Hard to Handle (Warner Bros.) (1933)

THREE-DAY SERIAL OR SUNDAY FEATURE Fate Trades Punches With James Cagney A Life Story By JACK COOPER : CHAPTER III T was another musical production called ‘‘Pitter Patter,’’ and Jimmie was placed in the line in the chorus next to another by the name of Allen Jenkins and opposite a girl named Frances Vernon. Allen was of much the same calibre as Jimmie, and the two boys struck up a friendship which was resumed just recently when Allen Jenkins was signed to a contract by the Warner Bros. Studio, where Jimmie also works. As for the girl, Frances Vernon, from shy glances which passed between her and Jimmie a light flirtation developed, and by the time ‘‘Pitter Patter’’ was ready to close thirty-two weeks later, it had developed into an ardent love affair. Before a year was out, Frances, who is more intimately known as ‘‘Bill,’’ became Mrs. James Cagney. By this time, Barry Cagney was a practicing physician, and though Jimmie was contributing to the support of the family, he was free to get married. 5 Years of Stage Struggle He had very little hope for himself in the theatrical profession. He was short, stocky, not good looking enough to be a juvenile, and with physical endowments that didn’t allow him much leeway. The week after ‘Pitter Patter’’ closed, he opened in Philadelphia playing a Jewish boy in bare stage, Jimmie read his lines for the author and director. He read them sincerely as he had heard the same words spoken by the roughnecks in his East 8ist. Street neighborhood —and his intimacy with this type of character won him the role. Following this,.in 1927, Mary Boland picked him for another roughneck part in~‘*‘Women Go On Forever.’? Then came two seasons in which he was prominent in the ‘‘Grand Street Follies,’’ and another flier at vaudeville. Meets Joan Blondell SS MARY BRIAN Turns the Tables on JAMES CAGNEY in “HARD TO HANDLE” by Doing a Little Chin-Clipping Herself. Cut No. 21 Cut 30c Mai 10c The girl’s name was Joan Blondell. sme. Both Joan Blondell and James Cagney won important parts in ‘‘Maggie The Magnificent.’? These two formed a strong friendship, and critics and producers recognized in them a very effective dramatic and comedy team. Following the run of their first play together, they were signed to play opposite each other in ‘¢Penny Arcade.’’ Signed by Warner Bros. As luck would have it, Warner Bros. bought the sereen rights to “*Penny Areade,’’ and a studio scout was sent to New York to look at the sibilities. They were signed to long term contracts at modest salaries, according to Hollywood standards, but which seemed to them at the time like all the money there was in the world. Jimmie Cagney was itching to get back to New York and the stage. He knew that he was not, by any stretch of the imagination, an _ attractive movie type according to all accepted standards. His red hair and freckles, short, stocky build, and pugnacious face were not what would bring female fans in droves to the box office. He was cast in a small part with Grant Withers in a picture called heyday at this time, and when Warner Bros. bought ‘‘The Public Enemy’’ from the young Chicago authors, Kubee Glassmen and John Bright, Jimmie was found to be the only available and suitable player to take the leading role. There was no thought then that the part would make him more than a flash inthe pan, for gangster pictures were beginning to see the handwriting on the wall. ‘Public Enemy’? Made Him Jimmie put his heart and soul into the picture. He relived his boyhood days in it, and modeled the character on the traits and mannerisms of two of his boyhood chums, tough, ruthless characters whose careers of crime were only halted by a bullet for one and a life term in Sing Sing for the other. He lived in make-believe the life which early environment had chosen for him, but from which he was saved only by his mother’s wise and eareful training. When the picture was finished, he slipped back into a secon dary role with Edward OC. Robinson in “Smart Money.” But when, shortly afterward, “The Public Enemy” was released, it took the country by storm and Jimmie was hoisted overnight to a top pedestal in stardom. The unanimous opinion was that the success of the picture was all due to Jimmie’s performance. Public Clamored for Cagney The public clamored for more Cagney pictures—and the rest is his| tory that is now too well known to {need repetition. Instead of declining with the death of gangster pictures, he climbed over high in each succeeding, versatile role. He had learned how to battle Fate play and_sign up: some of the players. The only two chosen were Joan Blondell and James Cagney. Neither of them had much hope of making a go of things in the movies. a vaudeville sketch. Five years of hard struggle were to follow, the first three of them being spent in vaudeane in cheap teams and flash € —t and twist it to his ends. He could call all bluffs anc men his ne own. ; ——— He knew that short, clipped New..Yorkese }isat “Other Men’s Women,’’? and was then rewarded with a fairly important role with Lew Ayres in a gangster picture, ‘‘ The Doorway To Hell,’’ His But the dramatic stage had gotten ts under Jimmie’s skin. Hearing that George Kelly was picking a cast for his play, ‘‘ Maggie The Magnificent,’’ i a erties O-line «0 "sand 158 ance landed him his firs’ ; him. 4" Td rir % “But the , es ia ~ aT ne | LO Handle,’” which opened last night on the legitimate stage. A | anxious for work, and too far back} a hunch. at the... Theatre. roughneck character was wanted in Maxwell Anderson’s play, “Outside Looking In.” On a in line to stand much of a chanee. Jimmie gallantly gave her his place, for which he was rewarded with a feel disappointment. fer to as an “epic,” but these | | the game good guy. two young players stowed posGangster pictures were in their | THE END Suggested Ads to Announce Cagney Life Story First Announcement For Opening Day Start Reading Today THE THRILLING LIFE STORY OF JAMES CAGNEY Walloping, wise cracking of Bros. “HARD TO HANDLE’ opening at the Strand........ Starting Tomorrow! e Read The Life Story Of The Screen’s Most Pugnacious Star JAMES CAGNEY | Truth more thrilling than fiction! Follow the fortune of the East Side ‘regular guy —as newshoy—messenger—boxer—library clerk—eccentric dancer—student of Columbia University — radical — Broadway player! Signed by Warner Bros. for the movies— rocketed to stardom in “The Public Enemy” and other hits, now smashing thru again as a high-powered star Warner Turn to Page .. oe : F publicity man in “HARD TO HANDLE” which comes Day to the Strand Theatre next. Read his ei bd Meet the Real absorbing life story. Exclusively in the Courier-News Starting TOMORROW! READ “Fate Trades Punches With James Cagney” by JACK COOPER JAMES CAGNEY His life story begins toGet the lowdown on the famous of Bros. “HARD TO HANDLE’ opening at the Strand morrow in the News! star Warner IT’LL THRILL Yow! Page Nineteen