Local Boy Makes Good (Warner Bros.) (1931)

WILL HE MAKE AMERICA LAFF? JOE E. BROWN SURPRISES HIS MANY FRIENDS BY A SPECIES OF COMEDY FAR REMOVED FROM HIS SLAPSTICK “Local Boy Makes Good,” First National Production, Now Current At Strand, Delights With Hilarous Humor And Appealing Humanity (Review Featuring the Cast) It is a new Joe E. Brown who eavorts across the silver screen in ‘‘Local Boy Makes Good,”’ the First National production which opened last night at the The new Joe is as funny as the old Joe, but in a different way. He is not at all in the mood of ‘‘Top Speed,’’ ‘‘Hold Everything,’’ ‘‘Broad Minded,”’ or ‘‘Going Wild.’’ He is timid, self-effacing — near-sighted—a victim of an inferiority complex. He labors under the suppressed desire to be a devil with the ladies and at the same time a power among the athletes of the local college. In reality he is a clerk in a bookstore and a student of botany. In his dream world he is forever mooning over—and writing letters to Julia Winters, a co-ed of a distant university, whose picture he has seen. These letters, filled with avowals of devotion and exaggerated praise of his own athletic prowess, he never mails. Some one else does mail one of them, however, and thereby hangs this tale. To his dismay Julia writes that she is coming to attend the track meet and to meet her hero. The role of Julia Winters is played by Dorothy Lee, the petite blonde whose vivacity added so much to “Rio Rita” and _ other Wheeler and Woolsey vehicles. Julia arrives and adds to Joe’s discomfiture by announcing that she is accompanied by her husky lover, Spike Hoyt, captain of the track team of her college—portrayed by Edward Woods. Julia notes Joe’s timidity, and being a bug on psychoanalysis, tries, without success to imbue him with courage. — Before Julia’s arrival a_ pretty elerk had come to share Joe’s labors in the bookstore, Marjorie Blake— played with charm by the young Florida sereen find, Ruth Hall. Marjorie has urged Joe to take part in the contests to alibi himself. He has tried to do so, successfully, but with disastrous results, as his attempts to throw a javelin, result in an injury to one Wally Pierce, speediest sprinter of the school— played by Edward J. Nugent. Wally pursues the distressed Joe in such anger, that the officials, amazed at the speed of the two, decide that both must enter the races for the honor of the school. The appalling things that happen to Joe—the clever means by which Marjorie spurs him to action—his unexpected victory — and his final rejection of Julia—who, now that he is a winner is all for ditching Spike —make a play of such uproarious fun and at the same time such humanity—that it ranks as one of the best comedies of this or any season. The story is from the play by J. C. and Elliott Nugent. Mervyn Le Roy has been eminently successful in his direction. You must see “Local Boy Makes Good.” Dorothy Is Little But Can She Box! I’ll Say! (Current Reader) Dorothy Lee, who plays the feminine lead in support of Joe E. Brown in “Local Boy Makes Good,’ the First National picture now at the Be ne eee Theatre, is an inch or so less than five feet in height and weighs ninety-six pounds. The tough kids in her neighborhood when she was in her early teens—she’s only in her late ’teens now—soon found out, however, that she had a clever way of handling her tiny “mitts” and landing an uppercut that ended the argument for the time at least. Miss Lee, unable to crash the movie gates in her home town, came to Broadway, won favorable criticism in a musical show, “Hello Yourself”—and went back home, as an RKO screen player. Page Four. Theatre. Joe E. Brown Whistles In Spite Of Prof. Shaw (Current Reader) Joe E. Brown, now at the ....... Theatre in “Local Boy Makes Good,” his latest First National starring vehicle, is noted for his way of whistling for all reasons and on all occasions. He declares that Prof. Shaw’s dictum does not cause him any serious concern, as he was well aware of the fact that he might be a moron after seeing himself in “Top Speed,” “Hold Everything,” “Going Wild” and the rest. “After all,” he says, “what of it? If I am, I am. It’s a comfort to know that. I can’t say with Miss Barrymore ‘That’s all there is—there is no more!’ ” Joe E. Brown Smokes Only When Film Calls For It (Current Reader) Joe E. Brown, the beloved comic, WO Wait AU Cr ei 5. ae: Theatre in “Local Boy Makes Good,” his latest First National starring vehicle, is not a devotee of the Lady Nicotine. When he is seen smoking in his pictures the action is to be considered as fictitious as the other ludicrous antics he performs. Mr. Brown is an athlete—and the track-meet victory he wins in “Local Boy Makes Good” was won wholly on merit. Dorothy Lee plays lead. WINS THE HIGHEST Fast on his feet—he runs off the track! Loose in the head— he loses it over a girl! It takes her charm to start him— And her kiss to “make” him! There’s no stopping him now— > ° He’s a sensation! It’s LAUGH WEEK at the STRAND Himself — role seriously! serious in the greatest Cut No.4 Cut 6oc Mat rsc LAUGHING HONORS! The Clown Prince of the talkies takes his new He'll make you forget to be laugh-time of your life! LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD with DOROTHY LEE Ruth Hall, Edw. Nugent Directed by MERVYN LEROY A FIRST NATIONAL & VITAPHONE PICTURE LONG BOTANICAL NAMES OF CACTUS FAMILY DON'T FAZE JOE Joe E. Brown, who comes to next as the star of “Local Boy Makes Good,” the First National comedy—now claims to be an authority on the cactus family including its more than three hundred ramifications. He was compelled to learn the jaw-breaking botanical names of all the prickly desert-dwellers while making “Local Boy Makes Good” in which he portrays a near-sighted, timid, amorous and overly-conscientious college student who specializes in botany. On the side he spends much time writing love letters — which he never mails—to a co-ed he has never seen. But he does see her later—and how! Though the names of many of the cactus relatives are a city block long, Joe E. pronounces them without a hitch. He does it as sonorously as he reads his high-sounding letters. You can hear him do both now, at the Theatre. But we dare you to do it and not laugh! Dorothy Lee, Ruth Hall, Edward Woods, Edward Nugent and many others are in the cast. JOE E. TELLS "EM HOW HE CAME BY HIS BIG MOUTH (Current Reader) Joe E. Brown, now at the ...... Theatre, in “Local Boy Makes Good,” his latest First National starring vehicle, is noted for the quickness of his repartee. One of the stories which illustrates this rare i a with glove argument _ I gift xt ; in which he engaged with producers, as to the salary to wnieh he felt himself entitled. His rather hot retorts to his antagonist, caused the latter to say jocosely, “By the way, how did it happen that you got such a big mouth?” Said Joe E., without a second’s hesitation, “I got it arguing with producers _about salary, and I don’t want to/stretch it any further!” It might be said that Joe won for he is now known to be well satisfied with his present contract. “Local Boy Makes Good” is Joe’s funniest comedy, though the fun is not slapstick, as in earlier films. Joe’s Here Today In Non-Slapstick Laugh Getter; His Best Yet (Current—Plant First Day) “Local Boy Makes Good,” the much-heralded First National comedy-drama in which Joe E. Brown, funniest man of the screen, is starring, comes today to the Theatre. This ‘picture is unique for a number of reasons, first of which is the fact that in it Joe E. gets his comedy effects with resorting to slapstick exaggerations, as in his former films. “Local Boy Makes Good” is an uproarious drama of college days, based on a very human play by J. C. and Elliott Nugent. The story is good and the people are real folks. Joe E. plays the part of a timid and nearsighted college student, who makes his meagre way by clerking in a bookstore. He hag an inferiority complex and secretly writes love letters which he never mails, to a girl he has never seen. In these missives he praises his own prowess as an athlete—and the fun begins when someone else mails one of the notes, and the girl comes to attend the intercollegiate track events — and to meet the (supposed) hero. Featured in support of Joe E. Brown are Dorothy Lee, Ruth Hall, Edward Woods, Wade Boteler, William Burress, Edward J..Nugent and John Harrington. The direction is by Mervyn LeRoy. See “Local Bor” tonight.