Chances (Warner Bros.) (1931)

A. HAMILTON GIBBS WROTE THE EXTREMELY IMAGINARY INTERVIEW WITH THE YOUNG MAN WHO IS NOW ACCORDED THE HIGH RANK OF STAR Hollywood Interviewer Allows His Fancy To Go For A Hop Into Space, Where He Meets Young Douglas Fairbanks And Hears Him Say Things He Wouldn’t Say, And Other Things He Would By WILTON CHALMERS (Short Feature) Young Fairbanks was in Santa Barbara on location, when the interviewer caught up with him. He was working on the First National World War romance, ‘*Chaneces’’ which is now at the Theatre—a story of England and France—and cliffs. like those along the English Channel were needed for background. Santa Barbara’s chalk eliffs are almost as famous as Doug’s father, who, according to unfounded rumor, invented the Fairbanks scales and had a town in Alaska named for him, So Mohammed Fairbanks went to the chalk mountain. “Do you jump over a cliff in this picture?” was the first question asked of the young star, who was wearing an artilleryman’s uniform with cavalry boots. “T just want to, I don’t,” was the prompt reply. “Do you think this is a serial?” “Besides, my contract prohibits jumping over cliffs, shaving with cold water and riding in elevators,” he continued. “Do you fall in love with your leading lady ?”’ “You'll have to refer all such matters to my agent!” “What type of roles do you prefer?” “When I was a boy in Paris, I thought I wanted to paint. When I was a young man working for the (censored) studios, I thought I wanted to die. When I was grown to the nine-hair moustache age I wanted to write poetry. Now I don’t know. Sometimes on Fridays it seems as though Einstein is right, and then again some people really seem to enjoy parsnips.” “It takes all kinds of people to make a world,” was the original retort of the interviewer. That gave the young star a pause —in fact, a couple of pauses. That gave an opportunity for the next question. “How does it seem to have a famous father and mother?” “Well, it all comes out even in the end, they have a famous son.” “Who wins the arguments home ?”? “Don’t quote me,” Fairbanks replied. “But Joan is a great actress. She is a homebody, too. She really cooks—really! I respect her opinions and she respects them, too—so that makes it unanimous. “We have just had one argument, The other night our pet kinkajou fell into the water in the bathroom. He was almost drowning and screamed terribly. I went in and pulled him out, just in time. “The next morning we had our only argument. I said it happened at 2:30 a.m. but Joan thought it was 2:35. But you ean’t argue with a woman, even your wife, about time. Perhaps it was 2:35.” Just then Director Alan Dwan called Doug to the set. Even a star must work at times. It was a picnic scene, with all the necessary ingredients, including trained ants, supplied by the resourceful property man. Rose Hobart was the leading lady. Doug held her on his lap, while they ate a sandwich. It was a very good sandwich, but it was only 9:30 a.m. and sandwiches at that hour, right on the heels of breakfast are not so hot—not even hot ones. “Tt is all for my art,” said Doug. “Tf it had been caviar it would have been just the same. We make those sacrifices.” “T’d like to make a little sacrifice, whenever you get tired holding Miss Hobart on your lap,” the interviewer said with a smile. When you say those things to an artist in Hollywood—or even in Santa Barbara—you smile, see. When the scene was finished the interview was resumed. Page Eight at Expensive Chandeliers Are Seen In “‘Chances’’ (Advance Reader) Five new and elaborate chandeliers are seen in a sequence of “Chances,” the First National war romance starwhich Theatre Made especially ring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., comes to the So ey next, for the picture, the chandeliers display innumerable pendant prisms and were made at an expense of several thousand dollars. Featured with the star are Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert and others. The story is by A. Hamilton Gibbs. Alan Dwan directed. War And Love Alienate Two Devoted Brothers (Advance Reader) Love for the same girl temporarily alienates two brothers during the severest action of the World War— but the fate of the many reunites them in spirit when parted forever. A, Hamilton Gibbs wrote the moving novel on which “Chances” is based. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., is starred in “Chances,” which comes to the .... Theatre next for a Rose Hobart is featured as the girl, Anthony Bushell the ill-fated brother. Alan Dwan directed. days. as se F orbes and STRAND wire ROSE HOBART ANTHONY BUSHELL HOLMES HERBERT | _Madison The World Has | Waited Thirteentas Years For This Opportunity 4 Gibbs! drama! ory forever! Here’s the other half of the unfinished letters, where crimson stain mingles with ink! Now, with no war-censor to blot the grim or glorious picture — you get the whole story! such a saga by A. Hamilton Never — never such a You’ll cherish its mem Never A FIRST NATIONAL & VITAPHONE PICTURE “What do you do for recreation?” was the next poser. “Well, I ride, swim, play golf, touch the floor with my hands, and read Ibsen. Sometimes—I don’t know about that question. Maybe you’d better see my agent about that one, too.” “Who is your favorite actor?” “George Bernard Shaw. For second choice in case they are out Cut No.9 Cut 60c Mat rsc I usually take pineapple sherbert.” “Just one more question, Mr. Fairbanks. You have been very patient with me. How do you like being interviewed?” Doug yelled Dwan. “Allen, is this microphone hooked up, are you recording?” “No, it’s dead,” answered the director. over to Director Then he told me. It is not necessary to tell what he told me. “Chances,” first starring vehicle of young Fairbanks, is an adaptation of the novel by A. Hamilton Gibbs. The star is supported by Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert, Mary Forbes, Edmond Breon, Harry Allen, Jeanne Fenwick, Edward Morgan and Tyrrell Davis. Alan Dwan directed. Night Bombardment Exciting Sequence Of Fairbanks, Jr. Film Realistic Description Of Wartime Scenes In ‘Chances,”’ First Star Vehicle of Fairbanks, Jr., Now At Theatre. (Short Feature) Terrific detonations reverberated through the Hollywood Hills. The air was purple and green and red with the eerie reflection of the explosions on the low hanging clouds. It was night and a terrific bombardment had broken loose on the Warner Brothers-First National ranch. Ten acres of ground eut and crossed with a maze of trenches heaved and rolled under the impetus of fearful bomb explosions. And across this dangerous territory moved English and German infantry firing at each other. Spurts of dirt, sand and water leaped into the air a hundred yards and crashed to earth within~a radius of a mile. Horses drew field artillery across this voleanie storm. Suddenly a light flared. Man and horse and caissons stood out in bold relief. Then a shrill whistle sounded. The explosions ceased. Only the voices of men were heard. “Anyone hurt?” “What’s that lying over there? Only a dummy!” One of the sensational battle scenes for “Chances,” now at the Theatre, had been filmed. This is the production taken from A. Hamilton Gibbs’ thrilling novel which is serving to introduce Douglar Fairbanks, Jr., to the public ag a full-fledged star. It is his first picture under his new First National contract. How could such a terrific scene be taken without the slightest casualty to man or horse? The answer is simple. One. man is responsible for the lives of all those in the scene. He is the man who explodes the bombs. The field is mined with charges of black powder. Each mine is fixed to be discharged by electricity and wires run from each to a central keyboard set on a high platform which commands a perfect view of the entire battle field. The powderman knows the exact location of each charge and which of the many buttons before him will set it off. So when the scene is being taken, he watches the field and when no one is directly over a charge he explodes it. He must be nimble, alert and cautious, for he often must discharge as many as ten mines at the same time, The soldiers who were to be “killed” and “wounded” were rehearsed so they wouldn’t drop over a “mine.” But in the excitement many of them did. The ever alert powderman simply passed up those particular mines until the battle is over. “Chanees” is a thrilling story of two English brothers and _ their great love for each other—and for the same girl. Only a small part of the action takes place on the battlefield. Alan Dwan directed the First National picture while the cast supporting Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., include Rose Hobart, Anthony Bushell, Holmes Herbert, Mary Forbes, Edmond Breon, Harry Allen, Jeanne Fenwick, Edward Morgan and Tyrrell Davis. Author Of “Chances’’ Is Character In His Play (Current Reader) An odd eoincidence is brought tomind by Holmes Herbert’s characterization of a British Artillery Major in Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.’s First National starring picture, “Chances,” which is now at the Theatre, The story was taken from the novel by A. Hamilton Gibbs, who was himself an artillery major during the war and the role taken by Herbert is that of Mr. Gibbs himself. Gibbs and Herbert are friends of twenty years’ standing. “Chances” was directed by Alan Dwan.