Midnight Alibi (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Barthelmess Scores In Damon Runyon’s *““Midnight Alibi’’ Occasionally there comes to the screen a picture of such rare beauty, consumate artistry and unusual characterizations that it stands out as a monument in film achievement. First National has caught this elusive quality in its production of the Damon Runyon story, “Midnight Alibi,” starring Richard Barthelmess, which was showncatothe.22.seio. a: Theatre yesterday for the first time locally. Runyon’s latest story to be brought to the sereen catches much of the same vivid coloring and whimsical spirit of his “Lady For a Day,” but in “Midnight Alibi” the author has taken the most discordant and dissimilar elements of New York life and combined them into an amazing entity. A gun toting gangster and a white haired, aristocratic spinster, are the principal characters in the picture, with Barthelmess playing the former role and Helen Lowell, the latter. Barthelmess has a sympathetic role in the young racketeer who is willing to forego his feud with a rival crook because he is in love with the man’s sister. Unquestionably it is his strongest characterization since “Tolable David,” the picture that won him the gold prize medal. Miss Lowell as the aged spinster, who -has_ hidden _ herself from the world in her millionaire mansion, around which have sprung mushroom gambling palaces, for forty-five years, since the time her lover was killed by her own father, gives an amazingly fine performance. Her contact with Barthelmess, the gangster, comes when he leaps over the wall of her estate and slips through an unlocked door, in order to escape the bullets of machine guns when rival gangsters put him on the spot. To his great surprise he is welcomed into the home by the white haired lady, who sees in him a resemblance to her slain lover. There develops an immediate understanding and mutual sympathy because of the youth’s hopeless love. And it is the elderly lady’s sweetness and kindliness of character that makes of the young racketeer a “Gentleman for a Day.” For he immediately tries to end the gang feud because of his love for his rival’s sister. But the other gangster is of a different type, draws his gun when approached and is himself slain by a henchman of Barthelmess. Arrested for murder, tried and about to be convicted, it is the elderly spinster who comes to his aid with a white lie which frees the youth and unites him with his sweetheart. Barthelmess portrays two characters, that of the lover of the aged lady when she was a girl, and later the gangster. Ann Dvorak is his present day sweetheart while Helen Chandler has the role of Miss Lowell as a girl, when her lover was slain. Miss Dvorak is her’ usual charming self while Helen Chandler does a capable piece of acting as the sweetheart of yesteryear. The entire cast is an excellent one and includes such talented players as Henry O’Neill as the aristocratic and _ irate father, Robert Barrat as Barthelmess’ rival gangster, Robert MeWade, Purnell Pratt, Harry Tyler, Paul Hurst, Arthur Aylesworth and Vincent Sherman. Page Four FREAK FACS... . . ABOUT FILM FAVORITES WANTED TO BE A POLICEMAN.... BUT NEVER MADE A NICKEL EXCEPT AS A MOVIE ACTOR. CAN CRY AT WiLL — BUT CANT STOP. AG aa | HELEN LOWELL fen «SR HAS WRITTEN THE LYRICS FOR THIRTEEN PUBLISHED SONGS. These stars are appearing = Le WAS FEATURED IN THE FIRST STAGE SHOW WITH RADIO AS A BACKGROUND— “THE NIGHT CALL" in “Midnight Alibi,” the First National drama at the Strand Theatre. Mat N Barthelmess Two Persons In Life As In Latest Picture There are two entirely different persons known to movie goers as Richard Barthelmess. One is the youngster whose _ boyish charm and utter lack of world“Broken BlosThat Diek wistful and liness made his soms” role a classic. Barthelmess was trusting and appealing. The other Barthelmess,’ with the assurance of success, is a dominant, business-like person who does not depend upon his natural charm to win his audiHe studiously considers ence. Richard Barthelmess star of Midnight Alibi”? now at the Strand. Mat No. 10 10¢ every detail of his story and his production and with an expert finger on the public pulse, orders his work accordingly. This he does in his latest First National picture, “Midnight Alibi,” now showing at the .......... Theatre. — In his current production, Dick has two roles, each an entirely different personality, although looking alike. The story by Damon Runyon, author of “Lady for a Day” is a strange but beautiful romance of old and new New York in which an aristocratic old lady comes in contact with the underworld. Others in the cast include Ann Dvorak, Helen Chandler, Helen Lowell, Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat. AlanCrosland directed the picture from the screen play by Warren Duff. 0. 13—20¢ “Midnight Alibi’’ By Damon Runyon At..... Today “Midnight Alibi,” the First National picture based on the story by Damon Runyon, author of “Lady For a Day,” will be the feature attraction at the ar aa Ae theatre today. The story is one of the most unique romances that the famous writer has yet conceived, the principal characters being an elderly and aristocratic spinster and a New York racketeer. Helen Lowell, the noted Broadway star, has the former role, and is said to give an outstanding characterization, while Richard Barthelmess has the stellar role of the gangster. The two come into contact when the young gangster in vades the spinster’s home in order to escape being put on the spot by the brother of the girl he loves. Much to his surprise he is eagerly welcomed into the home by the spinster who is reminded of her own lover of years ago who had been slain by her own father. A mutual sympathy and understanding springs up between the two, and when Barthelmess later is arrested and tried for the murder of his sweetheart’s brother, she not only saves his life, but unites him to his sweetheart, in one of the most unusual twists ever to climax a story. Barthelmess has a double role, also playing the part of the spinster’s sweetheart of forty five years before the real story actually starts. Ann Dvorak plays the part of his present day sweetheart while Helen Chandler has the role of Miss Lowell as a young girl. Others in the cast include Henry O’Neill, Robert Barrat, Robert MeWade, Purnell Pratt, Harry Tyler and Paul Hurst. The story, which is in Runyon’s characteristic whimsical vein, similar in tempo to his “Lady for a Day,” was dramatized for the screen by Warren Duff and directed by Alan Crosland. Ann Dvorak Makes All Her Dreams Come True Last Dream Of Feminine Lead In “Midnight Alibi” Is New Ranch HE great sprawling palaces on the hilltop with marble pergolas framing a swimming pool may be the accepted idea of a Movie Star’s home, but it is not Ann Dvorak’s. Ann, who is now appearing in the First National picture, ‘“Midnight Alibi,’’ at the ......... ee Theatre, is all for coun try life, and she did not get the idea from a press agent. “Tf home life is anything at all,” she says, “it is comfort. There is certainly nowhere else I can be as comfortable as on a country place.” She knew, also, that this much desired comfort would be impossible on a large ranch, which would mean worries, responsibilities and distractions. So she and her husband, Leslie Fenton, have built a modest home in the valley, into which they moved on the first of last May. The Dvorak home is set in a grove of old walnut trees, that is expected to yield a crop of commercial size. They keep two cows, enough chickens for their own needs, and a couple of horses. Battle For Recognition It is an honestly built, substantial house with an air of calm content, and makes no pretense of being a mansion, but is restful and inviting. It is just another step toward the consummation of Ann Dvorak’s several ambitions. Her first ambition was to get into pictures. It was not easy for her. She was a plain girl in a business that put the greatest premium on mere beauty. The fact that she had something far rarer than beauty, that vital spark that commands where beauty only appeals, was not recognized at first. She knew that if she knocked at enough doors, one of them would some day open. So she kept on knocking. One day a door opened wide and beyond it was the kind of opportunity she sought. It was the part in “Searface” that she played better than anybody else on the screen could have played it. Immediately after her first good part, she began to receive offers from producers on whose doorsteps she had spent futile Moment in the Moonlight hours of waiting. She was elated, but she never lost her head. She simply checked off Number One on her list of hopes and put her shoulder to the wheel. She gained experience and assurance rapidly. Her next step would be a contract. She aimed straight for it and got it. Rapidly Gained Prominence When Ann became a First National featured player, she was assigned parts that increased her popularity from the start. Among the pictures in which she appeared were “The Crowd Roars,” “The Strange Love of Molly Louvain,” “Without Consent,” “Love is a Racket,” “Crooner,” “Stranger in Town,” “Three on a Match,” “Massacre,” “Heat Lightning” and “Side Streets.” Just after finishing “Three on a Match,” two other ambitions intruded to interfere. One was Ann’s desire to know more of the world and to broaden her knowledge of people and affairs by travel. The other was her dream of the handsome prince who would some day come a’riding. She combined the tw~ by marrying Leslie Fenton and going to Europe for a year and 4 half. On her return to the First National lot, she took up her work with a new fervor and headed toward her desire for a home in the country. Now that dream has come true. In the meantime Ann keeps steadily at work in pictures, her current one being Damon Runyon’s story, “Midnight Alibi,” in which she plays opposite Richard Barthelmess. Others in the cast include Helen Chandler, Helen Lowell, Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat. Archie Mayo directed from the sereen play by Warren Duff. They couldn’t resist a moment of love, knowing that it might be their last. Richard Barthelmess and Ann Dvorak in a scene from First National’s “Midnight Alibi’? coming to the Strand. This exciting drama was taken from the popular short story by Damon Runyon with a cast including Helen Lowell and Helen Chandler. Mat No, 4—20c