Father Is a Prince (Warner Bros.) (1940)

PUBLICITY (Lead) THEY SAY “FATHER IS A PRINCE” the Strand Friday is Opening at Theatre next Warner Bros.’ gay and effervescent family picture, “Father Is A Prince,” feaGrant Mitchell, Jan Clayton and George turing Reeves, here shown, with Nana Bryant, John Litel and Lee Patrick. Mat 201—30c ‘Father Is A Prince’ Delightful Film Comedy Coming to the Strand A warm, homey film that should have much fan appeal is Warner Bros.’ “Father Is A Prince,” which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday. The human story of family life and a well-meaning father whose quirks cause his wife and children all kinds of embarrassment, features such talented character players as Grant Mitchell, Nana Bryant, John Litel and Lee Patrick. The romantic interest is held by two promising young players—George Reeves, who made a mark in “Gone With The Wind,” and Jan Clayton. So many fathers act like John Bower, played by Grant Mit Father Is Hero Of Strand Film Amusing and gay, yet the tender story of one kind of American home life, is Warner Bros.’ “Father Is A Prince,” which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday. The father is played by the veteran screen actor, Grant Mitchell, and other’ talented members of the cast are Nana Bryant, John Litel and Lee Patrick. A couple of promising youngsters have the romantic leads — George Reeves, who called attention to himself in “Gone With The Wind,” and lovely Jan Clayton. “Father Is A Prince” is the story of how an inconsiderate, though well-meaning, father can come near ruining his family’s life. It takes a strong blow to bring a balance into this home, as is so often the case in real life. The original play was written by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson, adapted for the screen by Robert E. Kent, and directed by Noel Smith. chell, before they realize how unhappy they can make their families through their miserly and crotchety ways. Although John owns a prosperous carpetsweeper factory, his wife, Susan, portrayed by Nana Bryant, has run the house for many years with only the help of a maid once a week. When the daughter, Connie, Jan Clayton’s role, becomes engaged to a handsome young lawyer, Gary Lee, played by George Reeves, Susan invites his family to dinner. That day is particularly trying to John at the office, and when he gets home, he refuses to dress for dinner. To top Family Comedy to Show at Strand The Strand Theatre’s next attraction, starting on Friday, is a delightful light film, Warner Bros. “Father Is A Prince,” with a talented cast including Grant Mitchell, Nana Bryant, John Litel, Lee Patrick and two charming youngsters in the romantic roles—George Reeves, of “Gone With The Wind” and comely Jan Clayton. “Father Is A Prince” tells the story of a crotchety old man who makes his family’s life miserable through his small, miserly ways, although there is deep affection under the veneer. He won’t let his wife have a maid—he comes to dinner without shoes when his daughter is entertaining her fiance’s family—and the family romps through all kinds of telling experiences until father comes to his senses’ and proves that “Father Is A Prince.” Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna §. Richardson wrote the play from which Robert E. Kent adapted the screen play. Noel Smith directed. OFFICIAL BILLING WARNER BROS. Pictures, Inc. Presents "FATHER IS A PRINCE" 40% 5% 100% with GRANT MITCHELL — NANA BRYANT — JOHN LITEL GEORGE REEVES Directed by Noel Smith Screen Play by Robert E. Kent — JAN CLAYTON — 40% LEE PATRICK 20% 15% 37% From a Play by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson A Warner Bros.-First National Picture 27% 5 To it, the Lee family owns a vacuum cleaner company. Gary has given Connie a vacuum cleaner, thinking it would please his father to see one in the Bowers’ home. But when, in the middle of the dinner party, John discovers the gadget, a match is set to the dynamite. Susan decides to divorce John, then has an attack which leads to a serious operation. When Susan recovers, John has repented of his ways and all looms happily as he turns a new leaf. Noel Smith directed the Robert E. Kent screen play, from a play by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna §S. Richardson. Mat 104—15c Two talented youngsters, George Reeves and Jan Clayton, appear in “Father Is A Prince,”’ film fare for the family at the Strand Theatre next Friday. ““Father Is A Prince”’ Good All-Family Fare “Father Is A Prince,” a Warner Bros. comedy which opens at the Strand Theatre on Friday has everything audiences like. Its wholesome humor, amusing situations, and interesting plot will appeal to the entire family. The story takes place in an average American community and concerns itself with a typical American family. Father is a blustering meddler whose main interest in life is his carpet sweeper factory. The cast of “Father Is A Prince” includes Grant Mitchell, Nana Bryant, John Litel, George Reeves, Jan Clayton and Lee Patrick. Robert E. Kent adapted the play by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson to the screen. (Review) Gay New Family Comedy Delights Strand Audience Warner Bros.’ “Father Is A Prince,” which opened at the Strand Theatre last night, is a different and delightful piece of film fare which makes wholesome entertainment for all members of the family. The warm, homespun characters are all handled by capable and popular players — Grant Mitchell, Nana Bryant, John Litel and Lee Patrick—with the romantic interest charmingly held by two attractive and talented youngsters, George Reeves and Jan Clayton. Revolving around the peculiarities of the father John Bower, played by Grant Mitchell, the story tells the difficulties his wife, Susan, played by Nana Bryant, and their children go through. Connie Bower, portrayed by Jan Clayton, is the pretty daughter who becomes engaged to a handsome young lawyer, Gary Lee, played by George Reeves. Susan is very pleased and asks his folks to dinner. Unfortunately, John has had (Opening Day) ‘Father Is A Prince’ Opens at Strand A tenderly told story of family life is Warner Bros.’ “Father Is A Prince,” the film opening at the Strand Theatre today. The talented cast includes a line up of such capable players as Grant Mitchell, Nana Bryant, John Litel and Lee Patrick, with the romantic interest in two promising young players’ hands —George Reeves and Jan Clayton. “Father Is A Prince’ tells about the home life of the kind of father who comes down to dinner without his shoes just to be ornery and who denies his wife household aid, though he owns a prosperous carpet-sweeper factory. John Bower, played by Grant Mitchell, is the father, and Susan, portrayed by Nana Bryant, is his unhappy wife. When their daughter Connie, played by Jan Clayton, becomes engaged to Gary Lee, handsome young lawyer, portrayed by George Reeves, Susan invites the a miserable day at the office and coming home with tax problems on his mind, can’t get his mind away from his carpet sweeper factory. He refuses to dress for dinner. Meanwhile, Gary has brought Connie a vacuum cleaner that his father manufactures, thinking to impress his father, seeing the gadget in the girl’s home. But i+ all goes wrong when Daddy Bower finds the cleaner and insults Daddy Lee, who leaves, indignant. Susan threatens a divorce, faints, and then it is discovered she needs a serious operation. This finished and successful, John comes to his senses. He realizes how unhappy his peculiar ways have made his family, and his way of squaring things is to tell the family that Gary is going to handle his tax problems and “it will be nice having a lawyer in the family.” The charming screen play was written by Robert E. Kent, from an original play by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson. Noel Smith directed. Lees to dinner. The Lees own a vacuum Mat 105—15c¢ cleaner comGrant Mitchell pany so Gary, thinking he will so please his father, drops off one of the cleaners at the Bower’s home. But John has an unpleasant day at the office. He gets home grumpy, refuses to dress for dinner, then insists on eating in his room. Then he finds the vacuum cleaner and shoots off language that drives the Lees out of the house. Susan is distraught and decides on a divorce. Then she faints and is told she needs an operation. After this episode, John snaps into the realization of his wrong ways and repents, accepting Gary into the family Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson wrote the original play, from which Robert E. Kent wrote the screen play. The film was directed by Noel ~ Smith. SYNOPSIS (Not For Publication) John Bower (Grant Mitchell) is a carpet-sweeper factory owner. His wife, Susan (Nana Bryant) is annoyed because of his crotchety ways. Their daughter Connie (Jan Clayton) becomes engaged to handsome young lawyer Gary Lee (George Reeves). Susan invites his family to dinner. John insults the Lees who exit. Susan decides on a divorce. She faints, then learns a serious operation is necessary. It is successful and when she recovers John realizes the folly of his ways. He tells the family that "It will be nice having a lawyer in the family." THE CAST John Bower Susan Bower Dr. Mark Stone Connie Bower Tess Haley Tommy Bower Junior Bower Salesman Income Tax Investigator Grant Mitchell Nana Bryant John Litel George Reeves Jan Clayton Lee Patrick Billy Dawson Richard Clayton John Ridgely Frank Wilcox Vera Lewis Frank Ferguson Pierre Watkin Mary Currier Frank Orth PRODUCTION Directed by NOEL SMITH Screen Play by Robert E. Kent; From a Play by Sophie Kerr Underwood and Anna S. Richardson; Associate Producer, William Jacobs; Director of Photography, Ted McCord, A.S.C.; Art Director, Charles Novi; Dialogue Director, Gene Lewis; Film Editor, Frank Magee; Gowns by Howard Shoup; Sound by E. A. Brown; Makeup Artist, Pere Westmore. Running Time 57 Minutes