China Clipper (Warner Bros.) (1936)

SaeB Sisdhstaree#treavsectuasysstlttnae ae os BEE Ee wg HE Perret tT te suet gacesageee wanes eee gieeeeacne Koss Alexander and Pat O’Brien in a scene from First National’s ““China Clipper,’’ which tells for the first time on the screen the courageous saga of the men who dared defy the Pacific Ocean in an attempt to bring two continents together. ““China Clipper’’ is playing at the ae Theatre. Mat No. 204—20c¢ Ross Alexander Collects Thrillers Of Boyhood Days Featured Player In “‘China Clipper” Has Many First Editions The collecting of first editions is a hobby pursued by many motion picture players. Some collect the works of mod ern authors, while others have a passion for the older literary masterpieces written by Tackeray, Dickens and others. One of filmdom’s most interesting collections in the literary line is owned by Ross Alexander, who has a featured role in the First National picture, ‘China Clipper,’’ now showing at (ies ae Theatre. Dickens and the rest are passé as far as Ross is concerned. His collection is composed solely of books for boys which were so popular a couple of decades ago. Alexander has the complete set of the Tom Swift Series, ten or fifteen ‘‘Rover Boys’’ books; a-set of ‘‘The Motion Picture Boys,’’ and a complete shelf of the beloved Frank Merriwell, and a set of those fun-loving youngsters, the Bobsy Twins. All are genuine first editions, according to Ross, who devotes one night a week searching out stray bits of choice childhood literature in downtown bookstalls. Ross got the idea of starting the collection when he found a packing case full of boys’ books among his possessions in a New York warehouse. During the past five years he has added several books a week to the unique collection, with the result of an overflowing library of literary gems that delighted the hearts of small boys fifteen and twenty years ago. Although he very rarely reads the Alger books, the set is Alexander’s particular pride and joy. ‘¢ ¢Phil the Fiddler’ or ‘Butch the Bootblack’ always triumphed in the end,’’ says Ross. ‘‘I liked the books where the hero got his nose busted a couple of times before his cocksure air dropped by the wayside.’’ Tom Swift, the young gentleman who invented everything from a flying tractor to streamlined coweatchers for 1908 railroad engines, is the actor’s favorite boyhood character. ‘“China Clipper’’ is a thrilling Page Twenty-eight Actors Taught Aeronautics By “Clipper” Pilot Francis Scott Key Lewis, a great-great nephew of the man who wrote ‘‘The Star Spangled Banner,’’ acted as one of the technical advisors for the First National aviation thriller, ‘‘China Clipper,’’ now showing at the sae ane Theatre. A junior pilot on the giant eclipper ship, Lewis was sent to Hollywood by officials of the Pan-American airlines to aid in sequences in the picture in which the ‘‘ China Clipper’’ is seen. He instructed Pat O’Brien, Ross Alexander and Humphrey Bogart in the science of aeronautical navigation so that their movements as officers of the ship would be technically correct. Lewis has made three flights across the Pacific as a junior pilot on the ‘‘China Clipper.’’ He left Alameda, Calif., home base of the flying ship, on his fourth flight across the ocean just after the picture was completed. ‘<China Clipper’’ is a dynamic drama of-transoceanie air service. Others in the cast include Beverly Roberts, Marie Wilson, Henry B. Walthall and Joseph Crehan. ly dramatie picture of transoceanic air service with a glamorous romance. Besides Alexander, the cast includes Pat O’Brien, Beverly Roberts, Humphrey Bogart, Marie Wilson and Henry B. Walthall. Stars Re-Enact Lindbergh Scene F or Air Picture Back in 1927 when Lindbergh returned to New York and a tremendous reception following his non-stop flight to Paris, Pat O’Brien and Beverly Roberts were among those who thronged the Manhattan streets to catch a glimpse of the shy young man who had accomplished the seemingly impossible. Nine years later, both O’Brien and Miss Roberts, as the principal players in First National’s new air epie, “China Clipper,” which comes~to. the 2a Theatre OMe ee » had to re-enact the same scene as a stirring sequence in the picture. The scene was made on the back lot of the First National studio, and O’Brien and Miss Roberts portrayed the same type characters they had been when they witnessed the actual happening, two interested spectators among thousands. Both players are emphatie in saying that the event was one of the biggest thrills of their lives. They were more than glad to reenact the scene for a motion picture depicting the rise of aviation since Lindbergh’s memorable flight. “China Clipper” is a smashing drama of intercontinental air service. Besides O’Brien and Miss Roberts, the east includes Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart, Marie Wilson and Henry B. Walthall. The picture was directed by Raymond Enright from the screen play by Frank Wead. Tries To Pluck Marie Wilson’s Real Eyelashes Arthur Edeson is an ace cinematographer, but he sometimes neglects to read the Hollywood movie columns. If he had kept up with the news he would have saved himself from an embarrassing situation while filming a sequence for the First National air thriller, ‘“China Clipper,’’ which comes to HO=2. Sec ees ‘MeRtTe! OW ©.2e0.5.2-s.-s05 The scene was a shot of Pat O’Brien and Marie Wilson. Edeson, who had never met Miss Wilson before, looked her over carefully for any faulty makeup. Then he said: ‘¢Miss Wilson. Those eyelashes are much too long. Will you have the make-up man cut them down a little?’’ The young actress was obviously frightened. ‘¢Cut them down,’’ she said. ‘Why I wouldn’t cut those off for anything in the world. They’re the longest eyelashes in Hollywood and they’re my own.’’ ‘<Don’t kid me,’’ answered Edeson. ‘‘They’re certainly the longest in Hollywood, but you can’t make me_ believe they’re natural.’’ He strode over to Miss Wilson’s side and tugged gently at her right eyelashes. They didn’t come off. And was Edeson’s face red! ‘¢China Clipper’’ is a dynamic drama of transoceaniec air service. Besides O’Brien and Miss Wilson, the cast includes Beverly Roberts, Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart, Henry B. Walthall and Joseph Crehan. The picture was directed by Raymond Enright from the sereen play by Frank Wead. sheggget®Stteg. git feb kage mete Seth geyssese eeteg geeestaeg pawn ee eRe SSnnesesosiiteraucisaeusasmtccseaitsuastatenectatgegistauecs:iiteseteeguceeescestaeasseags Beeaeee** Oleg eee Reg ePeSeM Coreg eee ae ee eg gener tee Sescnesamne eee See Sel SCRE Baume Bes | gausgusostcees geese Gene eee wenceeaee 99 8 88155 Reem cguetse seers auaeses se eesstteaus anesesseseGhauag, cestaseaeeneeass socssczesirsstttes RB Street et inssaeeseeaaed ee SE gesBeGcge eget te Beengg ge? nie” Pat O’Brien Has Been A Scrapper Since Childhood Now He Has Another Fighting Role As Star Of ‘China Clipper” A few years ago a lad as Irish as the Lakes of Killarney made a decision. Making a decision was nothing new to him, as he’d been doing it since about the age of six, but this was an unusually momentous one. He covered the distance between his home and a motion picture studio in nothing flat and broke in upon a easting director with his prominent chin out-thrust a couple of inches beyond its normal position. “Nothing doing!” he snapped. “Nothing doing?” the casting director looked puzzled. “You heard me!” the Irish lad snorted. “I’m through doing reporters. If you haven’t anything else for me, Pll go back to Broad way.” Pat O’Brien — that was the young Irishman’s name — didn’t go back to Broadway because the studio found something else for him. Pat hadn’t been bluffing. He’d felt reasonably sure the studio would dig up another part for him, but he was prepared, if they hadn’t, to do just as he had threatened — hop a train for 3roadway. O’Brien had done reporter roles in his first four pictures, starting with the part of “Hildy Johnson” in the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur film “The Front Page.” He realized that he was rapidly becoming “typed” as a newspaperman. And he knew that to become typed in films is the equivalent of striking a rut in any other business. So he decided to fight it out with the casting director. The situation was not unique to O’Brien, who has built his entire life upon the philosophy that “if a thing’s worth having, it’s worth fighting for.” Pat has fought for things he thought were worth having almost since he learned to walk. Fighting in Childhood He started fighting as a child in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At about the same time that he entered grammar school, he began selling newspapers on a corner. “T decided that particular cor Marie Wilson Appealing comedienne, Miss Wilson is one of the featured play ers in First National’s ‘‘China Clipper,’’ coming to the ............... PROGUPC ON ee » epic story of America’s flying aces whose heroism made the Pacific Ocean a lake. The star role is enacted by Pat O’Brien. The cast includes Beverly Roberts, Ross Alexander, and Humphrey Bogart. Mat No. 112—10e ner was worth having,” O’Brien recalled during the filming of his current First National production, “China Clipper,’ which comes to [iis aa eset a Pheatre .Onssatecon “So I started fighting for it. I finally got it exclusively, but I had to lick half the kids in the neighborhood to do it.” Pat fought his way through grammar and high schools. His parents were people of moderate circumstances and he had to do all sorts of odd jobs early mornings and afternoons to keep himself in clothing and to help the family. He kept it up even after he entered Marquette University to study law. He fought with brain and brawn on the football team, in his final year going through the Notre Dame line late in the contest with the winning touchdown. When the war came, Pat joined the United States Navy, where he soon learned that a well-directed right to the solar plexus or that portion of the anatomy known in prize ring parlance as the “button,” occasionally worked much better than mere words. After the war, O’Brien decided law was not his field. He had some dramatic experience previously, so he remained in New York, fought adversity for a couple of years and finally got a job in the chorus of “Adrienne,” a musical comedy. Pat was not proud of his position in life, but he stuck it out until a New York newspaper published his picture as one of the handsomest men on Broadway. Wins Hardest Battle That was too much for O’Brien, who describes himself as the “ugliest mug in Hollywood.” He decided he’d had enough of being a chorus boy, quit and returned to Milwaukee and law. Gradually, however, he realized he was not displaying courage. He determined to fight it out again and returned to Broadway, where he stuck, turning down repeated opportunities, although it sometimes meant dinnerless days, until what he considered the right opportunity came along. He took the role of the heavy in “Under the ‘L’,” and emerged victorious in his bitterest battle. The part of “Hildy Johnson” in “The Front Page” sent him to Hollywood to play the same role in the film version of the play, and Pat has been fighting Hollywood ever since. “You've got to keep your selfrespect in this town no matter what happens,’ the Irish actor declared. ~ In “China Clipper” Pat wins out after adverse circumstances that would discourage any one except a dyed-in-the-wool fighter. The picture is a thrilling romance of the air, packed with dynamic action. Besides O’Brien, the cast includes Beverly Roberts, Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart, Marie Wilson and Henry B. Walthall. get eu D PEW