Midnight Alibi (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Barthelmess Career Most Remarkable in Filmdom “Midnight Alibi” Is His Fifty-First Starring Production In 15 Years EW motion picture stars, however successful, can point to a screen career that will match that of Richard Barthelmess, Star of the First National production, ‘‘Midnight Alibi,’’ which comes to the ...... = ees Theatre on 335. Barthelmess has been a star for more than fifteen years. ‘He has seen scores of meteoric stars ascend to the zenith and fall below the horizon. Meantime, his popularity has steadily mounted. When he decides to step out of his stellar role, it will be, in all probability, to fulfill another ambition he has cherished for years—to become a director or a producer of pictures. “Midnight Alibi” just to keep the record straight, is the fiftyfirst picture in which Barthelmess has been a star. Few stars of the silver sheet have limned as many angles and aspects of human nature in their screen portrayals as Barthelmess has done, in the long gallery of characterizations which stand beside his name. First Gangster Role He leaped into overnight fame as a young Chinaman in “Broken Blossoms.” He played a beachcomber in “The Idol Dancer”; a farmer’s son in “Way Down East”; a sailor before the mast in “Fury”; an American filibuster in Cuba in “The Bright Shawl”; a West Pointer in “Classmates”; a gawky country lad in “Tola’ble David”; a prizefighter in “The Patent Leather Kid”; a convict in “Weary River’; a newspaper editor in “Drag”; a wartime aviator in “Dawn Patrol’; a Spanish caballero in “Adios”; a commercial airpilot in “Central Airport”; a poor white of the South in “The Cabin in Helen Lowell Fears Being Typed as Sweet Old Lady Enjoyed Part In “Midnight Alibi’? But Prefers Caustic Characterizations ELEN LOWELL is afraid that she’ll be catalogued as the official ‘‘sweet old lady’’ of the First National Studios, and she’d rather that almost anything happened to her than settle down to ‘‘sweet old lady’’ parts for the rest of her screen days. The event that had caused Helen Lowell all this anxiety is the enthusiasm with which her portrayal of Abigail Ardsley in Richard Barthelmess’ latest starring picture, ‘‘Midnight Alibi,’’ which coming to the ee Sear Theatre On... has been received. First in the studio, later by audiences all over the country. Abigail Ardsley—in Damon Runyon’s famous story of an old New York mansion, it’s whitehaired, aristocratic spinster-mistress, and a young racketeer whom Chance brings into the old lady’s life—is a wealthy recluse who stopped living, forty-five years before the story opens. Bringing Character To Life Her lover had been killed by her own father, since which dreadful moment, Abigail had shut herself up with the memory of her youthful sweetheart. Without growing bitter, she had withdrawn from the world as completely as if she herself had died. There was only one way, to Helen Lowell’s mind, of playing Abigail Ardsley. That was as a sweet, serene spinster, in whom grief and bitterness have been replaced by wisdom and understanding. “At first, Alan Crosland, the director, and some of the production heads wanted a different reading of the character,’ said Miss Lowell, discussing it later. “But when I explained my understanding of Abigail, and read them a few scenes they were won over. “When the picture was finished, and they saw it on the screen as a whole, they were enthusiastic about it. May Lose Her Temper “Everyone began to tell me that it was the best thing I had done since I came to Hollywood, until finally I became a little frightened. I’ve heard of players being ‘typed’ by one outstanding role, and I shuddered at the idea of playing nothing but sweet old ladies, because I happened to Helen Lowell plays the sweetest old lady in the world, in “Mid night Alibi,”’ the First National film at the Strand. Mat No. 8—10ce feel that one character should be played that way. “Tm not a sweet old lady,” Miss Lowell went on, with as much violent emphasis as her charming, gentle disposition would permit, “and I’m afraid I Shall lose my temper if I find myself being pigeonholed as one. “I thoroughly enjoy playing a character with a quick wit and a sharp tongue, who isn’t fooled for a minute by what is going on around her, and has a hand in untangling the difficulties the other people in the story have gotten themselves into. Helen Chandler, Ann Dvorak, Robert Barrat, Henry O’Neill and Robert MeWade are other important members of the cast. Dick Barthelmess Star of First National’s “‘Mid Alibi,” coming to the Strand. Mat No. 7—10c night the Cotton”; an Indian Chief in “Massacre.” It may be interesting to note in passing that, during all the years of the gangster cycle of Single Film Take Lasts 72 Minutes The longest single take that Alan Crosland has directed since the arrival of sound pictures was shot at the First National Studios during the production of “Midnight Alibi,” which comes to thee iain fee Theatre on See reer eee It was a dialogue between two players only—Richard Barthelmess and Helen Lowell. It lasts seven and a half minutes without a break. To the surprise of everyone on the set, only three takes were needed on the scene. Everyone had exepcted it would require the whole afternoon, because of its manifold difficulties. On the first take, Miss Lowell slipped in one long speech; on the second, an ornament fell off a table, causing both players to stop dead; the third was perfect, all the way through. Barthelmess Chooses Ann Dvorak As Lead Ann Dvorak, who plays the youthful heroine of “Midnight Alibi,” which comes to the .......... Seat Rr PROG(TO ORs. hers with Richard Barthelmess as the star, had the distinction of being personally chosen for the part by Barthelmess himself. The Furst National star was so delighted with her work in “Massacre,” where Ann played the part of his Indian sweetheart, that he requested her for the cast of his latest picture. Damon Runyon wrote the story of “Midnight Alibi” and Alan Crosland directed it. Actress Born Near Scene Of Film Helen Lowell is that unusual person among actresses of the stage and screen—a born New Yorker. Perhaps that is why she brings so keen an understanding and sympathy to the role of the aristocratic Abigail Ardsley in the First National production, “Midnight Alibi,” which comes £0: the.n2. sn Sata Theatre on Fie edeea ee » with Richard Barthelmess in the stellar role. Miss Lowell was born in, and lived as a child in an old Twenty-Third Street mansion, only a mile or two from the once-fashionable residence district where the scene of Damon Runyon’s story is laid. pictures, Barthelmess never played a racketeer until “Midnight Alibi” came along. He was too completely engrossed with human beings that interested him more, and which he felt more competent to portray. Even his Lance MacGowan, in the story of Damon Runyon which is his current starring vehicle, is an intelligent, sensitive, ambitious youth, following thé gambling racket as it is played in New York, a product of the New York streets, but secretly looking for a way out and into a more legitimate life. The history of Richard Barthelmess is almost the history of the feature picture. Facing Future Tasks He is one of those rare screen personalities who achieved the next-to-impossible feat of carrying over his prestige as a silent picture star into the era of talking pictures, and adding to it from year to year. One of the old-timers of the screen as motion picture time is measured, he is still young in years, in outlook, in ambitions and in the capacity to garner future successes. He believes that some of his best work, some of his most significant achievements lie ahead of him. Those who know Dick Plays Single Role For Seven Years Helen Lowell, who plays the part of Abigail Ardsley, aristocratic spinster and recluse in the First National production, “Midnight Alibi,” starring Richard Barthelmess and now showing at TUG Soea cee Le Theatre, holds the modern long-distance acting record on the American stage. For seven years she played the role of Miss Hazy in “Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.” Barthelmess Kept From Navy By Nazimova Instead of being one of the foremost motion picture stars of his time, Richard Barthelmess might today have been a battleship commander, or a rear Admiral in the United States Navy, but for a chance telephone eall. Dick was on his way to take up the navy as a career when a telephone conversation between his mother and Nazimova resulted in the young man’s being cast for an important role in her production, “War Brides.’”’ That picture definitely launched Barthelmess on a screen actor’s career. His latest First National production is “Midnight Alibi,” which COMeS tO-tNO scien) ssaes, Theatre OF conan Collectors Seek Old Clock In New Film From a Swiss clockmaker’s shop in 1710 to a Hollywood motion picture studio in 1934 is a far ery, but that’s the record back of the towering, ornate grandfather’s clock that presides majestically over the living-room of “Midnight Alibi,” Richard Barthelmess’ latest starring vehicle for First National, which comes Theatre It’s a museum piece which was old when tne Declaration of Independence was signed, and was a centenarian when Napoleon was at the height of his power. First National has had tempting offers from colleetors all over the world, which have been refused. Experts have pronounced it a rare specimen of eighteenth century clockmaking. Barthelmess best concur in the belief. Another unusual fact about Dick Barthelmess’ career is that most of his starring pictures have been made under the banner of one company—First National. Thirteen years with one concern, in any business, is something approaching the unique. In motion pictures it is almost unknown. In “Midnight Alibi,” one of the most unusual stories Barthelmess has ever undertaken, Dick makes a radical departure in playing two distinct characters. Neither has any relation to the other, except as each plays a vital part in the life of Abigail Ardsley, once the belle of New York, later an aristocratic whitehaired recluse who breaks her silence of nearly half a century to save the life of the young gambler chance has thrown across her path. Helen Lowell has the role of Abigail Ardsley in “Midnight Alibi,” Ann Dvorak is the youthful heroine of the dramatic story, while other members of the cast include Henry O’Neill, Helen Chandler, Robert Barrat, Paul Hurst, Robert McWade and Vincent Sherman. Alan Crosland directed the production from the screen play by Warren Duff. Ann Dvorak Loves Moonlight Swims Ann Dvorak, who plays Dick Barthelmess’ sweetheart in the First National production of Damon Runyon’s story, “Midnight Alibi,” which comes to the ............ hus awesaas PROBES | 01. 55.de as is an ardent devotee of swim ming. A swim the first thing in the morning in her own pool on her San Fernando Valley ranch and —on moonlight nights—another plunge the last thing before going to bed, is a regular part of Ann’s daily regime. “The moonlight swim is the greatest tonic I know of,” adds Ann. , Barthelmess Has Had 36 Leading Ladies Richard Barthelmess, star of the First National picture, “Midnight Alibi,” now showing at the Soak cere ance Theatre, probably holds the world’s motion picture record for the number of leading women who have appeared in his pictures since he became a star. Thirty-six leading women have played opposite Barthelmess, ineluding Ann Dvorak and Helen Chandler, both of whom are with him again in “Midnight Alibi.” Ann Dvorak Young, vivacious, dark-eyed ... Dick Barthelmess’s sweetheart in First National’s “Midnight Alibi,”? at the Strand. Mat No. 6—10c Page Five