Hard to Handle (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Se ADVANCE AND CURRENT SHORTS Special Publicity Art our 7th story ““Hard to Handle’’ Has Over 10,000 Extras Over 10,000 persons take part in the mammoth scenes in James Cagney’s new starring vehicle for Warner Bros., ‘‘Hard To Handle,’’ which opens:-at thes ass Theatre Some of the largest crowds ever shown in a picture will be seen in various sequences in the production in which Cagney makes his return bow on the screen, his smiling countenance not having been seen in pictures since ‘Winner Take All,’’ released several months ago. One scene is a treasure hunt staged by the management of the Ocean Park Pier at the California resort as a publicity stunt, but photographed by Warner Bros. and incorporated in the picture. More than five thousand persons took part in the seareh for hidden gold and nearly wrecked the pier in their effort to discover the $250 in gold pieces. Two thousand persons appear in another scene at Santa Monica where a section of Coney Island had been reproduced on the beach. A _ third scene shows more than fifteen hundred persons at a marathon dance contest which was staged especially for the picture. Several hundred other persons are shown at a graduation exercise and other scenes of the picture. These stunts are put on by Cagney in his role of a high pressure publicity promoter in one of the most uproariously funny comedies that has come to the sereen this season. The story by Houston Branch is a whimsical take off on press agents. Sparkling dialogue and unique situations have been incorporated by Wilson Mizner and Robert Lord, the adaptors. Mary Brian plays the leading feminine role opposite Cagney while others in the cast inelude Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Claire Dodd, Gavin Gordon, Emma Dunn, Robert McWade, John Sheehan and Matt MeHugh. The picture was directed by Mervyn LeRoy, who directed ‘“Wive Star Final,’’? ‘‘I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang’’ and Many other famous Warner Bros. hits. your Sith story 1,500 Extras Used in ““Hard to Handle’ Dance Marathon Set All the intense excitement of a dance marathon has been captured by the camera and microphone and shown on the screen for the first time in James Cagney’s new starring vehicle for Warner Bros., “Hard To Handle,” which opens at the ......... .. Seiises 0 EAT O.ONe ccs ee The hopes and the fears of contestants who start out on the long journey fresh and confident, to dance through weary hours in which spirits droop and bodies become fagged as they fight on toward the prize, the wild enthusiasm of great crowds who cheer on their favorite couples, the peanut venders, hot dog stands and other picturesque appurtenances, are registered in a spectacular scene promoted by Cagney as the master press agent of his time. Fifteen hundred extra players were used to get the atmosphere of the dance marathon which was held on an amusement pier at Santa Monica. And these extras were all trained for their parts, most of them spending weeks at just such dances which were staged by the management of the amusement places at the Coast resort all summer. This is but one of the many sensational promotion stunts created by Cagney that add to the hilarious comedy of one of the funniest pictures ever to come to the screen. The story is a take off on publicity promoters written by Houston Branch, once a press agent himself. A KISS FROM CAGNEY WINFIELD (EEegs WHEN JIMMIE KISSES ’EM THEY STAY KISSED in “Hard To Han dle,” the Warner Bros. comedy-drama now showing at the Cut No. 12 Notables Always Like to Watch Cagney at Work James Cagney, the Warner Bros. star, who was born in the New York slums, has a faculty of attracting the interest and friendship of the “great.” The latest notable to visit him was Lincoln Steffens, who wanted to meet him and see him work in the production of “Hard to Handle,” which opens at the ............ Pei ee SNBRIE OM ona Others who have visited the studios in the past year, just to see Cag ney, are Prof. Charles Austin Beard, famous educator and author of “Whither Mankind,” Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman, former president of Cornell University and Ambassador to Germany, and Julian Huxley, one of the world’s foremost naturalists. The George M. Cohan Influence Is Still With Ruth Donnelly Ruth Donnelly says she is trying to forget George M. Cohan, not personally, but his mannerisms. Miss Donnelly, who has an important role in James Cagney’s latest starring picture for Warner Bros., “Hard To’ Handle,” which opens at the ............ We Se ODS Seas cheng WAS With the famous stage comedian for years. So long, she says that she cocks her head to one side and talks out of the southeast corner of her mouth. Allen Jenkins At Home in “Hard To Handle” Role Allen Jenkins, who plays the part of a radio announcer in James Cagney’s new starring vehicle for Warner Bros., ‘‘Hard To Handle,’’ comPRE 40 “the ke ee Theatre, is right at home on the job. He was at one time a broadcaster for the National Broadcasting Company. oS Mary Brian plays the role of Jimmy’s leading lady who wins the dance marathon and afterwards aids and abets him in his many promotion schemes. Others in the cast include Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Claire Dodd and Gavin Gordon. ADVANCE SHORTS Theatre. Cut 80c Mat 10e James Cagney Directed Real Treasure Hunt James Cagney handled the megaphone to direct a treasure hunt at Ocean Park, a California resort, recently, much to the joy of several hundred gold seekers. It was a genuine treasure hunt, staged as an advertising stunt by the park management. But the scene was “shot” for the Warner Bros. production, “Hard To Handle,’ which opens at UI eter pr te yore Theatre on. .:......... erm oer In the picture Jimmy is a high powered publicity exploiter and among the stunts he promotes is a treasure hunt. So he acted in a double capacity for the amusement park and for picture purposes. Mary Brian Started Her Career as Beauty Winner Mary Brian, who plays ‘the leading feminine role opposite James Cagney in the Warner Bros. production, “Hard To Handle,’ which opens —al“thera 7. Theatre ONS ee as , got her start in pictures by winning a beauty contest for a West Coast newspaper. The prize was a week’s personal appearance on the stage. Herbert Brennon, the producer, saw her, and at once assigned her to the role of Wendy in “Peter Pan.” No Loafers on Stage When LeRoy Directs Director Al Green, of Warner Bros., plays an extra role as part of the atmosphere for James Cagney’s latest starring vehicle, “Hard To Handle,’ which comes to the .... Gare aed TROGEIO D0 ooo. is He was walking across the set where Mervyn LeRoy was directing a scene in a hotel hallway. Not recognizing him LeRoy ordered him to sit in a chair to make the hallWay appear occupied. Green complied and LeRoy did not know he was using a fellow director until after the scene was shot. “I knew it was you all the time,” fibbed LeRoy. “Fine,” said Green. “Now come across with a check for an extra’s work.” CURRENT SHORTS Cagney Picture Takes a Dig at Society Women A take-off on wealthy society women who pretend to endorse merchandise for charitable purposes and then haggle over the price forms one of the uproarious scenes in James Cagney’s latest starring vehicle for Warner Bros., “Hard To Handle,” which is now showing at the ...... : SRS Theatre. Louise Mackintosh has the role of the society woman who fights with Jimmy over the payment for endorsing a facia! cream which he is promoting. The story by Houston Branch, is a spicy take off on press agents and theiz wild schemes. Jimmy Cagney Passes Up Ocean Life for a Car James Cagney, the Warner Bros. star has bought a new automobile. And there is a reason for it. During the production of “Hard to Handle,” he spent two days on the rough ocean waves in a sailing vessel. He had been saving his money to buy a boat previous to that trip, but when he returned and got over his sea sickness he went straightway to an auto agency and purchased an automobile. In “Hard To Handle,” now showing at the ........... cece Theatre, Jimmy makes his return to the sereen after several months’ absence. Jimmy Cagney Made Sure Director Mervyn LeRoy Had Enough to Smoke Mervyn LeRoy, the smallest director in Hollywood, in stature, smokes the biggest cigars. He smokes incessantly on a set during production. While working on James Cagney’s latest starring vehicle “Hard To Handle,” now showing at HOS ee ea Theatre, he was continually running out of cigars. One morning Cagney appeared on the set with a cigar two and a half feet long and three inches thick which he handed to the director, remarking that he hoped it would last him through the day. Ruth Donnelly Packs a Real Knockout Wallop Ruth Donnelly, who plays one of the leading roles with James Cagney in his new Warner Bros, picture, “Hard To Handle,” which is now showing at the .............ccseeee Theatre, packs a real wallop in her tiny “mitt.” The story calls for her landing a K.O. on Gavin Gordon’s jaw and she did it without pulling her punch. Gordon alleges that as an actress she’s a great prize fighter. Claire Dodd’s Vamp Role Opposite James Cagney So Strong, She Blushed Claire Dodd plays such a naughty role in James Cagney’s new Warner Bros .picture, “Hard To Handle,” now showing at the .0.........ccecees whestrenese ses , that, according to her own statement, it made her blush a scarlet red. She not only vamps Jimmy and entices him to her room when he is engaged to “another, but gives him the laugh when he repents of his behavior. “T have played all sorts of vamps in my career,” said Miss Dodd, “but the girl in this picture is the most deliciously open and unashamed sinner I have ever portrayed.” Page Five