Housewife (Warner Bros.) (1934)

And not a bad looking smile, either! part of a successful advertising executive in *“Housewife,” the inti mate comedy-drama coming to the Strand Theatre. Others in the cast of this Warner film include Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak, John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly and Robert Barrat. Mat No. 10—20c ‘Housewife’ Dynamic Drama Of Special Appeal To Women “Housewife,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to the .............. Theatre “ones esate gil Sk dynamic love drama spiced with hilarious comedy, and with an especial appeal to women _inas much as it shows, for the first . time, how the wife inspires her husband to success. It has an unusually strong and well balanced cast with George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak forming the triangle in a unique domestic entanglement and John Halliday crashing in to complicate matters as the lover of the neglected wife. Ruth Donnelly and Hobart Cavanaugh supply the comedy while Phil Regan, radio’s “The Singing Cop,” croons some catchy airs, playing his own role of a radio singer. Other important characters are portrayed by Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne, Willard Robertson, Ronnie Cosby and Leila Bennett. Brent, a college football hero, marries and settles down to a humdrum domestic life as a cringing clerk, the part of the wife being played by Ann Dvorak. She is full of ideas, gets him to start his own advertising agency and develops a brilliant idea that nets him a fat account. He engages one of his school girl devotees, who has become a brilliant advertising writer, to handle his copy, and is on the road to wealth and success. The ad writer starts in to wreck the home and succeeds to the extent of starting a divorce. Halliday, as the lover of the wife, hopes to win her after a divorce decree is entered. The outcome of this marital tangle is brought out in a most unusual and thrilling climax. The picture is filled with snappy dialogue in which the wife and the other woman cross swords in their battle for love and happiness. Alfred E. Green directed the picture from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward, based on the story by Robert Lord and Miss Hayward. Catchy music and lyrics are by the famous team of songsters, Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. Tall, Dark and Handsome George Brent portrays the Ann Dvorak’s Rise To Screen Fame Is Like Fiction Story Fiction abounds in stories of extra girls who become stars, but Ann Dvorak is one of the few authentic examples of this happening in real life. The poised and polished young actress who plays the title role of ANN DVORAK, appearing in Warner Bros.’ *“HOUSEWIFE,” at the Strand Mat No. 4— 10c “Housewife,” the Warner Bros. production now showing at the he tens ieee Theatre, was once a disappointed applicant at studio gates. Years ago, her mother, Ann Lehr, was a star and she wanted to follow in the parental footsteps, but the casting offices gave her no encouragement. From the chorus of a musical show called the “Hollywood Revue,’ she became assistant dance director of a musical troupe. This, however, did not advance her motion picture ambitions. Ann was patient. She heard that Howard Hughes was looking for a bright, vivacious type to play a leading part in “Scarface.” She went after the job and got it. In her first part, she made .the hit that led her straight up the ladder to a contract with Warner Bros. In “Housewife,” she has the title role, a wife who has to battle to save her home from being wrecked by a siren. Others in the cast include George Brent, Bette Davis, John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Alfred E. Green directed from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward, based on the story by Robert Lord and Miss Hayward. Ruth Donnelly Is Picked For Role On Authors’ Notation In describing one of the characters in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” which comes topbhe® .....2..:....... Theatre on ns Se Mk, es, See » Robert Lord and Lillie Hayward, the authors, made this notation: “Young, brisk, good looking... must be able to talk and act tough without being common ... and read comedy lines snappily,.. . able to dominate a scene.” The description so exactly fitted Ruth Donnelly, the casting department selected her for the role. Miss Donnelly has been reading comedy lines snappily for years and when it comes to dominating scenes, she has made many stars look to their laurels. With twenty-three pictures to her credit, Ruth is a veteran of the screen, althugh it is less than two years since she was taken to Hollywood by Warner Bros. to repeat on the screen her stage success in “Blessed Event.” In “Housewife,” she plays the wise-cracking sister-in-law of Ann Dvorak, who has the title role. It is a typical Ruth Donnelly part with fast comedy lines and more than a touch of human interest. The picture is an exciting comedy drama of domestic tangles with George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak in the featured roles. Others in the cast include John Halliday, Hobart Cavanaugh, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Alfred E. Green directed the picture from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Miss Hayward. 2) Bette Davis, Film Home Wrecker, Has Had Only One Love The sophistication of Bette Davis, now appearing at the .......... Theatre in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” is for screen purposes only. The girl who breaks up so many homes on the screen is in real life a romantic little lady, whose one and only love began in high school days, and is still going strong. When Bette was in high school, she was fascinated by a good looking young fellow student by the name of Harmon Nelson. Years passed and Harmon saw Bette occasionally, and Bette told her mother that Harmon was_ her choice, even if Harmon did not know it. Bette’s professional career took her away and as soon as she was gone, Harmon woke up to the fact that he missed her dreadfully. Finally, she became a Warner Bros. star and that meant living in the West. Harmon couldn’t get away at the time, but insisted they would be married and he would follow her West as soon as he could. So Bette Davis is Mrs. Harmon Nelson, just as she expected to be. BETTE DAVIS, blonde beauty of Warner’s “HOUSEWIFE,” coming to the Strand Mat No. 3— & 10c : Those who see her in “House wife” with George Brent and Ann Dvorak will have to reconcile her role as a heartless little siren to her off-stage role of a hopelessly sentimental little bride. The picture, based on a story by Robert Lord and Lillie Hayward, is a thrilling drama of domestic entanglements. Alfred E. Green directed. George Brent Has Spent His Life As Warring Crusader The handsome, romantic looking George Brent, who has the leading role in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” now showing at the .................. Theatre, hardly suggests the warring crusader. But he is just that. Back in 1924, when the Irish Revolution was at its height, young George Brent of the Dublin Brents GEORGE BRENT, handsome star of *“HOUSEWIFE,” Warner film now at the Strand Mat No. 2— 10c was suddenly missing from the Abbey Players, that valiant Irish Little Theatre Group, then presenting the plays of Gregory, Lady Yeats, George Russell and Padraic Colum. George had become the trusted despatch-bearer for ihe leader, Michael Collins. When Collins was slain, George fled for his life, and hid in Glasgow. He managed to talk himself into the good graces of a ship-captain in Plymouth, who gave him passage to America, where he found success on the American stage and screen. His revolutionary activities have been forgotten by the authorities and he has visited his people in Dublin several times. “Housewife” is the dramatic story of a wife who inspires her husband to success only to see him turn from her to a flashy siren. Others in the cast include Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak, John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh and Robert Barrat. Alfred E. Green directed from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward, based on the story by Robert Lord and Miss Hayward. Actresses Set New Satin Gown Styles In “Housewife” Film Satin will be the smartest fabric seen in formal garb during the late summer and fall, according to Orry-Kelly, Warner Bros. stylist. Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak form an attractively gowned duo whose screen wardrobes echo his forecast in “Housewife,” which comesato thet.) 2 Theatre One tndse Mi: Os. White, black and pink are nominated by the designer as_ the smartest colors preferred by filmdom’s fashion-wise young ladies. Ann Dvorak wears elaborate satin evening ensembles in her current production of ‘“Housewife.” She appears in a stunning pink satin ensemble, the gown having a draped neckline of black velvet, complemented by a dashing full-length cape of the same luscious material. Bette Davis is another satin wearer. As the siren of the domestic triangle in ‘Housewife,’ she appears in a striking scroll embroidered white satin gown that boasts a bolero type bodice with a deep cut out back. A _ folded circular ruffle edges the hemline of the skirt, which shows a daring front slit also trimmed with the ruffle. “Housewife” is a spicy tale of domestic tangles with George Brent as the third member of the triangle. Others in the cast include John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Alfred E. Green directed the production from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward. Human Stories Like “Housewife” Catch Interest Of Public So-called “human stories” do not run in cycles, but burst suddenly and obtrusively into the midst of other cycles. This has been the history of the American stage. “Peg o’? My Heart” came in the midst of a cycle of very heavy “dramas”; ‘“Abies’ Irish Rose” stepped into the middle of a mystery rage; “Seventh Heaven” walked in calmly to disturb a run of problem plays. Whatever a novelty-seeking public seems to want temporarily, it invariably settles back to the simple things that do not tax its credulity. Recent pictures definitely mark a trend toward this simple human story. : Warner Bros., which has gone as far as any other producer toward the ultra-modern and sophisticated, is also among the first to recognize the tendency. Two of their recent films, “As the Earth Turns” and “The Merry Frinks” were plain stories of plain people. Public response to these was so favorable they produced “Housewife,” which comeshtoothe 207. i.e: Theatre On at etiiest aah win success and then sees him turn to a more flashy woman. George Brent, Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak, are the three members of the triangle while others in the cast include John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Alfred E. Green directed the production from the screen play by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hay ward, based on the story by Robewe-“" ~ Lord and Miss Hayward. Demure Ann Dvorak, called the typical American girl, plays a_ typical American wife in Warner’s “Housewife,” coming to the Strand. Mat No. 8—10c Al Green's Joke Is Turned on Himself Al Green, director of “Housewife,’ the Warner Bros. picture now showing at the ........0.0.000000. Theatre, and a champion practical joker, found out that the sound department is a dangerous butt for jokes. Between scenes, Green whispered to his prop man that when the midnight location lunches were ready, he was to slip a red pepper sandwich to the sound technician. He did not know that the sound system was “on” and the technician heard every word of the plot. Imagine Al’s chagrin when he, himself, bit into a sandwich, full of Cayenne pepper. The sound man had switched boxes, Page Nine