Divorce Among Friends (Warner Bros.) (1930)

6 IS THERE SUCH A “DIVORCE AMONG FRIENDS”—A Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Production THING AS THE PERFECT HUSBAND, WOULD YOU WANT HIM, IF THERE IS? Do the Ladies, Bless ’Em, More Wholeheartedly Adore Saints in the Abstract, Than in the Concrete, And if so, Why? By MILTON HARRIS (You Will Have No Trouble to Plant This on the Feature Pages of Your Newspapers) This pertinent question is hilariously answered by “Divorce Among Friends,” the Warner Bros. picture now at the Theatre. Every deluded male who has been hypnotized into that delightful state of inebriety known as inloyeness, is considered by the dame who has done the deed, as the sine qua non, the beau ideal, the envy of all humanity—in other words, as Perfection Personified. So vivid is her belief in his invincibility, that he—should he happen to be a bit vain—swells to the belief that he really is all she thinks he is. Tnen comes the rude awakening. Almost before the wedding bells have ceased to echo, before the strains of “Oh Promise Me” have died away and the lilies of the valley faded—Ducky Wucky begins to wonder. She wouldn’t have any other man in the whole world, of course—but, well! She thought she knew him, as nobody else ever could have known him. She never doubted that she was the only girl he had ever loved! And now! The sooner pretty Mrs. Newlywed realizes that she has married a stranger, the better for her peace of mind. The sooner she wakes to the idea that husbands are not made, but only in the making, and that with the proper cajoling, they become as clay in the hand of the pottar. The young and foolish— and who that has passed that beatific state, would not be young and foolish again—think to find happinessin te “know how to mabe it. A certain gentleman who withholds his name from the title page of his book, entitles his dissertation on the marreid state: “The Art of Making the Perfect Husband.” It may be found in libraries everywhere, and is well worth reading by either, or both, parties to the contract. Among other more or less profound statements of this gentleman, are these—that a woman is more interested in having a good husband than a good man— that there are two thoughts uppermost in her mind — her love of being loved and her fear of not being loved—that she has the right to be illogical — to play at being grown up—to both want to protect and be protected — and that the wise husband is the one who knows all these things and acts accordingly. Above all things, let him be sure of his technique. Should his wife say, ‘You love me for my beauty and not for myself,’ the really clever spouse will reply, with accompanying caresses: “That is not true,my.. (whatever the individual term of endearment happens to be), I began by loving you for your beauty, and ended by loving you for yourself!” It is the instinct of the male human to be all things to all women—the usual woman wishes to be all things to one man. Let John Doe be wary if his fate has led him into marriage with one of those ladies that belong to what ts called the Power-Type. In that tase let him assert his manhood, 3ven if he foresees the possibility, of ending as did the Kilkenny cats, after their final battle. One of these Power-Typers will if the man weakens for a moment, reduce him to the status of a milksop, and then despise him for being one. One thing the husband-in-themaking must do to be aces-high in his wife’s opinion is to remember every day which has for her a touch of sentiment. If he must order her to do things, let him be sure that they are the things she ~“ied life—the wise. | — loves to do—thus giving her the double joy of doing what she wants to do, and thinking what a cave-man he is, to order her to do it. One of O. Henry’s most delightful stories tells of a woman whose husband gave her an _ occasional black eye, and always paid up for it by a new fur coat, a hat, a ring or some such trifle. The woman upstairs who had a pussyfooting partner thinks she’ll try the new tactics on him but what is her chagrin when the neighbor calls, and finds hubby in an apron, doing the family washing. He was unregenerate. If she missed the kicks her friend got she also missed the rewards. She was inconsolable. “Divorce Among Friends,” the Warner Bros. picture, now at the Theatre, is one of the most human, and at the same time uproarious films of the year. It recounts the ways in which a modern wife made over a love-and-letlove husband—in spite of the obstacles put in her way by a tippling sheik, a mischief-bent blonde and black-jacking highwaymen for good measure. _ The picture is Harvey Thew’s screen version of Jack Townley’s story, “Two-Time Marriage.” Arthur Caesar, Broadway’s chief wise-cracker did the clever dialogue. The cast includes Irene Delroy, Natalie Moorehead, Lew Cody. James Hall and Margaret Seddon. Roy Del Ruth directed. ee ere ereecces MISS MOORHEAD, “Your wife doesn’t understand you!’ Scere from "Divorce Among friends BLONDE MENACE -A Werner Bros, Production GROOM BELIEVES THE BLONDE IS RIGHT—bride in the offing gets an earful and decides to take the two for a ride. 430 bu “Divorce Among Friends” | Players All Single It is just one of those odd little paradoxes so common to Hollywood, that in “Divorce Among Friends,” sophisticated comedy of modern marriage now playing at the Theatre, none who play the leading roles are married. Neither Irene Delroy nor James Hall, who portray the young married couple, has ever been married. Her WEDDING BELLS TEASING BELLES DIVORCE BILLS Off with the old love— On with the new— IT’S A PLEASURE! RULES Don’t let marriage interfere with pleasure. Love and let love. Fair exchange’s no snobbery. Marry in haste—Divorce with pleasure. . Every man should take a wife— but be careful whose wife you take! Sh \ CN ~, Production No, ¥-Cut or Mat Natalie Moorhead, the “blonde menace,’ is single and Lew Cody, the “other man,” was the husband of the late Mabel Normand. The Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production is based upon an original drama, “Two-Time Marriage,” by Jack Townley. Roy Del Ruth, who was responsible for such Warner successes as “Gold Diggers of Broadway,’ “Hold Everything,” “The Desert Song,’ “The Life of the Party” and “Sit Tight,’ directed “Divorce Among Friends,” which will continue at the until next. 2 foe DIVORCE-FRIENDS Lew Cody Irene Delroy ‘Gut: No. 6 .Cut 60c Mat-4Se James Hall Natalie Moorehead 294 Lines (Review) CROWDS GO GOOFY OVER “DIVORCE AMONG FRIENDS” Theatre: Warner Bros. present “Divorce Among Friends.” From the original story “TwoTime Marriage” by Jack Townley. Screen adaptation by Harvey Thew. Dialogue by Arthur Caesar. The cast includes Irer Delroy, James. Hall, Nata Moorhead, Lew Cody, Edwa. Martindel and Margaret Seddon: Roy Del Ruth directed. Because every theatre audience is largely made up of those who are married, have been married, or hope to be married, “Divorce Among Friends,” 'the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone comedy-drama about married life, opened last evening to a capacity house. After two years of happy wedded life, the Morrises are set at sixes and sevens by the arrival of blonde Joan Whitley, Helen’s ex-room mate and the tipsy Paul Wilcox, a former sweetheart of the pretty matron. Having set his stage for a theme that might easily become too serious, Director Roy Del Ruth deftly keeps both comedy and the humanity of the characters through one hilarious mishap after another, effecting the reconciliation of the Morris family each time they steer perilously near the divorce court. The comedy sense of both Irene Delroy and James Hall is delightfully evidenced. Natalie Moorhead, as the “blonde menace,” gives one of the most alluring characterizations of her career, and Lew Cody, who makes up the foursome, was enthusiastically welcomed by all who witnessed his performance. Many gorgeous gowns are worn by the ladies of the evening. James Hall Wins Crowds as Modern Husband-in-Law James Hall has been featured in many film productions since he deserted the musical comedy stage for the screen, four years ago. In his first picture, he played with Bebe Daniels. Since then he has appeared opposite Pola Negri, Vilma Banky, Clara Bow, Colleen Moore, Betty Bronson, Jean Harlow, Joan Bennett, and most lately Irene Delroy, with whom he is featured in “Divorce Among Friends,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production now at the ...... Theatre. Born in Dallas, Tex., October 22, ..?, Hall began his theatrical career at an early age, figuring in dance and song skits on local amateur nights. At fourteen he got a job selling booklets in front of a theatre showing ‘“Everywoman.” When the show left Dallas, Hall ran away from home to go with them. He played a small part in the production, and when it closed in Chicago, returned home. Three weeks later he ran aw; ‘ again, this time with Otis Skinne “Kismet” company, and remai: with it until it closed in New Yo. Later he obtained a place in the musical show ‘Chin Chin” and the Ziegfeld Follies. While in the service during the war, Hall organized a jazz band, in which he played the drums. On tour with the band after the armistice, he accepted a job with the “Girl Revue” and by the time the company reached New York he was headline dancer of the show. While playing in ‘Merry Mary,” he was given a screen test, and two days later was sent to Hollywood to play the lead with Bebe Daniels in “The Campus Flirt.” Among his outstanding pictures are ‘“Hell’s Angels,” “Smiling Irish Eyes,” ‘‘Hotel Imperial,” ‘Maybe It’s Love” and now “Divorce Among Friends.” He is five feet, ten inches tall, has dark hair and blue eyes. ee er