Madame Dubarry (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Production Notes e | True Personal Items ® Fashion Stories ® Beauty Hints As suggested in The Film Daily’s poll of motion picture editors Famed Romance, “Mme. Du Barry” Booked For .... “Madame Du Barry,” heralded as one of the great pictures of the screen, is scheduled as the feature attraction at the........ MCAT O Nes eee ets so hs » with Dolores Del Rio heading an allstar cast. Edward Chodorov, the author, throws an entirely new light on the famous beauty and favorite of King Louis XV, whose many love affairs and madcap pranks were the scandal of the Continent. Chodorov has concerned . himself with Du Barry’s intimate life and loves, rather than with her political intrigues, although there are many clashes between herself and the jealous court ladies and courtiers who sought to destroy her influence over the king. These battles and conquests she tosses off with a laugh just as she does her mad escapades. In the present picture, which is based largely on Mme. Du Barry’s own memoirs, the little milliner’s apprentice is not so much the astute and scheming politician of history as she is a woman filled with the joy of living, gay, capricious, irrepressible, whose very nature demands love and luxury and laughter. In addition to the uproariously funny situations in which Du Barry involves the dignitaries of King Louis’ court, the picture is said to be a mammoth spectacle, with settings built on a magnificent scale. Reproductions of the Palace of Versailles, the court and the Gardens of the Colonnades are among the gorgeous settings for the highly amusing action. Novel and beautiful dances were created for the picture by Albertina Rasch, in which her beautiful coryphees romp before the king and his court in fluffy nothings. There is an unusually large and talented cast in the principal roles with hundreds of extras playing the part of ladies and courtiers and the vast crowds to be seen in the production. Dolores Del Rio has the role of Du Barry, with Reginald Owen playing opposite her as King Louis XV, this being the second time he has played this interesting character for the screen. The present Louis is the king in his later years, while his first portrayal, in “Voltaire,” was of Louis. as a younger man when Pompadour swayed the court. Vietor Jory has the role of the powerful d’Aiguillon who befriended Du Barry, and was made prime minister for his attention, deposing the Due de Choiseul, a part played by Henry O’Neill, who had attempted to shear her of her power. Verree Teasdale is the Duchess de Grammont, sister of Choiseul and Du Barry’s bitterest enemy. Osgood Perkins has the role of Richelieu, with Ferdinand Gottschalk as Lebel, the Dolores Such is the face that must have launched a thousand ships, or sent . men to battle for a tender kiss. The glorious beauty of Dolores Del Rio, plus her natural ability, insures her rise to the greatest heights of stardom ever reached by an actress. She appears in Warner Bros. royal comedy, “Madame Du Barry,” coming to the Strand. Mat No. 138—-20c Miles of Drapes Needed to Sereen “Mime. Du Barry” The Warner Bros. studio was swamped with draperies during the production of the comedy drama, “Madame Du _ Barry,” which comes’ to the . 2... 6... THEMETO 10 lipemic » with Dolores Del Rio in the stellar role. The eighteenth century was an era of draperies, as Miss Del Rio, Reginald Owen, Verree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins, Victor Jory and other leading members of the cast discovered. Literally miles of draperies were used in the pic: ture. A bed wasn’t properly a bed unless it was swathed in yards of silks and brocades, with elaborate canopies overhead. Curtains weren’t the skimpy, modern kind. They were made up from whole bolts of expensive materials, lined with still more yards of heavy stuffs. Tapestries were used in great profusion. Palace walls in the eighteenth century were hidden behind exquisite tapestries. The furniture of that period was usually heavily draped, as well. The overstuffed chairs often had little ruffled skirts, and looked as if they might very well pick up their dresses and flit away at the slightest provocation. The picture is an intimate story of the life and loves of Du Barry in the court of King Louis XV. It was written by Edward Chodorov. William Dieterle directed while dance creations are by Albertina Rasch dancers. king’s inimitable valet. Dorothy Tree is Adelaide, sister of the king. Anita Louise plays the part of Marie Antoinette, who weds the Dauphin, played by Maynard Holmes. Others in important roles include Helen Lowell as the dissolute Countess de Berne; Joan Wheeler, Halliwell Hobbes, Nella Walker, Virginia Sale, Arthur Treacher, Jesse Scott and Camille Rovelle. The direction is by William Dieterle. Dolores Del Rio Says That Beauty Is Big Handicap Long known as one of the world’s great beauties, Dolores Del Rio prefers to be known as a good actress. The raven-haired star, who was given a long term contract by Warner Bros. just before starting her role as star in “Madame Du Barry,” now showing at the See area Theatre, believes her beauty has been more of a drawback to her career than an asset. Her tranquil and calm loveliness brought her a number of fine screen roles. But Del Rio was too often given parts that required her to be nothing more than an animated painting. The roles that she longed for—the vivid and colorful roles — went to other actresses. Now it’s all different. When Dolores was offered one of the stellar roles in “Wonder Bar” several months ago, she did the Del Rio equivalent of a nipup. That was a role to her liking, —the girl in this picture was no tranquil heroine, buffeted by the winds of cruel fate. She was a woman who fought for what she loved, a tempestuous creature far removed from Dolores’ previous roles. Then she was assigned the role of the favorite of Louis XV, a lady who was one of the most colorful characters in _ history. Rising from a humble position to the rank of King’s favorite, Du Barry’s adventures and intrigues left an irrevocable mark on an entire nation. Edward Chodorov prepared the sereen story with great attention to authenticity, showing the court favorite in all her glory, and matching wits with enemies who tried to undermine her position. Gay, scheming—by turns a child and a vixen, Miss Del Rio at last has a role that gave her the big dramatic chance of her life. Miss Del Rio has a brilliant east of stellar names in “Madame Du Barry,” — Reginald Owen, Verree Teasdale, Osgood Perkins, Vietor Jory, Dorothy Tree, Ferdinand Gottschalk and Anita Louise. William Dieterle directed. Famed Broadway Thespian’s Rise Credited to Films Many players have won screen fame through roles on the legitimate stage. Now comes Osgood Perkins, known as one of the outstanding stars on Broadway, who admits that he would never have become a stage actor had he not first acted in the movies! The actor is making one of his infrequent screen appearances in the Warner Bros. production of “Madame Du Barry,” in which Dolores Del Rio is starred. It Will so pen Vabiehhe ices he cers Ms cc he TheatReson ty cee oes ee tens Not long ago, he made an indelible impression with Paul Muni in “Scarface”. Perkins, Harvard, Baker’s famous Workshop 47 for a time, but left school to become associated with the Film Guild. Roland Young became quite enthusiastic over the acting of Perkins, so when Young was starred by Winthrop Ames in “The Beggar On Horseback,” he suggested Perkins for a leading role. Recently Perkins appeared in two big New York hits, “Goodbye Again” and “School for Husbands”. In “Madame Du Barry,” Perkins has the role of Richelieu, who introduces the little French milliner to the King and makes her one of the world’s most famous women. Reginald Owen plays the King to the Du Barry of Dolores Del while a student at Rio, and Verree Teasdale, Victor Jory, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Henry O’Neill, Dorothy Tree and Helen Lowell have other leading roles. Gewgaws Valued At $200,000 in “Mme. Du Barry” A King did not turn to his Chamberlain and instruct him nonchalantly to run down to the corner and pick up a hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars worth of knicknacks, but Warner Bros. said something very much like it when they started producing “Madame Du Barry,” which comes to the ............ MCAT OOM ores cas gts ace, ae Major furnishings, such as furniture, drapes and floor coverings, were expected to be costly, as they were to grace the replica of the abode of Louis XV. It was the endless string of gewgaws and gim-eracks that proved so surprisingly expensive. For the suite occupied by Dolores Del Rio, who plays Du Barry, Warners found it necessary to tap every available source for the numberless smaller furnishings such as trays, statuettes, mirrors, candelabra, vases, urns, decanters, gold and silver snuff boxes, goblets, plates, napery and other accessories. The value of these comparatively minor articles—many of them rented from private collectors—is close to two hundred thousand dollars. The picture is an intimate story of the life and loves of Du Barry in King Louis’ court, written by Edward Chodorov. There is a large and talented east which includes Dolores Del Rio, Reginald Owen, Victor Jory, Osgood Perkins, Verree Teasdale, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Dorothy Tree, Anita Louise and many others. William Dieterle directed. acted with Professor | Du Barry Gowns Influence Trend of New Fashions The trend toward accenting femininity, and increasing the allure by proper costuming, which has been very evident in the past few months, is greatly increased by the production of the great Warner Bros. “Madame Du Barry,’ in the opinion of Orry period drama Kelly, the Warner Bros. designer. For this production, whieh will ODEN ab. THe oe ee eee Theatre (Od mabye nye se ne Sire , with an allstar cast headed by beautiful Dolores Del Rio, weeks were devoted to research on costumes, designs, materials, hairdressing, and jewelry of the period, with the result that some of the most sensational costumes seen in years have been produced. Fabulously rich materials were transformed into costumes for the famous favorite of King Louis XV and those women who vied with her for royal favor. “Grace, beauty, opulence, mys tery, were essentially a part of Verree Teas Barry,” the |Warner film— ‘| at the Strand, Mat No. 4 each gown worn by the great enchantresses of Du Barry’s age,” said Orry-Kelly. “Today women are increasingly mindful of the need for these same qualities in their choice of clothes. They realize that for a long time they have attached too little importance to selecting gowns, hats and jewelry which emphasize their femininity, and are taking drastic steps to remedy the situation.” The picture is a story of the intimate and frivolous moments in the lives and loves of Du Barry and King Louis. There is an all-star cast headed by Dolores Del Rio which also includes Reginald Owen, Victor Jory, Osgood Perkins, Verree Teasdale, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Dorothy Tree, Anita Louise and a seore of others. William Dieterle directed. Anita Louise Who brings a breath of fragrance to her characterization of Marie Antoinette in “Madame Du Barry,” Warner Bros. new comedy at the Strand. Mat No. 10—10c Page Three ° certain to be.¥