Hard to Handle (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Get Local Artists to Draw James Cagney Caricatures James Cagney, is not only a grand actor, but is also an artist of note who loves to draw. Below we are giving you a photo showing Cagney with a caricature he made of himself. This lends itself to a fine local contest as an exploitation stunt. Tie in with your newspaper to publish this cut and offer prizes for the best caricatures submitted by readers. The prizes ean be a couple of $2.00 cash prizes and the balance in guest tickets for ‘‘Hard To Handle.’’ This is the type of contest the newspapers will go for. Use the suggested publicity story to announce the contest. (Publicity Story) James Cagney Caricature Contest Offers 30 Prizes Strand to Give Free Tickets to ““Hard to Handle’’ for Best Caricatures of Famous Film Star Can you make a better caricature of James Cagney,—redheaded star of ‘‘Hard To Handle,’’ the Warner Bros. comedy drama of a high-powered press agent, which comes to the............ ROR e. foo next—than Jimmie has made of himself in the above illustration? You don’t have to be an artist; to be in line for one of the prizes offered bythe per. Make your Cagney caricature of any size you like. You may use any medium desired, pen and ink, charcoal, pencil or crayon. And the pictures may be colored or in black and white. Send your contribution to the James Cagney Caricature Editor, Courier-News Office, on or Peete. next. The first five best will receive prizes of $2 each. The next twenty-five will be presented with a guest ticket to ‘‘Hard To Handle.’’ If you wish to see additional ws James Cagney Sketches Himself JAMES CAGNEY, Star of “HARD TO HANDLE” Cut No.6 Out 30e Theatre management and this pa Mat 10e poses of the pugnacious and many-sided Jimmie Cagney, look at the display in the lobby of aU: epee ee es Theatre. Winning drawings will be published in the Courier-News. You'll find drawing lots of fun, and not at all ‘‘Hard To Handle.’’ PERFECT FIGURE CONTEST WITH GOOD LOCAL TIEUPS ““HARD TO HANDLE’? lends itself admirably to a contest for the girl with the most nearly perfect figure. Story in paper requests candidates. . Prominent physician, athlete, beauty specialist, editor and theatre representatives may act as judges. Prizes may be promoted from shops selling bathing suits, women’s wear, and merchants employing models. The girls who are entered by the store or shop in which they work to appear on the stage of your theatre, modeling fashionable gowns, for local shops, and wearing advance models of bath ing suits and dresses. Audience applause will decide the rating of the figures. Prizes should be promoted from the merchants entering models. Elimination contests can be held one night and the finals the opening night of the picture. Or you can make it a combined Beauty and Best Figure Contest, deciding one contest the first night and the other the following night. This would serve to bolster up your attendance the last day of one picture’s run and the first day of ‘‘Hard To Handle.’’ 3 GOOD IDEAS FOR CASHING IN ON THE LARGE IRISH CAST The fact that the star, and almost all of the members of the cast of ‘““HARD TO HANDLE’? are Irish is worth playing up. Here are 3 ideas you can use. to capitalize the Irish cast: No. 1. A special invitation by postcards, window cards, or newspaper can be sent to local chapter of the A. O. H. and any other Irish organization, as well as to cops and other townspeople from the land of St. Patrick. Copy for postcard is suggested: Dear Mr. Hooligan:— Because the blood of the Emerala Irish flows in your veins we are sure that you will want to see ‘‘HARD TO HANDLE,’’ the Warner picture WRICN= COMES VOLUME a Gs sg TheaU0 6 SOE See ee next for in tt the ““fighting Irish’’ have it almost to themselves! JAMES CAGNEY, the star is one of ‘‘ your own,’’ as well as Mary Brian, Ruth Donnelly, Emma Dunn, John Sheehan, Matt McHugh, Robert McWade, Claire Dodd and Mary Doran. It’s a WOW, with Jimmie as a fast-action publicity man. You’ll root for ‘‘HARD TO HANDLE.’’ We sincerely hope to see you. Very truly yours, Manager Strand Theatre No. 2. Another idea is an IRISH NIGHT with all people in town by the name of ‘‘CAGNEY?’’—an un usual name—admitted free. Invitation in paper, lobby or window. Subgested copy: TONIGHT IS ‘‘IRISH NIGHT”? AT THE LIBERTY JAMES CAGNEY, star of ‘‘HARD TO HANDLE’? is Irish—and the big cast includes Mary Brian, Ruth Donnelly, Emma Dunn, John Sheehan, Matt McHugh, Robert McWade, Claire Dodd and Mary Doran! TONITE IS IRISH NITE! And everybody by the name of CAGNEY — library card, auto license or letters will serve as credentials—will be admitted FREE! See ‘‘one of your own’’ in his fastest comedy smash, ““HARD TO HANDLE’’—If you happen to know any CAGNEY S—tell 7em the news! No. 8. In lobby or as window display of stills from ‘‘HARD TO HANDLE’’ use large placard with the following copy: ‘“‘THE IRISH ARE NOT HARD TO HANDLE’’ So says Mervyn Lekoy, director of James Cagney’s comedy-drama of a modern publicity hound, ‘‘Hard To Handle’’ the Warner Bros production which comes to the Strand. ................ next. See the great Irish cast that appears with James Cagney in ‘‘ Hard To Handle now at the Strand. FREE FICTIONIZATION A complete fictionization of ‘‘Hard To Handle’’ appears in the March issue of ‘‘Screen Romances.’’ Get your local magazine dealers to co-operate with you on a one sheet idea which will plug the sales of Screen Romanees as well as your showing of ‘‘Hard To Handle. issue of Sereen See your local editor about running the fictionization illustrated with stills from the picture during your showing of the picture. The fictionization is free, the only requirement being that the newspaper MUST CREDIT SCREEN ROMANCES. Your one sheet should read as follows: Read the complete story in the March Romances. Now On Sale Here iS OE Whether or not the story is reproduced in your newspaper, you should have no trouble tieing-in with local newsstand. A simple 7 x 11 inch ecard or any convenient size up to the regular one-sheet, bearing the co-operative plug suggested will prove of great benefit to both you and the dealer. MARATHON DANCE RACE THROUGH STREETS GOOD The fact that a big-time marathon contest is featured in ‘‘HARD TO HANDLE’’ makes it a natural for some working out of a local marathon, which will cause much fun, be good material for newspaper stories, and ' get everybody talking about the film. The contest may be worked out in many ways. If a permit can be secured, two or three couples may be engaged—properly tagged—to do a marathon race around the block, or FOR ATTENTION from the City Hall to the Theatre. Where permission cannot be obtained for outside dancing, the couple or couples may dance in the lobby of the theatre. This would create much amused interest. A free-for-all, on the streets or in foyer of the theatre, would be good, or to have a single couple do the marathon on a wager. Prizes may be promoted from local merchants. LIMERICK CONTEST FOR NEWSPAPERS Limericks are always popular and the following contest may be run in connection with “HARD TO HANDLE.”’ Offer guest tickets to the ten persons who daily send in the cleverest completed last line. The following limerick can be used: The ‘‘fast ones’’ of Lefty made scandal; Baby dolls by the dozen he’d dandle, But just when they thought-o Their sucker was caught-o He’d ditch ’em as too “HARD TO HANDLE!” The contest may be presented by throwaway or newspaper. In either case print all but the last line as is. For the last line use: ee HARD TO HANDLE!” Kach of the blanks represents a word or syllable. You will find that many different versions, will be sent in. Have the 10 best published each day together with the names of those who sent them in and copy dealing with the picture’s playdate. Page Twenty-Three