Hearts Divided (Warner Bros.) (1936)

PUB LobC-T Y “HEARTS ck DIVIDE REA] D_E_R S.A_B_ O7U-T CAST AND PRODUCTION Film Foes The power and the glory of the Emperor of France, as played by Claude Rains, were of no avail before the power of Marion Davies’ love and glory of her eyes in the role of Betsy Patterson, for whom a prince discarded his crown in ‘‘Hearts Divided’’ the Cosmopolitan picture now playing at the Sears Theatre. Mat No. 119—10c Claude Rains As Napoleon Omits Trite Gestures Claude Rains has definite ideas about acting. The veteran English character actor has the role of Emperor of France, in Marion Davies’ new Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Hearts Divided,’’ which comes to the ..............Theatre on ane ee , as a First National release. Not once does Rains employ the most famous of the Napoleonic gestures, arm crossed in front of chest with the hand inserted into the unbuttoned waistcoat. The one and only concession he makes to the portrait artists who painted the little Corsican is the folding of his hands behind his back, and that because it is a natural’ gesture of his own. ‘“To permit the Napoleonic gestures to slip into a characterization of the man,’’ Rains explained, ‘‘would be to make a caricature of the role instead of giving it a ‘ serious performance. ‘‘T happen to have played Napoleon on the stage, in ‘Man of Destiny,’ and from experience I know that audiences unconsciously watch for the Napoleonic gestures to appear. Once one of them is permitted to slip into the performance your audience immediately becomes conscious of them, sits back in its collective seat and is satisfied. The characterization is destroyed. ‘CAs a matter of fact,’’ Rains remarked, ‘‘There is no positive assurance that Napoleon ever used the gestures for which he has become famous except when he was posing for a portrait.’’ ‘“Hearts Divided’’ combines a glorious romance with hilarious comedy and dynamic drama, written by Rida Johnson Young. Miss Davies has the stellar role, while others in the cast besides Rains, include Dick Powell, Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton, Arthur Treacher, Henry Stephenson and Clara Blandick. The picture was directed by Frank Borzage from the screen play by Laird Doyle and Casey Robinson. Music and lyries are by Harry Warren and Al Dubin with numbers by the Hall Johnson Choir of spiritual singers. Spirituals Sung By Hall Johnson Choir In Picture The Hall Johnson choir of Negro spiritual singers make their bow to motion picture audiences in Marion Davies’ new Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Hearts Divided,’’? which which comes to the ................ TheaERO ONT Sea jeer , as a First National release. The celebrated choir, known wherever Negro spirituals are sung, sing three Negro folk songs of the period of 1803 in Miss Davies’ historical romance. They are: ‘‘Steal Away,’’ ‘‘Nobody Knows De Trouble I See,’’? and ‘‘Rise Up Chillun’? and Shine.’’ The three songs were selected by Hall Johnson, the bespectacled, shy Negro musician who is the guiding genius behind this group, after considerable research into the history of negro folk songs. “<The songs of Stephen Foster would have been extremely appropriate for the picture,’’ Johnson remarked, ‘‘ But Foster’s time followed by nearly half a century the period depicted in ‘Hearts Divided ’.’? The choir, twenty-four strong, will appear in the production as a group of slaves of Charles Patterson, played by Henry Stephenson, and his daughter, Betsy, portrayed by Miss Davies. Although only twenty-four members of the choir are seen and heard in ‘‘ Hearts Divided,’’ it has at times numbered as high as 300 members. Its original number was eight. The choir had its inception in the Harlem apartment of Johnson in. 1925. Its collective voice was heard throughout the five year run of ‘‘The Green Pastures’’ on the New York stage, and also will be heard in the film picturization of the play. ‘“Hearts Divided’’ was directed by Frank Borzage from the screen play by Laird Doyle and Casey Robinson, based on a story by Rida Johnson Young. Other music was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. In the cast besides Miss Davies are Dick Powell, Claude Rains, Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton, Arthur Treacher and many others. Going Strong At The Strand Film Held Up By French “Tri-Color” An argument in favor of standardization of English in motion pictures was raised on the set of Marion Davies’ new Cosmopolitan production, “Hearts Divided,” which comes Go thes aurea es Theatre on LSE , as a First National release. Henry Stephenson, who has the role of Miss Davies’ father had to mention the French “tri-color” in his dialogue. “Mr. Stephenson mispronounced tri-color,” claimed the sound mixer. “He said ‘trickolor’.” “But that is the correct French and British pronunciation,” Stephenson, an Englishman, protested. “That’s right,” chimed in Arthur Treacher, another Englishman, and Etienne Girardot, a Frenchman. “The dictionary says “trycolor,” declared the sound expert. “But Englishmen would laugh at me,” Stephenson insisted. “And American audiences won’t understand what you’re talking about,” the sound mixer pointed out. Director Frank Borzage stepped into the debate at this juncture. “Never mind,” he interjected. “Make it ‘the Flag of France’.” Marion Davies Hostess To 500 Extras Marion Davies, star of the Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘ Hearts Divided,’’ which comes to the Sri prea Theatre on ................ as a First National release, served sandwiches on the set each day during the filming of the picture. Every afternoon at 4 o’clock a whistle was blown by the assistant director, which meant time out for sandwiches and coffee. Miss Davies arranged with the studio cafe to have waiters bring huge trays of sandwiches of all varieties on the set at the appointed time. It made no difference whether there were only the cast and crew of forty or fifty technicians on the set, or whether there were several hundred extras. On three separate days five hundred were served. Marion Davies, who has the biggest hit of her career in the Cosmopolitan picture ‘*‘ Hearts Divided,’’ as she appears with Dick Powell, who is teamed with her in the romantic roles, at the ...9....6ccccccceteees Theatre, where the film is making a new house record. Mat No. 206—20c Horton Adopts Full Name Upon Being Arrested Edward Everett Horton, who has the role of one of Marion Davies’ suitors in the Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Hearts Divided,’’ a First National release now showing at the ..........0...... Theatre, was known as Eddie Horton or just plain Ed Horton until he began motion picture work. An amusing case of mistaken identity caused him to adopt the longer cognomen, which he uses entirely now. When he first arrived in Hollywood after a long career on the legitimate stage, Horton discovered he was not the only Eddie Horton in movieland. He attended a motion picture theatre one night to discover that another Eddie Horton was featured at the organ. Several days later a policeman served a subpoena on him for speeding. ““But I don’t even own an automobile,’’ Horton protested. ‘‘So how could I be speeding?’’ ““Your. name is Horton, isn’t it?’’ the officer inquired. ““Yes,’’ the actor admitted. ‘“Then you’ll have to tell it to a judge.’’ Horton told it to a judge and finally convinced the jurist he was not the Eddie Horton wanted. Next day, however, he decided definitely that thereafter he would use his full name. He’s_ been Edward Everett Horton ever since. ‘“Hearts Divided’? combines a glorious romance with hilarious comedy and dynamic drama. It was written by Rida Johnson Young. Miss Davies has the stellar role, while others in the cast besides Horton include Dick Powell, Charlie Ruggles, Claude Rains, Arthur Treacher, Henry Stephenson and Clara Blandick. Frank Borzage directed. Dick Powell Has Two New Songs In “Hearts Divided” Harry Warren and Al Dubin, the foremost song writing team in motion pictures who have scores of hits to their credit, composed two numbers for Marion Davies’ latest Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘ Hearts Divided,’’ an historical romance laid in Baltimore, Washington and Paris in the year 1803, which comes to the ................ Theatre on Svar eee tsar , a8 a First National release. The songs are sung by Dick Powell, Miss Davies’ leading man, who portrays Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, in the production. Miss Davies joins him in one song, ‘‘My Kingdom for a Kiss.’’ The ballad is sung by Powell in both French and in English. The second catchy air is the theme song ‘‘Two Hearts Divided,’’ also sung by Powell. In the role of Jerome Bonaparte, Powell comes to America to negotiate the sale of the territory of Louisiana to the colonies in behalf of Napoleon. Assuming an incognito when he tires of Washington’s social obligations, he attends a race near Baltimore, where he meets Betsy Patterson, played by Miss Davies. He falls in love with her, seeks and obtains from her father, Henry Stephenson, the post of music and French tutor to Betsy. In this capacity he has a splendid opportunity to use the voice that has thrilled millions of theatre goers. Frank Borzage is directing the picture, which also features Claude Rains, Edward Everett Horton, Arthur Treacher, Charlie Ruggles, Clara Blandick and many others. Duel Fighter Edward Everett Horton, together with Charlie Ruggles and Arthur Treacher, furnish much of the laughter that features ‘‘ Hearts Divided,’’ the Cosmopolitan picture starring Marion Davies which opens at the oo. Theatre ONE A Mat No. 111—10c Novel Set For Film Starring Marion Davies A novel method of construction never before attempted in motion pictures was employed in assembling one of the principal settings for Marion Davies’ latest Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Hearts Divided,’’ now showing at the .......... shave eee Theatre. The setting, a colonial mansion supposedly the home of Miss Davies, who plays the role of a Baltimore belle, was built complete on one of the largest sound stages at the First National Studios. Spreading the entire length and breadth of the huge concrete structure, the setting includes beautifully landscaped front and side lawns. Contrary to the general rule of set building followed in the past, however, the two-story mansion, instead of being an empty, hollow shell, contains fourteen rooms. These rooms, ‘‘practical’’ in the parlance of the film studios, are the ones actually used for the action of the picture. In the past, because of lighting and camera problems, large sets of this type were used simply for exterior scenes. Interiors were filmed elsewhere, living room scenes perhaps on one stage, ballroom scenes on another, music room sequences on still another. Ingenious planning of the Southern Colonial mansion by Art Director Robert M. Haas permitted all interior scenes, as well as exteriors, to be taken on the one stage in this instance. The set, incidentally, is patterned from time-yellowed sketches of the home of the Pattersons. ‘¢Hearts Divided’’ is rollicking romance combined with thrilling drama. Miss Davies has the stellar role while others in the cast inelude Dick Powell, Charlie Ruggles, Claude Rains, Edward Everett Horton, Arthur Treacher, Henry Stephenson and Clara Blandick. Frank Borzage directed. Page Thirty-seven