Life Begins (Warner Bros.) (1932)

78 your L., story “Life Begins’ Opens Af Theatre Next Hailed by preview critics who have seen the picture in Los Angeles and New York as ‘‘the most unusual picture of the age,’’ the First National production, ‘‘ Life Begins,’’ is headed POM ANGe aos ce Theatre where Unusual both in theme and treatment, ‘‘ Life Begins’’ gives the movie audience its a8 3 first intimate been tactfully, yet most effectively handled LORETTA YOUNG PY the produe ers. eye Na: 20 Opening with Cut 15¢e Mat Se the story of a young woman serving a long prison term for murder who is allowed to enter the hospital in order to give birth to her child, the attention of the audience is drawn to the various other inmates of the ward. There is Florette, a pleasure loving lady of the night clubs who disdains her twins. A snobbish, intellectual young lady who has fed on cold psychological material about the upbringing of babies changes her mind when hers is born. Then there is a woman who strays into their midst from the psychopathic ward, with fancies of becoming a mother and wanting advice. All these individual stories are ‘woven closely within the confines of __the ward where doctors, nurses and =tuder\ wuelr-OWh ~~ particuar touch of color to the scene as a whole. The parts of the leading young couple are played by Loretta Young and Eric Linden, with Aline MacMahon prominently cast as the head nurse. Every member of the large cast has an important part to play in the unfolding of the story. This task is handled by Preston Foster, Dorothy Peterson, Glenda Farrell, Frank MeHugh, Gloria Shea, Elizabeth Patterson, Walter Walker, Reginald Mason, Gilbert Roland, Ruthelma Stevens, Mary Phillips, Herbert Mundin, Helena Phillips, Hale Hamilton, Dorothy Tree, Vivienne Osborne, Clara Blandick and Terrence Ray. The two directors who gave us ‘«The Mouthpiece’? have once more collaborated to bring forth a masterpiece in ‘‘Life Begins.’’ James Flood and Elliott Nugent are proving themselves a splendid directorial team. The original play by Mary MceDougall Axelson was adapted for the screen by Earl Baldwin. your oe i story Glenda Farrell Has Often Acted Hard-Boiled Roles Glenda Farrell, who is prominently cast in the sensational maternity ward drama, ‘‘ Life Begins,’’ the First National picture which comes to the SaaS e eoD Se epee Oe THEATIO oa cae began her theatrical career alevink Little Eva in ‘‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’’ Since then she has had numerous roles showing her as a hard-boiled and thoroughly sophisticated girl. Her biggest stage successes were as a ganster’s moll in ‘‘On The Spot’’ and as Sadie Thompson in ‘‘Rain.’’ Her first motion picture role was as a lady of the night clubs opposite Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in ‘‘ Little Caesar.’’ In ‘‘Life Begins,’’ she plays the role of a flippant, hard-boiled patient in the maternity ward. Others in the east are Loretta Young, Eric Linden, Aline MeMahon. Pe SOC ALINE MacMAHON, LORETTA YOUNG and ERIC LINDEN in. @ tense moment: from: *“Dife®: Regine; ? the .ccoscvancccdodccck Sevcchss eksnakads cave Theatre’s current dramatic sensation. Out No. 41 your oD rd story Use of Babies in Films Governed by Regulations The use of new-born babies in motion pictures is governed by more rules and regulations than a football game. Though they are used from time to time by the various Hollywood studios, each time present a problem crews. First National holds the record for for casting directors and production the number of babies used in a picture by using eighteen of the youngsters for their maternity ward picture, ‘‘Life Begins,’’? which comes to Thee aicAuscc as Pheatre sees ire eck Ten of them were used for one hos es pital MUrseTy. SCAN GNC O ys pee ciowOS A apes According to the casting director for First National, babies are the most expensive and temperamental players to handle. In order to procure them, maternity hospitals are contacted for the addresses of recently discharged maternity cases. The boys in the casting offices then make the rounds, interviewing the mothers. To secure ten babies involves interviewing from thirty to fifty mothers. The babies are then transported to the Board of Education where they are given a thorough medical examination before a permit for them to work is issued. This permit is good for only forty-eight hours, and no child under seventeen days of age is allowed to work. Those used in ‘‘ Life Begins’’ ranged from seventeen to fifty-one days. Rates of pay are regulated by the age of the child. Those less than 30 days old receive $75 for the day’s work; 30 to 90 days, $50; and 90 to 180 days, $25. For each day they are told to ‘‘stand by’’ for a eall they are paid $10. Due to the intensity of studio lights, the babies are only allowed to be under them for thirty seconds at a time, twenty minutes of such work constituting a day. They are not supposed to be within the confines of the studio for longer than two hours. ‘‘Life Begins’’ is based on a play by Mary McDougall Axelson, adapted to the screen by Earl Baldwin. Loretta Young and Eric Linden are cofeatured. Special Preview of ‘Life Begins” “Vife Begins,” by First National, said to be the most unusual picture ever to come out of Hollywood, will be shown at a special preview night at the Theatre for critics, editors, authors, civic leaders and local celebrities. The picture will be opened to the public, starting Out 30c Mati10c your Aha, story Work on “Life Begins” Done Entirely in Secret First National’s ‘‘secret production’’ will no longer be a secret when the film drama ‘‘ Life Begins’’ opens Oi PROs ene en see Theatre For the months in which the picture was under production, all entrances to Stage One at the First National Studio were guarded by studio policemen. Not only were representatives of the press and public barred from the set, but even important stidio employes other than those directly connected with the production of the picture were kept off the set. . The reason for the secrecy was the _ novelty | and intimacy of the theme. place in the maternity ward of a large hospital where eight prospective mothers, the pathos and comedy of whose lives are revealed in the film, come to prepare for the ‘‘blessed event.’? Only one set was used in the production of ‘‘Life Begins,’’ but this set was the entire floor of a hospital which included not only the ward proper but also. laboratories, delivery rooms, operating room and nursery where the new-born babies are kept. The large cast of players includes Loretta Young, Eric Linden, Aline MacMahon, Preston Foster, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Gloria Shea, Walter Walker, Clara Blandick, Dorothy Peterson, Vivienne Osborne, Elizabeth Patterson, Gilbert Roland, and Hale Hamilton. The direction was in the hands of James Flood and Elliott Nugent. your D th story Action in “Life Begins” Laid in Maternity Ward For the first time in movie history, the camera invades the !sacred confines of a hospital maternity ward. This first public exposition of the role of motherhood forms the background for the First National film drama, ‘‘Life Begins,’’ which comes COCTNO ea ee Theatres cess Intimate glimpses into hospitals are nothing new to motion pictures. ‘*Night Nurse’’ and ‘‘ Alias The Doctor,’’ to mention only two recent pictures, hove done this thoroughly. But in ‘‘Life Begins,’’ the entire picture is confined to the maternity ward, depicting the lives and the great drama of eight expectant mothers confined there, and the romance of the work of the doctors and nurses. A large cast of notable players is headed by Loretta Young and Eric Linden. Others are Aline MacMahon, Preston Foster, Glenda Farrell, Frank MeHugh, Gloria Shea, Walter Walker, Dorothy Peterson, Vivienne Osborne, Clara Blandick, Elizabeth Patterson, Gilbert Roland, Hale Hamilton, and others. ADVANCE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN your ©. story Expert Okays Script in “Life Begins” There is no doubt in Erie Linden’s mind that ‘‘ Life Begins,’’ First National’s maternity drama, starting at 50: waeetee meine Theatre. sea Al which he has the role of Loretta Young’s husband, is a powerfully realistic story, true to life down to the smallest detail. The script has been read and approved for its fidelity to fact by the person who, in Eric’s opinion, is the best qualified authority on the subject within the limits of his acquaintance—his mother. “Mother read the seript just before she left for New York,’’ Eric explained, ‘‘and she assured me that there wasn’t a single thing in the play, from beginning to end, that doesn’t happen in a maternity hospital almost every week in the year. ‘“She ought to know,’’ he went on, ““because, you see, she’s had seven children. Many of the incidents in the script exactly duplicated things that she had seen take place herself. She thinks it’s the most remarkable story of its kind she has ever read.’’ In addition to Loretta Young and Erie Linden, who are co-featured, ‘‘Life Begins’’ has among its principal players Glenda Farrell, from the Broadway production of the play, Hardie Albright, Vivienne Osborne, Aline MacMahon, Frank McHugh, Elizabeth Patterson and Clara Blandick. James Flood directed with Elliott Nugent as co-director. The screen play is by Earl Baldwin from a play by Mary McDougall Axelson. your bu story One Vast Set Only Used to Film atdts Begins” TTY A rr sy Seating iii! a ee eens, = Se age The entire acvunm OF the picture takes— a ea LS ‘Mithouek deseribed as a ‘ picture, ‘‘ Life Begins,’’ the I~ _ National film which comes to the ............ Wheatre: es: » presented a problem to the studio set builders. The entire action of the picture takes place in the maternity ward of a hospital, but this did not confine it merely to the eight-bed ward in which the mothers lay. The complete set represented the entire floor of a hospital, modeled after a well known institution. The long corridor connected various rooms which included the ward, the labor and delivery rooms, doctor’s offices, laboratories and even elevators and stairways. There were not merely ‘‘blind’? doors which led off this corridor, but each room was fully equipped in all its technical details, even to the operating room with its amphitheatre for students. But it was really all one connected set on which the cast shecioea day after day. The roster of players in this maternity ward drama includes Loretta Young, Eric Linden, Aline MacMahon, Preston Foster, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Gloria Shea, Vivienne Osborne, Gilbert Roland and many others. James Flood and Elliott Nugent directed. Se LORETTA YOUNG Cut No.40 Out15c Matic Page Nineteen