Illicit (Warner Bros.) (1931)

Warner Bros. present “ILLICIT,” A Vitaphone Production LUCKY BREAK LANDS CORTEZ (Biographical Ricardo Cortez, who plays one of the featured roles with Barbara Stanwyck and James Rennie in Warner Bros. daring comedy-dramay “Hlicit, now atothe: ss Theatre, got into motion pictures through a mistake. A misplaced pencil mark on a theatre program put Cortez in the movies. It all dates back to 1922 when a Pathe Studio executive, impressed ’ certain young man appearing e New York musical comedy, Boy,” decided to get in touch “with this promising young man next day and offer him a chance in the movies. He made a mental note of the name and also checked it on the theatre program. The next day he handed his stenographer the program and asked her to call the name checked. About an hour later a handsome young man appeared in answer to the telephone call and was immediately ushered into the executive’s office where he introduced himself as Ricardo Cortez. “But there must be some mistake,” said the amazed studio official, “you are not the man I wished to see.” It was not until he looked at the program that he realized the error was his own— he had checked the wrong man. However, the official, after apologizing for his mistake, invited Cortez to remain for a chat and when Cortez left the office, he took with him the other fellow’s chance. He had been signed to play a fea tured role in “The ‘Fringe of Society,’ in which picturé he made his motion picture debut. His most important pictures in clude “Feet of Clay,’ “Pony Express,” “Society Scandal” with Gloria Swanson and “Truant” with Greta Garbo. Cortez, like many players of silent films who gradually lost out, made his big comeback with the advent of the talkies where his fine speaking voice stood him in good stead. ‘“Tilicit,’ which is a daring story of a high society girl whose theory, that husbands do not make good lovers, prompts her to prefer living out of wedlock with the man she loves, rather than being married. For the first time in his long screen career, Cortez, in his role of a wealthy man about town, fails to win the girl of his heart’s choice in the picture. Others in the cast with him are Charles Butterworth, Joan Blondell, Natalie Moorehead Gillingwater. Archie Mayo di rected. ' and Claude phone picture now at the Feature) Here She Is! BARBARA STANWYCK The Most Sensational Screen Find in the Last Five Years! She brings a new kind of personality to the screen in It took a great picture to bring out her hidden genius! with Charles Butterworth, James Rennie, Ricardo Cortez, Joan Blondell Cut No. 9—Cut, 20c; Mat, 5c 88 Lines Followed the Organ Man Barbara Stanwyck, featured in “Tllicit,’ the Warner Bros. and Vita Theatre, first danced after fame at the heels of a hurdy-gurdy man. JAMES RENNIE and BARBARA STANWYCK SSIS Sa ocene from “Illicit Cut No. 22 -A Warner Bros.Product/on Cut 30c Mat 10c “Tlhicit’” Features Barbara Stanwyck As Modern Wife (Advance) Barbara Stanwyck, who is featured with James Rennie in “IIlicit,’” the new Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production opening at | achieved one of her pet ambitions by playing the leading feminine role in this particular picture. The stage play of the same name by Edith Fitzgerald and Robert Riskin has only appeared in printed form, and it was while Miss Stanwyck was reading it several months ago that she became interested in the part and decided that she would like to portray the role. She soon gave up the idea, however, and gave it no further thought. But fate was kinder than she expected, and the day came when she received a telephone message from Warner Bros. informing her that she had been selected for the very role which had so struck her imagination. In “Tllicit,’ a daring story of ultra-modern life, Miss Stanwyck is seen as a sophisticated young woman who wishes for love, but not with marriage as the price. Charles Butterworth, Ricardo Cortez, Joan Blondell, Claude Gilingwater and Natalie Moorehead appear prominently in the supporting cast. Harvey Thew wrote the sereen adaptation and _ dialogue. Archie Mayo directed. Red-Headed BARBARA STANWYCK who makes a great story twice as great! Yi Unustiae kenre — “Tllicit,’ the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production which comes to: the: Siena Pb beatre next, has the unusual theme of the modern ideas of a woman making her fear the matrimonial ties as something that would kill love. Barbara Stanwyck magnificently plays the role, others in the cast being James Rennie, Charles Butterworth, Joan Blondell, Natalie Moorehead, Ricardo Cortez and Claude Gillingwater. directed. A Warner Bros. Vitaphone Picture Everywhere! Everybody! Talk < “a a “ & abu toy= ES —_ —— oii = MOST AL ea 7 Cae a we BOT, —— vttTTmy “Wee about the unusual theme! Don’t with Barbara Stanwyck, Charles Butterworth, James Rennie, Ricardo Cortez and Joan Blondell. words! Archie Mayo! Cys No. 5; Cut 40c, Mat. 10c BARBARA STANWYCK FIRST WON WIDE NOTICE BY APING LOUIS WOLHEIM IN “THE HAIRY APE” Barbara Stanwyck got her real start in the theatrical world by impersonating Louis Wolheim in “The Hairy Ape” at the Globe Theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y. Miss Stanwyck, who is featured in “Illicit,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone comedy-drama of modern life which is now showine “atthe. 3s Theatre, was born in Brooklyn, on July 6, 1907. From = earliest childhood dancing attracted her, and she never lost an oppor Sass 7 tunity to learn Variarasanuycy © as” execute new steps. Cut No. 27 When she was Cut 15e, Mat 5c sixteen she somehow managed to con_ vince the chorus master at the Strand Cabaret that she could dance. He gave her an opportunity, and she made good, A chorus engagement in the musical show “Keep Cool’ followed. It was during the run of “Keep Cool” at the Globe Theatre, that Miss Stanwyck first received recognition. She and five other girls were picked to do imitations of the principals. Barbara’s bit was to irapersonate Louis Wolheim as the ‘Hairy Ape.’ She did the part so well that Ziegfeld, who eventually bought the entire production of “Keep Cool,’ kept her in his Follies for two seasons. This was followed by another period of dancing in N.Y. cabarets, including the Club Anatole, and an engagement in Shubert’s “Gay Marie.” Miss Stanwyck’s real chance came in the Willard Mack play “The Noose.’ She was engaged for a small bit in a cabaret scene, and did her part so well during rehearsals that Mack gave her a few lines to read. Again she Warner Bros. HOLLYWOOD take sides until you’ve seen it. For there’s something too deep, too sensitive, to be expressed in 240 Lines scored, and when the show opened Mack promoted her to the lead. Arthur Hopkins saw her in this play, and seeking a girl to head his stage production of “Burlesque,” signed her for the part. Her success in this role established her definitely as a Broadway star, While appearing in “Burlesque” she was signed by Columbia to play in “Mexicali Rose.” This was followed by “Ladies of Leisure,” “Locked Doors,” and “Illicit” for Warner Bros. Miss Stanwyck is married to Frank Fay, well known stage and screen actor. “Tllicit,” which is taken from the play by Edith Fitzgerald and Robert Riskin, is adapted to the screen by Harvey Thew. Those appearing with Miss Stanwyck are James Rennie, Ricardo Cortez, Natalie Moorehead, Claude Gillingwater, Charles Butterworth and Joan Blondell. Archie Mayo directed. Barbara STANWYCK Cut No. 20; Cut 40c, Mat 10c 56 Lines