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

FUBLT GAT * LEAD OFF, REVIEWS OPENING DAY STORY (Lead Off Story) STRAND BOOKS | Art For Art’s Sake — Or The Artist’s! NEW 6-STAR FILM COMEDY For a couple of years in London and then for over a year in New York there ran with great success a play by an Englishwoman, Dodie Smith, entitled CCallelteam Day. It delighted audiences because it was “different.” In fact, nothing just like it had ever been presented before. It was the story of the reactions of the various members of a nice suburban family to the first touch of Spring, with its balmy, pulsestirring warmth and fragrance. They all fell in love—or at least they thought they did— which seems perfectly natural. But at the end of the evening, when they were all ready to “Call It a Day,” well, that was something different. As a movie, the comedy-drama, a Cosmopolitan production released by Warner Bros., will open atthe: — Lheatres 0s a7. It is a smart, sophisticated film, depending to a _ econsider able extent upon brilliant dialogue and upon brilliant performanees. The dialogue was there already, from Miss Smith’s pen, and so Director Archie Mayo insured his performances by assembling a truly remarkable east. Husband and wife of the family are Ian Hunter and Frieda Ineseort, both famed on stage and sereen. The young daughter of the house is Olivia de Havilland, fresh from her triumph in “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Peter Willes, imported from the London stage is the young son. Youngest daughter is is Bonita Granville, who played the “brat” in “These Three.” A family friend who becomes infatuated with Miss Inescort is the droll Roland Young, with Alice Brady to aid and abet his suit. A “girl next door’ and the object of the young son’s affeetions, is the lovely Anita Louise. An artist who is almost won by the elder daughter, Miss de Havilland, is Walter Woolf King. His understanding ‘wife is Peggy Wood. An actress who comes near to sweeping the _ fatherhusband off his feet is Marcia Ralston. It is truly an all-star cast— even the “bit” parts being played by such notables as Una O’Connor, Beryl Mercer, Elsa Buchanan and Mary Field. “Call It a Day” won great acclaim in its previews, when the erities called it a delightful comedy, with touches of deep and genuine drama. It was adapted for the screen by Casey Robinson. Actor Had Wild Trip in Youth AY the age of 14, Ian Hunter, who is now appearing in “Call lt. a Day” St thes; . oeciss Theatre, travelled alone from Grahamstown, South Africa, to England. It was wartime and his ship was constantly threatened by German submarines. He managed to bluff his way into the British Army three years later. Hunter has travelled a great deal since then, and recently with his wife made a round the world trip, but he’s never gotten the same thrill as he got from that first boat-ride. Page Twelve Olivia de Havilland, sweet eighteen and dying to be kissed, is oh, so desperately in love with the married artist, Walter Woolf King, who is trusted by his wife—as far as she could throw a grand piano. It’s all part of the fun in Cosmopolitan comedy-drama, “Call It A Day,” which comes to the ail SER ey gies ee ae Theatre, on Mat No. 301—30c Sc eS ee See as a Warner Bros. release. (Short Review) SPRING FEVER IS THEME OF COMEDY CALL IT A DAY’ If you like your film fare dished up. in splendidly acted, deftly directed fashion, with a generous dash of light comedy, and seasoned with tender romance, you can’t afford to miss “Call It a Day,’ the Cosmopolitan production released through Warner Bros. which opened yesterday, vat “their wine Theatre. Tan Hunter and Frieda Inesecort (both stars of the London and New York stages) are a suburban British couple, and Olivia de Havilland (that sky-rocketing young star) Bonita Granville (of “These Three” fame) and David Willes (juvenile British actor) are their children. They form a nice, normal, well-mannered family whose lives have always gone smoothly until their emotions are turned topsy-turvy by the influence of the first day of Spring. Ian Hunter very nearly strays into an affair with an actress client, played by Marcia Ralston. His wife is “propositioned” by Roland Young, whom she meets through his sister, a role played by the inimitable Alice Brady. As for the younger generation —Olivia de Havilland conceives a wild passion for the married artist who is doing her portrait. The son finds unexpected charms in Anita Louise, the girl who lives next door. Bonita Granville, who portrays the 15 year old daughter, finds a soul-mate in Dante Gabriel Rosetti. Adapted from the stage play by Dodie Smith, the picture has _the dramatic structure necessary to a good play, with the broader scope which the camera gives it. Bright Comedy Of Spring Is ‘Call It A Day’ Film Olivia de Havilland, Ian Hunter, Other Notables Score In Movie From Stage Hit What the balmy breath of Spring’s first day does to slumbering hearts is the theme of a delightful comedy-drama entitled ‘‘Call It a Day,’’ a Cosmopolitan production released by Warner Bros. which had its local premiere yester dated thes: ch Jota ae eet .. Theatre. The subject is appealing. As a stage play, ‘‘Call It a Day”’ ran for a couple of years in London, then for more than a year in New York. With the broader sweep of the camera, it is much better as a picture than it was behind the foot lights. Big, good-looking Jan Hunter plays the part of a _ well-to-do Britisher. His wife is Frieda Inescort, noted London and Broadway actress. They have been married 20 years and are pretty much in a rut. Then there’s a daughter of 18 or thereabouts—who’s the lovely Olivia de Havilland — and another of 15, who’s Bonita Granville, the celebrated brat of “These Three.” Peter Willes, young British actor, is the son of the family. It’s a wellsettled, unemotional household. But Spring works its magic. The husband falls in love—or thinks he does—with an actress client, Marcia Ralston. The wife has a proposal from Roland Young, whom she meets through her best friend, Alice Brady. Olivia conceives an infatuation for a painter, Walter Woolf King, who’s doing her portrait. Her brother, Willes, discovers charms in the girl next door, Anita Louise. All in one day they fall into love and out. Bedtime finds them all the same old family—a little more experienced, a lot wiser. This with the aid of smart, sophisticated dialogue, and _ entrancing sets. Spring’s Victim Delightful and delicious is Olivia de Havilland, meteoric new film star who follows her tremendous success in “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” with a new characterization of a lass of eighteen who is dying to be kissed, in the screen’s chuckle— champion of 1987, “Call It A Day,” now playing at the ...... Theatre. Mat No. 111—10e (Opening Day Story) STAR STUDDED COMEDY FILM OPENS TODAY With one of the finest allround casts that has been assembled in a long time, “Call It a Day,” the Cosmopolitan production adapted from the successful long-run stage hit of London and Broadway, comes in picture form COMA Va CO EMG, vos cans Theatre. It is a delightful comedydrama based upon the sentimental experiences of all the members of an English suburban family when the first day of Spring sets them wandering along love-paths. Olivia de Havilland, sky-rocketing little brunette star, is to be seen as the daughter of the family. Ian Hunter and Frieda Inescort are her ‘parents. Then there are Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, Peggy Wood, Bonita Granville, and half a dozen others who become involved in the atmosphere of romance. There is brilliant dialogue, plenty of laughs, and some moments of the deepest and tenderest sentiment, it is promised. With elaborate settings of the suburban home and countryside, the picture was produced on a lavish and beautiful scale. Archie Mayo directed “Call It a Day,” from a screen play by Casey Robinson, adapted from Dodie Smith’s stage production. The piece ran a couple of years in London and over a year on Broadway. PROP MAN MAKES STUDY OF BRITISH HABITS FOR FILM Frieda Inescort has a_ fine, platinum wedding ring set with diamonds. Her husband, Ben Ray Redman, literary eritic, gave it to her. But she couldn’t wear it in the Cosmopolitan production, “Call It a Day,” a comedy-drama now at the Theatre. Orin Haglund, the property man, woulln’t let her. He made her wear a plain gold band instead. English women, Haglund pointed out, usually wear gold wedding rings. That was only one of the curious things he discovered about his English cousins. Every package, wrapped by an English tradesman, has a loop in the cord. That’s to put your finger through. Tea is served in the theatre. The ushers pass it around on trays and the patrons sip their tea during the performance and when through, put the tray under the seat. One thing Haglund slipped up on. He set the table for the breakfast scene with the type of egg cup that has cups on either end. When Miss Ineseort and Ian Hunter saw the cups they held up their hands in horror. English families, they explained, use only egg cups with one cup. The two cup type are made for export. “Call It a Day”—adapted from the Dodie Smith play which was such a sensational stage hit in London and New York—is a smart, sophisticated comedy.