Dance Charlie Dance (Warner Bros.) (1937)

PUBLICITY — “DANCE, CHARLIE, DANCE” — PAGE 3 (Review) Kautman Comedy On Strand Screen Author Of Smash Broadway Hits Also Penned Original Of “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” Warner Film It’s always a delight to stage or movie audiences when a supposed chump makes chumps out of supposed wise guys who were trying to make a chump out of him, if you follow us Yet that is what happens in ‘‘Dance, Charlie, Dance,’’ the Warner Bros. comedy-drama which opened yesterday at the Strand Theatre, to the pleasure of laughing audiences. The role of the supposed chump in this instance is played by that ace portrayer of boob parts’ — Stuart Erwin, who has reached stardom almost entirely in characterizations of that sort. The story has to do with a couple of phony Broadway producers who induce Erwin, a stagestruck boy from the country who has just inherited some money, to put $20,0000 into a show they want to produce. Allen Jenkins and Charles Foy, excellent Warner comedians, have these parts. To make things funnier, Jenkins’ hard-boiled wife, Glenda Farrell, is an ex-fan-dancer who is always threatening him with a revival of her semi-nudist activities. The show flops in a small-town tryout, and the rogues offer to sell their controlling interest to Erwin for $10,000. He doesn’t have it, but finds a stagestruck hotel-man, Chester Clute, who puts up the money, taking Erwin in as partner. Erwin rearranges the show, takes it to New York and it becomes a big money-maker. The two wise guys then offer $100,000 for it, and the two owners sell— having advance information that the current owners will be sued for plagiarism and will have to give up two-thirds of their profits. Erwin and Clute take their $100,000 and become partners in the more conservative hotel business. There’s a love story, of course. Erwin becomes romantically attached to a girl who’s been acting as his secretary. This is the pretty and capable Jean Muir, and the final fadeout sees their happiness complete. “Dance, Charlie, Dance” is gay and merry throughout. Erwin, of course, dominates the show, but excellent performances were turned in by Miss Farrell, Jenkins, Clute, Foy, a new comedienne from the stage named Collette Lyons, and, indeed, the whole cast. Frank McDonald directed the lively comedy from a screen play by Crane Wilbur and William Jacobs, based upon George S. Kaufman’s famed play “The Butter and Egg Man.” There are two lively song hits by M. K. Jerome and Jack. Scholl. Glenda Really Softie Hollywood screen stars are a series of contradictions. Glenda Farrell, who has played more hard-boiled, devil-may-care character than possibly any other Warner Bros. actress is, in private life, a “sentimental softy,” according to her intimates. Domesticated and extremely modest, Miss: Farrell is known as a friendly counsellor to many a movie novice. Glenda’s greatest admirers are the seamstresses in the Warner Bros. wardrobe department who know her: to be an exceptionally fine needle-woman. Miss Farrell is now being featured as Fanny, the fan dancer, in Warner Bros.’ “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” sharing honors with Stuart Erwin and Jean Muir. The pictute will open next Friday at the Strand Theatre. (Opening Day Story) Star Quartet Appearing In Alco Comedy Comedian Stuart Erwin, wiseeracking Glenda Farrell, toughmugg Allen Jenkins and that tall and lovely Jean Muir head an excellent cast that will be seen today when Warner Bros. farce, “Dance, Charlie, Dance” will be thrown on the sereen at the Alco Theatre as the feature attraction. Two girls who are newcomers to the screen, although they have won considerable renown on the musical comedy stage, make their first appearance in the picture— Collette Lyons and Olive Olson. Both have been Broadway headliners, and great things are expected of them. The story concerns a boob from the country (“Stu” Erwin, of course) who is induced by a couple of phony Broadway theatrical producers to put his $20,000 inheritance into a show they want to back. The complications deal with how they tried to trim the chump—and how, in the end, he gave them the trimming of their crooked lives. Worked in with the comedy yarn are a group of musical numbers with many elaborate settings. The presence of Collette Lyons and Olive Olson and a_ welltrained chorus all combine to make the picture not only a delightful laugh film but a musical of the first order. “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” was directed by Frank McDonald from a screen play by Crane Wilbur and William Jacobs, based upon a successful stage production by George S. Kaufman, whe recently authored the Pulitzer Prize winner comedy, “You Can’t Take It With You.” Mat No. 103—10¢ Jean Muir and Stuart Erwin are “that way” about each other in “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” the hilarious laff hit in which Erwin plays the hick who out-slicks the city slickers. It comes to the Strand next Friday. BroadwayStars B’way Stars Are Featured In New Movie Two recruits from vaudeville have important roles in “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” the Warner Bros. comedy which opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre. They are Tommy Wonder of the well-known team of Tommy & Betty Wonder, and Collette Lyons, both Miss Lyons also has a musical comedy success to her credit having been featured for a season with “Strike Me Pink” on Broadway. “Dance, Charlie, Dance” is the story of a small town boob, played by Stuart Erwin, who comes to New York and accidentally puts over a big Broadway show. former headliners. Jean Muir is the feminine end of the romantic interest, with Glenda Farrell, Allen Jenkins and a large comedy cast in support. Frank MeDonald directed, from a sereen play by Crane Wilbur and William Jacobs. ’ George S. Kaufman, who has authored so many Broadway comedy hits of the past few seasons, also penned “Butter and Egg Man,” from which “Dance, Charlie, Dance” was adapted. Cast of Characters ATUAY SUCK OF ok seo ccdla seacs Mary Mathews o.....ncccccccccctescsesseceeeeens HUAI Ys OURO Br eons cent pO ERS OEE CE eee ee CS NS EE. ae RE DIWCATINME Gibb iid rsiis gestihn. wad RETR, eae SO re EE ATID DER CLOTS fn Ae arene ah CTECCW MP EUAY. DY iyi ree ee Stage Play: OF JccctatcusidedBenn. Photographry Dy ............-:.esscsseeeeseeee Mila ditop. 3:0 hac e'd. etn oth. Music and Lyrics By 000.000.000.000... Musical Director a Se FAN dg Rea ke Jean Muir sis Ae Sates Diecaeee eine Glenda Farrell ie ees econ ae Allen Jenkins SA azar ate ame Addison Richards Pee AES OU, ip eae ip Charles Foy eR eA ee RS a Chester Clute sonnie Wao. 5... RSG... Bobbie Berson ............:..cccccceeecssseeeeneee eh Oe ORR. 2 hoe Mary Treen SoM ea PIONOE ec eet Collette Lyons SSW Gea Sia Tommy Wonder CS SEL ate ay pe eee: Frank Faylen ESE ia 2 acai cereae aie dari Robert Homans Se Sst as ee SE Harvey Clark peea ts ovat! eee Olive Olson ee a) gen Frank McDonald (Crane Wilbur Be eis? cs aioe William Jacobs Sa cae..... George S. Kaufman Het MAEAbCES (inst Warren Lynch, A.S.C. Be, SALMA Macatee cee Frank Magee PRENSA UE ay Carl Jules Weyl GA HA oes < pice Harry Seymour M. K. Jerome sence cence en eeetceee cae esensecccccene Vick Scholl Leo F. Forbstein (Lead Story) Riot of Comedians In New Musical Stuart Erwin, Allen Jenkins Will Appear In Warner Bros. Film Taken From Kaufman Hit ‘‘Danee, Charlie, Dance,’’ adapted from a George 8. Kautfman play, is a new type of comedy-drama with musical interludes produced by Warner Bros. and scheduled to have its first local showing at the Strand Theatre on Friday. Stuart Erwin direct from ‘‘Slm”’’ success, Jean Muir, the always popular Allen Jenkins, Glenda Farrell, Chester Clute, Collette Lyons of stage fame, Charles Foy, Olive Olson, Addison Richards and a specially chosen beauty chorus constitute the impressive cast. Stuie Staggers Through Tough Elevator Scene The most difficult scene in “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” the Warner Bros. farce-comedy adapted from a George S. Kaufman play now at the Strand Theatre, was made, unexpectedly, in just one “take,?? : The scene marks Stuart Erwin’s introduction in the picture. He is required to walk sleepily down a sidewalk and across a refuse elevator which comes up from the basement of a theatre at exactly the moment the actor’s foot steps upon it. Erwin felt anything but hopeful about the scene. Walking toward the hole in the sidewalk—uncertain that the lift would be properly timed—made appearing nonchalant a rather trying ordeal. Director Frank MeDonald felt the same way about it and the entire technical crew was on edge knowing that if anything went wrong Erwin might fall and break his leg, or his neck. The moments before the cameras started were full of honest suspense. Erwin was uneasy, but determined not to show it in front of the camera. McDonald puffed his pipe with nervous pressure. The technicians grew tense. When the bell rang Erwin began his short but uncertain stroll down the sidewalk. One pace ahead of the hole in the walk the lift shot into place, the actor walked across and the scene was complete. Everything worked perfectly. “That’s the first time anything like that ever happened to me,” said Erwin with a sigh of relief. “T usually fall in and skin my shins or bump my “nose.” With Erwin, in “Dance, Charlie, Danee,” are Glenda Farrell, Jean Muir, Collette Lyons, Allen Jenkins and many other splendid performers, including Tommy Wonder, dancer, Collette Lyons, versatile musical comedy star, who scored such a hit in “Strike Me Pink” a short while ago. Wonder Aptly Named Tommy Wonder, acrobatic dancer in “Danee, Charlie, Dance,” the Warner Bros. farce-comedy that opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre, once was a cripple. Dancing and other exercises made him strong, until now he is one of the leading dancers in the profession. Always "A 'Muggin' " In “Danee, Charlie, Dance,” a Warner Bros. farce due at the Strand Theatre next Friday, Allen Jenkins, one of the comedy villains, plays his fortieth “mugg” part for that studio. Sometimes he has worked in three pictures at once. The settings are said to be numerous and impressive and include both stage and auditorium of a large theatre. Several dance numbers elaborately staged by Eddie Larkin, are interestingly shown in rehearsal and as finished performances. An unusually elaborate cocktail bar is promised as the background for one episode. One of the largest settings is a complete reproduction of a block of New York City buildings, including the front of a theatre. The well-known song writing team of Jerome and Scholl have written a special musical score ineluding the number “Dance, Charlie, Dance,” sung by Olive Olson and chorus, and also a comedy travesty called “Ballet de Bunk.” The musical numbers are not interpolated, but introduced as part of the plot, which concerns a country boy who buys a show so bad that New York critics think it is intentionally so, and eall it the greatest and cleverest satire of the age. Stuart Erwin in the boob role is said to have greater comedy opportunity than in any previous sereen part. Jean Muir as the wise stenographer considers this the most suitable role she has ever played. Allen Jenkins, fresh from a successful role in “The Singing Marine,” plays an unscrupulous producer who palms off the flop show on Stuart Erwin. Later he buys it back at the latter’s price. The comedy resulting from such a situation is imaginable. Director Frank McDonald, at his best in handling’ comedy, said of his players: “This is the finest lot of comics I ever saw in one picture, and I eannot but believe that the writers had these very people in mind when they wrote the show.” The screen play from which Director McDonald worked was adapted by Crane Wilbur and William Jacobs from George S. Kaufman’s famed stage production, “The Butter and Egg Man.” Kaufman is probably one of the best-known Broadway playwrights today, and this year was responsible, together with collaborators, for two hits, “Stage Door,” and “You Can’t Take It With You.” The latter comedy won the Pulitzer prize this year. comedians. Another Foy Comic Star Charley Foy, he of the many, many, many Foys who plays one of the villains in “Danee, Charlie, Danee,” the Warner Bros. farcecomedy now showing at the Strand Theatre, is one of the eight children—all grown up—of the late Eddie Foy, dean of stage Fair Film Noviens Debut Two girls from musical comedy, who never before have appeared on the screen, have important parts in the Warner Bros. farcecomedy, “Dance, Charlie, Danee” now showing at the Strand Theatre. They are Collette Lyons and Olive Olson.