Housewife (Warner Bros.) (1934)

(Review ) *‘Housewife’’ Real, Human, With Tremendous Appeal George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak Head All Star Cast in Smashing Drama 39> D RAMA so real and so human that it appeals to every specta tor is presented in ‘Housewife, the Warner Bros. pro duction which had its local premiere at the ..........0.00.0000... Theatre yesterday, with George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak heading an all-star cast. The story by Robert Lord and Lillie Hayward concerns the age old love triangle, but Warner Bros. have given the theme new and novel treatment. The picture glorifies the woman of the home, for it is the wife, in this instance, who is the inspiration for her husband’s success, and who, after she has made “her man,” stands by with an aching heart the while he makes love to a more flashy rival. Brent has the role of the husband with Miss Dvorak in the part of his wife and Miss Davis as the home wrecking siren. A former football hero, but now a cringing clerk, Brent is finally aroused by his wife into quitting his job and going on his own. His old spirit is revived and he wins to success. After which Miss Davis comes on the scene and the two women engage in a bitter battle for his love. The result of this battle is revealed in the most unusual divorce court fight on_ record, bringing the play to a smashing climax. To this picture, Brent brings a new fire, a new dominance to his characterization. He has come into his own with a distinctly added vigor. Bette Davis gives a fine portrayal of a woman who takes what she wants in the way of love regardless of the homes and lives 119! wrecks. Miss Dvorak, in the title role, ‘Housewife’, Unique Love Drama, Comes To. ...-Pomty “Housewife,’ a Warner Bros. picture with a new and_ novel twist on love triangles, is the feature attraction at the ............0.... Theatre today, with an all-star cast headed by George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak. The story is of a wife who lead her husband to success, only to see him turn from her to a more flashy rival, neglecting the woman who made him. Brent, once a_ football hero, badgered by his boss into a cringing clerk, is the crux of the triangle, with Ann Dvorak as the wife who spurs him on to quit his job and go on his own, whereupon he develops a masterly force and wins to wealth and success. Then comes Bette Davis, who as a school girl had worshipped the football hero. Flashy, brilliant and unscrupulous as far as love is concerned, she sets about to wreck the home and win the man for herself. The battle for love between the two women ends in a smashing climax with an unusual development. John Halliday adds to the marital tangle by proposing marriage to the wife, whom he has long loved in secret. Although the picture is a dynamic drama, there are many uproarious comedy situations, the fun being supplied largely by that trio of comedians, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh and Leila Bennett. Phil Regan, the radio’s “Singing Cop,” sings some catchy airs by the famous song team of Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. Others in the cast include Robert Barrat, Joseph Cawthorne, Willard Robertson, Ronnie Cosby, Harry Tyler and Charles Coleman. 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. Page Ten has the finest part she has had since her return to the screen and she enacts it with all her sparkling brilliance. John Halliday is excellent as the fourth party in the love tangle, being infatuated with the neglected wife. While the story is powerfully dramatic, it is not without its lighter moments, rollicking comedy being supplied by Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh and Leila Bennett. Phil Regan, radio's “Singing Cop,” plays the part of a radio singer and warbles some catchy airs written by that ace song team, Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. Other principals in the cast, all of whom do excellent work, include Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne, Willard Robertson, Ronnie Cosby, Harry Tyler and Charles Coleman. Alfred E. Green, noted for his direction of virile human stories, has handled the situations with exceptional understanding and ability, turning out an unusually strong drama. The story was dramatized with great skill by Manuel Seff and Miss Hayward. Actor Wins Fame By Ability To Portray Downtrodden Worm Hobart Cavanaugh’s mild, inoffensive, downtrodden manner has been his fortune. Picture goers have seen him in such roles in films. Broadway has seen him in at least ten hits, and the one night stands have seen him in countless shows. In “Housewife,” the Warner Bros. production now showing at there eee Theatre, he is the chap with the wife who manages him, the boss who bluffs him and the neighbors who take advantage of him—a poor futile worm. The technique-of such a characterization is so difficult that only a few actors have ever perfected it. That is why Hobart Cavanaugh is always so busy. The extraordinary part of Cavanaugh’s roles is that they are so at variance with his actual self. He is a deep thinker, has a magnetic personality and is the canny Scot his name indicates. Nobody would try to take advantage of “Hobey” in real life, but everybody does it in a play. The picture is a spicy 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, Rob ert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Singing Cop Now Seen in "Housewife" Phil Regan, who plays a crooner in “Housewife,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to the .............. Theatneronwee eh sec » was once leading tenor of the Columbia Broadcasting chain. Before that he was a cop on the New York police force. FREAK FACS... . 45007 HIM FAVORITES IS THE CHAMPION WOMAN CHESSPLAYER \ @ OF HOLLYWooD BECAME AN AMATEUR BULLFIGHTER WHILE HONEY MOONING THROUGH SPAIN. * tao s, ee ee eee me GEORSEBDENT am These popular Warner Bros. players are appearing in “Housewife”, the new film coming to the Strand on Friday. WN ~ MOONY NA SN ‘. SSRN OS Bete ss MD Panis IN BOSTON OUCATED CUSHING ACADEMY Tego DRAMATICS AT SCHOOL 00k BWAY wits WILD DUCK NTERED MATRIMONY [cameo TO BEA PLATINUM BLON DE [creo ON SCREEN WITH GEORGE ARLUSS T, ER FAVORITE EGETABLES H Oey | NTERVIEWS DELIGHT HER EEN CURRENTLY IN “HOUSEWIFE ” Mat No. 11—20c TTECELLULLULL EEL CCUOUo Leila Bennett in 44th Dumb Maid Role Leila Bennett, who plays the part of the dumb maid in “Housewife,” the Warner Bros. picture Willch = COMES = {Ons 8. 5 s.c,scki Theatreson 2.,..5s6406453 , has played 43 similar parts in pictures and plays. Miss Bennett was for many years a leading comedienne on the New York stage where she played a great variety of parts, but Hollywood seems to have “typed” her for dumb roles, which she plays with a grand sense of comedy. George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak are co-starred in the picture, a story of domestic entanglements. Bette Davis’ Pup Bites Screen Villain Bette Davis, who has the role of a home-wrecker in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” now showing at the ................0..0... Theatre, has a Scotty that loves her so much, he added $60 to her expenses recently. She was looking at a picture in the projection room at Warner Bros. studio and the little dog was with her. In one scene, Bette struggles with the villain. She was so intent on the picture, she forgot the dog until she heard a growl and the dog shot past her. Before they could stop the dog, it had attacked the “villain,” and _ his sharp teeth had done $60 worth of damage to the screen. Brent Claims Black Cat Wrecked Car George Brent, who has the leading role in the Warner Bros. production, “Housewife,” now showing atathe 03... 2h ee ee. Theatre, reported at the studios one morning that a black cat had wrecked his car. “I was driving down the boulevard toward home when a black cat crossed in front of my car,” he said. “I swerved and went around the corner to the next street. Just as I turned the corner a truck hit me. Black cats have always been my Nemesis.” Ann Dvorak Abhors “Marble Halls" Ann Dvorak, who has the title role in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” which comes TOntHe sos car eee oe Theatre on Biase etacaed rtaaa area , is one Hollywood star who does not go in for marble halls. Her new home is a sprawling ranch house that she recently built in a walnut grove. She has chickens, pigs, cows and all the rural fixin’s of real farm life. Her husband, Leslie Fenton, helps her with the chores. George Brent and Bette Davis are co-starred with Miss Dvorak in “Housewife,” a drama of domestic entanglements. Toy Train Makes Boy Forget He's Actor Ronnie Cosby, the little six-yearold actor who plays an important role with George Brent, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis in the Warner Bros. picture, ‘“Housewife,” now showing at the .............. Theatre, disappeared from an office set one day during the making of the production. He was later located in a nursery set, where a complete electric train outfit was part of the props. When his mother reproved him for running off and keeping the company waiting, he explained: “Tm sorry, Mommy, but when I saw that train I forgot I was an actor.” Brent in N. Y. Debut With Clark Gable After playing 300 roles in stock companies, George Brent, who will appear in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” at the ROSE DNF Seereers Theatre on eas got his first chance on Broadway in the same play in which Clark Gable made his New York debut. The play was “Love, Honor and Betray” with Alice Brady. Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak are the other two sides of the love triangle in “Housewife,” a drama of domestic tangles, Halliday A Better Gold Digger Than Warner's Beauties The suave and polished John Halliday, who plays the role of Ann Dvorak’s wealthy suitor in “Housewife,” now showing at the 1B tas rere Theatre, was once a more successful gold digger than any of Warner Bros. famous 1933 variety. At one time, he amassed a great fortune as a gold miner. Educated as a mining engineer, he went west years ago and settled in Goldfield, Nev. He was one of the minority of gold seekers, who found it in paying quantities. He became rich almost over night. Later he moved to Sacramento. where bad investments put him entirely out of the wealthy class. Discouraged, broke, and with a faint memory of college dramatics, he went to see Nat Goodwin, who was playing Sacramento with a repertoire company. He stayed with Goodwin for several years; later toured the world with Dan Frawley and finally landed in New York, where he became a star. “Housewife” is a modern story of domestic entanglements by Rob ert Lord and Lillie Hayward, Miss Hayward also collaborating with Manuel Seff on the dramatization. George Brent, Bette Davis and Ann Dvorak have the featured roles while others in the cast include Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Joe Cawthorne and Phil Regan. Alfred E. Green directed. CUT Bette Davis Had Hard Struggle for Fame Bette Davis, who has the role of a home wrecker in the Warner Bros. production of “Housewife,” WHICH COMES OCGHE sy ct tay cee Theatre On ce eee ke , had a hard time in Hollywood before she reached stardom in pictures. She had tried in vain to get a contract and was ready to return to New York when George Arliss gave her a part in “The Man Who Played God.” Since then, her rise has been continuous. George Brent and Ann Dvorak are co-starred with Miss Davis in “Housewife,” a drama of marital tangles. Ah, Romance AEN LR The camera caught George Brent and Bette Davis in this romantic pose during the production of Warner Bros.’ domestic romance, “AT ° 9° . ousewife,” coming to the Strand. Mat No, 7—10¢