Broadway Hostess (Warner Bros.) (1935)

PUBELLCTE Y: Winifred Shaw as Broadway Hostess Coming to Strand A sparkling comedy drama, filled with rollicking laughter, delightful romances, tinkling music, gigantic spectacles and spiced with thrills, will come to UAC) oo DO Sa theatre Oneas oan es This new First National film musical, which is enacted by an all star cast, bears the title of “Broadway Hostess,” and is a story of New York night life in its liveliest aspects. The picture introduces a new and beautiful singing star to the sereen in the person of Winifred Shaw in the title role. Miss Shaw has appeared in several pictures, notably “In Caliente,” “Sweet Adeline,” “Gold Diggers of 1935” and “Gypsy Sweetheart,” and also is famous in musical comedy on the-stage. But this is her first starring role in films. She plays the part of a small town girl who goes to the big city to make good and has a rough time of it until Lyle Talbot, in the role of a big shot gambler, takes her under his wing and makes her the toast of the town. Sharing singing honors with Miss Shaw is Phil Regan, the “singing cop.” Regan sings alone and with Miss Shaw, having the role of her accompanist in her night club successes. Allen Jenkins furnishes much of the comedy as the bodyguard of Talbot. While the picture contains all the elements of a spectacle, as well as those of a musical, it is also a drama and there is tragedy and pathos, as well as laughter, music and romance in the well balanced plot. There are two mammoth spectacles with hundreds of beautiful girls, which were created by the famous musical comedy and danee director, Bobby Connolly. One number is ealled “Playboy of Paree,” and evolves about Winifred Shaw, who sings a song of that title. The second spectacle shows Phil Regan and Miss Shaw singing “Who But You?”. Others in the cast include Genevieve Tobin, Spring Byington, Marie Wilson, Joseph King, Donald Ross, Frank Dawson and Harry Seymour. Frank MeDonald directed the picture from the screen play by George Bricker. The musie and lyrics for all the songs were specially written for the production by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. Lady In Red Wini Shaw, who made a sensation when she sang “The Lady in Red” in “In Caliente” is now a star in her own right in “Broadway Hostess,” the First National picture coming to the oe eet re, TWEGUNC ON fac Mat No. 105—10c Rollicking New Musical Opens At Strand Today “Broadway Hostess” First National’s rollicking new musical comedy drama, with thrilling high lights, catchy musie and mammoth spectacles, will open at the’... owes theatre today, with an all star east. The story treats of life on the Great White Way, particularly the night clubs and the palatial gambling halls. It is the story of a little country girl who goes to the big city to make good in theatrical work. She finds it a tough job to crash Broadway, however, until she meets a big shot gambler, who puts her over in a big way and makes her the toast of the bright light district. Comedy and thrills follow in quick succession until a smashing climax in which the gambler is slain by the brother of the woman he loves. Winifred Shaw, musical comedy star, has the role of the little country girl who sings her way to fame, Phil Regan is her assistant, while Lyle Talbot is the gambler and Genevieve Tobin the society girl who Talbot loves. Miss Shaw, besides playing the leading part, sings three songs by herself and one with Regan. Phil Regan also sings one song alone. The musical and lyrics were specially written for the picture by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon, famous Broadway and Hollywood song writers. Two spectacles were created and staged by Bobby Connolly, in which scores of beautiful dancing girls appear. Others in the east include Allen Jenkins, Marie Wilson, Spring Byington, Joseph King, Donald Ross, Frank Dawson and Harry Seymour. Frank McDonald directed the picture from the screen play by George Bricker. Small Girls Are Chosen for New Screen Chorus Styles vary in chorus girls in New York night-clubs. Some seascons the vogue is for tall and willowy beauties. Then the pendulum swings back and _ the squabs or what Broadway terms the “half-pints,” have their day. Just now, according to Bobby Connolly, song-and-dance director for First National’s new musical, “Broadway Hostess,” which comes to the .... theatre ORurenes oak age , the little ones— from 100 to 110 pounds—are the mode. Connolly explained this to Frank McDonald, director of the picture, when his bevy of beauties appeared for the cafe scenes in the picture. “These scenes illustrate the latest in New York night clubs,” explained Connolly, “so I wired a friend for the latest styles in choruses. I just got an answer by wire which said: ‘SMALL SQUABS GETTING MAJOR PLAY.’ So here they are.” The small chorus girls form a contrast to Winifred Shaw, singing star, who is the tall show-girl type, and serve as a suitable setting for her statuesque beauty. Two cafe scenes, and a scene in a theatre, in all of which Miss Shaw is the torch singer, form fitting atmosphere for chorus numbers. Special music for the stirring drama was written by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. The east includes Genevieve Tobin, Miss Shaw, Lyle Talbot, Allen Jenkins, Phil Regan, Marie Wilson, Spring Byington Joseph King and Donald Ross. The screen play is by George Bricker. How Song Hits Are Made Behind the scenes of the filming of “Broadway Hostess,” the First National picture coming to the ae. TRCQMVENON= ee Lyricist Mort Dixon works on a new song with the two singing stars, Wini Shaw and Phil Regan (at the piano). Mat No. 202—20c (Review ) Wini Shaw Scores Smash Hit in ““Broadway Hostess ”’ Strand Film Packed with Rollicking Comedy, Drama, Catchy Songs and Spectacles ‘‘Broadway Hostess,’’ the First National comedy drama with music, which had its local premiere at the............ theatre yesterday, is not only one of the most delightful and entertaining pictures of the season, but it introduces as a film star the girl who made the song ‘‘The Lady in Red”’ in ‘‘In Caliente,’’ famous. The picture has just about everything in it, including hilarious comedy, dramatic thrills, catchy songs, unique, mammoth spectacles with hundreds of beautiful girls, and a east of unusual talent, both as actors and singers. Best of all, it has Wini Shaw. A stately brunette of striking beauty, she combines unusual artistry in character portrayal with a mezzo-eontralto voice of exceptional appeal and is unquestionably the envy of many a torch singer. Miss Shaw sings three songs alone in the pieture, one with Phil Regan, the “Singing Cop” of the radio, who also sings one song alone. All of the pieces were written especially for the production by the famous song team of Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. Miss Shaw plays the part of a small town girl with a voice, who goes to Broadway, but fails to make good until Lyle Talbot, in the role of a big shot gambler, takes her up and makes her the toast of the town. The path of the stars is not exactly a bed of roses, however, for Regan’s love for the brilliant night club hostess, Miss Shaw, is unrequited, while her own heart is broken because the gambler prefers a high society girl to his scintillating star. Nor does the society girl, a part played by Genevieve Tobin, fare so well for after she marries the gambler he is shot and killed by her own brother. Allen Jenkins, as the comedy aide and bodyguard of the gambler, fares best in his heart affairs, for he successfully woos a very much married and di voreced socialite. With Spring Byington, his bride, he furnishes a large share of the comedy scenes. Talbot gives an excellent account of himself as the somewhat rough but always lucky gambler, as also does Miss Tobin as the supercilious society girl. Regan is excellent as the Tin Pan Alley pianist, who loves and loses the beautiful Miss Shaw. He also has an excellent lyric tenor voice. Two specialty numbers staged by Bobby Connolly are of special note. One is an elaborate affair with hundreds of beautiful girls who dance across a theatre stage and in gigantic champagne glasses. The other number is more simple but beautiful and unique. In this Miss Shaw and Regan appear in a love scene, being transformed by a dissolve from a setting in a night club to a country cottage. In this scene the two sing “Who But You?’”, while in the more spectacular number Miss Shaw sings “Playboy of Paree.” Miss Shaw also sings “He Was Her Man” and “Weary,” While Regan’s other song is entitled “Let It Be Me.” Others in the cast who do excellent work include Marie Wilson, Joseph King, Donald Ross, Frank Dawson and Harry Seymour. Frank McDonald, who handled the dramatic part of the production, did an excellent job of directing. George Bricker is to be commended for an exceptionally good screen play. We had our fashion editor write this story especially for the Women’s Page. As you will notice, it ties up Win Shaw, “The Lady in Red,” with red in women’s clothes and accessories. Gentlemen Prefer Red, Says Star of Broadway Hostess “Gentlemen prefer red,” according to Wini Shaw, who has been called the “Lady in Red” ever since she popularized the song of that name. Miss Shaw is appearing in the First National picture “Broadway Hostess,” now playine “at. “ther. =... . Theatre. “A number of tests were recently made by one of the universities and the results proved that red is the favorite color of ninety percent of the men in the world,” Miss Shaw _ explained. “But smart women already knew that without waiting for a university to make a survey. “Red is more than a color—it’s an influence on personality. It stands for understanding and companionship and affection, the things a man holds most dear, and which he seeks in the woman he loves. “That’s why the wise woman always has some touch of red about her costume, whether her actual frock is made of that shade or not. Often, she will wear a red hat atop a black frock, or a red flower or belt or searf. It’s undoubtedly the most adaptable of colors and in one of its numerous shades, can be combined with any other color. “This year, especially, isa-yood— one for women who would please their men by wearing red. For red is the most important shade on the current color calendar and it is being shown in rich true erimson and scarlet, in the deeper wine tones, in the bright rust shades and even in the paler tints that fade almost into fleshcolor.” “Broadway Hostess” is a tuneful musical drama and _ besides Miss Shaw, the cast includes Phil Regan, Lyle Talbot, Genevieve Tobin Allen Jenkins and others. Allen Jenkins Goes “High Hat” In Latest Film Allen Jenkins, the “mugg,” has gone high-hat! Such swagger get-ups as fulldress “tails,” English riding habits and a tailored morning costume with a high hat, ascot scarf, swallow-tail coat and gray trousers adorn the “hard-berled” comedian in “Broadway Hostess,” the First National picture now showing at the............ theatre. When Jenkins, twirling a $40 malacca walking stick, and wearing spats and a topper, nonchalantly strutted upon the set, all work ceased. “Hi Toots!” yelled Lyle Talbot. “I didn’t know you at first, Allen.” “Mister Jenkins to you, lugg,” snapped back Allen with a grin. “Tm a social light now.” Allen Jenkins in “Broadway Hostess” at the Strand. Mat No. 106— 10c “T’ve played 37 pictures for Warner Bros,” said Jenkins, “and this is the first time I’ve ever had occasion to go high-hat.” Page Eleven