Expensive Women (Warner Bros.) (1931)

\ WARREN WILLIAM, NEW SCREEN Tragedy Corrects The Distorted Loves Of “Expensive Women” (Current—Plant 5th Day) Trial by fire was once an accepted method of determining guilt and suffering is still an effective means of proving character. This is demonstrated in the story of “Expensive Women,” the Warnei Bros. picture now at the Theatre, in which Dolores Costello is starred for the first time since her retirement two years ago. In this sophisticated story of high society tragedy alone shows a woman the real worth of the two men who have figured in her life. It is a new and daring treatment of the triangle problem, and a wide de-parture from the customary roles of Miss Costello. The supvorting cast of “Expensive Women” includes Warren William, Anthony Bushell, Joe Donahue, H. B. Warner and Polly Walters. Hobart Henley directed. DOLORES COSTELLO ACQUIRES THE BARRYMORE VOICE UNDER THE SURE _ GUIDANCE OF HER FAMOUS HUSBAND Beautiful Star of “Expensive Women,” The Warner Bros. Picture Now At The Strand, Is Trained In Diction By Our Greatest ‘SHamlet”’ (Human Interest Story for Sunday Paper) When Mrs. John Barrymore needs a dressmaker, a hair dresser, a dentist or a doctor, she sends out for experts like any other American woman versed in the-art of comfortable living; but when she wanted to lower her voice for her return to the talking screen she found all the help.she needed right at home. of talking pictures. She was in fact the first talking picture star. Early Warner Brothers Vitaphone pictures featured her as their brightest star and until her retirement two years ago she had led all other feminine stars in the number of talking STRAND WARREN WILLIAM Just the kind of a lover any woman would want—and any man _ would want to be— H. B. WARNER pictures released. Scene from “Expensive Women’ / The lovely lady in the center of the above photograph is none other than Dolores Costello who makes her return to the screen in “Expensive Women” a@ Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Picture now at the................ Theatre. also the center of the screen drama in William take important parts. Donahue, famous Broadway comedian stage where he scored heavily in “The Vinegar Tree.” as a true star-find! Cut No. 21, She is which Joe Donahue (left) and Warren Donahue is the brother of the late Jack . William is a recent recruit from the Already he is hailed Cut 30c, Maf 10c Morgan Wallace Here In“‘ExpensiveWomen’ With Miss Costello (Biography, Sept. 15, 1931) Morgan Wallace who appears in support of Dolores Costello in “Expensive Women,” the Warner Bros. production ‘now at the Theatre, was born in Santa Barbara, Calif. in 1885. He was educated there and at the University of California and set about the business of a stage career by studying at a dramatic school. He played small parts in stock companies for several seasons and finally to the status of leading man. Daniel Frohman engaged him for the original Sohtern-Marlowe company, which first brought him into wide prominence. His first part in pictures was as the Marquis in “Orphans of the Storm.” Since then he has appeared in “Dream Street,” “One Exciting Night,’ “Fighting Blade,” “Dangerous Maid,” “Sandra,” “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” “Up The River” and “Big Money.” Warner Bros. secured him to play the part of the District Attorney in “Smart Money,’ which starred Edward G. Robinson and then gave him the important role of President James Monroe in support of Arliss in “Alexander Hamilton. Morgan Wallace is five feet eleven and one-half inches tall, weighs one hundred and seventy-five pounds, eas brown eyes and dark brown air. é Page Eight Dolores Costello Portrays A Woman Of Amazing Loves (Advance—Plant 4 Deys Before) The time when one misstep could ruin a girl’s whole life has passed in pictures as it apparently has in real life. The woman still pays for her indiscretions but the account can be settled now in less than a lifetime of regrets-and pennance. It is upon this theory that “Expensive Women” the Warner Bros. picture which brings Dolores Costello back to the talking screen after two year’s absence, is constructed. The great drama comes to the Theatre. .......next. The role of Constance Newton a new departure for Miss Costello, who has hitherto avoided sophisticated characterizations, but who welcomed the opportunity to combine her return to the screen with a change in type of story. The doctrine of tolerance for women who overstep the bounds of convention, is gaining new converts on screen and stage and in literature generally as well as in every day life. The puritanic attitude has largely passed and “Expensive Women” is the latest drama in which a woman finds happiness in spite of a mistaken past. Miss Costello’s support includes Warren William, Anthony Bushell, H. B. Warner, Joe Donahue, Mae Madison and Polly Walters. Hobart Henley directed. While she enjoyed two years vacation, during which her baby, Dolores Ethel Mae Barrymore was born, talking pictures technique was vastly changed and improved. Her voice, naturally soft and well modulated always recorded in a higher pitch than it seemed actually to possess. This was not considered detrimental in the youthful ingenue roles Miss Costello played early in talking pictures. But with her return to the screen and with her decision to play more mature anc sophisticated parts, like that of he: first return picture “Expensive Women” now at the Theatre it was believed by both studio and star that a lower voice was | As Dolores Costello, Mrs. Barrymore helped usher in the era | desirable. THE BARRYMORE VOICE The Barrymore family is probably more famous for its voices than for any other one histrionic qualifications. They are low pitched and almost throaty. Ethel Barrymore has one of the lowest, most unusual voices on the American stage. John Barrymore, planning his production “Hamlet” some years ago, took a series of lessons from a famous voice teacher in New York, for the sole purpose of perfecting his own qualifications, generally considered more than good enough, to read those immortal lines. Previously, before appearing in “Richard III,” Barrymore had given much time and work to the training of his voice for his first Shakespearean role, Speaking of that famous production he says, “I had to make over my voice and work unceasingly on intonations.” These quotations are the key for her return to the screen, work done in the privacy of the Barrymore home under the expert tutelage of her actor husband. READING GREAT WORDS Voice experts agree that nothing so improves and enriches the human voice as exercise reading profound and serious literature, particularly blank verse and more especially Shakespearé. Barrymore adds The Sermon on the Mount and the Gettysburg Spech as “simple things of great beauty” which are valuable for the same purpose. Reading aloud from.these great masterpieces; diaphragm exercises; proper breathing; care of the intonation; use of the soft pallet and the walls of the chest for sounding boards rather than the hard pallet or the nasal cavities, were other rules passed on to his wife from his own experience and training. There is no evidence that Dolores Costello rehearsed the now famous gutteral lines always connected with Ethel Barrymore, her sister-in-law, “That’s all there is. There isn’t any more.” But she did spend long leisurely hours with her husband, practicing intonation and low register diction. INTENSIVE TRAINING Other influences too, entered into her voice change. The important business of motherhood, bringing a new and vital experience to any woman, resulted naturally in a new sympathetic quality in voice and expression. Long weeks in the out of doors, aboard their cruising yacht or wandering about strange corners of the tropical Pacific, tended to produce lower tonal qualities in Miss Costello’s normal speech. But the intensive three months of work she put in on voice culture under the direction of her husband, preceding immediately her return to the screen, is still the most important factor in the change in the Costello voice, a change which will be first marked by local theatre goers Forceful — compelling as the man who matches his cold steel against flaming love! ANTHONY BUSHELL as the boy rich enough to love an “Expensive Woman” but not strong enough to hold her! DOLORES More glorious — more gorgeous than ever — The you’ve waited Dolores for— A new Dolores with a new voice— a new petson ality in Cut No. 2 A WARNER BROS. & VITAPHONE PICTURE a story of exclusive love! Cut 40c, Mat Se in “Expensive Women” and which shows unmistakably the Barrymore influence on her screen work. Those who support Miss Costello in “Expensive Women” are® Warren William, Anthony Bushell, Joe Donahue, H. B. Warner, Allan Lane, Morgan Wailace, Mae Madison Polly Walters, Adele Watson and Wilos House. Hobart Henley directed. —_— a al . SL DOLORES RETURNS Two years ago Dolores Costello (Mrs. John Barrymore) announced her temporary retirement from the screen. A year later Dolores Ethel Mae Barrymore was born. Now Miss Costello returns to the screen under the Warner Bros. banner in a brilliant picture “Expensive Women,” which comes to the Theatre