Life Begins (Warner Bros.) (1932)

» ADVANCE FEATURE STORIES ‘‘Life Begins,’’ Even Too Great for Word “Epic’”’ (Advance Feature) In the case of ‘‘Life Begins,’’ the magnificent and powerful drama of motherhood which First National will present at ey es Pheatre 243 Se , the producers have been seeking a new word that will adequately describe it. From all accounts, this production, which co-features Loretta Young and Eric Linden, is so filled with human interest and so rich in emotional tug, that it rightly deserves the appellation of ‘‘Epic.’’ It is the first great picture to be built entirely around life’s most beautiful theme, Motherhood, its entire action occurs in a maternity ward with most of the leading feminine characters patients awaiting motherhood. But ‘‘Epic’’ has so often been misapplied to pictures that the word has virtually lost its true meaning. James Flood, who co-directed it with Elliott Nugent, is most enthusiastic about the production and feels it will list among the most significent screen triumphs of the year. This is unusual for a director, because members of the tribe, regardless of what they really think of a picture they have made or are making, usually disparage their own work. This attitude provides them with a soft place to land in case of disaster striking the complete product, or puts them in position to accept congratulations on a success. Flood, however, says the ‘‘feel’’ of the picture makes him optimistic that it will turn out even better than ‘‘ The Mouthpiece,’’ in which he accomplished the dual trick of bringing Warren William up to starring heights and giving theatres one of the year’s most successful screen subjects. Advance Feature A Picture for Papa! By Carlisle Jones Don’t read this unless doing something at the all the papas you are a papa. Or hope to be. They’re .... Theatre, starting on , that’s never been done before. They’re going to let in the world in on some of the secrets they have only guessed at up to now, via ‘‘Life Begins,”’ a First National picture featuring Loretta Young and Eric Linden at the head of an all star cast. So far as the average man is concerned, a maternity hospital is just a huge, mysterious building with an guarded and approached the nursery. ante-room filled with agitated males, | /#¢Te it was, exactly as you and I biting their fingers and telephoning to excited mother-in-laws. fice aww or hare ‘8 a victim and announces the boy or a girl, or a boy and a i. Eventually the new papa is allowed to flatten his nose against a thick glass window and look at a grimacing mite which looks a little like Uncle Ezra did when he broke his plate and had to send to Chicago for replacements. Wising Up Fathers That’s fatherhood in these modern times. But now everything is to be different. ‘‘Life Begins’’ opens wide the hospital doors and lets the mere male get an intimate glimpse of the drama and pathos, comedy and tragedy of the maternity ward. It’s about time. tified forever. The camera and the microphone are going to take you places and let you hear things. We stepped gingerly past the adamant Miss MacMahon and the set she We can’t be mys Poking Fun at Movies Landed Actress Film Job Making fun of the movies landed Aline MacMahon in Hollywood. She was appearing on the stage in ‘‘Once In A Lifetime,’’ a satire on Hollywood which was playing in Los Angeles, when First National urged her to play a leading part in ‘‘ Five Star Final.’’ She is now to be seen with Loretta Young and Eric Linden in the First National picture, ‘‘Life Begins,’’ which is now showing at the Theatre. She has also appeared in ‘‘Heart of New York,’’ ‘*Week End Marriage,’’ ‘‘The Mouthpiece’? and ‘‘One Way Passage.’? Miss MacMahon was born in McKeesport, Pa., May 3, 1899, graduating from Barnard College in New York. She got her first chance on the stage by pestering Edgar Selwyn until he gave her a part in ‘‘The Mirage.’’ She is five feet, eight 3 me BMheew and all of us fathers have seen it in real hospitals, glass-enclosed and ~ ‘enough there were eighteen babies and one microphone inside. There is no law that prevents a studio from recording the noises of a nursery all day long if it likes. Loretta Young joined us then. ‘“You see that little one, without any hair and the pointed-up nose,’’ she asked. ‘‘I think that’ll be mine.’’ ‘*But I like the dark haired one, two to the left, best,’’ said Linden. ‘*What do you know about babies, anyway?’’ asked Loretta. ‘«Well,’’ said Linden, ‘‘my brother has a baby. That makes me an uncle, doesn’t it??? Director Flood’s voice called for Eric Linden and Loretta Young. ‘¢T’ll have to run,’’ said Loretta, **T’m going to have—’? ‘“T know,’’ I blushed. ‘*Life Begins’’ is based on a play by Mary McDougall Axelson and adapted to the screen by Earl Baldwin. In addition to Loretta A visit to the set where ‘‘ Life Begins,’’ was being photographed was Preston Foster Moved from Opera to Stage From opera to dramatic stage to the movies was the course taken by Preston Foster, who is appearing with Loretta Young in the First National picture, ‘‘Life Begins,’’ now at the Hee SL An ate Theatre. As a member of the chorus of the La Scala Opera Company, he soon worked up to second baritone roles, later appearing with the Pennsylvania Grand Opera Company before beginning his dramatic experience. A singing part with Richard Bennett in ‘‘In Command’’ and a role in ‘‘Silent House’? started him out. He was signed to appear with Edward G. Robinson when he was playing in ‘‘Two Seconds’’ on the stage. He played the same role in the Robinson picture, and followed that with his part in ‘‘Doctor X’? and then in ‘‘Life Begins.’’? He was born in Ocean City, N. J., Oct. 24, 1902. He is six feet two inches tall, inches tall, weighs 135 pounds, has/ weighs 200 pounds, has dark brown blue eyes and light brown hair. Page Twenty-Two hair and blue eyes. As virtually the entire action of |women on the pedestal that is the ‘‘Life Begins’’ is staged in a maternity ward, with an octette of beautiful young screen ‘‘mothers’’ having—or about to have—babies, the stage was closed to all except the members of the cast, the directors and the technical crews. Even prying publicity people were stiff-armed away from the set by husky outer guards. The screen play was written by Earl Baldwin from the original of Mary MacDougall Axelson. It centers about a young woman (lovely Loretta Young) who has been framed into prison in a murder case. Facing motherhood, she pleads for the right of the baby, who has committed no crime, to be born outside of prison walls. Her plea granted, she is taken to a maternity hospital and there the doctor and her young husband (Eric Linden) are confronted with the situation of letting either the mother or the baby die, as both cannot live. How they decide the problem is the ‘‘kick?? of the story. ‘This is the most human story I ever have directed,’’ said Flood in a recent interview, ‘‘not only because it deals with life’s most sacred theme —motherhood—but because it shows not unlike that trip, or those trips you have made or will make to the maternity hospital. You couldn’t get anywhere. At least I couldn’t. I was met at the very edge of the stage by a very determined young woman, who looked like Aline MacMahon, and who wore a nurse’s uniform and who had a nurse’s blunt way of being unpleasantly positive. ““You can’t come in here,’’ said Miss MacMahon. ‘“Well,’’ resignedly. Togote? Miss MacMahon looked the perfect answer. But what she said was: ‘<The hospital waiting room is on stage two. You’ll find Eric Linden there.’’ Eric Linden, aged 21, wasthere, ‘¢Where can ——— ver Saw. Se -= na They All Have the Jitters ‘*T’m having the jitters,’’ he explained. ‘‘Every line I have to say is hysterical. I’ve never been a father. Do they all talk that way?’? | **More or less.’’ ‘¢And bite their fingernails?’’ ‘<Sure.’? “*And walk in circles?’’ ** Absolutely. Going around in circles is the best thing a new father does.’’ Together we walked back over to stage one, which I had found guarded by the energetic Miss MacMahon a few minutes before. «They are going to let me on there in a little while,’’ said Eric. ‘‘You can come, too. I’ve got a scene to do with Loretta Young. She’s’ having a—’? ‘¢Yes, yes, I know,’’ I said hurried ly. ‘*She’s having a lot of fun,’’? Linden went on in spite of my interrup Loretta Young Made Her First Film at Age of 5 Loretta really started at the age of five. The Young’s screen career young First National player who is featured in ‘‘Life Begins,’’ which is now at the Theatre, first appeared before the camera in a picture with Fannie Ward. Her popularity started, however, when she substituted for her sister in a Colleen Miss Moore was so entranced with the young girl that she convinced First National execu Moore picture. tives to give Loretta a contract. She has played leads opposite such out standing actors as Lon Chaney, Ronald Colman, John Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and many others. In 1929 she was selected as one of the Wampas Baby Stars, together with her sister Sally Blane, and has risen greatly in popularity since then. looking as worried as any new father | wit Xéd_Glov ideal of our civilization. ‘*In this story we deal with a dozen different types of mother, affording the most intensive study of human emotions ever depicted for the screen, and presenting for the first time a grippingly true picture of that noble and hallowed mission of women, motherhood. It is truly a picture with universal appeal—one that every mother — every father —every man, woman and child past the age of 14 should see. ‘*We have in this cast probably the finest group of actresses ever brought together in one picture, each picked for her peculiar fitness to the role she had to play. Loretta Young, as the tragic young mother, has the youth, beauty and sentimental appeal that will make this one of the most memorable roles of her career, no matter how many years she may continue on the screen. ‘*Glenda Farrell, Aline MacMahon Dorothy Peterson, Vivienne Osborne, Dorothy Tree, Clara Blandick, Elizabeth Patterson, Helena Phillips are all superb actresses, and each has such an outstanding role that she will be accorded special honors for her performance. tion, ‘‘with the eighteen babies they have on the set today.’’ ‘*Highteen? Today? 18 Babies As Extras You see they hire them as extras. care of three women who saw to it Only they have to pay a lot of money for them. Enough to buy each one of them a good layette.’’ ‘““Do they photograph them?’’ “<Sure, but the law only lets the company photograph the babies for thirty seconds at a time and not more than twenty minutes a day under the lights, all told.’’ 17-Day-Old Star Handled (Advance Feature) There is not a star in filmdom who receives the homage, concessions and consideration recently accorded Dixee Lee Haley. Greta Garbo, Ruth Chatterton and Constance Bennett aren’t in it when it comes to working conditions and salary. Dixee’s big moment came in ‘‘ Life that heartgripping, First National drama of motherhood which comes to the .................. Theatre It was her first appearance before the camera. Directors who were used to telling big stars what’s what in no uncertain terms, were cowed and obsequious in the face of Dixee’s slightest whim or fancy. Begins,’? The scene in which she was to appear was rehearsed for over two hours without her, so that the other players BIOGRAPHICAL SHORT FEATURES Frank McHugh Born to Professional Career Frank McHugh, who is featured prominently in the First National picture, ‘‘Life Begins,’’ which is now playing at the Theatre, is an actor by heritage. His entire family was and is actively engaged in the theatre. As far back as 1909, Frank McHugh was playing child parts in one night stands and stock companies. He varied his stage experience by being both actor and stage manager in London as well as in this country. He was brought to the movies on the insistence of Frank Fay, and was cast with the latter in ‘‘Bright Lights.’? Among the many pictures he has appeared in are ‘‘ The Front Page,’’ ‘‘Traveling Husbands,’’? ‘‘Corsair,’’ ‘‘Top Speed,’’ ‘Men In The Sky,’’ §‘Union Depot,’’ ‘<High Pressure,’’ ‘‘Millie,’?’ ‘‘The Crowd Roars,’’ ‘‘The Dark Horse,’’ and ‘One Way Passage.’? Born in Homestead, Pa., he is five feet, seven inches tall, weighs 147 pounds, has blue eyes and brown hair. ‘* Husbands and doctors being somewhat necessary in a play dealing with birth, special attention was devoted to selection of the male members of the cast. Hale Hamilton, Eric Linden, Preston Foster, Frank McHugh, Herbert Mundin, Reginald Mason, Walter Walker and Terrence Ray are all well known and all rate among the top flight of present-day screen actors. ‘“With such a cast and a superb’ story, I cannot help but think that ‘‘Life Begins’’ will instantaneously be accorded the premier position among the year’s finest dramas, and I exclude the directorial phases of the production when I make this forecast. The story is a ‘natural’, with all the elements of fine drama, humor and sentiment that go to make perfect theatre entertainment. ‘*Incidentally, this is a story that supplies a sharp example of the difference between stage and screen writing. It is a theme in a setting whose magnitude could not be given adequate and understandable stage presentation; and therefore never should have been written as a play in the first place. It is strictly and ideally screen material, for it requires the unlimited scope of the motion picture camera for complete interpretation. ’*’ might be letter perfect by the time she appeared on the set. During her wait, she was assigned a dressing room and placed in the that everything she wanted was forthcoming immediately. When all was finally in readiness, voices were hushed and all necks craned toward the door of the dressing room from which she was to emerge. She was escorted to the set and given her position. Nothing was heard but the voices of the players as they spoke their lines. The scene over and there was a chorus of stifled sighs of mixed reLids 0d > Loa raOT POM tne et aaa Sforer rg POP eS ST she was taken to the dressing room where she was thoroughly examined by a trained nurse to see that the exertion of the work had not hurt her. The O.K. report was given to a second woman, a welfare worker, who duly noted it on her report ecard. Then the third woman, who acted as guardian, took Dixee to a waiting limousine and escorted her home. And that is how Dixee Lee Haley, seventeen days old, conquered Hollywood. : ‘‘Life Begins,’’ in which Dixee appears, is based on a play by Mary McDougall Axelson, adapted by Earl Baldwin. Loretta Young and Eric Linden are co-featured with Aline MacMahon, Preston Foster, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Vivienne Osborne, Dorothy Tree, Reginald Mason, Walter Walker, Herbert Mundin, Dorothy Peterson, Helena Phillips, Hale Hamilton, Ruthelma Stevens, Terrence Ray, Elizabeth Patterson and Clara Blandick in the cast. It was directed by James Flood, with Elliott Nugent as co-director. Eric Linden Only 22, Has Climbed Rapidly to Fame Two youngsters who appeared togetther in ‘‘The Crowd Roars’’ have skyrocketed to fame since then. One of them is Ann Dvorak and the other is Erie Linden, who is now seen with Loretta Young in ‘‘Life Begins,’’ the First National picture which is now Theatre. Linden was born in New York City just 22 years ago. His father was an actor, and Erie spent most of his life in and around the theatre. He scored highly with the Theatre Guild before coming to Hollywood about a year ago. . His first picture of importance was ‘‘Are These Our Children?’’ besides which he has appeared in ‘¢Young Bride,’’? ‘‘Roadhouse Mur der,’? and ‘‘Big City Blues.’?