Happiness Ahead (Warner Bros.) (1934)

(Review) ‘Happiness Ahead’ Delights Fans at ‘‘Strand’’ Premiere Dick Powell and Josephine Hutchinson Seen As Year’s Best Screen Team NEW screen team composed of Dick Powell and Joseph ine Hutchinson, the famous stage star, captivated audi ences in the new First National rollicking romance, ‘‘Happiness Ahead,’’ which was shown for the first time loPTR ANS Ss... ps cok Theatre yesterday. Dick ‘‘stopped the show’’ with his inimitable voice, his magnetic personality, his ‘‘ acting talent, but he did it with the aid of the brilliant new film star, Miss Hutchinson, who plays opposite him. ‘“Happiness Ahead’’ is Miss Hutchinson’s bow in talking pictures, although years ago, as a child, she played a role ~rith Mary Pickford in ‘‘The Little Prineess.’’ This brilliant and beautiful actress is famous for the characters she created in the Eva Le Gallienne Civic Repertory Company. She was the sensation of last season as ‘‘ Alice’’ in ‘‘ Alice in Wonderland.’’ In ‘‘Happiness Ahead’’ she shows talent that should make her as great a screen star, as she has been of the stage. Dick Powell, never has appeared to better advantage than in this picture. Dick, who came to the front, in musical spectacles such as ‘‘Footlight Parade,’’ “Dames,’? ‘*Twenty Million Sweethearts,’’ and other musicals, now proves that he not only has an exceptionally pleasing singing voice, but that he is a thoroughly capable actor. ‘“Happiness Ahead,’’ gives him more opportunity for straight acting than any of his other pictures. While his singing will captivate everyone who hears him, so also will they be fascinated by his talented work in the romantic role. Powell’s catchy gongs include **Pop Goes My Heart’’ and ‘*Beauty Must Be Love.’’ He sings a third in a comedy duet with Frank McHugh, entitled ‘Massaging Window Panes.’’ Dorothy Dare, another newcomer to the screen, although famous as Screens Newest Star Duo million dollar smile’’ and his real a comedienne and musical comedy star on Broadway, does fine work in a comedy role and sings a new popular air, ‘‘All On Account of a Strawberry Sundae.’’ The entire cast is a talented one and includes such other notable players as John Halliday, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Marjorie Gateson, Gavin Gordon, Russell Hicks, Mary Forbes and Mary Treen. The music and lyrics were written by three popular teams of songwriters, Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon, Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal, and Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Miss Hutchinson has the role of a wealthy society girl who becomes disgusted with the shams and pretenses of her set and tries to find adventure and romance and discovers both in Dick Powell, a humble young man in the window washing business, whose charm and sincerity appeal to her. Their path of love runs anything but smoothly, however, and it is in its ups and downs that the hilarious comedy and dramatic situations are brought out. Never has there been a more thrilling scene than the one between the two lovers after the boy has seen his girl kissing a man he concludes is her sugar daddy, but who turns out in the end to be her own father. Mervyn LeRoy, who directed such hits as ‘‘ Hi, Nellie! ’’, ‘‘The World Changes,’’ and ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ has turned out a splendid production and one of the finest entertainments of the screen. The nation’s movie-going public are hailing the new star team appearing in First National’s “Happiness Ahead.” It is composed of Dick Powell, of whom you already know plenty, and Josephine Hutchinson, the young lady who leaped to screen stardom from New York’s Civic Repertory Theatre. This entertaining comedy with music is now playing at the ...................... Theatre. Mat No. 2—20c “Happiness Ahead,’ Thrilling Romance, At Palace Today “Happiness Ahead,” First National’s new comedy romance, COMES: tO<the< 5 Sic-neme, avs theatre today, with Dick Powell in the stellar role. The story by Harry Sauber is a glamorous romance that combines hilarious situations with melodramatic thrills, to which several. catchy musical numbers are added. Dick Powell sings “Pop Goes My Heart” and “Beauty Must Be Love,” and joins with Frank MeHugh in a humorous duet entitled “Massaging Window Panes.” A fourth song is rendered by Dorothy Dare, the famous Broadway musical comedy star, who comes to the screen for the first time in this picture. Her song is “All on Account of a Strawberry Sundae.” The music and the lyrics were written by three ace teams of song writers, Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon, Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal and Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Josephine Hutchinson, famous on the New York and London stage, and especially noted for her role in Eva Le Gallienne’s Civic Repertory Company’s production of “Alice in Wonderland,” makes her bow on the screen in this picture, playing the leading feminine role opposite Dick Powell. “Happiness Ahead” is a sort of Cinderella story in reverse, although the path of young love is anything but smooth, which furnishes both comedy and drama. There is an unusually strong east of supporting players, which includes besides those mentioned, John Halliday, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Marjorie Gateson, Gavin Gordon and Mary Treen. Mervyn LeRoy directed the production from the screen play by Harry Sauber and Brian Marlow. Winter Scene “Shot’’ On Hot August Day According to the script, scenes at the United Airport in Hollywood for “Happiness Ahead,” the First National production which comes to thGssiearet ne cae Theatre on eee Se ‘tosseaeeny Were made on a crisp, winter afternoon. Actors played the scenes bundled in ulsters and furs, but Director Mervyn LeRoy wore khaki shorts and a sun helmet. It is winter on the screen, but it actually was a _ hot August day. The principals had difficulty in keeping their make-ups from melting long enough to make a scene. The cameramen used _ ice packs. The film magazines were carefully shaded to keep the emulsion from melting. Dick Powell and Josephine Hutchinson, the two leads, stood in the broiling sun, wearing heavy coats, leaning against the metal sides of an airship, literally too hot to touch, BOUT FILM =— r 3 ‘ (ep 7% Fe MS Ne ( a \ ip WAS HAD THE WHOLE WORLD WHISTLING 3.1 DIFFERENT SON6S AMONG WHICH ARE<& rd HAS A PET ALLIGATOR MIGHT BE CALLED THE 38 P HAPPINESS ACTOR -HE we 3° en WIS THAT EATS — we ¢ PLAYED WITH LAURETTE we comme picrure| HAND BUT NEY TAtADs te MARCI EAE a SH HAPPINESS AHEAD” \_ TOBITENT. Social There are loads of possible uses for this interesting feature. Plant it as a regular feature with your newspaper. Use the items for local movie columns or as short program squibs. Make blow-ups of it and plant in store windows. Mat No. 25—20c¢ Chinese In Fast, Exotic Dance In ‘Happiness Ahead’ There is something new in motion pictures and it was staged in the First National production, “Happiness Ahead,” which comes to the 225k its. ai Theatre It is an Oriental Revue, done by a troupe of the fastest and wildest Chinese tap dancers, whose jazz numbers are so furiously-paced that hereafter Harlem will be singing “That’s Why Chinese Were Born.” The set used for this unusual act is an elaborate Chop Suey Parlor. In this atmosphere of dance rhythms and Chow Mein, Dick Powell meets Josephine Hutchinson and love blossoms in the shadows of lantern-lit pagodas. “Happiness Ahead” is the story of a rich girl seeking adventure, who wanders into the life of a young man whose ambition is a contract to wash the windows of New York’s skyscrapers. In the cast are a number of well known players, including John Halliday, Frank McHugh, Marjorie Gateson, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Dare, Allen Jenkins and Gavin Gordon. The picture is a rollicking romance with strong dramatic interest, and catchy songs by Wrubel and Dixon and Fain and Kahal. Mervyn LeRoy directed the production from the screen play by Harry Sauber and Brian Marlow, based on Sauber’s original story. Dorothy Dare Is Puzzled By Quick Film Work Change Pert, auburn-haired Dorothy Dare was one of the most bewildered young actresses in Hollywood when she went there to work in her first film production, “Happiness Ahead,” now showing at the <14.~cihdntu..aots Theatre, with Dick Powell in the stellar role. “It’s all very exciting,” said Dorothy, “but just a bit confusing. Just when I was starting work with James Cagney in ‘A Perfect Week-End,’ Director Mervyn LeRoy called me to rehearse a song with Dick Powell. No sooner did I sing the verse of ‘Pop Goes My Heart’ than Director Ray Enright sent a message to work on ‘A Perfect Week-End’ set.” But Dorothy thinks it’s all very swell. It’s quite different from the Broadway routine (she was featured in “Hold Your Horses,” “Strike Me Pink” and other musical hits) but none the less fascinating. “Happiness Ahead” is a thrilling romance combined’ with comedy and song hits. Josephine Hutchinson, famed Broadway star, has the leading feminine role opposite Dick Powell while others in the cast include John Halliday, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly and Marjorie Gateson. The song hits are by the famous teams of Wrubel and Dixon, Fain and Kahal, and Kalmar and Ruby. The story is by Harry Sauber. Page Nine