Calling All Husbands (Warner Bros.) (1940)

(Lead Story) ‘Calling All Husbands’ On Way To Strand A gay, sparkling comedy with plenty of laughs will have its local debut Friday when Warner Bros. new film, “Calling All Husbands,” opens at the Strand Theatre. The picture, starring George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex, shows how a henpecked husband finally got up courage enough to say “No” to his belligerent wife. Ernest Truex plays the part of the quiet-voiced husband who one day gives out with his personal battle-cry of freedom. Lucile Fairbanks and George Reeves play the role of sweethearts whose path of true love doesn’t run so smooth because of the dislike Florence Bates, in the role of Truex’s wife, has for Reeves. She never fails to let Truex know that she could have married a very wealthy gent named Oscar, played by George Tobias. Her bragging is brought to a sad end when her beloved Oscar comes to town disguised as a tramp. The fact of the matter is that Osear is neither a tramp nor a wealthy business man. He is a crook. And with the use of flattery, gets the town’s largest department store owner to show him his establishment. When Oscar attempts to rob the store at night the burglar alarm goes off and he tries to use Truex’s house as a hideout. The police trace him to the house and in an act of unexpected bravery, Truex floors him with a flying tackle when he tries to escape. Noel Smith directed the new laugh hit and Robert E. Kent adopted the Martin Flavin play to the screen. If you’re after laughs and comedy (and who isn’t these days?) then you’d better not miss “Calling All Husbands.” Family Comedy at Strand A down to earth comedy of family life will have its first local showing at the Strand Theatre next Friday when Warner Bros.’ new film, “Calling All Husbands,” opens. The film stars George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex. It is a laugh hit of fun, romance and thrills about a hen-pecked husband who discovers that he can say “No” to his wife without having to duck. “Calling All Husbands” was written for the screen by Robert E. Kent, from a play by Martin Flavin. Noel Smith directed the production. Mat 104—15c Lucile Fairbanks, lovely Warner Bros.’ star, lends plenty of romance to the mirthful film, "Calling All Husbands," at the Strand Theatre Friday. It's A Battle of The Sexes! Mat 201—30c "CALLING ALL HUSBANDS," the new Warner laugh hit which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre is a guide for mistreated males and plenty of fun for the whole family. Left to right are, George Reeves, Lucile Fairbanks, Florence Bates, Ernest Truex and George Tobias, who head the cast. (Review) ‘Calling All Husbands’, Gay, Sparkling Laugh Hit One of the liveliest comedy romances of the year made its initial showing to Strand Theatre patrons last night when Warner Bros. new film, “Calling All Husbands” started its run. The film stars George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex who kept the audiences howling with laughter at their humorous but homey antics. Ernest Truex, who has never been known to turn in a halfhearted performance, surpasses his usual hilarious self as the hen-pecked husband of a continually irate wife. One day he surprises everyone (and. especially his wife) when, with the aid of a few stimulating drinks, he makes his Declaration of Independance by telling his wife a thing or two. George Tobias, the up and coming Warner player who gave such great performances in “Torrid Zone” and “River’s End,” plays the part of Oscar, a gent who Truex’s wife, Florence Bates’ role, claims she could have married. She believes him to be a man of great wealth and influence and constantly bemoans the loss of her great opportunity. Tobias’ portrayal leaves no doubt that he is well on the road toward stardom. Lucile Fairbanks and George Reeves are the perfect romantic team even though Florence Bates tries everything in her power to break them up. They marry in spite of her objections. But her days of disagreeing with everyone come to an end when Truex proves that her great hero, Oscar, is nothing but a crook, and daringly prevents his escape from the police. Director Noel Smith did a wonderful job in blending thrills, comedy and romance. The new Warner Bros.’ manifesto for mistreated males was adapted to the screen by Robert E. Kent from a play by Martin Flavin. Those who like real down to earth comedy and romance should not miss paying a visit to the Strand Theatre during the run of “Calling All Husbands.” Strand Has Gay Comedy Laughter will be the order of the day next Friday when the Warner Bros.’ comedy film, “Calling All Husbands,” opens at the Strand Theatre. In keeping with his policy of showing the latest laugh hits, Manager Frank Halprin has booked “Calling All Husbands,” a mirthful comedy of family life, starring George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex. In the supporting roles are popular screen players George Reeves and Florence Bates. The story was adapted to the screen by Robert E. Kent from a play by Martin Flavin. Noel Smith directed the production. CAST OF CHARACTERS @ecapvArMmsirOnd cena var ES" LI ©) 21 ace eo Plormen erie ie, fake ss cocoa seca saeves-s sets DR OVINEINE ake ATI... coecceccnsspetncaren EMiMMie MIMI DDO ean ats cess kos cos sacecctnes Hadley Weaver a 2551.:....-....:..0.00000 Dibbiee) MOnMAG eet ig c.is..5..ccnco cesses. Sheriff RG NOG 6. ieictasne atau edison RS ETE cc George Reeves -acat Rea ea Heer muon ee Florence Bates ss ckgicapet sf ade Virginia Sale ae ste Pet ae Mech a John Alexander PRODUCTION Directed by Noel Smith Associate Producer, William Jacobs; Screen Play by Robert E. Kent; From a Play by Martin Flavin; Director of Photography, Ted McCord, A.S.C.; Art Director, Charles Novi; Dialogue Director, Harry Seymour; Film Editor, Frank Magee; Gowns by Milo Anderson; Sound by Francis J. Scheid; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore. SYNOPSIS (not for publication) Homer Trippe (Ernest Truex), a hen-pecked husband, is continually berated by his wife (Florence Bates) for his shortcomings. She is regretful for not having married Oscar (George Tobias), a former suitor, who she believes to be a man of great wealth. She also objects to the courtship of her daughter, Betty (Lucile Fairbanks) and Dan Williams (George Reeves), who marry despite her disapproval. Homer proves that Oscar is nothing but a crook and surprises everyone with a daring struggle that prevents Oscar's escape from the police. Emmie becomes a peaceable person who is now convinced of the ability of her husband and the wisdom of her daughter's marriage. | eee (Opening Day) ‘Calling All Husbands ’, Makes Strand Debut A film packed with love, laughter and thrills will greet Strand Theatre audiences today when Warner Bros.’ new comedy-romance, “Calling All Husbands,” starts its local run. George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex have the starring roles while George Reeves and Florence Bates lend their capable talents to the supporting cast. The picture is a rollicking comedy of homelife at its funniest. Ernest Truex plays the part of a hen-pecked husband who one day gets a hold of some apple cider and after drinking a few too many finds that it gives him the courage to say “No” to his usually displeased wife, played by Florence Bates, for the first time since they were married. George Tobias plays the part of a fellow named Oscar, who was a former suitor of Truex’s wife. She is continually regretting not having married him because she believes him to be a man of great wealth. Lucile Fairbanks and George Reeves give the picture a gay romantic touch by playing the role of a young couple who marry despite the disapproval of Florence Bates. When Truex discloses the fact that Oscar is not the great person his wife believed him to be, her days of domineering come to an end. Her beloved Osear is really a crook who unsuccessfully tries to rob a department store and then uses Truex’s home as a hideout. Ernest surprises everyone when he floors Oscar with a flying tackle as he tries to elude the police. From then on his wife is the meek and agreeable one with the pants of the family being worn once again by Ernest. Noel Smith directed “Calling All Husbands” with Robert E. Kent handling the scenario. The film was adapted from a play by Martin Flavin. George Tobias New Versatile Star George Tobias, who is starred in Warner Bros. light, romantic comedy, “Calling All Husbands,” which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre, doesn’t like to be referred to what he says it that : performf ance as a devilmay-care lover, tramp, and crook is one of Mat 102—15the best por George Tobias trayals he has ever given and he has given some great ones. Not that George isn’t proud of his profession. He is. He simply says, “I’m a working man.” George can back that up by simply reviewing his career. Tobias earned his way ‘through his early acting by working as a riding instructor in a Brooklyn academy. He started work there in a lowlier position but scarcity of instructors resulted in a promotion. Tobias then joined the Provincetown Players. There he met the late Louis Wohlheim, who adopted him as a protege. Many stage roles followed, climaxed by his interpretation of the Russian ballet master in “You Can’t Take It With You.” Tobias then came to Hollywood, where he was signed by Warner Bros. to a long term contract. Ernest Truex Plays Hen-Pecked Hubby The first day’s work on a picture is nearly always the most dificult for a star. To Ernest Truex, now starring in Warner Bros.’ “Calling All Husbands,” which opens Friday at _ the Strand Theatre, it has proved the most amusing and unusual. He plays the role of an easy going husband of a dictatorial wife, who one day tells her a thing or two and from then on he wears the pants in the family. When he walked on the set of Warners’ “Calling All Husbands” he expected to follow a sane routine day. But when Truex reported to director Noel Smith for his scenes, he discovered he had to do five pages of script with a wine bottle. Lucile Fairbanks Star Of Strand Laugh Film Lucile Fairbanks, who has the romantic lead in Warner Bros. new laugh hit, “Calling All Husbands,” opening at the Strand Theatre this Friday, has inherited the qualities of her late famous uncle, Doug Sr. The same twinkle of the eyes. The same gay laugh. Lucile is ‘twenty two years old. So f far she has j been featured in ‘‘Three Cheers For The Irish,” “Saturday’s Children,” “Flight AnMat 101I—15gels,” and Lucile Fairbanks starred in sev eral short subjects. Now, she stands on the threshold of success having played a starring role in “Calling All Husbands.” Marital Mixup at Strand “Calling All Husbands,” Warner Bros.’ new comedy of matrimonial errors, starring George Tobias, Lucile Fairbanks and Ernest Truex, opens this Friday at the Strand Theatre. The supporting cast includes George Reeves and Florence Bates. The seasons gayest film was written by Robert E. Kent from a play by Martin Flavin. “Calling All Husbands” was directed by Noel Smith. Mat 103—15c Lucile Fairbanks and George Reeves have the romantic leads in Warner Bros.’ lilting comedy, “Calling All Husbands," opening Friday at the Strand Theatre.