Dark Hazard (Warner Bros.) (1934)

¢ urrent Features Star of “Dark Hazard” Edward G. Robinson whose latest success is the current attraction at the Strand. Mat No.11 Price 10c Edward G. Robinson Now An Authority On Racing Dogs Made Intensive Study of History of Whippets and Greyhounds for His Role in “Dark Hazard” DWARD G. ROBINSON, the First National screen star, makes an exhaustive study not only of the character which he plays but of the situations and incidents connected with the picture he is making. ‘(Dark Hazard,’’ his latest starring picture now showing at the Theatre, with Robinson in the stellar role, is based on W. R. Burnett’s novel in which he paints his chief character as a man born with a mad passion for gambling. It is so much a part of his nature that This Screen Star Can Say Fast Life Won Him Stardom Speed of Greyhound Playing Title Role in Edw. G. Robinson’s “Dark Hazard” Did Trick ad the fast life he leads. ARK HAZARD’”’ is the latest movie star to achieve fame, and believe it or not he reached stardom because of He takes his place among the Barrymores, Garbo, Cagney, Chevalier, Muni and other screen celebrities in cinema’s Hall of Fame. Perhaps ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ hasn’t the tinesse of John, Ethel or Lionel, the allure of Greta, the dynamite of Jimmy, the personality of Maurice, nor the emotional greatness of Paul, but there’s one thing certain .. . he of a mile race. For ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ is a racing greyhound, and a champion of champions. To dog track followers the sleek racer is known as ‘‘Bold Warrior.’’ But who ever heard of a star whose sereen name was the same as his or her real name? Colleen Moore was Hazel Morrison, Warren William played marbles as Warren Krech, Barbara Stanwyck was the belle of Brooklyn High School as Ruby Stevens, Mary Astor knew she’d never get Lillian Langhankle in marquee lights and even Al Jolson thought of a better name for screen purposes than Asa Yoelson. So ‘‘Bold Warrior’? became ‘‘Dark Hazard.’’ As a screen star in the title role, ‘‘Dark Hazard’? did some fine work, according to Edward G. Robinson who is the real movie star of the First National picture, ‘‘Dark MHazard,’’ now showing at the Theatre. He photographed perfectly and had plenty of camera poise. ‘*Dark Hazard’’ even displayed a ean lick ’em all in a five-eighths bit of temperament when he forced Director Alfred E. Green to supply him with a stand-in, or a substitute dog to stand under the hot lights while the cameras were being focused. Why not? Didn’t other stars have stand-ins? Dick Barthlemess has ‘‘Dutch’’ Pettit, Cagney has ‘‘Red’’ Breen, Charles DeBever impersonates Edward G. Robinson, Katherine Keene draws a pay-check for resembling Joan Blondell, Genevieve Tobin has Dolly Newmeyer, and ‘‘Doc’’ Dearborn gets paid for resembling William Powell. Green, himself a racing enthusiast, with kennels of his own, was sympathetic and ordered a ‘‘stand-in’’ for the dog star. So ‘‘Runnin’ Wild’’ took ‘‘Dark Hazard’s’’ place under the lights while the racing star got the close-ups, the glory and his owner the fat salary check. ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ is based on the novel by W. R. Burnett, author of ‘<Little Caesar,’’ the picture in which Edward G. Robinson first gained Versatile Star Genevieve Tobin who plays in support of Edward G. Robinson in “Dark Hazard,” at the Strand. Mat No.6 Price 5e screen fame, is a thrilling drama of a well meaning but inveterate gambler, played by Edward G. Robinson. Colorful race track spectacles in which Edward G. Robinson as a gambler and owner of ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ a champion greyhound takes part, form the background for this exciting and touching story. Genevieve Tobin plays opposite Robinson while others in the cast include Glenda Farrell, Robert Barrat, Gordon Westcott, Hobart Cavanaugh, George Meeker and Henry B. Walthall. The sereen play is by Ralph Block and Brown Holmes. Glenda Farrell Loves The Bustle of Big City Life Is a Typical Child of the Metropolis Though She Was Born and Raised on Oklahoma Farm NYBODY who wants it can have Glenda Farrell’s share of the great open spaces, the country, the woods, the moun tains, the seashore. better—crowds She loves big cities—the bigger the (Broadway at the theatre hour—Hollywood openings or a subway platform in New York at the rush hour are her favorites)—brilliantly lighted avenues—traffic jams— everything that goes to make up a big city is what Glenda loves. She’s <astypical schild ofathe, mete) = Ga eS ee he can no more quit it than he can stop breathing, even though it costs him love and home. Robinson goes in for any and all sorts of gambling, but the sport that occupies his chief attention is dog racing. These sequences of the picture were made at the Compton Race Tracks near Los Angeles. Inasmuch as he is supposed to be connected with the tracks and becomes an expert on dogs as well as owning and racing them, he decided to make a study of greyhounds, the type of dog used in the picture for the races. Before he had finished familiarizing himself with the subject, he had become quite an authority on racing dogs. The first thing he learned was to differentiate between the greyhound and the whippet. He had been under the impression, as are most persons who have not come in direct contact with the sport, that the two are iden tical. But he learned that the greyhound racer and the whippet are two different breeds entirely although the latter is also a racing favorite both in America and England. The whippet he discovered is a cross-produet obtained by breeding the smaller type of greyhound with the terrier. It is a speedy animal but cannot compare with the greyhound in fast action. Among the other things Robinson found that the greyhound is classed in the group known for centuries as ‘long dogs,’’ and that the breed is nearly 2,500 years old. Ancient ancestors of the greyhound were used for hunting by the ancient Romans just as he is today. The Roman poets—Ovid, Catullus, Mar Page Hight tial—referred to these dogs repeatedly in their verses. The greyhound and his canine allies have, from their very beginning, been associated with blue blood and aristocracy. For centuries, the common people were forbidden to own them. Charlemagne attached so much value to his greyhounds that he had a special ‘‘Office of the Greyhound Kennel.’’ During the early Middle Ages special laws were passed protecting these dogs and making it a capital crime to kill them . Keen sight and tremendous speed have been the main points for which the greyhound has always been bred. This has resulted in tremendous development in the hind legs, and great chest capacity. The greyhound is the only dog who can successfully run down the American coyote—and it takes two greyhounds to do that. But on the racing track there is no faster animal. The racing scenes form a colorful background for the picture in which a girl marries the gambler to reform him and winds up by deserting him when she finds that gambling comes first in his life. Genevieve Tobin has the part of the disillusioned bride while others in the cast include Glenda Farrell, Robert Barrat, Gordon Westcott, Hobart Cavanaugh, George Meeker and Henry B. Walthall. Alfred E. Green directed the picture from a screen play by Brown Holmes and Ralph Block, adapted from the novel by W. R. Burnett, author of Robinson’s greatest screen success, ‘‘ Little Caesar’’ ropolis, is this blonde-good-looking Warner-First National actress, whose hardboiled roles in pictures have made her famous. The character of Valerie she plays in ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ starring Edward G. Robinson at the BS Ges eet Theatre, and according to advance reports, her most interesting ‘‘ girl who has been around’’ role, Born in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of two pioneers who went into the new territory when the U. S. Government threw open this land to homesteaders you might imagine that Glenda would be an outdoor girl, would prefer the peace and quiet of rural life. She falls down on every count, and she admits it frankly. She loathes camping. She can’t see any fun in cooking a meal out of doors, or eating it there. She can’t understand why people like to sleep in tents, on an uncomfortable bed, when they can enjoy box springs and mattresses in their own home, Fishing holds no charms for her. She doesn’t even like to buy fish in a market. Her only contact with them is on a restaurant menu. She does her swimming in a bathtub and as for boating, nothing less than a steamship would tempt her upon the water. As for living in the country, Glenda throws up her hands when you mention it to her. ‘‘T guess I belong right in the heart of a big city. I love an apartment with plenty of service, and good restaurants where you can eat when ever you don’t feel like getting your own meals—and I don’t most of the time. I like to be right around the corner from smart shops, and good theatres, and interesting night clubs. ‘‘T’ve never gotten tired of being one of a big city’s millions and I don’t believe I ever shall. Scenery to me is something to help pass the > time while you’re making a journey { from one city to another. I enjoy seeing mountains, and beautiful country-sides, and ocean panoramas, but I don’t want to live with them. ““T’m not athletic, although I enjoy watching almost any sport well played. I don’t even care about driving a car, but I like motoring, if someone else is doing the driving. ‘Maybe it’s because I never get tired of people,’’ she concluded, ‘‘that I find cities so fascinating.’’ In ‘‘Dark Hazard’’ she is decidedly a woman of the city who loves the crowds, her chief attraction being the fast life of the night clubs, gambling halls and race tracks. She also believes everything is fair in the love racket, trying to steal back her old flame played by Eddie Robinson, from his young bride, a part played by Genevieve Tobin. The story is by W. R. Burnett, author of ‘‘ Little Caesar.’’ In the supporting east are such players as Robert Barrat, Gordon Westcott, Hobart Cavanaugh and Alfred E. Green Henry B. Walthall. directed the picture. rs Edward G. Robinson inspects the injured leg of the prize-winning greyhound in this scene from First National’s sensational drama of dogracing, ““Dark Hazard,”’ which comes to the Strand Theatre on Wednes day. Mat No. 138 Genevieve Tobin and Glenda Farrell are in the supporting cast. Price 10c