Call It a Day (Warner Bros.) (1937)

MOTION PI Call It a Day (Warner Bros.) Comedy-Romance In this pict found a eae way of film merchandise P and with British characters. they have succeeded in psychology whi productions rat American audiences. The story 1s very i hat It’s that kind of humor ne ERS ite sits ‘a ak is bright, sparkling, he British atmosphere seldom cre c through” stuff, HS 7eOms t @jontaneouss Lake away and the story might American metropo urban town. | The domestic comedy fr adventures of the ‘ springtime day. “Roger, becomes involved with actress. A : : out of the situation, “Rog his way out become a they are definite “Dorothy Hilton,” is pus chum, into an affair with brother “Frank.” ter, can get now ner Francis,” artist. “Martin,” swashbucklin wants to go a falls in love with th “Joan Collett.” “Ann,” at any artistic altar, ; ion pictures. : art or lurid ae neighborhood cat have their hold dog and the | fun. Wilson,” and “Ver, film’s gayety. reveal none of thei an intriguing conso they still are desira Situations involved rig| A in which 2 800 d plot are, in general, of many of the players petency of a high or comparable character. The show has iis Cornered Moon” atm stage play which met jt blends its situ repute that seem that ; r winning popular Bier fe for a surprise. folk are in the production offers marquee and adverti be amiss to much better prising. 1n.any, eye should carry it a long wayHollywood Theatre. Previewed in the If the audience did not show it. O seemed to fee American as Bar Jiggs or Mame @ the Warners seem ae doing something about remised on ch in many cases 2 1 her difficult to popularize with British and #@ty humorous. have litan neighborhoo omance concerns the Hilton family upon one Scared but getting sore trial to him, yet fun for the audiences. “Katherine,” ; here in her romance Ww! e charming either masterpieces of fine ily’s servants, , ye ey ma” contribute no little to the Of se “alr hat ends well. — Ls ean r experiences, om lation in the knowledge tha ble to the opposite sex. Z be der in previous films of characterizations, ations in that manner i omedy. : of good O eings acai jabor under, it might “Call It A Day” wou bel the film as a surp en a fifty-fifty was inclined t s 1 that the show was ju ney Google, Mr. CTURE HERALD em to have a British story To a great extent eliminating _ that has made such domestic opinion happened in any d or sub father of the family, “Beatrice Gwynn, certain enjoyment er’s” efforts to work Lacan d by “Muriel,” her a Murel’s” willy nilly elder daughth “Paul adolescent son who g across the Continent, girl next door, just a child, worships Even the house the cook, “Mrs. on ete it concludes with band and wife ae but both find the working out of the have demonstrated com te a bit of the “Three osphere. Adapted from a with considerable success, dialogue and which is the essence Because of the ld be a difficult interest, but such In fact, although mes wpetti ‘tani not rise that has chance. of suts d of mouth comment sing purposes, nt.) wor pee o be skeptical, it d, the crow just as and Mrs. M » the other han nd Vermont.—G. All Concerned Hit In Smart Comedy “CALL IT A DAY” (Warners) Executive Producer........ Hal B. Wallis Associate Producer........ Henry Blanke Directomuciecsae ec Archie L. Mayo QOtiginalis scene. es Dodie Smith Screenplay’ .cccsscss<ctee Casey Robinson Photographer Ernest Haller ANSS't -Ditector s.stccs Jack Sullivan Cast: Olivia de Havilland, lan Hunter, Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, Freida_ Inescort, Bonita Granville, Peggy Wood, Marcia Ralston, Walter Woolf King, Peter Willes, Una O’Connor, Beryl Mercer, Elsa Buchaman, Mary Field. Superlatively played, written and directed, “Call It a Day” is delightful entertainment of the highest order. The dialog is witty and barbed, and laughter almost continuous. If you fail to pack your house with such an attraction, something is wrong with your campaign. Word of mouth is certain to be terrific. The story is from the stage .StiGe cess by Dodie Smith. It receives (Brite liant screenplay treatment at the hands of Casey Robinson and topflight direction by Archie Mayo. Each of ihe numerous characters is given full opportunity to score and there is fever a dull moment in Mayo's decisive direction. in the lives of an English family—a day when spring arrives and all fancies father nearly becomes involved with THE Olivia de Havilland, Anita Louise and lan Hunter in “Call It a Day” with Alice Brady, Roland Young, Frieda Inescort, Bonita Granville, Peggy Wood (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Warner Bros, 89 mins. ONE OF THE CLEVEREST OF THE SEASON’S COMEDIES, WITH PLENTY OF 6. O. PULL. “Call It a Day,” in its screen version, emerges as one of the Jéleverest Bits of entertainment this season. Further developments of the characters and the theme, and added scenes have heightened the comedy decidedly. The story is concerned with the events that happen in “one day” to the Hiltons, an average English family, mediumly happy. The “day” is a “fluke,” and Roger Hilton (lan Hunter) describes it, a prematurely spring-like day, that stirs the blood of all of them. Hunter, at the husband, and Frieda Inescort, as the wife, have never strayed from the conventional, path of marriage, but something tingling in the air, and coincidental meetings, cause temptation to raise its ugly head. Olivia deHavilland, as the eldest daughter, is suffering from puppy-love for an artist, Walter Woolf King, who could easily be led, if not restrained by his sensible wife. Bonita Granville, the youngest child, thinks she is psychic and entertains a morbid fetish for Rossetti, poetic-painter. In the morning of the “day” Peter Willes, the son, is y determined to leave home, but Cupid lassoes him to Anita Louise, the young lady who lives next door. A chill breeze and the end of the “day” brings the family down to normal. The story is replete with home touches and generates one chuckle after the other. Though its undertone is sexattraction, it always remains properly inside the lines of respectability. Olivia de Havilland, Hunter, Frieda Inescort, King, Alice Brady, @it deliver splendid perform: @nces,) Each new picture for Bonita Granville is another feather in her cap. She is a remarkable trouper and not to be classed among the child actresses. Phe pro= duction is a credit to Hal B. Wallis, and his associate Henry Blanke. Direction by Archie Mayo is sure and comprehensive. Insignificant situations that might escape another are enriched by his sense of comedy. Casey Robinson’s adaptation of the Dodie Smith play leaves nothing to be desired. Cast, Olivia de Havilland, lan Hunter, Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, Friéda Inescort, Bonita Granville, Peggy Wood, Marcia Ralston, Walter Woolf King, Peter Willes, Una O'Connor, Beryl Mercer, Elsa Buchanan, Mary Field. Executive Producer, Hal B. Wallis; Associate Producer, Henry Blanke; Director, Archie Mayo; Author, Dodie Smith; Sereenplay, Casey Robinson; Cameraman,’ Ernest Haller; Editor, James Gibbons. Direction, Masterly. Photography, Excel MOTION PICTURE DA “Call It a Day” (Warners) ILY Ho.ttywoop, March 3 Shere is a Smart adaptation Of a smart stage play. Very humorous, it is brimful of those comedy elements which amuse all types of audiences, Telling a gay and airy story of the romantic adventures which befall a staid English family in the course of a day, the film is staged in a manner which makes all principals stars and offers each minor character the opportunity to participate in the joviality. (A natural for word-of-mouth build-Gp) the picture has plenty of showmanship potentialities for some sparkling campaigns. In the spring, when fancies are said to turn to love, Ian Hunter, a dutiful husband, is hard put to escape the wiles of Marcia Ralston, an actress. Frieda Inescort, his wife, is pushed into a giddy affair with Roland Young by Alice Brady, who is having a hectic time giving him the cold shoulder. Olivia de Havilland, her elder daughter, is in the throes of an exotic love with Walter Wolfe King, an artist, but is stymied by him and Peggy Wood, his wife. Peter Willies, adolescent son yearning for Continental adventure, falls for Anita Louise, the charming next door neighbor. Bonita Granville, the child, wor ships any artistic muse whether it be high art or motion pictures, Their adventures are chock-full of entertainment quality that will make any audience eel goods) When a change is sought in the affairs of the family, attention is centered on the antics of the three servants, Elsa Buchanan, Una O’Connor and Beryl Mercer, also on the household cat and the neighborhood dog. Being free from the British atmosphere which makes difficult. the selling of an English story in this country, (iO One need Worry that eCall li a Day wont do good businessyhere and meet with popularity among the American masses. Even those who deliberately avoid English pictures should go for this one. Dodie Smith play is continuously Casey Robinson’s adaptation of the clever as it concentrates on the com edy_ elements. Archie Mayo directed skilfully, (@iving exhibitors and audiences worthy merchandise. Production Code Seal No. 2,872. Running time, 90 minutes. “G.” The plot deals with a single day turn. The staid accountant ES ETS = — os aah AE r te rr, Sage ean a Shae Sad played by Peter Willes to complete the gallery of the five spring-struck Hiltons. Then, there are Alice Brady as a jittery, match-making friend, and Roland Young as her brother just returned from the far east. Both con s Call It Call It a Day Warners pictur € and rel mais. executive producer.” ‘eae = Mia Archie Le Mayo oaucer. Directed e a ; or = cant Robinson from the play: May oe cha Otographed by Ernest Hall 4 editor, James Gibbons Pai: Art diMusical direction rector, John Huche: Ss. by Leo = Forbstein, Gowns by Orry uel eae Sullivan, assistant direcyo Olivia deHavilland, Tan a me exes Brady, Roa Inescort, Walter a, Pesgy Wood, Marela Bane ee colt Kine, Peter Willes, Une ’ reer, El and Mary Field, Previewed Marek wan Warners Hol time; 89 een theatre. Running Call It a Day’ is top-flight comedy entertainment, It -has every element needed to make it a suc. — and with a proper build-up for eae etal should profit heavily 89 word-of-mouth advertising m mabes and de luxers alike ey play by Dodie Smith was a Bin basis for a Screen offering but jeaeey Robinson's job of scriptipé as made this even better She a iter oe from start to Planned and poet ee sh be merican and to an all-British front. a, a mest thorough WIth results that cannot help but indicate boxoffice a Photography of Ernest to standard throughout, knitting it in He did this The plot centers household of 3 around the y n English famil pe JS Cast as Roger Hilton, a : er, and Frieda Inescort plays : eee of Dorothy, his wife. Olivia Eade pees Katherine, their ild. Onita Granvill end Ate her young pic coe illes is cast as Martin, The Hiltons have 22 years of married | 80ne through 2 ife in r sul Suddenly, approaching. ey ia y, _ Miss deHavilland falls in wee a married artist, Walter oolf King, whose wife, Peggy oy is his constant guardian. The ie reatens to run away to the — inent and little Bonita Granae Ps bit daft on the subject of act he whole household j undle of nerves. rave Alice B seal rady has another of those be Roland of her brother, j i and seeking a He Gen in a finished manner. There are m ; any complicati with Young falling in eae j from Indi wife, and he dees it a t, with the e€ conti ane Miss deHavilland, the sc° pala Br his contemplated run oe y, journey for love of a aan Anita Louise, and th mother and father happily eda Standing that ies unsolicited both were victims of an actress; the reserve of the mother is threatened by the impassioned lovemaking of a fervid admirer from the far east; the elder daughter has ideas about the dashing painter who is doing her portrait; the son forms an alliance with the girl next door; and even the youngest child entertains poetic flights. The resultant [tii as jast and furious, with laughs piling upon laughs. There can be no doubts that an audience will have a thoroughly good time. And what a cast has been assembled for these and other roles. No one can be said to steal the show, yet each performance would be a walkaway with less striking competition Exits of at least five players brought rounds of applause at preview, Bonita Granville being twice applauded for her superb portrayal of the romantic schoolgirl. Olivia de Havilland delivers delightfullyin perhaps her most exacting performance, playing light comedy_as, the elder daughter an Hunter is an utter joy’ as the father of the house and Freida Inescort faultless in the charm with which she invests the young mother, The son is cleverly tribute purposeful comedy in characteristic, telling style. Anita Louise brings great beauty to the girl next door, a role all too brief. As the portrait. oaintere! Walter Woolf King scores solidly. Peggy Wood registers memorably as the artists understanding wife. \Mareia Ralston Stands Out as the designing Stage actress. Beryl Mercer comes through with a comic gem as the family cook, matched beautifully by the playing of Una O’Connor and Elsa Buchanan as maids. Difficult to forget is the office drudge, played by Mary Field. There are many instances of distinct improvements. over the stage original, the most notable example being the cuts back and forth in. the conversations of husband and wife in their separate amours. In fact ‘‘Call it a Day’’ is a uniformly superior production under Hal B. Wallis as executive producer and Henry Blanke as associate producer. Due credit, too, to the fine photography by Ernest Haller, the art direction by John Hughes and the musical score by Leo F Forbstein. dattentiong, € picture is bi i ; > Blessed with lock of outstanding Sitfccmances lan Hunte Inescort, Wy Roland Young, Frieda Granville easily scenes. Olivia deH = very hard Part, en it with a realistic Perform* e. Anita Louise has only a ve rai role as the neighbor girl but eauty is an additio ie n to the Se “Ht come through with ee See Mane ae roles are + Marcia Ralsto ter Woolf King, Peter Willes Un, : Onnor, Beryl Mercer, | uchanan and Mary Field. ’ : their avilland js given but she comes Country of origin U. S, A. Copyright 1937 Vitagraph, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright is waived to magazines and newspapers.