Grand Slam (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Seis JOURNAL ARTIST sees "GRAND SLAM" AT STRAND Flashes from the new First National film, with Loretta Young and Paul Lukas, which opened last night. comedy HEARTS ARE TRUMP —AND THE BRIDGE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY IS ON W\ \ PAUL LUKAG AND FG LORETTA YOUNG ZF SOON DISCOVER WHEN BRIDGE FLIEG & IN THE WINDOW, LOVE GOES UNDER THE TABLE /” WOMENS ‘CLUBS RESOUND TO THE NAME OF PETER STANISLAVSKY (PLAYED BY PAUL LUKAS) THENEW > BRIDGE KING WHO KOWS HOW TO INJECT LOVE IN ANY BRIDGE GAME! UBLICIT PAUL LUKAS AND LORETTA YOUNG ‘AMERICAS BRIDGE SWEETHEARTS” — PLAYING HELEN VINSON, AC THE PARK AVE. MENACE AND FERDINAND GOTTSCHALK, AS THE RIVAL BRIDGE EXPERT, WHO DOESN'T GET FAR WITH CARDS OR WOMEN / Cut No. 41 Cut 6o0c Mat 20c [continued] GLENDA FARRELL AND FRANK MCHUGH HAVE WORDS WITH EAGH OTHER WHICH PROVIDE MANY LAFFO/ SEVEN SPADES” ig oUST / AN INFORMATIVE BID IN =~ THE STANISLAVSKY f = SYSTEM'/ ITS A WINNER // Note: If still layout is preferred to this drawing, see 4-column cut on page 5 3rd day of run __ No “Extra” Trouble When Shooting On A Bridge Picture Ee seepecpe + oi Se There was no trouble in getting the extras on the set at the First National studios for the filming of “Grand Slam,” a hilarious take-off on the national sport of bridge, now showing at the Theatre. Usually, the assistant director has to hunt in every nook and cranny of the stage to rout the extras out of their “hideouts” to get them before the cameras. They are usually found playing bridge. Over fifty extras were called for scenes in “Grand Slam,” and their joy was unbounded when they found that all they had to do was to play bridge. Director William Dieterle merely had to line up his cameras and shoot. The extras stayed on the set from early morning until the evening. The only tough job of the day was prying them loose from the tables at noon time and convineing them that they ought to get a bite to eat. “Grand Slam” is the sparkling comedy which features Paul Lukas and Loretta Young. The screen play is by Erwin Gelsey and David Boehm, and was based on the bestseller by B. Russell Herts. Others in the cast include Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, ’ Walter Byron and Roscoe Karns. | 7th day of run | U. S. Has No Corner On Bridge, Star Of “Grand Slam” Finds “Despite the enormous popularity of bridge in America, this country has no monopoly on the game,” deelares Paul Lukas, who is featured with Loretta Young in the humorous take-off of the great indoor sport, “Grand Slam,” a First National picture now showing at the Theatre. (Continued in next column) Ce ee ee Ath day of run Contract Bridge By Kiddies In Riotous “Grand Slam” Scene — a SS Whether or not America is bridge conscious to the point where babies are born with grand slams in their chubby fists, First National’s hilarious take-off on the national contract bridge fever depicted in “Grand Slam,” now showing at the Theatre, would indicate that the trend is in that direction. At least one of the funniest scenes in the picture takes place in the nursery of a fashionable home, where four kiddies are having their bedtime rubber of contract, and listening to the international bridge tournament in the city’s leading hotel as the play is broadeast over the radio. Wally Albright, Patsy Thorne, Reggie Streeter and Henry Hanna are the quartet of youngsters who embody this rising generation’s enthusiasm for the game. Patsy is ten years old and the three boys seven. The based sparkling comedy romance is on the novel by B. Russell Herts and was adapted for the screen by Erwin Gelsey and David Boehm. There is a strong cast. with Paul Lukas and Loretta Young in the featured roles. Others include Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Walter Byron and Roseoe Karns. The picture was directed by William Dieterle. “Bridge has its millions of followers all over Europe, and for that reason, it seems to me that the picture is likely to have a more universal appeal, regardless of language difficulties, than most current American productions,” said Lukas. “And then again,” continued the star, “the story is so delightfully funny, with such comical situations, that everyone, bridge fan or not, will find the film a highly entertaining one. For although the main theme of the picture deals with bridge and their rabid followers,’ Mr. Lukas went on, “there is not a single line in the dialogue which anyone could not understand.” As the romance of a Russian (Continued in next column) Sth day of run No Expert Advisors Needed In Shooting There was no need of a technical director during the production of the First National humorous takeoff on the bridge craze, depicted in “Grand Slam,’ which is now showing at the Theatre. Hveryone, from Paul Lukas and Loretta Young, the featured players, down to the five-dollar-a-day extras, the electricians and carpenters, was a well-spring of information on the technical background of the story. When it came to a point of information anyone on the set could be stopped at random, and the information immediately forthcoming, which was a good thing for Director William Dieterle, who was the only one who didn’t know the difference between a finesse and a dummy. He had thought of bridge as something that water goes under. But his library is now richer by several books on the subject, and by the time the picture was finished, he was considered something of an authority. The dialogue is sparkling with wit and snappy repartee of the bridge lingo and the situations uproariously funny. The screen play was adapted by Erwin Gelsey and David Boehm from the novel of B. Russell Herts. The supporting cast includes Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Walter Byron and Roscoe Karns. waiter who became a celebrity overnight and a millionaire in a year by the invention of a new “system” of playing bridge, “Grand Slam” is & genuine novelty, full of unusual comedy situations, yet moving with the swiftness of thrilling melodrama. The supporting cast includes Helen Vinson, Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, Walter Byron, Roscoe Karns and numerous other equally well-known artists. The novel by B. Russell Herts, one of this season’s fiction successes, is the basis of the picture, which was adapted for the screensby Erwin Gelsey and David Boehm. William Dieterle directed the picture.. | 6th day of run | New Bridge Rules Studied By Stars Because they were teamed as the “Honeymoon Bridge Couple” in the First National picture, “Grand Slam,” now showing at the ...... Theatre, which was in production at the time the recent change in the rules governing the game of bridge was announced, Paul Lukas and Loretta Young made a careful study of the new code. of laws. Though the picture is not a technical demonstration of the game, being rather a domestic comedy based on the American craze, the rules are essential in many of the lines and situations. Neither Lukas nor Miss Young were sold on the new code which they think merely adds to the complications of the game and make it increasingly difficult to find a foursome who can play together congenially. In the picture, which is a humorous take-off on bridge contests, the honeymoon eouple play a new system which is not only unbeatable but never leads to quarreling. The screen play by Erwin Gelsey and David Boehm is based on the novel by B. Russell Herts. There is an excellent supporting cast which includes Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Walter Byron, Roscoe Karns and twentytwo other name players. William Dieterle directed “Grand Slam.” See Page following for CURRENT SHORTS Page Seven Funny “Grand Slam” == SFr “Grand Slam” __ ———_