Fools for Scandal (Warner Bros.) (1938)

Gravet Croons Rodgers and Hart Tunes In Comedy (Current) Three songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were written especially for “Fools for Scandal,” the Mervyn LeRoy production for Warner Bros. which stars Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet and is now showing at the Strand Theatre. Rodgers and Hart devoted several months in Hollywood to writing their numbers for “Fools for Scandal,” in which Gravet makes his American singing debut. The tunes by the famous team of hit writers are “There’s A Boy in Harlem,” “How Can You Forget?” which is Gravet’s solo, and ‘Food for Scandal,” which he and Miss Lombard sing together. “Rood For Scandal” is a novel number which runs for five minutes and is part of the Mat 103—15c plot. Rodgers and Hart set the situation to music. The result is a combination of song and recitative, in which the plot dialogue is set to music. Adolph Deutsch, musical director for Producer-Director LeRoy, scored the “Fools for Scandal” music, contributing several original themes to supplement the Rodgers and Hart numbers. Frocks By Banton Travis Banton, who designed Carole Lombard’s wardrobe for “Fools for Scandal,” in which she is starring with Fernand Gravet for Mervyn LeRoy at Warner Bros. created an even dozen original creations to be worn by the blonde beauty in the film. Banton has been designing Miss Lombard’s frocks for several years. “Fools For Scandal” is the current attraction at the Strand Theatre. Bustles are back, and Carole Lombard advocates the old-new mode in the brocaded evening frock she wears in "Fools For Scandal." Mat 105—15c Mat 203—30c Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet, that scandalightful pair, are making the romantic hit of the year in "Fools For Scandal." There are men in Hollywood who rarely see the film stars and yet know them even better than their own families. They are the sound recording engineers. They hear everything that happens on the sets—though they are a block or two away—and develop an interpretive sense of hearing comparable to that of the blind. Sid Ryan is the man at Warner Bros. who is in charge of the recording division and he has heard all the stars who have played on that lot. Ryan said that the thing players say before the “take,” after it, and when they “blow up” or “fluff” their lines, are as varied as the personalities themselves. Carole Lombard, according to Ryan, sounds like a “regular fellow.” The sound expert has seen her only on the screen, but he heard her offering cooperation from time to time on doubtful “takes,” saying that she wouldn’t mind doing that one over again. Fernand Gravet, who is Miss Lombard’s leading man in “Fools for Scandal,” is a serious, intense player, Ryan judges from what he hears. When Gravet blows up he rarely says anything, but there is a resounding smack as he kicks the floor in anger with himself. Ralph Bellamy, another principal in “Fools for Seandal,” is an easy-going, good-natured fellow who never seems to get excited about anything unless his role calls for something like that. His most expressive moment during the filming of the picture was the long, heart-felt “ouch!” he gave when he smashed his second finger. Marie Wilson, Ryan concludes after listening to her throughout the production of ‘Fools for Scandal,” is a born comedienne, even when she muffs a line and pathetically exclaims “Oh, goodness!” Ryan can tell also when Marie does something on the set, like knocking a vase down. First he hears the crash and then a few seconds later, Marie wistfully, almost tearfully, says “I’m sorry.” One “blow-up,” or muffed line, remains in Warner Bros.-Mervyn LeRoy comedy production, “Fools for Scandal,” co-starring Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet. It stays in because the blowup was much more amusing than the dialogue as written. Marie Wilson, the comedienne who portrays Miss Lombard’s maid, was supposed to enter her mistress’ boudoir and announce a group of feminine visitors. She got half way through the announcement, forgot her lines and spreal her hands in dismay. “Cut,” said Director LeRoy, and, ‘Jeave it in. It was a lot funnier that way than the way it was written. Thanks a million, Marie!” Sashion (Oo) ats Something new and striking in fur is the evening coat of bleached wolf which Carole Lombard wears in "Fools For Scandal." It is made on a foundation of black duvetyn and has the square chunky look so very desirable this season. * * * * Brand new and utterly frivolous is the rhinestone ornament Carole Lombard wears on a black gown in "Fools for Scandal." The stones, arranged in a leaf and flower design are suspended on tiny springs so that they tremble and shimmer. Degrained leather (which resembles the softest doeskin) is being introduced into milady's wardrobe via Hollywood. Heather Thatcher wears a waistcoat and hip-length jacket of it in contrasting colors for a scene in "Fools For Scandal." * * * * Sennett Bathing Beauty Now No. I Film Comedienne (Current) It takes a long time to become what the acting profession calls a trouper. Some players are born with an instinct toward trouping, but the consensus of veteran opinion on the set of “Fools for Scandal,” Mervyn LeRoy production at Warner Bros. starring Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet, was that ten years time was the minimum it took to win the title. Carole Lombard, who is thought of as one of the screen’s most important players in the past couple of years, has been at it actually for the past eighteen years. She started in pictures while she was a school girl. Eleven at the time, she worked in pictures off and on until she was about sixteen down to the arand then settled duous and long Mat 106—15¢ task of achieving the spot she picked for herself. “I’ve been in Westerns and I’ve been a bathing girl,” says Carole. “T’ve played heavies, farce, drama, melodrama, comedy, just about everything. All of it was preparation. It was about ten years before I really began to feel that I was getting what it takes.” Ralph a Producer Ralph Bellamy, appearing with Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet in “Fools for Scandal,’ Mervyn LeRoy’s comedy for Warner Bros. now showing at the Strand Theatre, owned one of the most successful stock companies in the United States—in Des Moines, Iowa—before he turned his talents to acting on the screen. Smartly suited for spring, Carole Lombard wears this box coat and slim matching skirt of sheer beige wool in "Fools For Scandal.” By Mat 104—15c RES SRC eA DEALER ALLO TANTEI ELIE D ALE MLO DREDGE TED LA LLL ELLE SEL IELEE LEER LTO DEALER WELLE LIE ELLE EINES IRIE LL LE TREE Page Nine