Miss Pacific Fleet (Warner Bros.) (1935)

PUBLICITY Comedian Takes Terrific Beating To Win Ring Bout Allen Jenkins Exchanges Punches With Prize Fighter in “Miss Pacific Fleet” Allen Jenkins had to win his first screen fight in the Warner Bros. picture, “Miss Pacific Fleet,” now showing at the Theatre. And gosh, how he hated it, that is, winning the fight. Jenkins has fought many screen battles and he has always been licked. He is used to that and doesn’t mind it. : “You never get hurt when you lose a screen fight,” he confided to his friends. “But when you win one you have to stand up and take punishment. That’s no fun.” Jenkins is right about that. An actor can’t win even a film fight by making comedy dives to the canvas, an art at which Jenkins excels. But in “Miss Pacific Fleet,” Jenkins is supposed to be the middleweight champion of the navy. As such he is called upon to defend his title and to win votes in a popularity contest for his girl friend, all the same time. His opponent was Jimmy O’Gatty, a real prize fighter, experienced in picture work. To build both comedy and suspense, the comedian has to get the worst of the fight through several rounds. That part was easy for Jenkins. In “The Irish In Us,” and in all of the Perry Mason stories, in which Jenkins has shared acting honors with Warren William, Jenkins has been rather thoroughly beaten up, and has always come out of the affray actually unscathed. But in “Miss Pacific Fleet” the worm turns and Jenkins eventually wallops his opponent in impressive Se ee Fe style. And that part of the battle is when Jenkins came in for considerable mauling. “A chap like Cagney,” explains Jenkins, “is always expected to win his fights. And he always gets hurt. I’m always supposed to be licked and it’s a cinch performance. I’ve been falling on my neck for years. “This fight was something different. I put two frozen steaks away in the icebox at home and used them both on the shiners I got. “An actor, it seems, is supposed to be able to do anything, even win a fight. All right. I did it, although it nearly killed me.” “Miss Pacific Fleet” is a smashing comedy with an all star cast, including Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert, Jenkins and Warren Hull. M. K. Jerome and Herb Magidson wrote the music and _ lyrics while Raymond Enright directed the picture from the screen play by Lucille Newmark and Peter Milne, based on a story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. Joan Blondell Refuses To _ Be Film “Clothes Horse” But She is Dressed in Pert, Free and Snappy Fashion for “Miss Pacific Fleet” Joan Blondell has never been listed as one of the ten best dressed actresses in Hollywood. There is a reason for this which is not in any way connected wth the lady’s ability to wear smart clothes. Such a listing might ruin Joan’s career in pictures almost beyond reclaim. She specializes in roles which are distinctly not “clothes horse” parts. She is a comedienne and screen comediennes have never been style setters. Studio designers dress Miss Blondell to fit her parts, in pert, snappy, free and easy fashion. She never takes second billing to her gowns. “I’m not the type,” says Joan shortly, when asked if she sometimes wishes she might compete with Kay Francis, Norma Shearer or Dolores Del Rio in the introduction of new styles. “I’d look silly in the clothes they wear so well.” Off the screen Miss Blondell dresses as well and as expensively on occasion as any one in Hollywood. In pictures she is the other type. She seldom plays rich women roles. She is the secretary who falls in love with her employer, the gold digger who is a little too flashy to belong on Park Avenue, the saleslady who knows all the answers or the sailor’s sweetheart in the popularity contest, as in “Miss Pacific Fleet,” the Warner’ Bros. comedy drama which comes to the ................. seed trer One se as ST would never do to have the JOAN BLONDELL in “Miss Pacific Fleet” at the Strand Mat No. 103 10e stranded chorine who needs ‘to win a popularity contest to get money enough to stay out of jail, dressed up in Designer OrryKelly’s best creations. Joan is clever and her own clothes are clever but Parisian designers are not worried over any trends she may start. Joan went to Hollywood in the same job lot of actors and act-— resses picked from New York a shows five or six years ago in which James Cagney figured unimportantly. They had appeared together in the play “Penny Arcade” which Al Jolson bought for screen purposes and then sold to Warner Bros. with the suggestion that two of the stage cast, namely Joan Blondell and James Cagney, ought to be taken to Hollywood to play their original roles. These were roles not unlike those which both Miss Blondell and Mr. Cagney have since made famous, the wise cracking girl and the tough young man. A precedent was established which neither has entirely lived down but which has brought them both much fame and fortune. But neither of them has ever been classed as the “best dressed” of their profession. And neither of them, if they can help it, ever will be. “Miss Pacific Fleet” is a rollicking comedy romance with that quartette of fun makers, Miss Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins heading the cast. Others include Warren Hull, Eddie Acuff, Marie Wilson and Minna Gombell. Raymond Enright directed the picture from the screen play by Lucille Newmark and Peter Milne, based on a story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. Form “‘Double L Club“ Four featured players in the Warner Bros. production, “Miss Pacific Fleet,” now showing at the ier ees, tee Theatre, have formed the “Double L Club.” The players are Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Warren Hull and Minna Gombell, all the names ending in double “LL.” He’s Dizzy Allen Jenkins rode the merry-goround so much during the filming of “Miss Pacific Fleet,’ the Warner Bros. comedy coming to the .......... Theatre on ............ that, according to Hugh Herbert, he staggered for a week. Mat No. 106—10c One Man Gives 24 Gobs Black Eyes Meet Ray Romero, the man who gave twenty-four sailors black eyes without even getting his hair mussed in return. Romero is a make-up man at the Warner Bros. studio and the sailors who received the blackened lamps were extras appearing in “Miss Pacific Fleet,” which comes to the Theatre on One of the high spots in the picture is a street brawl at a naval base in which sailors, marines and several dozen of their respective girl-friends participate. Quite naturally a large number of the fighters would be expected to have shiners immediately following the brawl. This was Romero’s job, and he did it well. Hugh Herbert Thinks Fans Go Too Far “I love to read my fan mail,” said Hugh Herbert, “but sometimes people carry things too far!” The Warner Brothers comedian, who is appearing in a featured role in “Miss Pacific Fleet,’ now showing at the..0...0.000......... Theatre, was referring to a letter he had received from a_ well-meaning matron in Spokane, Washington. “Dear Mr. Herbert,” the letter read, “You are my favorite movie star because you remind me _ so much of my dear, departed husband. He was always full of fun, and was confined to a mental institution for the last three years of his life.” Fans Elect Blondes To Play Together Because motion picture fans throughout the country, especially those addicted to blondes, wrote in such glowing reports of the team of Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell, these two young ladies were teamed together again in “Miss Pacific Fleet,’ the Warner Bros. comedy romance which comes to thecs. =. Theatreson: =. t.<.:. The two comediennes have appeared together in such hits as “Havana Widows,” “We're in the Money,” “Kansas City Princess,” and more recently in “Traveling Saleslady.” Love as BeautyAid In a recent questionnaire, handed to Glenda Farrell, blonde Warner Bros. comedienne, who has a leading role in “Miss Pacific Fleet,” now showing at the........ Theatre, she was asked to tell how a girl could keep her figure. “Fall in love often and hard,” said Glenda. Girls Stage Fierce F ight — For ‘Miss Pacific Fleet’’ Red Heads, Blondes and Brunettes Bruised in Battle Royal « “On stand-by-duty—two seamstresses with needles and thread ; two matrons with 6 smocks each: two first-aid men with necessary emergency equipment; one responsible person wth portable strong box.” That was the unusual notation on the “call-sheet” at Warner Bros. studio one day during the production of “Miss Pacific Fleet,” which comes to the It aroused curiosity even among studio employes, who are accustomed to seeing queer assignments on call-sheets. “And those people are all going to be needed, too,” explained Director Raymond Enright who was asked about these “stand-bys.” “In the picture, ‘Miss Pacific Fleet, with Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell in the stellar roles, a free-for-all scrap breaks out over the result of a popularity contest,” he said. “Forty extra boys playing sailors, start slugging each other. Forty extra girls, playing sailors’ sweethearts, start battling among themselves. It’s quite a scene!” It was! It attracted every masculine studio-worker who could sneak down to the street where it was made. Four pairs of extra girls were told off to do their battling in the foreground, with promise of payand-one-half if they really put their hearts into it. All the rest were to mix it up, too, but not so violently. — When the director called for “Action!” on the scene, he certainly got it. The girls, especially those in the foreground, tore into each other. Heads of red and blonde and brunette hair were tousled. Squeals of excitement rent the air. The light fabric of summer dresses ripped and tore. Shoes slipped off scuffling feet. Hats fell to the ground and were trampled underfoot. The battle lasted for three minutes. Net results: fourteen sleeves were torn out; five waists were torn completely off; two skirts entirely removed from their wearers. Nine slippers, four different individual garters and twelve hats were picked up. Here’s where the work of the “stand-bys” came in. The matrons with smocks put them on the girls who had lost most of their clothing; the seamstresses sat down and stitched up the ripped and torn garments (for the scene had to be taken over again because some of the girls had been laughing when they shouldn’t); and the first-aid men looked about for injuries. Four times the battle-royal was photographed, before the director declared: “Swell scene!” “Miss Pacific Fleet” is a glamorous romance and comedy. Besides Miss Blondell and Miss Farrell, the cast includes Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins, Warren Hull, Eddie Acuff and Marie Wilson. Joan Blondell Ultra Feminine in Evening Joan Blondell, who has a flare for severe, tailored little daytime frocks, always discards that style for the ultra-feminine in evening wear. In her new Warner Bros. picture, “Miss Pacific Fleet,” now showing at the... Theatre, she has an opportunity to wear several stunning formal gowns, all designed for her by Orry-Kelly. Particularly notable is a black evening gown, done in the popular new silk jersey combined with stiff net. Made form-fitting and without a belt, the gown features a brassiere-type bodice with narrow shoulder straps made of black stars. The skirt, held down slimly over the hips, is stitched into a sharp point just above the knees, both front and back, and then sweeps out in an extreme bouffant effect to the floor, the fullness being enhanced by bands of black horsehair braid placed under the net flounces to make them stand out crisply. See Theatre on | Wise Cracker Glenda fastest talking wise cracker on the screen is co-star with Joan Blondell in the Warner Bros. comedy “Miss Pacific Fleet” coming to (hese Theatre OM .....c.ccccccesece Mat No. 107—10c Farrell, considered the Joan Blondell Calls Jumper A “Honey” In her latest Warner Bros. picture, “Miss Pacific Fleet,” now showing at the...................... Theatre, Joan Blondell wears a jumper dress that’s a honey—her own words—for sports, business, collegiate wear, or come-what-may. Of navy blue silk jersey, one of this fall’s new candidates for great popularity, the dress is contrasted with a guimpe of heavy white embroidered material. Wide jumper straps form a low armhole, and around the waist a very narrow fold flares upward, while a narrow leather belt runs just below it. Gets Wish to Act in Blondell Film When Warren Hull was an “outsider,’ as far as moving pictures are concerned, his favorite movie star was Joan Blondell. Now, as a featured player at the Warner Bros. studio, Hull is appearing in a leading role opposite Miss Blondell in “Miss Pacific The handsome young singer, who came to the screen via the stage and radio, frankly admits that Joan always came first with him as far as screen actresses are concerned. Others in the cast are Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins, Eddie Acuff and Marie Wilson. Four Players in Film Are All Blondes Four leading feminine players in “Miss Pacific Fleet,” the War ner Bros. comedy with music which comes to the............ .Theatre ON eso ee , are blondes. The four actresses are Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Minna Gombell and Marie Wilson, all being blonde enough to please those much-heralded gentlemen who prefer them. “Miss Pacific Fleet” is the latest comedy featuring Miss Blondell and Miss Farrell. Others in the cast are Warren Hull, Allen Jenkins and Hugh Herbert. Pave Eleven