High Pressure (Warner Bros.) (1932)

y= day of run Mervyn Le Roy Becomes A Magician Of The Megaphone Mervyn Le Roy, youthful director of “High Pressure,’’ now playing at LL, aaa nee as Theatre, has lately become as popular with screen audiences as the stars whom he directs. It seems strange that Mervyn, whose face is never seen on the screen should actually receive fan mail, but this is the case and he is as much surprised as anyone. His fans are not limited solely to moviegoers, however, for after his five straight hits, namely, “Little Caesar,”” in which Edw. G. Robinson started his rise to success; “Local Boy Makes Good,” ‘‘Five Star Final,” “Tonight Or Never’ and ‘‘High Pressure,”” the screen’s finest are clamoring to be directed by Mervyn Le Roy. Waning stars wanting to return to the spotlight and popular favorites, striving to hold their popularity, are all soliciting his services. With the Warner Studios working. at a break-neck pace on an already prepared schedule however, he has little time to take up any of these offers. At present he is making the cinematic version of ‘‘Mendel, Inc.’’ with Smith and Dale. oD rd day of run Powell Film Debut Was In John Barrymore’s “Sherlock Holmes” William Powell, now drawing record crowds:*to-the:. 2-5. Theatre in “High Pressure,” his second Warner Bros. and Vitaphone starring vehicle, made his first screen appearance as the villain in ‘Sherlock Holmes”’ with John Barrymore. From then on he remained in films with brief returns to the stage. Among his early screen successes were ‘‘When Knighthood Was in Flower,’”’ ‘‘The Bright Shawl” and ‘‘Romola.”’ Since then he has steadily won favor in many films in which he was either the suave man of the world or the tattered outcast. It was the advent of talking pictures which, by adding the magnetism of the voice to his other talents, made his rise to stardom swift and. sure. “High Pressure’ presents him in a breathtaking comedy characterization as a blue sky stock salesman, and wildcat promoter, who hits the high spots of the Big Town, and whether drunk or sober, is nonchalant and enthusiastically on the lookout for new adventures. Quite different from earlier portrayals, the Gar Evans of Mr. Powell is an actionful portrait, the sort that we all like. Those who support William Powell in “High Pressure’? are Evelyn Brent, George Sidney, John Wray, Guy Kibbee, Evalyn Knapp, Polly Walters, Frank McHugh, Luis Alberni, Ben Alexander and Harold Waldridge. The breath-taking travesty on modern bucketeering methods was directed by Mervyn Le Roy. Page Seven Feature Story Powell Drops Ladies’ Man Roles For New Type Bill Powell, who appears in ‘“‘High Pressure’ atthe > ...253.° Theatre, has left the ranks of ladies’ men. The public doesn’t lose its qualified villains as easily as it used to, and from Maine to Florida and New Mexico to Washington the calls have been coming in to the BrosFirst National studios to let 3 and he-man ac fans. ¢ They’ve been * demanding bigger and better roles for their big, suave-looking hero for a William. Powell Cut No. 21 Cut 15c Mat 5c great many years, and it isn’t beyond: the realm of possibility that they will keep on demanding for a great many years to come, movie tastes being as varied as they are. There may be some of you who remember a picture in which Bill figured as a very wicked villain indeed, a picture called ‘‘Sea Horses,’’ in which he got very drunk and very dirty, and nearly spoiled Florence Vidor’s life. But there was one little scene in the picture in which he wasn’t either drunk or dirty. It was a little scene set in an Italian park, and Bill was cast in the role of the young lover of the delectable, but wholly upright Florence. It went so big that the fan mail for several weeks didn’t talk about anything but this particular scene, It wasn’t long after this that Philo Vance came into being. There is no question in anyone’s mind but that as Philo, Bill was a complete success. The only trouble was that Bill himself tired of the role. A New York newspaperman with a smashing idea landed on the West Coast lot and ‘‘Street Of Chance’ was made. Yes, it was the first of the gang pictures that had that terrific thrill, that last minute punch that ended in such examples as ‘‘The Public Enemy”’ and ‘“‘Little Caesar,’ etc. But there were also some scenes in the picture which you may or may not remember. A scene or two between Powell and Kay Francis that were remarkable for the delicacy of their handling. Critics, with no better words at their command, called them love scenes. Perhaps they were. But behind their birth lies a curious story. Bill Powell always feels embarrassed at the thought of making a love scene. He doesn’t like to make a show of love. He isn’t alone in that course. Your average Anglo-Saxon shines very palely at the business of galloping off with a lady’s heart—a business that has natural adepts among the Latins by thousands. He generally does it sans flowery speeches, hand kissing, kneeling or even “‘pawing.”’ When Bill Powell followed this method in ‘‘Street Of Chance,” the public, at the moment gorged on hot Latin Lovers and weary to the soul of them, found in his diffidence and shyness a new kind of lover who struck their fancy. They demanded more. The studio tried, but what they got was something as dangerous in its way as could be imagined. They made a lady killer of him—and even something more than a lady killer. They made him prey upon women. Obeying the dictates of the studio masters in lending himself for roles he found unconvincing, Powell opened himself to the criticism of the people he had a right to expect understanding from—the critics and the fans who had been such faithful friends for years. For twelve or thirteen years now he had been wont to have the support of the critics, even when the picture he happened to be playing in didn’t. It hurt a little to have them misunderstand. The change to a new studio—Warner Bros.—gave him the opportunity he wanted to play varied roles. And his first picture for them, ‘Road To Singapore’’ was a beginning. His next, ‘‘High Pressure,’’ coming to=the == PEheatte ; he made under the skillful direction of the young director of ‘“‘Little Caesar’ and ‘Five Star Final,’’ Mervyn Le Roy. Powell returns in this to the role of the Robin Hood type of civic buccaneer whom his audiences can like while they fear him. “It’s like coming home,’’ he says. “Fast lines, action—and not too much mush,” It occurred to me to ask five people what sort of picture they would like to see Powell in. The first one wanted him a sort of Wallingford, with clever lines, in that region between strict honesty and honest crookdom. The second wanted more Philo Vance stories with Bill as the omniscient detective. The third wanted straight villain roles for him. The fourth wanted him to return to leading man parts for a famous star. The fifth said he wanted to see something new, straight comedy, tinged with satire and wit—Powell to be either villain or hero, it didn’t matter which, as long as the story held up, and the action carried audience appeal. | showed the answer to Bill Powell, who expressed himself as in hearty agreement with the last. What’s more, he thinks his present picture is going to measure up, somewhat, to that demand. And whether you’re critic or fan or just an indifferent movie patron, Bill Powell will be interested in your reaction. Born in him is the desire to please, to be a success in the work he has chosen as his, and has worked hard at for a great many years. He believes that ‘“‘High Pressure,’’ which comes: tonthe=se: Theatre NOX oe es will satisfy his fan following and win many new admirers. Current Readers Bucketeering Comedy Stars William Powell William Powell, suave menace or tattered down-and-outer in so many screen hits, makes a successful flight into comedy in ‘High Pressure,’’ his second starring vehicle under the Warner banner. He plays the part of a high pressure stock salesman in a breath-taking drama of high finance in the frenzied background of New York life. Mervyn Le Roy directed. LeRoy Lives An Exemplary Life While making a picture, stars have to stay home nights to learn their lines. Directors have to stay, too— perhaps to keep their patience in leash and their sense of humor keen. Anyway, Mervyn LeRoy lives a very quiet life while he is directing a picture. He never goes out nights, is in bed by 10 o'clock, and his diet resembles that of a football player. His only dissipation while making a picture is cigars. He never smokes less than eight a day and seldom more than 12. When he isn’t working he never touches cigars. Practically every day on the lot Mervyn wears a_ different slipon leather jacket. A secret investigation revealed that he is the owner of 37 leather jackets, all varying slightly as to color, cut or kind of leather. His latest picture is ‘‘High Pressure,’ starring William Powell, for ratner mros. at the.) 3 faces: Theatre. Boy Star Plays Grown-Up Role The Jackie Cooper of his day, one of the first young screen actors able to produce real tears before the movie camera, has grown two or three feet taller and several years older and is now playing as a juvenile in the Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘High Pressure,”’ starring William Powell, at the ..... Snore ee eee Theatre. He is Ben Alexander, named by D. W. Griffith as one of the three or four outstanding child actors of all time. Ben played for Griffith in ‘‘Boy O” Mine,”’ which the old timers are apt to remember. More recently, he had world wide citation by the critics for his work in ‘“‘All Quiet On The Western Front,” in which he played one of the leading roles. Powell In “High Pressure” Ends Record Run Today “High Pressure,’ the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production which is the latest starring vehicle for William Powell, will be seen at the Si een ee Theatre for the last showing today. Mr. Powell’s portrayal of the cyclonic Gar Evans, blue sky stock promoter, has been greeted at each performance with riotous approval. It’s just what you need for the blues. Mervyn Le Roy directed.