Friends of Mr. Sweeney (Warner Bros.) (1934)

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‘Friends of Sweeney’ Has Well Balanced Cast of Film Stars A distinctive and well balanced east was selected by Warner Bros. for the leading roles in the rollicking comedy, “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” which COMERE OP UNee fey. sya sn ute oaks APTA ene: (ON. eaters ce uate ie Charlie Ruggles, the inimtable comedian and the screen counterpart of the “Timid Soul,” who in this instance turns into a raging lion, has the leading role. Ruggles will be remembered especially for his characterizationg in “Alice in Wonderland,” “Gentlemen of the Press,” “Mama Love Papa” and “Love Me Tonight.” .The leading feminine part is handled by Ann Dvorak who recently appeared in “Side Streets,” “Heat Lightning,” “Massacre” and “College Coach.” Eugene Pallette, the famous Sergeant Heath of the 8. S. Van Dine detective novels, the most recent of which to be made into a picture being “The Kennel Murder Case,” has an important role as a breezy westerner and pal of Charlie Ruggles. Dorothy Burgess and Dorothy “Tree are also prominent members of the cast. Miss Burgess has recently appeared in “A Modern Hero,” “Fashions of 1934,” “From Headquarters,” and “Play Girl,’ while Miss Tree’s recent pictures include “Side Streets,” “Life Begins,” “East of Fifth Avenue”. and “Husband’s Holi day.” % Others in important roles include Robert Barrat, Berton Churchill, Harry Tyler, Harry Beresford and William Davidson. Edward Ludwig directed the comedy from the sereen play by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland, based on the hilarious novel by Elmer Davis. Ann Dvorak Blows Up When Director Scores Her Typing Several months ago, Ann Dvorak decided to learn to use a typewriter, so she bought several typewriting manuals and set conscientiously to work. After a few weeks of study, Ann decided that she was a good typist. La Dvorak was east opposite Charlie Ruggles in “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to the..... RS Cn: Ah at EDGGbre: ON. cus one Her role was that of a secretary, and in the course of several scenes, Ann was required to be typing at a great rate of speed. So down she sat, and typed, as rapidly as she could, with her fingers in exactly the position demonstrated in her manuals. No one noticed that Ann was the perfect typist! She sizzled, just a bit. Then Edward Ludwig came over to her. “Miss Dvorak,” said he, “in this picture you’re supposed to be a very good typist. Perhaps you’d better try faking it, and just use two fingers. Then it will sound as if you really knew how to type!” The picture is based on the hilarious comedy by Elmer Davis. Charlie Ruggles plays the leading role opposite Miss Dvorak while others in the cast include Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Burgess, Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat and Berton Churchill. Edward Ludwig directed from the sereen play by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Charlie Ruggles and Ann Dvorak seem to be having a good time of it, in this scene from “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” Warner Bros. new comedy, coming to the Strand on Friday. Others in the cast include Dorothy Burgess, Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Tree and Robert Barrat. Mat No. 1—20c Extras Dance To imaginary Strains Of Tuneful Music “Roll ’em!” yelled the assistant director. “Action!” Seventy film extras began to dance. They talked to each other laughed happily—without making a sound! The orchestra mem Charles Ruggles appearing in the Warner comedy “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” at the Strand. Mat No.7 —10c bers raised their instruments and went through the motions of playing a jazzy rhythm, but not a toot from a. saxophone, not a roll from a drum, was heard. Charlie Ruggles and Ann Dvorak danced through the crowd into camera range. They were the stars in “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” the Warner Bros. comedy which comes to the........ THSAtreeOns, nc wee es they began to talk, their voices were heard. In order to pick up a conversation on a crowded dance floor, it’s necessary to record a scene in this way as the natural din of an ordinary ballroom, with its blaring orchestra and the hum of voices, would drown out a single conversation. Therefore, the conversation has to be recorded singly, and the other noises, as well as the music, has to be “dubbed in” afterward. Hollywood extras have no easy time of it. They frequently go through an entire foxtrot with an agreeable partner—without making a sound, and use their imaginations for music. “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” is based on the riotously funny novel by Elmer Davis and adapted to the screen by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. In the supporting cast are Eugene Palette, Dorothy Burgess, Dorothy Tree and Robert Barrat. Edward Ludwig directed. Ann Dvorak Garbs Self in Gowtis to — Fit Picture Role Women screen fans have often commented, and. sometimes protested, about the way film actresses usually dress when they are cast as: business girls. with modest salaries. Ann Dvorak plays a_ business girl in her new Warner Bros. picture, “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” which comes to the Theatre on AL RA EES ne nc , but she is quite certain that she’ll get no such letters when the picture is shown. Ann deliberately set out to choose the type of clothes within the reach of. all stenographers and secretaries. Together with Orry-Kelly, Warner Bros. designer, the actress assembled a wardrobe of smart, though in expensive, dresses that struck her as being ideal for working girls. She chose several dark tailored frocks that looked as if they were able to withstand the average eight-hour office day, and still retain their freshness. Too many fripperies never do Ann Dvorak on the Strand screen in “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” a Warner Bros. film. Mat No. 8 —10c¢ around an office, so Ann wears few accessories. For evening wear, Miss Dvorak chose several gowns that would look extremely smart on the average Girl. “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” is based on the hilarious comedy romance by Elmer Davis and adapted to the screen by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Charlie Ruggles has the leading role and in the supporting cast are Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Burgess, Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat and Berton Churchill. ‘for a decade or more? Timid Soul Turns To Raging Lion In “Sweeney” Comedy “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” the feature attraction scheduled to Open tatAt her roche se i VE we, Theatre GTR eh GA Bae , is a rollicking Warner Bros. comedy based on the hilarious novel by Elmer Davis, who has taken as_ his principal character a “timid soul” sort of person who is inspired by love, liquor and an old time college pal to become a raging lion. Charlie Ruggles, in the role, blossoms out in a night as a big time sport and the terror of a band of crooks in some of the most ridiculously funny situations imaginable. It is a picture filled with thrills that is said to wind up in a smashing climax, in which Ruggles not only catches the bad men, but forces his boss, to whom he had been always obsequious, to give him the run of his business. Ann Dvorak supplies the love interest in the leading feminine role as Ruggles’ secretary who eggs him on to be a real devil of a fellow. Eugene Pallette, the famous Sergt. Heath of the S. S. Van Dine screen plays, adds his share of mirth as the breezy Westerner who comes to visit his old college pal. Dorothy Burgess appears in the role of a Greenwich Village type who is trying to drink the town dry; while Dorothy Tree has the part of a bogus Russian countess, who acts as a-seductive lure for a band of crooked politicians. Robert Barrat is a Russian Red who rails at everything and everybody, the while he sponges on their hospitality. ; Berton Churchill is the hypocritical editor of a high brow magazine for whom Charlie Ruggles slaves. The cast includes Harry Tyler, Harry Beresford and William Davidson. The picture was directed by Edward Ludwig from the screen play by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Miss Tree Thinks Fans Prefer Tried Faces to New Ones Dorothy Tree, who begins her new contract with Warner Bros. in “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” now showing at the .< 32.25... Theatre, denies the old Hollywood axiom, “The public wants new faces.” “The sereen public,” she says, “is no different than the public that goes week after week to stock companies throughout the country to see the same players do the same sort of roles. “People like familiar faces on both stage and screen. Otherwise, why should the movies have stars who have been box-office draws Film executives wouldn’t go on putting these familiar stars in roles if they believed that the public was ° tired of them. “New faces are all right. Mine is a new face, and I hope that the sereen public likes it well enough to make it a familiar one.” « In “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” Miss Tree plays the role of a phoney Russian countess with Charlie Ruggles and Ann Dvorak, Eugene Pallette and others. The picture is based on Elmer Davis’ hilarious novel and dramatized for the screen by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Edward Ludwig directed. Pallette Has Had Roles With Nearly Every Screen Star Twenty-three years is a long time in any profession, but it’s practically a lifetime in the movies. However, Eugene Pallette, rotund comedian now appearing at CHG sete ee Theatre in the Warner Bros. picture, “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” had other acting experience before associating himself with the sereen. Six years’ stage training, during which time he appeared with the famous Morosco stock company in Los Angeles and many other companies throughout the Middle West and South, preceded the actor’s entrance into the movies. In 1911 he became interested in the then rising cinema, and decided to cast his lot with it permanently. During his long career, Pallette has appeared with practically every star on the screen. He is one player whose career received no set-back when the talkies replaced the silent picture. One of Pallette’s most famous roles is that of Sergeant Heath, the comic detective in the S. 8S. Van Dine “Philo Vance” mystery series. He played this character in “The Kennel Murder Case,” which starred William Powell as the erudite Philo. “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” presents the comedian in one of his most amusing roles, as the pal of Charlie Ruggles. Ann Dvorak has the leading feminine role While others in the cast include Dorothy Burgess, Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat and Berton Churchill. The picture is based on the novel by Elmer Davis, which was dramatized for the screen by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Edward Ludwig directed. Charlie Ruggles Is “The Timid Soul” Of Moving Pictures W. T. Webster, the cartoonist, “The Timid Soul,” a mousy little man easily has made famous intimidated. Charlie Ruggles, the comedian who has the leading role in Warner Bros. “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,’ which comes to [1a oe is a as a Theatre on GN Ree ee te RARE , is the “Timid Soul” of talking pictures. picture, Ruggles is famed for his lifelike portrayals of shy and retiring little men. His acting skill brings to life the type of chap everyone knows, perhaps the man next door or the clerk in the office who eringes whenever the boss approaches. In “Friends of Mr. Sweeney,” adapted from Elmer Davis’ hilarious best-seller, Ruggles plays Asaph Holliday, who was once known as “Ace” on his college football team, but who long since had allowed his own personality to. assume mouselike qualities. How he once again becomes “Ace,” the terror of the campus and the delight of his secretary, lovely Ann Dvorak, forms the basis of a highly amusing story. Eugene Pallette, Dorothy Burgess, Dorothy ‘Tree, -Berton Churchill, Robert Barrat and Harry Beresford have other leading roles in the picture, whick was directed by Edward Ludwig from the sereen play by Warren Duff and Sidney Sutherland. Page Three