Dr. Socrates (Warner Bros.) (1935)

er U Bi 1 € eo ee. MacLane Strives To Be Meanest Man In Movies ‘Bad Man” In “Dr. Socrates’? Has Ambition To Be Film ‘Public Enemy No. 1” There’s a title vacant, a crown without a wearer, in Hollywood. Barton Machane intends to remedy the situation, however. He is now playing such a part in the Warner Bros. pro duction, ‘‘Dr. Socrates,’’ which comes to the Che*ON ae A Bi se he oe Thea The title is not an enviable one but, strangely, most actors who have held it have used it simply as a stepping-stone to ward greater triumphs in the cineamatie world. For approximately a score of the current crop of male screen stars the formula for success seems to have been to get in pictures, no matter how, go bad until recognition has been gained, then follow the path of least resistance to stardom. MacLane quite frankly has gone bad and is aiming to capture the vacant title of the screen’s ‘‘ Public Enemy No. 1.’’ His reward, he hopes will be stardom. George Bancroft was probably the first possessor of the synthetic title long before the advent of talking pictures. That was after he had made ‘‘Underworld,’’ the first of the gangster pictures. Bancroft wore the crown until Chester Morris came along with ‘“Alibi,’?? and neatly removed it. Both went on to stardom in roles of the other types, as did Lew Ayres, who gained the title by virtue of his work in ‘‘Doorway to Hell.’’ Paul Muni and George Raft shared the title jointly after ‘“Searface’’ had been released and Clark Gable was sole possessor for a time after he had made ‘‘A Free Soul.’? Eddie Lowe’s ‘‘ Born _Reckless’’ gave him a taste of public enemy until Edward G. Robinson’s memorable work in ‘‘ Little Caesar’’ established him as the outstanding sereen menace up to that time. Robinson held undisputed possession of the title until a fiery, red-headed Irishman by the name of James Cagney blasted his way to the top with fists and machine guns in ‘‘Public Enemy.’’ Cagney wore the crown without challenge until little more than a year ago, when roles of the publie enemy type temporarily went into the discard. With their revival a few months ago, however, MacLane heard opportunity knocking and seized his chance. Warner Bros. cast him as the brutal chief of the strike-breakers in Paul Muni’s ‘‘Black Fury.’’ MacLane gave such vivid, fiendish portrayal that his fan mail virtually sizzled. Outraged moviegoers, incensed at the manner in which MacLane crushed inoffensive John Qualen’s skull with the butt of his revolver, poured a stream of invective through the mails. MacLane was not dismayed. Quite the contrary, in fact. Then came ‘‘G Men,’’ in which MacLane played the role of leader of one of the nation’s most vicious criminal gangs. The ‘‘G Men,’’ led by Cagney, who had long since transferred his allegiance from the underworld to the side of law and order, finally ‘‘eliminated’’ Mace Lane, but not before he had plenty of opportunity to make himself a lot more enemies among the movie going public. Now comes ‘‘ Dr. Socrates,’’ the story of a noted surgeon who, because of a nervous disorder, settles in a small mid-western town and unwillingly becomes involved with a gang of bank robbers led by the notorious ‘‘Red Bastian.’’ MacLane, you may be sure, is Bastian. ‘“Dr. Socrates’’ is a powerful drama by W. R. Burnett, author of ‘‘Little Caesar.’’ There is a fascinating romance with Ann Dvorak playing opposite Muni. Page Siateen Muni Rehearses Each Film Scene Like Stage Play It is always give and take on a Paul Muni set! Muni, who stars in the Warner Bros. picture, “Dr. Socrates,’ now showing -atthes scc.<..ace Theatre, is comparatively young in years, yet he is a veteran of the stage. Just before a particularly difficult scene, Muni assembles members of the cast who have dialogue with him. They may meet in one of the portable dressing rooms on the stage, or, if the assemblage is too large, they will go to a remote corner of the studio. Muni and the other players recite their lines, all making suggestions as to business and voice intonations. Each becomes an integra] part of the picture, which is the star’s idea for proper picture constru>tion. Thus did Muni, Ann Dvorak, Barton Maclane, Robert Barrat and others rehearse every scene in “Dr. Socrates.” The picture is a thrilling drama by W. R. Burnett, adapted by Mary ©. McCall, Jr. William Dieterle directed from the screen play by Robert Lord. Bids Are Made For Dvorak’s New Song Ann Dvorak, now appearing opposite Paul Muni in the Warner Bros. production, “Dr. Socrates; 2eat-the: oes Theatre, is the first Hollywood player in years to become a recognized song-writer. Two national musie publishers are dickering for Miss Dvorak’s new song, and one of the major phonograph companies wants first option on a record with Miss Dvorak singing her own composition, it is stated. The song, according to the film star, is one entitled “I’m Writing a Love-Song for You.” It is of the torch ballad type. Miss Dvorak wrote both the words and music. Hitch Hiking Lessons Given Ann Dvorak When it was announced that Ann Dvorak, Warner Bros. actress, was to play a hitch hiker role in Paul Muni’s latést starring vehicle, ‘¢Dr. Socrates,’’?’ which comes to theres oss ‘Theatre On s.s..<5..::2 the bona fide hitch hikers got busy. Two of the feminine gender appeared at her door one morning. ‘“We’ve come to teach you the finer points of the game,’’ they told-Ann,-<* . at two bits a point! ’’ Ann, knowing a bargain when she sees one, took them up. Two Against The Mobs Paul Muni, as the medical outcast who put gangdom on the operating table, and Ann Dvorak, the derelict beauty who loved him, have their most exciting roles in the Warner Bros. picture *‘Dr. Socrates’’ which COMES! 10 stNerue ee ee «cas Theatre on Mat No. 203—20ce Paul Muni Has Special Rehearsal Room Paul Muni, who has the stellar role in the Warner Bros. produetion, “Dr. Socrates,” now showing Ate the te ee ee Theatre, lives on a ten acre walnut ranch in the San Fernando Valley, near Van Nuys. One feature of the place is a separate “rehearsal room” :n which Muni practices his lines and reads his plays. It was once a portable dressing room belonging to Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Ann Dvorak Turns To Making Own Hats Not satisfied with being able to act, write, paint, dance, play the piano and tell a_ bacillus from a streptowhosis under the microscope, Ann Dvorak, appearing in the Warner Bros. picture, “Dr. Socrates,” which comes to LING Sats a erie ae oe Theatre, on sere roe. , has taken up millinery, and is designing her own hats. Ann Dvorak Forms Baseball Team Ann Dvorak, who has the leading feminine role in Paul Muni’s production for Warner Bros., “Dr. Socrates,’ now showing at the Riri baer e tee Theatre, boasts the proud distinction of being the only feminine screen star who owns a baseball team. The team is called the Dvorak Stars. Miss Dvorak, who is a good baseball player herself, has outfitted the lads with uniforms. The team is ready to take on all comers in the amateur ranks. Paul Muni Finds New Play For Broadway After searching four years, Paul says he has found a play as good, or better than “Counsellor At Law.” Muni, now playing in “Dr. Socrates,” the Warner Bros. picture WalECTT <COMOS GO the sa. etcce te scs:e eres Whestre Ot: .g0i Ades , Says he hopes to produce it on Broadway some winter between pictures. Muni, now entirely wedded to his picture work, believes it makes him a better screen actor to appear occasionally on Broadway. Muni And Ann Dvorak Are Again Teamed For the first time since they made “Scarface,’? Ann Dvorak and Paul Muni are in the same picture. This time it’s “Dr. Socrates,” WITCH COMCS CO CUE 5 ..-..c.c5cccseescnneesss BA ULCE OU ct vet cesta <6 After “Scarface” both Miss Dvorak and Muni were placed under contract by Warner Bros., but Muni went his way and Miss Dvorak went hers. In “Scarface,” Muni and Miss Dvorak died together. In “Dr. Socrates,” however they are married. His First Film Role Is That Of Woman Joseph Downing, famous on the Broadway stage for his work in “Page Miss Glory,” “Heat Lightning” and other plays, portrayed his first part in pictures in the Paul Muni starring vehicle for Warner Bros., “Dr. Socrates,” which comes to the .............. TheatLQION Gs. so sions When he went to the wardrobe room for his costume, he was shocked to get apparel for a woman. “There must be some mistake,” he said. “I play the part of a gangster.” But it was no mistake. Downing, although a gangster, is disguised as a woman in the picture. Film Star And Writer Reverse Ambitions Six years ago, two ambitious young women were dancing in the chorus at a Hollywood Film studio. One, Ann Dvorak, wanted to be a writer. The other, Marian Cooper, wanted to be a motion picture star. During the filming of “Dr. Socrates” the Warner Bros. picture, now showing at the .............. pee eeecisees Theatre, the two young women met again. Miss Cooper, writer for a magazine, interviewed Miss Dvorak, who plays opposite Paul Muni in the film. Ann Dvorak Tells Busy Women The Secrets Of Charm ““Charm, the quality that every woman most desires, is largely a matter. of vitality,’’ says Ann Dvorak, lovely young Warner Brothers star who has the leading feminine role opposite Paul Muni in ‘‘Dr. Soecrates,’’? which opens atthe =....2ae Theatre Ones ae fare ““You’ll realize this fact if you stop for a moment and look around at the individuals you consider charming. Notice how alert and alive they are — how interested in everything that’s going on in the world. ‘“‘The tired, listless person is never the charming one — but all too often we forget this, or are too weary to care. The truth is that vitality, and its sister Charm, can be cultivated and encouraged, if we’re not too lazy to exert a little effort. ““Oh, I know — the woman who has a house and family to look after, or the working woman, wether she’s a stenographer, a highlypaid executive, an aviatrix or an actress, is likely to insist that by evening, she is so worn out from her labors that she has no time to cultivate charm. A Recipe For Pep ‘«Here’s my own recipe for regaining my pep, after a hard day at the studio — and I do think that when an actress has a hard day at the studio, she has worked harder than any other woman on any other job in the world. ““She has been standing on her feet most of the time, with a heavy layer of makeup on her face (and that’s never very comfortable). There have been hot lights beating down upon her, she has had to make every effort to keep her clothes fresh, and she’s had to remember her lines and actions besides. This is for normal shooting — of course, if she’s doing a ‘caught-in-the-rain’ scene or an ‘almost-drowning’ scene, her day is even worse. ‘* Well, when I return home after such a day, the first thing I do is to take off my clothes, spread a thick coat of cold cream on my face and turn on the water in the tub. ““Removing that first cold cream, and with it the soiled makeup and other dirt, I put on another coat of the cream, which I allow to remain on while I soak for twentyminutes in my hot bath, into which I have poured a lavish portion of pine-scented bath-salts. I find this refreshing and re-vitalizing. ‘While lying in the tub, I sip very slowly a glass of warm milk, and then, after my twenty minutes are up, I turn the cold faucet on and let the water gradually become fairly cool, but not cold. Drying by Patting “Out of the tub, I pat myself gently dry, not rubbing briskly, as T don’t want to use up the new energy I am creating. Lots of cooling, refreshing eau de cologne, ice-cold astringent patted on my face, and I’m ready for fifteen minutes of rest. ‘*Putting a loose, comfortable negligee around me, I go into my bedroom and stretch out flat on the bed, with witch hazel pads on my eyes and my hands clasped under my head. I stay that way for fifteen minutes without moving a muscle, if possible. ““Then, I get up and put on my makeup and dress. This takes about ten minutes, for I use very little makeup in private life. With the twenty minutes for the bath and fifteen minutes rest, it makes forty-five minutes in all — sufficient to renew my energy and vitality and make me feel like a new woman.