Million Dollar Baby (Warner Bros.) (1941)

CURRENT PUBLICITY—’MILLION DOLLAR BABY’ Still MW19; Mat 205—30c SHE'S MODERN CINDERELLA—Priscilla Lane, in her newest picture, ‘Million Dollar Baby" plays a shopgirl who inherits a million dollars. Even as you and 1 would, she goes on a shopping spree, with Jeffrey Lynn and a couple of inquiring reporters in her entourage. Women’s Page Story New Clothes First Item For Girl Who Inherits a Million What would you do if you suddenly fell heiress to a million dollars? Priscilla Lane answers that she’d probably react just as she does in “Million Dollar Baby” when, as a _ screen-Cin Still PL649; Mat 108—15c PRISCILLA LANE derella, she rushes right out and buys a swarm of lovely new clothes. All of her gowns are designed by Orry-Kelly who gives them just the right orchid and ermine air. To follow her around the clock Priscilla wears, first of all, some pretty boudoir clothes. There’s a lounging pajama in rose-pink crepe styled like a shirtmaker with trimness at the waist, wide trousers and a tailored shirt. This matches her cheeks. The greenish blue lounging robe that tops it catches the color of her eyes. Orry is a firm believer in intensifying a girl’s natural coloring. You notice Priscilla’s feet first in an outfit that would be just right for spring. They’re encased in bright red pumps and the only color note to a black and white flowered print and black wool mob cap crowned with a single white water lily. For stepping out in the afternoon the diminutive Miss Lane wears a very tall hat of beige fox which she especially likes because it adds a few inches to her height. A huge ball muff and trim around the bottom of a beige dress coat match and complete a costume in the true luxury league. Limned against the evening scene is a waffle pique gown with sparkling top contrived with long white lace sleeves and a panel at the waistline, both strewn with silver sequins. Ronald Reagan Story He Has Home Rehearsal On the set of Warner Bros.’ “Million Dollar Baby,” currently showing at the Strand, Priscilla Lane and Ronald Reagan came out of their re4d spective dress ing. = The — sched = uled scene was Reagan was hand to Mat 105—15c Ronald Reagan on hear the debut of his own composition. He and Priscilla wait in the lobby to hear the audience’s reaction as it files out. “Want to rehearse?” Director Curtis Bernhardt asked when the two young stars took their places in front of the camera. “Not me,” replied Reagan. “I know just the mood you want when I discover my music is a failure.” “If Ronnie doesn’t want to rehearse neither do I,” said Priscilla. Bernhardt yelled, “Action!” As the people made their exit, most of them were shaking their heads. Someone said, ““No matter what they thought they shouldn’t have hissed.” Reagan knows he’s a failure and registers the fact with a look of intense disappointment. Bernhardt yelled, “Cut. Print it.” Then he added, ‘‘That was a perfect reaction, Ronnie.” “It should be,” Reagan retorted. “I had a perfect rehearsal yesterday when I sang to my baby, Maureen Elizabeth, for the first time. When I finished she looked at me and then started crying. It was an hour before we managed to stop her.” PERSONALS PRISCILLA LANE, youngest of the talented family of five girls was born Mullican in Indianola, Iowa ... When Lola, an older sister began her professional career, Gus Edwards gave her the name Lane, and her younger sisters liked it so well they adopted it, too... Priscilla was graduated from the Fagin Dramatic School in New York, sang with Fred Waring’s band ... Came to Hollywood with the band to make “Varsity Show” for Warner Bros. .. . Result, movie fame and a long-term contract. k * * * JEFFREY LYNN says that he would probably never have become an actor if he hadn’t been a school teacher first ... It was 1980 when he graduated from Bates College in Maine, and the country, you remember, was in the depths of depression ... Got a teaching job at a small high school in Maine, and dou bled as dramatic coach... His dormant desire to be an actor flared up then... Came to New York and worked as a theatre doorman by night, went to dramatic school by day .. . Stock engagements, among them a summer at the famous Barter Theatre and a few Broadway bits . . . While on tour with “Brother Rat’ was _ screentested ... Warner Bros. looked, liked and signed him. * * e * RONALD REAGAN, whose role as George Gipp in “Knute Rockne-All American” won him stardom, has long been one of Hollywood’s most likeable young leading men... Native of Tampico, Illinois, Reagan graduated from Eureka College ...On the grounds of having been a star athlete there, he became sports writer for his local newspaper, and this led to radio sports announcing ... While in California with the Chicago Cubs, he was screen-tested by Warners, and signed to a contract. * * Po k MAY ROBSON, grand old lady of the screen who recently passed her 75th birthday, celebrated that occasion by announcing that from then on she would play only comedy roles... Her newest one is in ‘‘Million Dollar Baby,” currently at the Strand ... Born in Melbourne, Australia, she was educated in England, France and Belgium... Made her debut before the footlights in 1883 ... After nearly fifty years on the stage, she made her movie debut in 1931. * * * ok CURTIS BERNHARDT, European director who made the recent comedy hit “My Love Came Back” as his first American picture, was one the foremost directors in France and Germany before the Hitler regime... His work on “My Love Came Back” and his newest, “Million Dollar Baby,” definitely places him in the top ranks of directors. “Million Dollar Baby” Held Over at Strand Thanks to the enthusiastic reception it has received from local audiences, “Million Dollar Baby,” the Strand Theatre’s current tenant will be held over for an extended engagement. The delightful comedy, with a cast headed by Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn and Ronald Reagan, has received wide praise from the many localites who have seen it at the Strand, as well as from the newspaper critics. “Million Dollar Baby” tells the charming and completely stream-lined Cinderella story of a shopgirl who inherits a million dollars. It’s a million dollar spree, with a million laughs. 4a Star Feature Jeffrey Lynn Happy Over ‘Million Dollar Baby’ Role Several months ago, Jeffrey Lynn was the most discouraged actor in Hollywood. He felt he was being typed as a “nambypamby” in his screen roles. He rebelled against a picture assignment, declaring it was the same characterization he’d been doing much too long. He made up his mind he would wait until the right Dar. ca me along. Luckily for him and_ his studio he Mat 103—15c didn’t have to Jeffrey Lynn wait long. Warner Bros. was starting to make “Million Dollar Baby.” Lynn saw in the picture a part he wanted. Unknown to him at the time, the studio wanted him to do it. A quick reconciliation followed. Now Lynn is happier than at any time since he received his first contract and admits he had the time of his life while he was working in his current “Million Dollar Baby” role. For the first time in his career he is a third party in a love affair. Ronald Reagan wins Priscilla Lane and they leave Jeff behind waving good-bye in a railroad station at the end of the picture. “You know,” said Lynn on the set, “things were getting so bad for me I wanted to wear a sign that said ‘Muss my hair and call me toughy.’ I was willing to do most anything to let the studio know how sincere I was in my efforts to get a different type role. “There are several scenes in this picture that I especially enjoy. When Ronald and I are about to have a fight over Priscilla, he calls me some uncomplimentary names. Without hesitating, I put up my dukes and we mix it until Priscilla separates us. “Later, in a scene with May Robson, I flare up and say, ‘I can’t do business with a girl who has me confused with Jack the Ripper.’ I’ve waited two years to say a line like that.” Lee Patrick Plays Bubble Dancer Lee Patrick is behind the bubble again. She has worn less clothes on the screen during the last six months than any actress in Hollywood. “Don’t think I’m complaining,” said Lee on the set of her current picture, “Million Dollar Baby,” the comedy starring Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn. “Tt flatters me to know that after 15 years’ experience on the stage and screen my figure is as important as my face.” As Lee wrapped her bathrobe, which she wears between scenes, around her, she continued, “I’m not quite sure just how it all happened. ‘City For Conquest,’ in which I portrayed a burlesque hoofer, is the picture that started it. Living in New York most of my life doesn’t make it difficult for me to deliver those slangy lines. In ‘Footsteps in the Dark’ I had to learn how to do a strip tease for my role. Now, in ‘Million Dollar Baby’ I’m a bubble dancer, which, after all, is just a step up the ladder from being a dress-peeler.”’ Besides her figure and her natural delivery of slang, Miss Patrick has a pretty face surrounded by blonde hair. her new picture "Million Dollar Baby." way she would react in real life, too. May Robson Builds Homes for Young Marrieds When May Robson isn’t working in a motion picture, you can probably find her in Culver City directing carpenters and seeing , that her new sub-division of houses for young couples is carried out the way she wants it. May Robson, who recently launched her new enterprise, told an interesting Mat 106—15< Story about it May Robson on the set of “Million Dollar Baby.” “Unlike most home owners, I reversed the tenant requirements and insisted that mine couldn’t move in unless they had children. Yesterday, a woman called on me at home and expressed her desire to buy one of the homes. I asked if she had any children and she said, no. I told her I was sorry but I had to stick by my word. She looked at me and said, ‘Give me four weeks’?” “You know my eyes aren’t as sharp as they were. They get the house and I keep my word.” 24 Still MW44; Mat 202—30e PRISCILLA GOES WILD! Reason: she's just found out she's a millionairess in Miss Lane thinks this is probably the Film is showing at Strand.