Happiness Ahead (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Josephine Hutchinson’s Career Started as Child Feminine Lead In “Happiness Ahead” Always Planned For Theatrical Work OSEPHINE HUTCHINSON, who has the leading feminine role opposite Dick Powell in the First National production ‘‘Happiness Ahead,’’ now showing at the... Theatre, needs no introduction to those who follow the theatre —for she has been one of Broadway’s most important younger actresses for several years. screen fans in the current p Miss Hutchinson declares there is nothing accidental about her dramatic career. Even as a little girl, she had always known that acting was to be her career. She was born in Seattle on October 9, 1909, the daughter of an actress whose stage name is Leona Roberts. She directed J osephine’s energies from the very first toward the stage—instilling in her daughter a genuine love for the theatre. When Josephine was eight, she and her mother spent a few weeks in Hollywood. There they met Douglas Fairbanks who offered the little girl a chance in pictures. After some hesitation the mother agreed, and the child worked in a Mary Pickford star Josephine Hutchinson Mat No. 11 10¢ ring picture, “The Little Princess.” However, upon the completion of the picture, mother and daughter returned to Seattle and school. Josephine studied music and dancing and won a scholarship that took her to the Cornish School of Music and Drama. Her first professional experience, however, was gained in Washington, D. C., where she appeared for three years in stock. Her introduction to New York was in “A Man’s Man,” which gave her her first real opportunity. Later the young actress joined the Civie Repertory Company of the famous Eva Le Gallienne, and became nationally prominent with that group. Last year she played the title role in the New Star Josephine Hutchinson, First Na tional player who is destined to rise to the heights of Holly wood’s select star family. She is appearing in “Happiness Ahead’’ with Dick Powell and an allStar cast. Mat No. 8—10e¢ Now she makes her first bow to icture. Actress Kisses Her Way Through First Day In The Movies Josephine Hutchinson’s first day in pictures was the kind of a day several million girls probably dream about. She spent it kissing and being kissed by Dick Powell, in the first filmed and recorded sequence of the new First National picture, “Happiness Ahead,’ which comes to the SSDS T Sane are Oe ee Theatre on In the story, the two of them meet accidentally in the darkness at the climax of a New Year’s eve celebration in a restaurant and exchange one kiss which lasts until the lights suddenly brighten again. The celebration scene was the first one to be filmed. Naturally the kiss had to be rehearsed twice. Then it was photographed and recorded in a “long shot.” Next the cameras came up closer for “two shots” focused directly on the kiss and its principals. Then the kiss was repeated while the cameras were directed at Miss Hutchinson for a “eloge up.” Then reversed for another closeup on Dick Powell. Each of these scenes had to be photographed twice. With the rehearsals this made twelve kisses—and that occupied Miss Hutchinson’s entire first day in pictures. Others in the cast include John Halliday, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly and Dorothy Dare. = New York production of “Alice in Wonderland.” Miss Hutchinson is definitely “sold” on the screen, and intends to divide her time and interests equally between stage and screen. Her present contract was arranged to that end, and she will return to Broadway in the autumn. Fragile and wistful in appearance, with delicately modeled features, copper-red hair and golden brown eyes, the actress is very much an individual, and is certain to win favor with film audiences. Her first picture, selected after careful consideration of her talents, presents her as a society beauty who revolts against her mother’s ambition to marry her off to a stuffed shirt and seeks adventure -and romance among real people. There is a strong supporting cast which includes John Halliday, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Dare and Marjorie Gateson. Dick Powell and others sing catchy songs written by the famous teams of Wrubel and Dixon, Fain and Kahal and Kalmar and Ruby. The picture was directed by Mervyn LeRoy from the screen play by Harry Sauber and Brian Marlowe. ew i A new star shines in the Hollywood skies .. . Josephine Hutchinson. For her first screen offering, she is starred with Dick Powell in “Happiness Ahead,” First National’s worthy successor to “20 Million Sweethearts.” An all-star comedy cast appears in the film, which comes to the ........... ee eae Theatre soon. Mat No. 5—20¢ ee New Star Finds Hollywood And B’way Worlds Apart Josephine Hutchinson, Now In *“‘Happiness Ahead” Thinks Screen More Real Than Stage By JOSEPHINE HUTCHINSON (Who has the leading feminine role opposite Dick Powell in the First National production, ‘‘ Happiness Ahead,’’ which COMES TO" thE: a5 se ee LVR OW ) ROM the New York stage to Hollywood is no mere change of base. another. It is a sort of magical leap from one world to During all the time I played ‘‘ Alice’’ with the New York Civie Repertory, I had less feeling of being in a Wonderland than in my first day at the studio. In the theatre, an actress has a comfortable dressing room and a maid or “dresser” to help her. If she is thirsty at rehearsal, Someone will probably offer to get her a glass of water. She gets an occasional word of encouragement from her director and if she scores a real success, she may receive flowers from the management. That is the extent of her coddling. In Hollywood, a dressing room is a lovely apartment, beautifully appointed, with most of the comforts of home. On the set, an actress is followed about by a hairdresser and a wardrobe woman, while a makeup helper stands by. A stylist studies her continuously and experiments with endless combinations of colors and designs. A “stand-in” with the same general coloring; the same height and weight takes her place while the cameraman gets his lighting just right. Meanwhile, the actress rests comfortably in a chair that bears her name. Everything is done for her — except the acting. She would be a very ungrateful person who would not give her best efforts after all this, A girl would not be human if she did not get a pleasurable glow from all this attention. I certainly did. Coming direct from the stage, these things were the first noticeable differences I found, but not the most impressive. What really astounded me was production itself — the ineredible things through which picture makers get their effects. After the completion of my camera and costume tests which lasted two weeks, I was given my first script, “Happiness Ahead.” I was surprised to find how much like a play script this was. The “business” was given in more detail and there were camera instructions, but otherwise, it was quite similar to scripts of stage plays. My first scene was set in a Chop Suey Tango Palace. On the stage, there would have been a Chinese drop of some sort, a couple of tables and the strains of musie off-stage. What I saw was a magnificent Additional stories on Miss Hutchinson on page 10 Josephine Hutchinson Gives Beauty Hint ‘*Naturalness is the first law of beauty,’’ says Josephine Hutchinson, feminine’ lead opposite Dick Powell in the First National Production of ““ Happiness Ahead,’’ which comes to the ..... Theatre “ow 3.20.3 SS “CAs in everything else, the natural line of your mouth is the most becoming one for you. *‘T consider lipstick very necessary aS an aid to beauty for every woman, but it must be correctly used. One’s own lips, merely accented with color, but not changed in outline, are bound to be the loveliest.’’ Actress Learns To Sit Down On Skates Josephine Hutchinson, who has the lead opposite Dick Powell in the First National picture, ‘‘ Happiness Ahead,’’ which comes to UNO YS earner eS heatresone... 2 needed one accomplishment ghe never required as a member of Eva Le Gallienne’s Company. In her new part, she is supposed to be an adept at roller skating, so she spent a week taking lessons. Her only comment was that the first thing a stage actress learns is to sit down gracefully. —oo————— ly decorated Oriental Cafe, with a large dance floor in the center. Arranged around this were fifty or more tables, at which were seated gay couples. At one side on an elaborate oriental dais was an eighteen piece orchestra. Everything was so natural, so entirely actual, that my acting Seemed hardly acting at all. I found myself living the part. My next scenes were supposed to be at a skating rink. And they were. This was no set, but a real rink. It was all so real, that the scene played itself. When Mervyn LeRoy, the director said, “That’s fine, Miss Hutchinson,” I honestly could not understand his praise. I had been having a fine time just being myself. The next day ealled for a romantic love scene at the familiar Inspiration Point, on upper Riverside Drive. When I reached the set, I stared with unbelief, Before me was Inspiration Point to the last detail. In the story, I have a little apartment in which several key Scenes are played. So far as I could see, it was not setting, but a real apartment. The living room was furnished and fitted to the last small detail and the kitchen was complete with gas and running water. I love the stage; it has been my life for years, but even if I go back to it from time to time, I doubt if it could ever make me forget the infinitely greater Scope of the camera. It takes the actress away from the purely make believe and sets her down in the very midst of reality. Page Seven