Comet Over Broadway (Warner Bros.) (1938)

CURRENT STORIES ‘Comet Over Broadway’ Opens Today ‘“Comet Over Broaday,’’ Faith Baldwin’s Cosmopolitan Magazine story, which was adapted for the screen by Mark Hellinger and Rob ert Buckner, comes to the Strand Theatre today. With Kay Francis in the starring role, the fine cast also includes Jan Hunter, John Litel, Donald Crisp, Minna Gombel, the now 9year-old Sybil Jason, Ian Keith and Melville Cooper. The production was directed by Busby Berke. ley. The story carries Kay from a stage struck girlhood in a small middle western town through disheartening years of playing in traveling tent shows, burlesque and vaudeville, then recounts her first moves toward success in the more respectable stratum of the theatre, next covers an interlude in England, during which she becomes a reigning stage favorite there, and finally shows the night of her first great triumph—where she is destined to become a ‘‘Comet Over Broadway.’’ That professional progress, however, is only the background of the real drama in the life of the woman depicted by Kay. Along the way, Kay has seen her husband go to jail for life for a murder he did not commit, she has promised to devote her life to obtaining his freedom, she has relinquished her infant daughter to a woman friend who could give the child a normal home life, and finally she has fallen in love with a theatrical producer who knows nothing of her past life. At the time of her greatest success professionally, she learns that her husband’s release from jail ean be effected, if she can raise the necessary sum. The decision that she finally makes forms the potent dramatic climax of ‘‘ Comet Over Broadway.’’ ‘Gag’ Gift Proves To Be Invaluable One of the most unusual keepsakes in Hollywood is the autograph book which Minna Gombel received from the late Roscoe Fawcett, prominent magazine publisher. While showing the book one day on the set of ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ the Warner Bros. picture which is now showing at the Strand Theatre, Minna revealed it had been given to her as a gag, so she could solicit autographs instead of being solicited for her signature. Tony Sarg started the ball rolling with an interesting page, then John Barrymore drew a page of cartoons and now almost every famous acting and writing person. age in Hollywood has contributed pages to the book, which, of course, Minna regards as priceless. So Keep Crooning A waiter who heard Donald Crisp singing in his bath was responsible for the actor’s first pro fessional engagement. Crisp, who is featured with Kay Francis in ““Comet Over Broadway,’’ the Warner Bros. picture at the Strand Theatre, was given a job by John C. Fisher, head of the Fisher Riley opera company, who was told of the actor’s singing ability by the waiter. Likes Tiny Hats Kay Francis put her seal of approval on the mad miniature hats by going into an exclusive Hollywood Boulevard shop and buying five at a sitting. Every one she tried on was becoming with her classic black silk jersey and double strand of pearls. Kay’s latest Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ is the current attraction at the Strand Theatre. (Review ) ‘Comet Over Broadway’ Sparkling Drama Of Loves Of An Actress Kay Francis Stars In Strong Story By Faith Baldwin Sentimentality that is honest and unashamed—and is therefore all the more affecting—produced a bounteous crop of tear-dimmed eyes and lumps in the throat as “Comet Over Broadway,’’ a new Warner Bros. picture which opened at the Strand yesterday, unfolded its moving tale of a great star who sky-rocketed to fame and back to obscurity. There were several reasons why ““Comet Over Broadway’’ emerged as the engrossingly effective picture that it is. Perhaps most important was the fact that the plot was based on a popular Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Faith Baldwin, a sure-fire author if there ever was one. Then the task of transposing the story into a screen play was entrusted to two such capable writers as Mark Hellinger and Robert Buckner. Kay Francis, one of the screen’s foremost emotional actresses, portrays the central character of the story. The role was a ‘‘natural’’ for her, and she rose to the occasion with all the resources of art and personality that have long since established her as one of the foremost emotional actresses who have ever graced the screen. Surrounding the star in roles nicely designed to exhibit their talents and their charms under the most favorable auspices, a_ truly remarkable cast helped to infuse the production with the sparks of truth and vitality. Sharing top honors in this fine ensemble were Ian Hunter, John Litel, Donald Crisp, Minna Gombel, little Sybil Jason, Ian Keith and Melville Cooper, and they, and Miss Francis as well, would probably be eager to attest that the effectiveness of their work was materially aided by the sympathetic and understanding direction of Busby Berkeley, who certainly prove anew—he did it before in ‘“Garden of the Moon’’—that it’s time for the public to forget that his name was famous once only for his staging of dance numbers. The story requires Miss Francis to display a wide variety of characterization. At its outset she is simply a stage-struck young matron in a middle western town whose ambitions seem to have little chance of realization, since she is kept close to her hearth by a dot Friday The 13th Her Lucky Day! Kay Francis started ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ the Warner Bros. picture now showing at the Strand Theatre, on the 15th of the month, according to the studio’s official schedule, but actually she made the first shot on the 13th, while taking a wardrobe test. Both she and Director Busby Berkeley are superstitious and the 13th is Kay’s lucky day. Friday’s lucky for her, too. And her birthdate, Friday 13th, is the luckiest of all—but she would never start a picture on that date because she doesn’t think a cast could be assembled who would agree with her that it was a lucky one. ““Comet Over Broadway’’ was adapted for the screen by Mark Hellinger and Robert Buckner from the Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Faith Baldwin. Rolls By Motor Motorized roller skates afford John Litel lots of off-screen fun. Foot pressure controls the speed, and the whole thing is lots more exciting sport than ordinary skating. Litel is currently featured in ‘“Comet Over Broadway’’ at the Strand Theatre. Mat 202—30c COMET OVER BROADWAY — rising quickly to the heights of theatrical fame, Kay Francis gets some distracting news in a scene from "Comet Over Broadway," the Warner Bros. picture from the Faith Baldwin story, opening today at the Strand Theatre. ing husband and a two-year old daughter. But her life is lifted out of the humdrum when her husband is convicted of a murder he didn’t commit and she resolves to devote her STORY SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) Kay Francis, pretty wife of a small town garage owner has theatrical aspirations. Her husband, John Litel, in an argument with a visiting actor over Kay, kills him accidentally and is sent to prison. Kay, realizing her part in his fate, vows to right matters, and taking her infant daughter, goes away to make her way in the theatre. She is forced to leave her baby girl with Minna Gombel, a friend. Ian Hunter befriends her and they fall in love, but Kay flees abroad where she becomes a star. Back in America, the toast of Broadway, she is brought back to a realization of her vows by Donald Crisp, her home town lawyer, and in complete self-abnegation, she gives up Hunter and her career to return to Litel about to be released. Mat 101—15c KAY FRANCIS — Stars in ‘Comet Over Broadway," Warner Bros. drama based on the Faith Baldwin story, which opens today at the Strand. Has Snapshot History One of Kay Francis’ most valued possessions she revealed during the filming of ‘‘ Comet Over Broadway,’’ is a small snapshot album. The pictures, carefully placed in chronological order, offer a pretty complete record of her adult life. life to obtaining his release from jail, to which he has been sentenced for life. Mainly to raise funds to continue the legal battle in his behalf, she goes on the stage —at first in the lowly capacity of an actress in a traveling tent show. She forges her way upward, however, but along the way she has found it necessary to leave her child in the care of a friend who could give the baby a normal home life. And, also along the way, she has fallen in love with a noted theatrical producer. That is when she has herself climbed to very near the top of the ladder. It is when her child has grown to the age of twelve and her husband has been in jail a decade that she is told she can bring about his release if she raises $10,000 immediately. The producer advances the money, but he also extracts from her a promise that she will not stick to the husband she no longer loves after he is freed from jail. When, however, she goes to the prison to inform her husband of his impending release, she finds she cannot tell him that she will leave him, for his pathetic need of her then triumphs over her desire for her own happiness. Was Side-Tracked By Shakespeare Ian Keith intended writer and cartoonist. Instead, his intense interest in the works of Shakespeare definitely directed his footsteps toward the stage and screen. Early during his school years he amazed his teachers with his knowledge of the Bard’s works. He won a scholarship in the Sargeant Dramatic School and graduated with highest honors at the of 18. Recently he played a featured role with Kay Francis in ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ the Warner Bros.’ picturization of the popular story by Faith Baldwin, which is now showing at the Strand Theatre. Also featured in the cast are John Litel, Ian Hunter, Minna Gombel, Sybil Jason, Melville Cooper and many others. to: be 4 Soldiers Inspire Cap Kay Francis, star of ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ now at the Strand, borrows her latest hat creation from the doughboys. It’s an overseas cap of gold sequins, which she wears with a sequin-trimmed black crepe gown for formal occasions which call for a hat. Star’s Gowns By Designer Orry-Kelly Every star in Hollywood has a studio fashion designer by whom she swears above all others. Kay Francis, whose latest picture, ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ opens today at the Strand Theatre, gives Orry-Kelly a large part of the credit for all the fashion accolades she has won. Carole Lombard feels nobody but Travis Banton can create the perfect gown. Ever since Milo Anderson did the gowns for Olivia de Havilland to wear in ‘‘ Anthony Adverse,’’ she has been loud in her praises of him. Ann Sheridan and Howard Shoup make up another mutual admiration society. Once an actress swears allegiance to a certain designer, she usually unconsciously adopts many of his style idiosyncrasies in her personal wardrobe. Orry-Kelly, for example, is rabidly against giant white pique collars and big white lacy accents at the throat. Kay Francis rarely wears them, and, on the other hand, she shows a predilection for draped gowns and turbans, which are Orry-Kelly specialties. Actor Lends Ear To Woes Of All If Donald Crisp ever decides to retire from acting, he will be well qualified to hang out his shingle as a professional advisor on and listener to people’s troubles. On the screen he is usually the faithful family friend, the understanding physician, the honest attorney or some other character of this type. That’s what he is in his current Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘Comet Over Broadway,’’ which is running at the Strand Theatre. In this picturization of the romantic Faith Baldwin story, he is Kay Francis’ attorney and devoted friend. He is her father confessor. To him she goes with all of her troubles. And so it is in real life. The broad shoulders of the kindly Donald Crisp have shouldered many a trouble for his fellow actors, for grips and electricians, makeup men and hairdressers. They all go to Crisp for advice and counsel on a wide variety of subjects ranging from how to invest their money to how to cure Junior of the habit of sticking out his tongue which he has acquired from a neighborhood imp. To all Crisp lends a ready and sympathetic ear. “‘T’m not sure I always give them good advice,’’ he says modestly, ‘‘but it’s interesting. And sometimes, without knowing it, I fool them by getting advice from them on my own wotries.’’ Became A Pupil Kay Francis spent most of her spare time during the filming of ““Comet Over Broadway,’’ the Warner Bros. picture now showing at the Strand Theatre taking a course in photography from Madison Lacey, the still photographer attached to the company. She intended, she said, to shoot a lot of pictures during her projected trip to London and South Africa. 3-Day Love Scene Kay Francis and Ian Hunter must have hung up some sort of record during the filming of ‘“Comet Over Broadway,’’ the picture now showing at the Strand Theatre. Love scenes in one setting, before, during and after a proposal of marriage, took three days to film. Hays office please note: They didn’t hold any one kiss that long, though! Page Nine