girl In Film Strange twists of fate are commonplace in Hollywood. During the filming of “Broadway Gondolier,” now showing at AC See ee ee ee Theatre, with Dick Powell and Joan Blondell heading an all-star cast the young lady doing the “bit” of the check-room attendant handled her dialogue and acting creditably. Someone asked if she had ever held such a position in real life. She shook her head. The girl was June Travis, the former June Grabiner, Chicago socialite. Joan’s Beau Dick Powell Joan Blondell, heart of ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ goes roamin’ with his screen sweet in their latest tuneful revelry ‘* Broadway Gondolier,’’ at the Bes: SEE Theatre. Mat No. 101—10c Powell Studies Grand Opera To Sing On Screen In learning several grand opera selections, which he sings in addition to popular songs in his latest sereen role, Dick Powell was tutored by one of the best known figures in~-the American music world, Alberto Conti. Powell’s role in the Warner Bros. picture “Broadway Gondo. lier,” now showing at the .......... Theatre, requires that he appear as a student of grand opera and Conti was engaged by the studio as his operatic coach. The screen star’s teacher is we!] known by music lovers of Southern California. In 1934 he conducted “Pagliacci” at the Hollywood Bowl with Richard Bonelli and previous to that had gained renown as conductor with the Columbia Grand Opera Company, season of 1929. “Broadway Gondolier,”’ which reunites the popular stars of “Gold Diggers of 1933,” Powell and Joan Blondell is an unique musical spectacle based on the story by Sig Herzig, E. Y. Harburg and Hans Kraly, with music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Ted Fio Rito and his band, The Four Mills Bros. and | The Canova Family appear in the film. The all star cast also includes Adolphe Menjou and Louise Fazenda. Lloyd Bacon directed from the sereen play by Warren Duff and Si; Herzig. Dick Powell Can Roar Like A Lion in Film A talent hitherto concealed by Dick Powell was revealed when the popular star disclosed his ability to imitate animal sounds with startling accuracy. Dick, while filming the Warner Bros. picture, “Broadway Gondolier,” which comes to the Theatre on was required to launch into a veritable barnyard serenade. In his very best imitating manner Dick gave the moo of a cow, the bray of a donkey, an owl’s hoot, the quack of a duck, the baa of a sheep and then topped it all off with the roar of a lion. “Broadway Gondolier” has an all star cast which includes besides Powell, Joan Blondell, Adolphe Menjou and Louise Fazenda. Dick Powell Is Ducked In |J°2 Blondell Is Movie Lake From Gondola Star Of ‘Broadway Gondolier’ Keeps On Singing Despite Icy Bath By Carlisle Jones ‘“Come on over to the set tonight,’’ suggested Dick Powell, from the deep end of his brand new swimming pool. making night shots of Venice. I’ll show you how to gondolier.”’ Splashing about in the shallow end of the same pool, your observer admitted that he would be interested in accepting that suggestion. *‘ All right,’’ added Dick, just a bit too wholeheartedly, “and be sure you wear long underwear.” “Long underwear? In Venice?” “In Hollywood’s version of Venice, yes,’ declared Dick. “Make it wool, too, if you have 7em. Even wool feels kinda warm.” “In the water? I thought you were offering lessons on gondoling. You don’t. gondol in the water, do you?” “I do,” admitted Dick cheerfully, too cheerfully, your observer realized later. ‘“Sometimes, you know—I’m in and out. Anyway, take my advice and wear the long red flannels.” Fails To Take Warning Your observer should have been guided by this conversation. He should have declined then and there, firmly and politely, and gone on about his business, which is not gondoling by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, however, he hunted up the long woolens he hadn’t worn since Barrymore whamed that whale one dark night during tlie making of “Moby Dick,” and drove to the set of the “Broadway Gondolier,” which will open AU the sce: Theatre on Venice was there in all its dark and slightly smelly glory. eases eeacere The canal water was just as black and, in places, just as scummy, as that which washes the steps of the Doge’s palace. And there was Dick Powell, as well, looking slightly fatter than © usual, due no doubt, to the long underwear; Joan Blondell, wrapped securely in a fur coat; Director Lloyd Bacon and a hundred extra players, all looking very Italian and ready to burst into song. “Oh here you are,” said Dick brightly. “I had almost given you up.” He started off toward the water’s edge. “I’ve got an hour to practice and no one else would gondol with me. Glad you came along.” Even then your observer failed to read the warning signs. We were off, your correspon | dent seated under the tiny awn ing in the center of the gondola, Dick astride of the rear deck, Reunited Joan Blondell and Dick Powell head an all star cast in Warner Bros.’ new special, 3 ageies Gondolier,’’ coming to the ........... THEAE ON ...0....000000000 Mat No. 102—10e in that cold water handling the one long oar. When It’s All Wet “This is duck soup,” confided Dick, in a low voice, “until you have to sing. That takes timing,’ he explained. “Unison of arms and throat. That’s what I’m out here rehearsing. I fell in twice last night.” “Sing,” shouted Bacon from his safe warm perch on the platform before us. But there was no song forthcoming from Dick. He was having a heavy time of it out there on the rear deck, clinging to the handle of the big oar as it whipped about. The gondola shot straight toward Bacon and its sharp brow bit squarely into the set. A second later there was a soft splash beside the gondola. That was Dick Powell, going overboard. Another second and there was a louder splash. That was your observer, who had foolishly stood up in the gondola, intending to jump ashore just before the boat struck, going overboard after him—but not to the rescue. We waded toward Bacon’s platform. Dick hadn’t lost his grin but his velvet beret was hanging, full of water, over his right ear and his long underwear showed through a gap in his purple gondoling breeches. “Try it again,’ ordered Director Bacon testily, “and don’t forget to sing. And don’t take along so much excess baggage this time, either.” After which your indignant correspondent went home and took off his long underwear. “Broadway Gondolier” is a musical comedy that reunites the Joan Blondell Going In For Paintings Two large watercolors, painted by Ray Sebastian, make-up man at Warner Bros., were hung in the modernistic bedroom of Joan Blondell, the movie star. A still life painter before entering the studio department, Sebastian was make-up man for “Broadway Gondolier,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to CHOU te. oe HOAtTO-ON Miss Blondell, starring in “Broadway Gondolier” with Dick Powell, ordered the two framed paintings after seeing several of the Sebastian creations. Lloyd Bacon Tries Musical Direction Lloyd Bacon, who directed the Warner Bros. picture, “Broadway Gondolier,” now showing at the iWAS.. unt eee Theatre, became a musical director in a scene which reveals an orchestra at rehearsal in a large radio station. Bacon has long maintained a custom of appearing in a bit role in some scene of every picture he directs. In order to gain some first hand information on the technique of orchestra directing, he took a hurried course in the subject from Ted Fio Rito, who appears in this production. ““We’re As Good A Cook As Film Actress The schedule of a feminine screen star, filled with hard work from dawn to dusk, does not permit bustling home to cook an appetizing supper or hubby and kiddies, but most of them succumb to the lure of the kitchen when they get a chance. JOAN BLONDELL in ‘* Broadway Gondolier’’ at the Strand. Mat No. 105 10e6 Many have become so proficient in producing their own gastronomical masterpieces that they are pressed into service to “feed the animals” at the informal gettogethers so frequent in the film capital. Joan Blondell, who has the leading feminine role in the Warner Bros. production, “Broadway Gondolier,” which will open at thee asus Theatre on ...... “ue makes a specialty of potato pan. cakes. The recipe was originated by Joan’s mother twenty years ago and has been a popular favorite with the Blondell family ever since. Husband George Barnes joined in the acclaim on his first sample and now sadly claims that he can’t get her to make them often enough to suit him. “Broadway Gondolier” is a musical comedy novelty which reunites the popular stars of “GoldDiggers of 1933,” Dick Powell and Joan Blondell. Al Dubin and Harry Warren wrote the 6 original songs in the picture. The all star cast also includes, Adolphe Menjou, Louise Fazenda, William Gargan, George Barbier, Grant Mitchell and Hobart Cava. naugh. Lloyd Bacon directed. Ted Fio ° Rito and his band, the Four Mills Brothers and the ‘Canova Family have prominent parts. Powell Takes Lessons As Taxi Driver Dick Powell went to school to preclude the possibility of being told he “doesn’t act the part” in his current screen role in the Warner Bros. picture, “Broadway Gondolier,” which comes to the Haceean ee eae “PHOAUTO COM: <i31, aidigcle ov He has the role of a taxicab driver, and in order to qualify, took lessons from John Galambos, a local taxi driver. Dick Powell Has to Stoop For Microphone Six-foot singers, broadcasting in a radio station, find it necessary to stoop in order to reach the standard-height microphones. ‘‘ Mikes,’’ for broadcasting, are not moveable as are those used in the movies. Such a fixed microphone, adjusted for girls and short men, is the one used in ‘‘ Hollywood Hotel’’ each Friday night by Dick Powell, six-foot-tall Warner Bros. star. Thus it became a real tribute to the verity of a movie set builder’s art when Dick Powell, working before a ‘‘prop’’ microphone in a radio station scene of the new musical ‘‘Broadway Gondolier,’’ which comes to the a:......coec.: TheaWTOCON src » kept stooping to sing into it. Lloyd Bacon, the director, spoke to Dick about it. Powell grinned and explained: ‘*T thought I was in a real broadcasting station, and stooped unconsciously.’’