Man of Iron (Warner Bros.) (1935)

J oseph_-Grehan, Graig PUBLICITY Barton MacLane Coming to Strand In “Man of Iron” “Man of Iron,’ the First National comedy drama in which Barton MachLane, the _ screen’s Public Enemy No. 1 has his first stellar role, is scheduled as the feature attraction at the....... theatre Oi .= sees |: h-6 The story by Dawn Powell on which the picture is based, is filled with dynamic thrills, hilarious comedy and a novel romance. Barton MacLane plays the role of an untutored and unlettered steel worker who is rocketed into an executive position. He gets into no end of hot water by mixing with men and women of culture and his faux pas at a country club and in the homes of the wealthy result in a long succession of riotously funny situations, particularly his insistence on examining occupied shower baths. Going “high hat,” he loses the confidence of his men and is on his way to ruin when he finally makes a comeback in a smashing and surprising climax to the picture. Dorothy Peterson plays the part of MacLane’s wife, a sensible woman who does her best to try to hold her husband down to a common sense attitude toward their new position. The feminine menace in the picture is played by Mary Astor who tries in vain to vamp the new boss in order to bring about his ruin. John Eldredge is the boss’ assistant and secret enemy. Others who have important roles in the production include Reynolds, Joseph King, John Qualen, Joseph Sawyer, Florence Fair and Edward Keene. William McGann directed the picture from the screen play by William Wister Haines. Real Steel Mill Used as Setting for Film Scenes An air of reality that will prove convincing even to factory employees pervades the _ mill scenes in the First National picture, “Man of Iron,” which comes LO terest 2 theatre on........ The scenes were taken in a real bolt and nut mill and the men in the background shown working at the different machines are the same men who daily operate them. The mill is the plant of a big steel company in Burbank, Calif., and a hundred employees were paid as movie actors for appearing in the picture as well as receiving their regular checks. None of the actors operated any of the machinery except Barton MacLane and three other principals, who were carefully coached in the few operations they had to perform. Other players are seen however in the background. The problem of providing a natural background with all the machinery in operation was solved by having the regular factory employees go on with their regular tasks after being warned not to pay any attention to the camera or the plot action going on in the foreground. “Man of Iron” is a stirring comedy drama with many thrilling sequences based on a story by Dawn Powell. In the cast besides MacLane are Mary Astor, John Eldredge, Dorothy Peterson, Joseph Crehan, Craig Reynolds and Joseph King. It was directed by William McGann from the screen play by William Wister Haines. Page Eight | Meet the “Man of Iron” He was Public Enemy No. 1 in “G Man,” until James Cagney stopped him. He was the mob leader in “Dr. Socrates” and Paul Muni gave him the needle. Now, with nothing to hinder, Barton MacLane emerges as a full fledged film star in the First National production, “Man of Iron,” which opens at the. Theatre on_______... Mat No. 203—20c REVIEW Film Bad Man Makes Good In First Screen Hero Role Barton MacLane Scores Hit in ‘“‘Man of Iron’’ Premiere at the Strand Barton MacLane, whose work in ‘‘G Men,’’ ‘‘Dr. Soerates’’ and ‘‘Frisco Kid,’’ made him the sereen’s No. 1 bad man, has at last been given an opportunity to show his versatility as well as his talent for characterization, in the heroic role in the First National production, ‘‘Man of Iron,’’ which was shown at the..... theatre yesterday for the first time locally. MaclLane had done creditable work on the stage in “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” “Subway Express,” “Rendezvous” and other plays, before he went to Hollywood where for some reason he was cast in heavy parts. He did so well in them, however, that he was eventually selected for the stellar role in “Man of Iron.” MacLane is no matinee idol in this picture. He is a hard hit ting, two fisted steel worker who fights his way to an executive position. But he goes high hat and tries to break into high society, for which he is unfitted. This gives MacLane a chance for clowning and he shows he is as good a comedian as a villain. He plays the part with all seriousness and a perfect “dead pan,’ which is exactly the way the character should be portrayed, for he is totally unaware of the blunders he makes. All this makes for riotous comedy which brought plenty of laughs-at-the.7. 2... theatre, but all of his acting is not clowning. There is thrilling action aplenty, as well as pathos and romance, and Maclane proves his ability to hold the honors he has won in an exceedingly brief screen career. For once Dorothy Peterson plays her age. Although a young woman, she has mostly appeared in mother roles. In “Man of Iron,” she is’ the bride of MacLane, and a sensible one who tries to keep his feet on the ground. Mary Astor plays the part of a brunette menace, a supercilious secretary with society connections, who tries to bring about the ruinjof her boss. She does an excellent job as the cool, caleu lating conniver whose only emotion seems to be that of spite. She ig aided and abetted in her trickery by John Eldredge, who gives one of his always capable performances as the assistant to the big boss, who feeds him with flattery until he has almost wrecked his life. Others in the cast who do notable work include Joseph Crehan, Craig Reynolds, Joseph King, John Qualen, Joseph Sawyer, Florence Fair and Edward Keene. William McGann has done a creditable job of directing the production bringing out in strong relief both thrills and comedy. The picture is based on the story by Dawn Powell, with screen play by William Wister Haines. Dorothy Peterson Cast in Youthful Role For the first time in her five years in Hollywood, Dorothy Peterson was really happy — professionally speaking—when she was given a leading role in the First National picture, “Man of Tron,” which comes to the...... theatre? onss 3. Sa =. The reason is that she portrays a young woman of approximately her own age. Coming to Hollywood from the New York stage, where she was one of the best of the younger leading women, Miss Peterson’s first motion picture role was that of an old mother of a large brood of children. She played it too well, for subsequently she was cast in mother roles. “Man of Iron” to Open at Strand Theatre Today “Man of Iron” the First National picture which treats of the adventures in high society of an unpolished workman, and which gives Barton MaclLane, the sereen’s Public Enemy No. 1 his first stellar opportunity in a heroie role, comes to the.......... theatre today. The picture is based on a story by Dawn Powell in which she takes a steel foreman and elevates him to a high executive position. Perfectly capable of performing his duties, his vanity is fed by an assistant and a woman secretary, both of whom are seeking his downfall. They inflame him with social ambition, and he becomes the laughing stock of the socialites without knowing it. The plot has much comedy as well as thrilling action and romance. Supporting Barton MacLane are Dorothy Peterson who plays the part of his very sensible wife who tries to save him from his own egotism and stupidity, Mary Astor and John Eldredge who have the roles of the two who are conniving the downfall of their boss. Others in the cast include Joseph Crehan, Craig Reynolds, Joseph King, John Qualen, Joseph Sawyer, Florence Fair and Edward Keene. William MeGann directed the picture. Film Star Develops Shower Bath Habit Undoubtedly the most important shower bath ever constructed for a motion picture set is that devised for use in one sequence of the First National picture, “Man of Iron,’ which comes to GhG= 3.0 sae theatre-on.= +=, --=. Barton MacLane, who has the leading role in the film starts life as a mechanic. Shower baths are his hobby, so as he rises in the world, he installs newer and more luxurious showers. The climax in the story and the climax in shower baths are synchronous. So elaborate and ingenious is the shower bath the hero has installed in his latest home that only a person of a considerable degree of engineering skill and knowledge would dare to operate it. That’s How Tough He Is New Film Star Barton MacLane, famed as the toughest villain of the screen, emerges as an equally tough, but far more sympathetic hero, im his first stellar role, “Man of Iron,” the Frst National drama newrae the 3 see oot Mat No. 102—10c MacLane Forms Basketball Team Of Screen Actors Although he won national fame as a football player one fall afternoon in 1924 by taking the opening kick-off on his own goal line and running 100 yards to a touchdown, Barton Machane, now playing the lead in the First ~ National picture, “Man of Iron” SENOS a Oe theatre, the sport in which he really distinguished himself while at college was basketball. So keen is he about the indoor game that he has formed a basketball team from the ranks of the Warner Bros. players. MacLane was captain and star forward for two successive years of the Wesleyan University basketball team, and both years Wesleyan won the New England “Little Three” championship by defeating its traditional rivals, Amherst and Williams. On the new team are James Melton, Donald Ross, Joseph Sawyer, Gordon Elliott and Dick Foran. Just because he’s a film hero instead of the screen bad man, doesn’t mean that Barton MacLane has softened up, even in his first stellar role in First National’s “Man of Iron,” which comes to the =e es ee Theatre on... Se ee He even lights his cigarette on an acetylene torch, much to Mary Astor’s delight. Miss Astor is the menace in this film. Mat No, 201—20c