Hi Nellie (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Publicity —A dvance Muni Judges Worth Of Picture Scenes From Valet’s Face Almost as famous as Napoleon’s ‘‘Constant’’ or Wodehouse’s ‘‘Jeeves’’ is Leopold Lobel, valet extraordinary to Paul Muni. But of course Constant’s famous line, to the effect that a man is never a hero to his valet, would never fit Lobel, who fairly leaps at the least curl of the Muni finger. There are other signs, too, of the high regard in which Lobel holds his employer. Lobel watched scenes as they were shot on Muni’s latest Warners Bros. picture, ‘‘ Hi, Nellie! ’’ which comes to the ...........ceee Theatre on then Muni and the whole set watched Lobel. His face is a sure indication of the worth of the scene, In the first place, he is not an admirer of motion pictures, and would much rather see Muni continue his work on the stage. Yet no one was prouder than Lobel when Muni’s new contract was signed, which calls for only two motion pictures a year. And there are legitimate reasons back of Lobel’s prejudices. Lobel was wardrobe man in the Jewish Art Theatre in New York in which Paul Muni first found fame, over ten years ago. Two years ago, still a wardrobe man with Max Gable, who ran the Jewish Art Theatre, and who came west to start such a theatre here, Lobel came to Hollywood. The Jewish Art Theatre of the West never materialized, and Lobel was out of a job. He called Muni and a place was made for Lobel. He is not a regular valet. He does not work at the Muni home. His work is entirely confined to the set, and includes taking care of the star’s wardrobe, as well as being perrenially at hand with mirror and powder before Muni steps before the camera. “*Hi, Nellie!’’ is a newspaper comedy drama by Roy Chanslor and was directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Robert Barrat, Kathryn Sergava and many others support Muni in his first comedy drama for the screen. ““Hi, Nellie!’’ Gives Muni Strong Cast of Featured Principals Paul Muni heads one of the finest and largest casts of noted stage and screen players in his latest Warner Bros. picture “Hi, Nellie!” which comes to the Sass eiiccias Theatre on «.....i:..0asu< Muni is himself a veteran of the stage, having played in but five pictures prior to his latest. He invariably returns to the stage for a season after finishing one or two screen productions. “Hi, Nellie!” is his third production for Warner Bros., the other two having been “The World Changes” of the present season and “I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang,” last year’s success. Between the first two and the latter pictures he returned to the Broadway stage to play his second season in “Counsellor at Law.” Glenda Farrell, his leading lady, is also a product of the Paul Muni No Typist So Double Hits Keys Out of CameraRange As a typist, Paul Muni belongs to the hunt ’n’ poke school. This star had little or no experience with typewriter keys until he was cast as the managing editor of a New York daily, in his latest starring picture for Warner Bros., ‘‘Hi, Nellie! ’’ which comes to the .............c00.00. "Theatre: ons, c-:. eso At the time he confessed to qualms. Not that a managing editor is usually expected to bat out copy on a Remington. But this one doubles not only as a ‘‘Heart Throbs’’ columnist but as an ace reporter in the course of his adventures. That meant lots of typing—and typing that must suggest an old hand at the game. It wasn’t just the typing, either, that worried him. In all the sequences where he is tapping keys, he also has dialogue to speak. As you can see, the combination of the two—for a brand-new typist— looked serious. Finally Director Mervyn LeRoy hit on a solution. When informed of it, Muni was delighted. It would leave him free to handle his lines, without a worry as to how his key-tapping would register on the sound track. An old trick was borrowed from the theatre. You’ve often heard the star of a Broadway drama toss off some difficult selections on the piano while she carries on a love scene with the leading man. She does it with the greatest ease and calmness. That is because, in nine cases out of ten, she isn’t worrying about the piano at all. She just goes through the motions, and some obliging soul is striking keys for her behind the scenes. The same principle was adopted for Muni’s scenes at the typewriter. He did strike the keys of his machine —econvincingly too. But they were silent keys on a ‘‘dummy’’ machine. The fast tattoo of an expert typist was ‘“dubbed’’ in later on the sound track. And Muni was left free for his emoting. ‘*Hi, Nellie!’’ is Muni’s first comedy drama for the screen and is said to be full of the fast action incident to news gathering. Glenda Farrell has the leading feminine role while others in the east are Ned Sparks, Robert Barrat, Kathryn Sergava and Hobart Cavanaugh. The story is by Roy Chanslor. stage, although she has. been playing in pictures for the past two years, her most recent being “Dark Hazard,” “The Big Shakedown” and “Havana Widows.” Ned Sparks is equally well known on the stage and the screen, while Kathryn Sergava, the exotic Russian beauty, was a famous ballet dancer before making her recent bow in pictures. Others in the cast are well known and talented players, most of whom have had footlight training. They include Hobart Cavanaugh, Berton Churchill, Douglas Dumbrille, Edward Ellis, Donald Meek, Dorothy LeBaire, Marjorie Gateson, George Meeker, Harold Huber, Pat Wing, Frank Reicher, George Chandler, George Humbert, Sidney Miller and James Donlan. The picture is an exciting newspaper drama which combines thrills with uproarious comedy. Mervyn LeRoy directed it from the screen play by Abem Finkel and Sidney Sutherland, based on the story by Roy Chanslor. Paul Muni Although born in Vienna, Paul Muni came to America at an early age with his parents, his education being received in New York and Cleveland, Ohio, public schools. He received much of his training from his parents, both stage players, with whom he traveled around the country. Muni showed a bent for theatricals as a youngster and played a really important part when eleven years old. In this he was made up as an old man. a hobby ever since. The make-up intrigued him and he has made it When sixteen Paul’s father died and he went on his own, playing in vaudeville and then in Boston and New York stock companies. His work in a Theatre Guild production interested Sam Harris, who gave him a contract. His work on the Broadway stage has been sensational. and then in ‘‘Four Walls.’’ scored in ‘‘We Americans’? He first On the strength of his work in the latter production he was called to Holly wood where he made his first picture, ‘‘The Valiant.’’ He also ap peared in ‘‘Seven Faces’’ and ‘‘Searface,’’ then returned to New York and the stage. After he finished his first season in ‘‘ Counsellor at Law,’’ Warner Bros. signed him to a contract, his first picture for that company being ‘‘I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang.’’ This season he starred in ‘‘The World Changes’’ and his current production is ‘‘ Hi, Nellie! ’’ which is coming to (now playing at) the ......0..cccceeeee Theatre. And Here's To You! é rs Paul Muni and Glenda Farrell, stars of “Hi, Nellie!” the Warner Bros. hit soon to be seen at the Strand Theatre. “Hi, Nellie!’ is Muni’s first comedy role. Others in the cast are Ned Sparks and Robert Barrat. Mervyn LeRoy directed. Mat No. 6—10c¢ Marjorie Gateson Marjorie Gateson was born in Brooklyn and started her stage career early as a singer in a Walter Damrosch operetta. Her first real part was in ‘‘Her Soldier Boy’’ for the Shuberts. Since coming to the films, she has appeared in ‘*The World Changes,’ ‘‘Lady Killer,’’ ‘‘Employee’s Entrance,’’ ‘‘The King’s Vacation,’’ ‘* Silver Dollar,’’ **Street of Women,’’ ‘Lilly Turner’’ and ‘‘ Bureau of Missing Persons.’’ Her latest role is in ‘*Hi, Nellie!’’ with Paul Muni. Robert Barrat Robert Barrat was born in New York City and educated in the public schools there. His debut in theatreal circles was made in stock in Springfield, Mass. Later he apepared in many noteworthy productions with some of the leading stars of the stage. It was while playing the role of the strong man in the stage play of ‘‘Lilly Turner’’ that Warner Bros. engaged him for that identical role opposite Ruth Chatterton in the picture. Since then he has played in ‘*Massacre,’’ ‘‘Dark MHazard,’’ ‘*From Headquarters,’’ ‘‘I Loved A Woman,’’ ‘‘Wild Boys of the Road,’’ ‘‘Heroes For Sale,’’ Kathryn Sergava Kathryn Sergava, the exotic Russian beauty, was born in St. Petersburg (now Leningrad) just in time to have a happy childhood on her father’s estate interrupted by the revolution. The family fled to Constantinople where Kathryn attended a French convent for two years. The family finally, after traveling through Europe, arrived in New York where Kathryn completed her educaton. She made a special study of dancing and among her teachers were Kokine, Mordkin, Tamiroff and Nina Mose. In 1928 she appeared at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium with Mordkin and later in the Philadelphia Grand Opera. Recently she was given screen tests and signed on a long term contract for picture work by Warner Bros.-First National. Her first picture was ‘‘Bedside.’’ ‘‘Hi, Nellie!’’ starring Paul Muni, is her latest. ‘‘Baby -Face,’’ ‘‘The Silk Express,’’ ‘‘Picture Snatcher’’ and ‘“The Mayor of Hell.’’ Barrat’s latest work is in the Paul Muni starring vehicle, ‘‘ Hi, Nellie!’’ which comes to (is now Maeght ie os oe Theatre. Glenda Farrell Glenda Farrell was born in Enid, Oklahoma, and made her debut on the stage as Little Eva in ‘‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’? at the age of seven. With the exception of occasional pauses for education, she has been on the stage ever since, spending most of her life, as she expresses it, in a trunk. She was a member of the Brissac Stock Company of San Diego, the Moroseo Company of Los Angeles, and the Alcazar in San Francisco. From there she went to Broadway where she played in such successes as ‘‘ Divided Honors,’’ ‘Love, Honor and Betray,’’ **The Rear Car’? and ‘‘Skidding.’’ Her last stage play was ‘‘Life Begins’? and her work was so outstanding that she was selected by Warner Bros.-First National to play the same part in the picture. Her work in that brought her a long term contract. Her chief interest is now centered in pictures and she has played with success in ‘‘I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang,’’ ‘‘The Match King,’’ ‘‘Grand Slam,’’ ‘‘Central Airport,’’ ‘‘Girl Missing,’’ ‘‘The Keyhole,’’ ‘“Mary Stevens, M. D.,’’ ‘‘Bureau of Missing Persons,’’ ‘‘Havana Widows,’’ ‘‘The Big Shakedown’? and ‘‘Dark Hazard.’’ Her latest is ‘‘Hi, Nellie! ’’ opposite Paul Muni, which is coming to (now playng at) the............ SaaS Theatre. Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh was born in Virginia City, Nev., but went to California with his parents at an early age. He attended school in San Francisco and at the University of California, after which he went on the stage. He road-showed all up and down the West Coast in ‘‘Checkers,’?’? which Jimmy Gleason had bequeathed him from the season before. Then he went to New York and was seen on Broadway in such plays as ‘‘Irene,’’ ‘‘Tangerine,’’ ‘‘The Nervous Wreck,’’ ‘‘Danger,’’?’ ‘*The Kibitzer,’’ ‘“Remote Control’’ and ‘‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow.’’ Then he returned to California where he played in ‘‘Broadway’’ and ‘‘The Show Off.’’ At this time he was given a contract by Warner Bros. His pictures include ‘‘Hasy To Love,’’ ‘‘Havana Widows,’’ ‘‘Dark Hazard,’’ ‘‘From Headquarters,’’ ‘‘The Kennel Murder Case,’’ ‘‘Lilly Turner’’ and ‘‘ The Little Giant.’’ His last role is in ‘‘Hi, Nellie! ’’ with Paul Muni, the ..............0.00000.... Theatre’s next (current) attraction. Ned Sparks Born in Ontario, Canada, Ned Sparks received his first stage training as a tenor soloist. His professonal career started in Dawson City, Alaska, in the gold camp days. While appearing in ‘‘ Little Miss Brown’’ on Broadway, he attracted much attention as a droll comedian, winning roles with Madge Kennedy, Alice Brady and other outstanding stars. His picture career started with Constance Talmadge in New York. Later, in Hollywood, he was cast in a number of big productions. He had important parts in ‘*Blessed Event,’’ ‘‘42nd Street,’ ‘*Big City Blues,’’ ‘‘The Miracle Man,’’ ‘‘ Alice In Wonderland,’’ “*Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ ‘‘Going Hollywood,’’ ‘‘Lady For a Day’’ and ‘‘ Too Much Harmony.’? He can be seen in ‘‘Hi, Nellie! ’?’ as Paul Muni’s reportorial partNCW Ab “th =scncaa se Theatre next (this) week. Page Twenty-one