Confession (Warner Bros.) (1937)

Publicity—“Confession”—Page 7 OFF GUARD! Caught by the Candid Cameraman st lean man is here again. He appears as suddenly as a shadow—and gets his pictures faster. These little photos of big people on the set where Kay Francis’ latest picture “Confession” was filmed, were made off-guard. (All with the exception of one little girl who looked up just as the camera clicked.) All are the more interesting because they are unposed and unretouched. Entire set available in mat form—No. 501B — 50c on order to Campaign Plan Editor, Warner Bros., 321 W. 44th St., N. Y. C. SMOOTHIE Basil Rathbone gives his lines a last minute once-over. star Is Still A Sprinter Kay Francis seems so poised that many doubted the story of her college record as a 100-yard sprinter. She appears too dignified to hurry. For the information of doubters, she not only can run, but she does. In her current Warner Bros. the she picture, which comes to Strand Theatre runs about a mile. next week, “Confession” is a very serious drama, in which one would hardly expect speed trials. But there are moments — very tense ones — in which the heroine must cover lots of ground in the least possible time. For instance, one morning she wakes up in a strange apartment and knows that she must escape or lose forever her chance of happiness. This is no time for a stately exit. The heroine must get away right now. Through a long room and a longer corridor she flees. Downstairs, through another hall and into a eab. A good 150 yards in all. This scene was made nine times; the first four times because she ran too fast for the camera to hold her. Unusual Set In New Film A “two story” interior, for which there is seldom necessity in motion pictures, is an interesting innovation in “Confession,” the Warner Bros. drama starring Kay Francis, now on view at the Strand Theatre. The setting is a_ third-rate Vienna cafe with a large dance floor around which tables are grouped. Around this are lines of booths on a mezzanine reached by a broad stairway. Usually “two story” sets are so constructed that the second floor is only partially built. In such sets, it is not necessary to build substantially beyond the camera’s range. In most cases, there are doors beyond which rooms are supposed to be. In “Confession” the Warner Bros. engineers had to design a complete second floor, because the action is continuous. There are many close shots inside the second floor booths. One scene starts along the corridor outside the dance hall and continues up the stairs to the second floor landing. It is here that Kay Francis shoots Basil Rathbone in the most dramatic episode of the play. TROUBLE for Kay! Is it a run? DOROTHY PETERSON rests sans shoes. GUESS WHO? Kay Francis, of course, lunching with PERT ‘’Mickie’’ Maquire on guard. Starlet’s Shoes Are Nailed to Floor The movies go “lashed to the mast” and “Tied to a post” one better. It’s “‘nailed to the floor,”’ and that’s exactly what happened to Jane Bryan in a scene for “Confession,” the Kay Francis drama that opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. The pretty litthe Warner Bros.’ player was required to take a position close to the camera, with the star, Miss Francis, several feet behind her. The angle was such that even a slight move by Miss Bryan would throw the scene out of balance and “cover” Miss Francis. After all, Jane is young and mettlesome. Standing perfectly still was a strain. Almost un consciously she would move slightly out of position. She tried hard, but she wouldn’t stay quite still enough. Cameraman Sid Hickox solved the little problem with dispatch. He made Jane take her shoes off. Then he nailed them to the floor. Jane stepped back into them—and she stayed put until the scene was over. Kay Francis dances the Mazurka, with Basil Rathbone in “Confession,” the current feature attraction at the Strand Theatre. Mat No. 202—20¢ Fashion conference on the set — Kay Francis and Stylist Orry-Kelly go over the designs for Miss Francis’ gowns. Mat No. 201—20¢ Over Style If George Arliss played a clown, Wally Beery tried Hamlet and Edward G. Robinson. did Peter Pan, they would be making no more concessions to their Art than Kay Francis makes in “Con fession,” her present Warner Bros. drama which will be seen next Friday at the Strand Theatre. Much has been written of actresses willing to look their worst for the sake of their roles. But they did not have to overcome or even risk such stocks in trade as represented by “Most Glamorous Girl in pictures,” “Best Dressed Woman in America,” “The model of perfect grooming.” Now at last, Kay Francis— whose eareer has been built largely upon the public’s enthusiasm for her appearance — suc cumbs to the siren call of Art! As Vera, a songstress in a third rate Vienna cafe, she wears a bedraggled blonde wig, an unflattering costume and an aura of moral carelessness. For some courtroom scenes, she wears a severely cut black prison frock that is a far ery from the sartorial .perfection of the usual Kay Francis. Basil Rathbone. ADVICE from Director Joe May. ArtWinsOut BeesSwarm Routs Stars Under the heading of “Unforseen Delays,” the Warner Bros. accounting department found a strange item when it checked the production of “Confession,” the drama starring Kay Francis, which comes to the Strand Theatre next week: “30 Minutes delay on account of Bees.” Bees had gathered in the rafters of one of the stages, which had not been used for quite a time. The heat from the big are lamps disturbed them and suddenly from nowhere they swarmed into the set. Everybody was excited except Unit Manager Al Alborn. In his little black book he found the name of an expert beeman, Frank Brooks. Brooks arrived carrying a single Queen Bee. Walking over to the swarm, he held out his hand and to the surprise of those members of the troupe brave enough to peek, the bees started to cluster around the Queen in Brooks’ hand. He walked slowly away with the bees following him.