High Pressure (Warner Bros.) (1932)

your D th story New Powell Film Here Today “High Pressure,’? William Powell’s second picture for Warner Bros., comes ROcthe= ee Theatre tomorFOWSTOr-A=runOl nr eee eS days. Advance reports from Coast previewers hail this flim as a new departure for the popular star,. an entirely different type of role which should win him many followers. For his last few appearances Powell has played the part of a ladies man or gigolo. Before that he specialized in playing Philo Vance, the famous detective, or other characters mixed up in underworld doings. At all times he has been suave, debonair and polished. In ‘“‘High Pressure,’’ however, he is reported to be a man of action, a fast talking, fast working super-salesman, a sort of combination Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford and Raffles. He shifts from Wall Street stock rooms to Park Avenue boudoirs without even changing his pace. Supporting Powell in this fast tempo drama are Evelyn Brent, who played opposite him in ‘‘Interference,’”’ one of the first talkies; George Sidney, the popular comedian returning to the screen after a long absence; Guy Kibbee, Evalyn Knapp, Maurice Black, Bobby Watson, Frank McHugh, Polly Walters, Ben Alexander, John Wray and several others. Mervyn LeRoy, youthful director of “Little Caesar’ and “‘Five Star Final,’ produced ‘‘High Pressure,”” which augurs well for its entertainment value. Advance Readers Powell Supported By Fine Cast William Powell, who comes to the ete Ne atrer ce. next in “High Pressure,’’ the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production which is his second starring picture for the present producers, is supported in this fast moving satire on modern bucketeering methods by a cast which includes Evelyn Brent, George Sidney, John Wray, Guy Kibbee, Evalyn Knapp, Polly Walters, Frank McHugh, Luis Alberni, Ben Alexander and Harold Waldridge. Mervyn LeRoy, who recently did ‘Little Caesar,” “Local Boy Makes Good’”’ and ‘‘Five Star Final’? directed ‘‘High Pressure.” Bill, Dick, Ronald Dubbed Three Movie Musketeers Bill Powell, starring in “‘High Pressure,” his second Warner Bros. and Vitaphone picture, with Dick Barthelmess and Ronald Colman, are known as the Three Musketeers of the Movies on account of their staunch friendship. Powell and Barthelmess, at first antagonistic, become pals on a trip to Havana for the filming of ‘‘The Bright Shawl.”” “High Pressure,’’ coming to LU lcks Soe aaa Theatre, presents Powell as a blue sky stock promoter, a comedy role of tremendous appeal. Page Six George Sidney Returns To The Talking Screen George Sidney, one of America’s most beloved comedians, makes his return to the screen in ‘‘High Pressure,” the William Powell starring picture coming=to-the 3... 2. Thegive: next: a Sidney won popularity by his great portrayals in ‘‘Potash and Perlmutter’? on both stage and screen as well as the many “Cohens and Kellys’? comedies in which he was featured with Charlie Murray. He has been absent from pictures for a number of months, but with the release of ‘‘High Pressure’ will no doubt win back his old following, for he has a tailor-made characterization. In addition to George Sid ney, the supporting cast for the Powell picture includes Evelyn Brent, Evalyn Knapp, Guy Kibbee and a long list of familiar featured players. Mervyn LeRoy directed. Powell In New Comedy In “‘High Pressure,’’ coming to the ee +heatre 75/5... Fs second picture on the Warner Bros. program, William Powell plays a seriocomic stock promoter, revealing a fine comedy talent in sharp contrast to his suave villainy. The two elements are mixed in about equal proportions. Beauty and comedy brains surround Mr. Powell, who has for his leading women Evelyn Brent and Evalyn Knapp, with lovely Ruth Hall, Polly Walters, Geraldine Barten and Shirley Chambers in minor roles. Such comedy experts as George Sidney, Bobby Watson, Guy Kibbee, Luis Alberni, Charles Judels and Harry Beresford also are in the cast. Mervyn Le Roy directed. Evelyn Brent A Book Worm Evelyn Brent, who will appear at Lan Rapes Seater eer Theatre: 3. opposite William Powell in his Warner Bros, production, ‘‘High Pressure,”’ has one of the finest libraries in Hollywood. Evelyn is a well-known collector of rare books. Among her most prized possessions are a first edition of Mark Twain’s ‘‘Huckleberry Finn’; Sir James Barrie’s ‘‘Sentimental Tommy’’; Sarah Bernhardt’s ‘‘Memoirs Of My Life,’ now out of print; all of James Stephens and Liam O’Flagherty; a few John Galsworthy novels and plays, and many others. Hollywood Mystery Solved The Hollywood film colony was a bit puzzled recently by the reluctance of William Powell to accept invitations to attend any of the film capitol’s social activities. Bill, in fact, played the part of a complete hermit for two weeks, leaving his home only to visit the studio. With the release of ‘‘High Pressure,” his latest Warner picture, however, the reason for his seclusion is quite evident. In the early part of this film the star is seen in a drunken stupor in a speakeasy, the finale of a debauch which lasted many days. He is unkempt and unshaven. Rather than trust to make-up and false whiskers for this all-important sequence, Powell choose to grow a week’s beard. And rather than go about scaring children and getting a reputation for slovenliness, Bill decided to spend a few quiet nights at home with wife Carole Lombard. “High Pressure” with Evelyn Brent, Evalyn Knapp, George Sidney and a big cast of well-known players supporting Powell, will come to the eer e see Theatre: next 5275 oe, Powell In First Film Since Marriage Has married life changed William Powell? Powell fans are looking forward with anticipation to his latest picture, ‘“‘High Pressure,’’ which is coming to the screen of the ....... PREAE oo e The last appearance of this star was in ‘‘Road To Singapore,”’ which directly preceded his marriage to Carole Lombard. The question of whether or not married life has wrought any changes in his characterizations will be answered when you see his new picture. Review William Powell Does Best Work As “High Pressure’”’ Stock Salesman In FastMoving Bucketeering Comedy William Powell amazed and delighted patrons of the ........... Theatre last night in ‘‘High Pressure,” his second Warner Bros. and Vitaphone starring vehicle, by a cyclonic comedy characterization, utterly at variance with the melodramatic roles which ‘have made him famous. Recognized as a past master, not only in the portrayal of suave men of the world, but of sodden derelicts —NMr. Powell, as the Gar Evans of “High Pressure,’ is given a chance to play both dandy and down-andouter, but this resemblance applies to externals only. The real Gar Evans is unique, conscienceless, aggravating, lovable, ludicrous, eloquent, compelling, nonchalant, he is as gaily appreciative of a bottle, for solace, in times of depression, as he is for buyers, when his latest bamboozling balloon is on the rise. Gar Evans, in short, is king of all blue sky stock promoters, most adept of all moderns in the gentle art of bucketeering. ‘‘High Pressure’ first discloses him as his aide rouses him from unshaven slumber to introduce a new financial angel who has just bought an invention purporting to convert sewage into marketable rubber. Gar the garish, sky-rockets to attention—rents vast and magnificent skyscraper quarters—dolls himself up in the latest Park Avenue togs—hires a huge staff—and proceeds to harangue the suckers on the virtues of his virtueless stocks, with such convincing eloquence that he all but believes his lies are truth. When a rival company threatens legal proceedings—when the ‘inventor’ turns out to be a lunatic—when two pretty ladies begin to battle over the big boss —when one of them elopes with a sheik and her shares— at the critical moment when the rival company offers to buy him out you’ll see comedy that you'll be talking about for many a day. Mervyn Le Roy, who recently directed “‘Little Caesar,” ‘‘Local Boy Makes Good’ and ‘‘Five Star Final’ directs ‘‘High Pressure’? with his accustomed verve. The capable cast includes Evelyn Brent, George Sidney, John Wray, Guy Kibbee, Evalyn Knapp, Polly Walters, Frank McHugh, Luis Alberni, Ben Alexander, Harold Waldridge and a host of picturesque extra characters. Don’t miss Bill Powell in uproarious “High Pressure.” Your FollowUp Campaign I. day of run Powell Had Long Fight To Stardom William Powell, now drawing delighted ctowds to the ..-.. 3 Theatre, where he is appearing in “High Pressure,’’ his second Warner Bros. and Vitaphone starring vehicle, reached the top only after long years of hard work and harder knocks. It was the praise he received for his portrayal of Jack Absolute in an amateur production of ‘‘The Rivals,’ at Central High School in St. Louis, Missouri, that decided*him to be an actor. His parents objected but the lad worked as a telephone messenger and a theatre usher and saved with the idea of entering the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Feeling that his wad was growing too slowly he communicated with a rich aunt, who gave him half of what he asked to borrow, and he beat it for the Big Town. After a term at the Academy his money was gone and he took a temporary job while scouting for a_ part. His first was in ‘‘Ne’er Do Well’’ at forty dollars per week. When the play closed he was again on his uppers till “Within The Law” kept him busy for two years. Next he was seen with Leo Dietrichstein in two plays— and in his first outstanding success, “Spanish. Love.” His entry into pictures came with his portrayal of the villain in ‘‘Sherlock Holmes’? with John Barrymore, “When Knighthood Was In Flower.” “The Bright Shawl’ and ‘‘Romola”’ followed, and three years in stock, with films as a side line. It was the talkies, Powell says, that made him a star, for he was permitted to depart slightly from the sinister roles in which he had been cast, when producers heard his voice. He is grand as the blue sky stock promoter in “High Pressure.” Evelyn Brent, Evalyn Knapp, Guy Kibbee, John Wray and many others are in the cast. Mervyn Le Roy directed.