Hard to Handle (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Make “James Cagney Back Again” The Slogan for Your Campaign bheed f “Hard to Handle” with James Cagney is a push over for a big box office smash, as his reputation today is greater than ever before. . The entire world is waiting to see James Cagney again after the tremendous amount of publicity he got during his absence from the screen, while he was trying to get together on a contract with the studio. All this publicity has served to make Cagney a sensational draw. “Cagney Back Again,” should be the big punch of your campaign. Shout it in your ads, in your advance and current lobby displays and in your exploitation. ~ Cagney’s role as a high powered publicity and advertising promoter, affords you the grandest exploitation picture you have had in a long time. Everything he does in the picture can be used to sell this hit. The supporting cast is worth the finest kind of plug. Mary Brian is one of the best liked actresses on the screen. Ruth Donnelly, Allen Jenkins and Claire Dodd have been steadily building fine reputations and big followings. Eleanor Holm, Olympic swimming and diving champion, whose entrance into the movies has been widely publicized, makes her screen debut in this picture. It might be worth your while to mention this fact. THE STORY Lefty Merrill, a high powered pubiicity promoter, stages a marathon dancing contest which Ruth, a girl with whom he has fallen in love, wins. But McGrath, his partner, runs off with the proceeds and Lefty is unable to pay the prize money. Ruth, and her mother, Lil, who is bent on marrying her daughter off to any one who has money, go to New York and Lefty follows them. Lil meets John Hayden, a well-to-do commercial photographer, and then tries to have Ruth ‘‘ditch’’ Lefty. But when he puts over a _ promotion scheme for a reducing cream and “makes a lot of money, Lil drops the ‘photographer for Lefty, and urges Ruth to marry him. Lefty is persuaded by a man named Reeves to promote a grape fruit stock selling scheme. The money rolls in but grapefruit proves to be a drug on the market. Lefty goes to Florida to look after the company’s interest, and is followed by Marlene, Reeves’ daughter. Ruth becomes suspicious about the Florida jaunt and follows Lefty. She finds him and Marlene together and returns to New York, swearing she will never see him again. Marlene gets a note from her father to meet her in South America as the company has gone broke and the Director Story by Sereen Play by Photographed by Film Editor Art Director Gowns by Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by PRODUCTION STAFF federal officers are after him. Lefty returns to New York and is immediately arrested for using the mails to defraud. He is placed in a cell, where his erstwhile marathon partner, McGrath, 2 Reels has preceded him on another charge. The latter has been up against it and was reduced to a diet of grapefruit which he stole from fruit stands. McGrath, who has lost weight, ruefully tells Lefty it was due to his grapefruit diet. This gives Lefty an idea. Released on bail, he starts an advertising campaign for grapefruit as a reducing food. He engages a famous actress to announce that she has refused to marry a noted band leader because he is too fat, and then gets the band leader to reduce on grapefruit, starting the fad. This puts his company on a paying basis and the charges against Lefty are dropped. In the meantime Lil has brought Ruth and the photographer together again, and they have decided to be married. Then Lil hears Lefty is making money and rushes to his office to make up with him. Being still in love with Ruth, Lefty accompanies her back to her apartment. When Ruth sees Lefty, she knows she can never. love anyone but him. Mervyn LeRoy Houston Branch § Wilson Mizner and Secor eeeseessesees } Robert Lord Barney McGill OFFICIAL BILLING Warner Bros. Pictures, Ine. i they Hapnone Corp, 2 25 % present JAMES CAGNEY in “HARD TO HANDLE’’ with Mary Brian — Allen Jenkins....................... Directed by Mervyn LeRoy...............00...005 A Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Picture................ Length... 7498 Ft. Time ...81 Minutes Bill Holmes Robert Haas Orry-Kelly Leo F. Forbstein SUGGESTED SHORTS FOR THIS FILM JAMES CAGNEY — MARY BRIAN PLEASURE ISLAND TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL with SOUTH SEA Locale. A rare treat with a great cast —TOM DUGAN, RICHARD POWELL, NEELY EDWARDS—and Oh, Those South Sea Beauties! DANGEROUS OCCUPATIONS Reel Novel short presenting a lot of tough ways to earn a living —LOWELL THOMAS, RADIO HEADLINER, |, gives you the off-screen dope. bo STAR AND LEADING LADY OF “HARD TO HANDLE.” Cut No.5 Out 380c Mat 10c CAST OF CHARACTERS ONE STEP AHEAD OF MY SHADOW Reel James Cagney Mary Brian Ruth Donnelly Allen Jenkins Claire Dodd Gavin Gordon Lefty Merrill Ruth Waters Lil Waters Radio Announcer Marlene Reeves John Hayden omen A “MERRIE MELODY”? | Mrs. Hawks «0.0.00... ccc tierce Emma Dunn ; Zeer ed ROGmeS ea ees eS ree Robert McWade Peat sat seen eee te crs Toki Sheela INE COMDIMATON OL MUSIC] Jog Goety ooo... cccccccscsvsscscsesseesvessserssesseueseeeeesesneteneteeeeess Matt McHugh and howling comedy. Mrs. Weston Louise Mackintosh INDEX SCREEN RECORDS ACCESSORIES .......... 26|JAMES CAGNEY—“Winner Take|EMMA DUNN—“Blessed Event,” All,” “The Crowd Roars,” “Taxi,’| “It’s Tough To Be Famous,” “UnADVANCE STORIES 4-5 “Smart Money,” “The Public der Eighteen,” “Too Young To Ae ADS 11-16 Enemy,” “The Millionaire,” “DoorMarry,” “Bad Sister,” “Morals For sete oe aren way To Hell.” Wamon” BANNER... 3. 25|MARY BRIAN—“Blessed Event,” ee Sa. “Tt’s Tough To Be Famous,” “The a out, n reet, BIOGRAPHIES ............. Front Page,’ “Homicide Squad,” ra s Pi ret — 3, 10, 18 19 “The Runaround,” “The Royal ang, imarron, aales oO idan er aoe ieee TereRa On 5 * ; the Jury.” Family.” y U E T ae? »|MATT McHUGH—“The Purchase CURRENT STORIES .... ALLEN JENKINS—42nd Street,” |""p.icg» «The Heckler,” “Road5 Ladies They Talk About,” “Blon: ee ee es es 9 6, a : sae » | house Murder,” “Two Seconds,” oo peer ae “Freaks,” “The Wet Parade.” : (79 bf y 1 (ons {2 3 s EXPLOITATION 20-25) (Borerere, Bntrnee:pamed|@avin, “GoRDON— “Jewel. Bab FASHION LAYOUT 9. 22 Chain Gang.” bery,” “The: Great Meadow,” See “Secret Service,” “Shipmates,” RUTH DONNELLY—‘“Ladies They Talk About,” “Blessed Event,” “Jewel Robbery,” “Transatlantic,” “The Silver Horde.” JOHN SHEEHAN—“The Criminal Code,” “Fair Warning,” “Swing FEATURE STORIES .... 6, 5,9, 17, 16,22 “The Rainbow Trail,” “The Hich” “Ki ” : . gh, ismet. LOBBY EA eel = on eee eee 25 Spider,” “Wicked.” MERVYN LEROY (Director) —“I P M CLAIRE DODD—“Blondie Johnson,’| Am a Fugitive from a Chain ROGRAM CUTS .. 4, 10 “Parachute Jumper,’ “Lawyer| Gang,” “Three on a Match,” “Two RE Vit w= = = 6| Man,” “Crooner,” “Under Hight-| Seconds,” “Heart of New York,” teen,” “Man Wanted,” “The Match| “Local Boy Makes Good,” “Five SHORTS = 3 5| King.” Star Final.” : Page Three