Chances (Warner Bros.) (1931)

THE MARQUEE AND LOBBIES THIS IS THE WAY THAT YOUNG DOUG AND OTHER WARNER-FIRST NATIONAL STARS CRASHED INTO THE TALKIES Fates Employ Many Roundabout Means to Steer Darlings of Fandom Into Their Places in the Magical Land of the Screen (Short Feature) Hollywood, Calif—How is one.to break into the movies? This question bothers every new generation of youth, beauty, and talent. brief or prolonged dance with It harasses the army of the ambitious, eager for a the jade called Fame, a chance to be hero-worshipped on the screen. It is instructive perhaps to cast a backward glance upon the beginnings of the careers of a handful of screen stars now very much in the limelight. Some of them entered picture work quite by accident; others nourished from childhood their cinema hopes and resolutely used every wedge for the opportunity. Still others, again, made the gliding transition from stage to screen, the footlights and their native talent being the prime eause of their emergence as celluloid celebrities. HOW DOUG. DID IT Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the Theatre, in his initial starring vehicle, “Chances,” the First National war romance, had his tutelage as a boy when he formed the habit of hanging around the studios. Now and then he would offer a suggestion on a picture to his father or a director; the suggestion adopted, he would recive a check. After several appearances as an extra, he was given a role in “Stephen Steps Out.” He has played opposite Greta Garbo, is married to Joan Crawford, and came out ai (full fledged and acclaimed screen figure through his work in “Outward Bound” and “The Dawn Patrol.” In “Chances,” now at the Theatre, he has his first starring role. He is now at work on “I Like Your Nerve,’ written specially for him by the English author, Roland Pertwee. HOW DICK WON OUT Typical of those whom chance forced into pictures is Richard Barthelmess, the First National star of “The Finger Points,” the newspapergangster picture which caused such a furore recently. Though involved in dramatics during his school days at Trinity College, in Hartford, Conn., acting was the last thing in the world he expected to pursue as a profession. The career of a newspaper reporter beguiled him. His mother’s friend, Alla Nazimova, considered him the perfect type for a certain role in her starring picture, “War Brides.” And so Dick found himself launched upon a_ screen career. His popularity to-day is attested by his fan mail, which averages six thousand letters monthly. CAESAR CONQUERS For Edward G. Robinson, of “Little Caesar” fame (his next will be “Smart Money” and it isn’t a gangster picture but a gangster one,) the transition from the stage to the screen was simple. During his college days at Columbia University he wanted to become a minister, then a lawyer, and finally an actor. College debates and soap-box oratory sealed his fate, and after serving in the U. S. Navy, he turned to the professional stage. He played in a number of widely dissimilar plays (he has appeared in ten Theatre Guild plays, among others), signed a con-' No Wonder He Smiles He’s A Star Now Cut No. 13 Cut 15c Mat 5c Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. star of “Chances” the First National Wartime Romance, now at the ae eg eee oe Theatre. tract with First National, and is one of their particular screen finds of the year. DOT RUNS IT DOWN Dorothy Mackaill just knew at the tender age of six years that she would become an actress. She was barely fourteen years old when she ran away from the Thorne Academy, in London Town, and joined the chorus at the London Hippodrome. Between times, she made her debut in pictures at a London studio, but they did not appeal to her. In Paris, she for the second time played in a film—of French make. Her dislike increased. Reaching America, and succeeding in crashing the stage doors and getting an engagement from Lee Shubert, she steadily grew more and more popular. Disliking the movies, she acquiesced when offered a role by Director Edwin Carewe in “Mighty Lak’ A Rose.” This time her prejudice was overcome and she successfully appeared in a number of films. If you ask her now if she prefers the screen to the stage, she answers in the affirmative. HE'S A STAR NOW! x DOUGLAS ee — y FAIRBANKS in) Chances A First National % & Vitaphone Hit onan COLISEUM Cut No. 19 Cué 40c Mat roc Anthony Bushell Here Supporting Fairbanks, Junior, In “Chances” Anthony Bushell, who plays, the brother of the star in “Chances,” the First National romance of the world war starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now at the Theatre, is a native of Westerham, Kent, England. He was captain of the cricket team, stroke of the college crew and won a boxing trophy in the middleweights while in Oxford where he won his B.A. He left school to enter the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. After appearing in several London plays, he toured thé provinces for a year then returned to the metropolis to take a part in James Gleason’s “Is Zat So” which enjoyed a nine months’ run. He came to America to play the lead in “The Cardboard Lover” with Jeanne Eagles. His fine work in “Disraeli” when he supported George Arliss, was followed by screen roles in “Show of Shows,” “Lovin’ the Ladies,” Journey’s End,” “Flirting Widow” and “Three Faces East.” Anthony Bushell traces his ancestry to the thirteenth century. Colonel Anthony Bushell was knighted in seventeenth century for bravery in the Parliamentary War. After the death of Henry VIII Katherine Parr, one of his many wives, married a Bushell. Mr. Bushell is the husband of the screen actress, Zelma O’Neal. STAR OF “CHANCES” IS ALL-ROUND ATHLETE | (Advance Reader) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who comes BTC SSE = Drea error Theatre next in “Chances,” the First National war romance, which is his first starring vehicle, may be considered an all-round athlete. He has had splendid training on his father’s track where the two frequently compete in races, vaulting, boxing, wrestling and other feats of strength and skill. “Chances” is based on the novel of A. Hamilton Gibbs. Rose Hobart and Anthony Bushell are featured. Alan Dwan directed. Cab a er wi ay so ae eT No ‘Dithering About’ In Filming Doug’s “Chances” (Advance Reader) “Chances,” the First National war romance which comes to the Theatre next, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.—is laid in London, rural England and the Western Front during action. Intensive rehearsals were held beforehand, and the filming went forward with military precision and speed. There was no playing around —which the English refer to as ‘dithering about.’ Rose Hobart and Anthony Bushell are featured. Alan Dwan directed. The piece is an adaptation of the novel 3 A Hamilton Gibbs. Joan Praised By Doug In “Vanity Fair’ Article (Advance Reader) Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who comes tOSthe. sa Theatre next in “Chances,” the First National war romance, which is his initial starring vehicle—recently represented in “Vanity Fair” by a wellwritten article in which he gave his frank opinion of his wife, Joan Crawford, as artist and as woman. Another fine critique of John Barrymore appeared a short time ago. Writing is but one of the many activities of the handsome young actor. In “Chances,” he plays the part of a soldier during the World War. The complications arise when he and his brother fall in love with the same girl. Rose Hobart and Anthony Bushell are featured. Alan Dwan directed. Stupendous! Love that armies couldn't trample! Heart-beats of a soldier echoing to the drum-beats of a mad world at war! Drowning the roar of battle! Crashing through laughter—life—love— tears—to a restingplace in your own heart! ANK JR + ohare ROSE HOBART ANTHONY x BUSHELL FIRST NATIONAL VITAPHONE HIT INDIANA = Cut No. 10 Cut 4oc Mat roc HOLMES HERBERT Herbert Prominent In Fairbanks Film ‘Chances’ War Drama (Biography, May 15, 1931) Holmes Herbert, who plays the part of Major Bradford “Chances,” the First National war in time romance, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Theatre, made his first stage appear ance at the age of eight at the Sadler and Wells Theatre, in London. Born in Dublin, he was educated in England at Nottingham and Rugby. He left school for the circus and afterward trouped with Robys Midget Minstrels. He then toured the Provinces with the J. R. Benson Company. On the New York stage Mr. Herbert played opposite Billie Burke, Blanche Yurka and others. He entered pictures in 1917. Among the many films in which he has appeared being “On _ Trial,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “The Careless Age,” “Her Private Life,” “Madame X,” “The Thirteenth Chair,” — “Untamed,” ‘The Kiss,” “The Ship from Shanghai,” “Broad Minded” and “Chances.” Mr. Herbert is married to Beryl Mercer. now at the a Mary Forbes Here In “‘Chances”’ War Idyl Starring Doug, Jr. (Biography, May 15, 1931) Mary Forbes, now at the ....... Theatre in “Chances,” the First National picture starring Douglas Fairbanks, land, and educated by governesses, From earliest childhood she was stage struck and studied dancing, fencing, elocution and singing. Her first opportunity came in “Oscar was born in London, Eng Ashe” at His Majesty’s Theatre, London. Her father and brother were painters and it was natural for her to be artistically inclined. She played on the London stage for some years in Shakespeare and modern drama and then came'to New York where she quickly found a niche as one of the leading character actresses. When talking pictures came in she went to Hollywood. Films in which she has appeared are “Her Private Life,” “The Cirele,” “The Trespasser,” “Sunny Side Up,” “So This Is London,” “East Is West,” “The Devil to Pay,” “The Man Who Came Back” and “Chances.” i eae Eleven ‘ay