Harold Teen (Warner Bros.) (1934)

As Funniest Screen Romance of the Year Harold Teen, whose amusing antics as the central figure of Carl Ed’s famous comic strip have been followed for years by millions of newspaper readers, has been brought to life for the screen by the youthful star, Hai LeRoy, and the local debut of the.-film at. tho.. ...<.. cages isa: Theatre yesterday evoked gales of laughter from capacity audiences that came prepared for real amusement and were not disappointed. In these sombre days Warner Bros. are to be congratulated for recognizing that America is anxious to be amused, that the motivations of youth are of supreme interest to all ages, and that an audience that leaves a theatre after more than an hour of sheer fun has had a treat that is all too rare. Harold Teen is fun, but the story by Paul Gerard Smith and Al Cohn is not “slapstick,” despite its many screamingly amusing situations. It is a study of the Young America of today, with its gaiety and laughter, its joys and sorrows, its romances and its tragedies. It shows what boys and girls really think and how they react. The smashing climax in which young love triumphs after tragic and agonized moments in which it seemed to be at the mercy of a wealthy middle-aged widower enamoured of youth, is intensely thrilling. Hal LeRoy was taken by Warner Bros. from the new musical, “Strike Me Pink,’ in which he had set Broadway by the ears, especially to play the title role of Harold Teen, a none too efficient, but wildly enthusiastic cub reporter of a small town newspaper. He not only is a clever actor, but does some specialty dancing, for which he is famous, that brings down the house. No more typical player could have been selected for this part, nor one who could have handled it with such talent. It is easy to see why LeRoy, in sixteen months time, became the hit of Broadway musicals and if his film work continues to hold up to that in the current production it will not be long before he is as popular in pictures as he has been on the stage. Two beautiful leading ladies, each a decided brunette, play opposite LeRoy as rivals for his love. Patricia Ellis as Mimi, the daughter of the banker who 1s trying to steal the beautiful Lillums, as played by Rochelle Huason, from Harold. Both give excellent account of themselves not only in their screen work, but as songsters, each singing a solo part and a duet together. It is rather rare to find two players of such marked histrionic talent possessing such beautiful and well trained voices. Guy Kibbee is excellent as the somewhat dumb but well meaning father of Lillums as is Hobart Cavanaugh as Pop. To Hugh Herbert go the honors for genuine comedy in his droll handling of the character of the show director. Chic Chandler as Lilacs, Eddie Tamblyn as Shadow, Douglas Dumbrille as H. H. Snatcher, Clara Blandick as Ma Lovewell, and Mayo Methot as Sally all are well cast and enact their charterizations with skill and understanding. There are several catchy airs, the lyrics and music written by the famous song team of Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain, who are responsible for many of the eatchy tunes of the day. 9 FREAK FACS... £5007 Fum favoriies ' MURRAY ROTH *UGHTS OF, °F , NEW YORK“, LEARNED TO DANCE BY WATCHING A: MECHANICAL TOY. “ WHO DIRECTED “HAROLD TEEN, WROTE THE SCENARIO FOR THE FIRST FULLLENGTH, ALL-TALKIN( PICTURE -“ They’re all in Warners’ “Harold Teen,” hilarious comedy of youth and lore coming to the Strand. \\ SNS + SAREE MMVQAANY ( = a S PaTRICI fel IS OF THE PICTURES HAS BEEN UNDERFOOT IN THEATRES SINCE INFANCYHER i FATHER BEING A W\ ye |_-,/\| FAMous BROADWAY Maa! |! STAGE DIRECTOR Sams ( )=y ae HAS A PET ANGLEWORM WHICH HAS LIVED IN A FLOWERPOT FOR 2 YEARS. Mat No. 5—20c HaroldTeen,Famous Cartoon Strip Hero, In Film Debut Today The characters of Carl Ed’s famous comic strip, “Harold Teen,’ known to millions of newspaper readers, will be brought to life on the screen of 1 earl epee ie theatre today in the Warner Bros. picture of the same title. A hilarious story with exciting incidents, painting the joys and sorrows of Young America, is said to have been incorporated in the screen play which was written around the characters by Paul Gerard Smith and Al Cohn. Hal LeRoy, Broadway stage star of musical comedy shows, was sent to Hollywood by Warner Bros. especially to play the title role. He is said to be typical of the Harold Teen of the comic strip. In addition to enacting the lover’s role, he does some of the specialty dancing for which he is famous. Rochelle Hudson as Lillums and Patricia Ellis as Mimi share honors in the feminine leads as well as being rivals for the love of Harold. Douglas Dumbrille, on the other hand is the wealthy banker who is Harold’s rival for Lillums and comes near to smashing the youthful romance. Others in the cast include Guy Kibbee as Pa Lovewell, Clara Blandick as Mrs. Lovewell, Hugh Herbert in the role of director of the show given by the Junior League, Hobart Cavanaugh as Pop, Chic Chandler, as Lilacs, Eddie Tamblyn as Shadow, Mayo Methot as Sally, Richard Carle as Parmelee and Charles Wilson as McKinney. While the picture is not a musical there are several catchy song numbers in addition to the dance specialties, sung by members of the cast from music and lyrics by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain. The picture was directed by Murray Roth. Hal LeRoy Teaches Tap Dancing to His Two Leading Ladies Patricia Ellis and Rochelle Hud-on are well on their way to becoming Hollywood’s best feminine tap-dancing team. That comes as a result of sharing leading lady honors in the Warner Bros. picture, “Harold Teen,” which comes to the ............ CHORE Cs OB. vrcrecsieeens » with Hal LeRoy in the title role. Hal, Broadway musical comedy star, whose most recent hit was in “Strike Me Pink,” is accepted Harold Teen Leading 7 Lady Started Career As Voice of Cartoon Cartoons have a deep significance to pretty Rochelle Hudson. Back in 1929 her screen debut was launched in a cartoon-movie and now she is playing the part of ‘‘Lillums’’ in the Warner Bros. picturization of the famous Carl Ed comic strip, ‘Harold Teen,’’ coming to the Theatre. In her initial screen play, however, she didn’t appear. She was heard, but not seen. Leon Schlesinger, in 1929, was introducing sound to his Bosko cartoon and needed a certain type voice. By mere chance he overheard Rochelle talking and whisked her into the studio where she had her first behind-the-scene taste of the movies. In the cartoon-movie, ‘‘Singing In The Bathtub,’’ Rochelle supplied the voice effects. That was four years ago and now that Rochelle has had these years of screen experience and been accepted as a capable young actress, she’s right back where she started -—almost. This time, though, she will be very much seen as the leading lady with Hal Le Roy, the ‘‘ Harold Teen’’ of the screen. Others in the cast include Patricia Ellis, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Hobart Cavanaugh. Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain supplied the music and lyrics. as the greatest dancer in America since the late Jack Donahue. The dancing urge in LeRoy is never satisfied and all day on the set, between scenes, he is practicing steps. During the production of “Harold Teen” he took on the Misses Ellis and Hudson as pupils. After four weeks of work he declared that they could hold their own with any feminine tap dancers of the stage. “Harold Teen” is a _ riotous comedy romance taken from the famous comic strip of Carl Ed. It brings to life on the screen all the characters of the comic cartoon in a picture full of fun and excitement. Others in the cast include Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert, Hobart Cavanaugh, Chie Chandler and Eddie Tamblyn. Murray Roth directed the picture from the screen play by Paul Gerard Smith and Al Cohn. Women Are All Alike They go for the guy with the biggest bouquet! One of the croocial moments from “Harold Teen,” Warner Bros.’ comedy of juvenile capers. The film, boasting three outstanding musical hits, comes to the Strand on Thursday. Mat No. 3—20c es Director Instructs Pupils Not to Try To Act in Picture “There’s to be no acting! If you try to act Ill throw you off the set.” Director Murray Roth, of the Warner Bros. picture, “Harold Teen,” now showing at the ........ Beene Perere CRE Theatre, was the speaker. The scene was one in which a hundred Los Angeles high-school boys and girls were taking part and Roth wanted them to be as natural as they would be on the school play grounds instead of posing for the camera. “Yowre supposed to be just what you are,” he said. “If you try to be anything else you’re going to look awkward and unnatural. Now go in there and dco just what you’d do if you weren’t before the camera. Talk to any one you like, sit where you please—walk where you want to. But remember— no acting!” After finishing the picture, Roth said he had never seen children more natural. The picture is a_ hilarious comedy drama, the characters taken from the comic strip by Carl Ed. The story, by Paul Gerard Smith and Al Cohn, is as exciting as it is funny. Hal LeRoy, famous dancer of the musical comedy stage, heads the cast which includes such well known players as Rochelle Hudson, Patricia Ellis, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Hobart Cavanaugh. While the picture is not a musical, there are several spectacular numbers with music and lyrics by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain. LeRoy StartedStage Career Under Father Of His Leading Lady It was the father of Patricia Ellis, leading lady with Hal Le Roy in “Harold Teen” which opens at the ow. Theatre Rs ancenlineinebocivoons who gave LeRoy his first chance to become a Broadway star, and subsequently a top-liner of Filmdom. Back in 1930 Hal was “hoofing it” in a midtown cabaret on Broadway and trying desperately to get a chance to get into musical comedy. Finally he was “spotted” by an_ enterprising agent who bundled him aboard a train and rushed him to Boston where “Tattle Tales” was playing its try-out engagement. Given an afternoon audition, the producer of the show liked Hal’s work so well he placed him in that evening’s performance. Hal “stopped the show.” The producer was Alexander Leftwich, father of Patricia Ellis. The father started LeRoy in musical comedy and now the daughter is assisting him in launching upon a cinema career. The picture is a hilarious comedy drama, the characters taken from the comic strip by Carl Ed. The story by Paul Gerard Smith and Al Cohn is as exciting as it is funny. Others in the cast include Rochelle Hudson, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Hobart Cavanaugh. While the picture is not a musical, there are several spectacular numbers with music and lyrics by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain. Murray Roth directed. Page Twenty-seven