Numbered Men(Warner Bros.) (1930)

‘ | Vitaphone Makes Life-likely Realistic . The Marvelously Tense Mutiny Scenes! Another Hollywood || WANTED NEW FILM|“Numbered Men” LOCALE: GOT IT | ComingTo ...... IN PRISON Theatre. ...... (ADVANCE—VITAPHONE) Mervyn Le Roy, the youngest as (ADVANCE NEWS— VITAPHONE) well as one of the cleverest of motion Conrad Nagel, Bernice Claire and picture directors, was in search of a new background for a movie—and|Raymond Hackett head the all-star cast of “Numbered Men,” a very he found it in prison! Le Roy spent a week in San/high-powered dramatic “special com-| Quentin, but the stay was voluntary.|/ing to the ............. Theatre He did it to get accurate “atmosphere” for an entirely new sort of prison drama, “Numbered Men,” which he then directed for First National. ; 2 3 When “Numbered Men” comes to Vitaphone picture, which is com(he ee Theatre, where it Oe cds oe fs oa will head the bill for ........... LET CS 11 Bee gle eet peters days;-—beommin ps. ae > the effects of Le Roy’s voluntary prison experience will be seen. The powerfully dramatic, intensely human story has accurate and_ realistic prison backgrounds for its entire locale. Conrad Nagel, Bernice Claire and Raymond Hackett head the cast. Not all of it takes place behind the grim walls, however. Some of it is at a convict labor camp, some on the road with the road gang, and some at a’ farm house near where the road gang works. There some of the most dramatic scenes of the picture take place. Nagel takes the character of an outstanding type of crook who, in the end, makes a great sacrifice for the happiness of the lovers, Miss Claire and Hackett. Ralph Ince appears in a villainous role, participating in a thrilling and unusual scene of prison riot and jail break. Tully Marshall and other favorites have fine parts. What Ca uses Jail Riots? Paradox! They Call Them Conrad Nagel is Hollywood’s paradox; for instance, he goes to church, sings in the choir, is a noted philanthropist prominent in all charitable work—and plays some of the best “crook roles” on the screen! Nagel, at his best, is featured with Bernice Claire and Raymond Hackett at the head of an allstar cast in First National’s “Numbered Men.” Mervyn LeRoy directed this highly -dramatic “Numbered Men” is a Vitaphone production by First National, based on the story and play by Dwight Taylor. Mervyn Le Roy directed the picture, which deals realistically with prison life, the honor system, the life of road gangs, and a highly dramatic, jail break. These subjects, however, are merely a novel background for a strikingly unusual love story, that is woven into the tense drama of prison intrigue, showing that while isolated from the world, a whole little world goes on inside the walls. Gangsters strive to kill one another for wrongs suffered “outside,” men “inside” plot against men “outside,” men “outside” plot against men “inside.” In the all-star supporting cast are Tully Marshall, Ralph Ince, Maurice Black, William Holden, Blanche Frederici, Ivan Linow, George Cooper and Frederick Howard. With them are some of the most picturesque and tough-looking extras ever gathered for a picture. Nagel’s role is one of the best he has ever played. He is a convicted counterfeiter, an honor prisoner who is permitted to go out with the road gang, a politician within the prison and an influence on outside affairs. Miss Claire, the little opera prima donna who has made such a hit in} several important films as “No, No, Nanette” and “Song of the Flame,” takes her first non-musical film role in “Numbered Men* and prove? &@ fine actress. “NUMBERED MEN” IS FILM BASED ON BIG JAIL RIOT (ADVANCE—VITAPHONE) A new type of dramatic event was chosen by First National Studio in producing “Numbered Men,” alltalking Vitaphone picture, coming aes to the ........ Theatre. The story is based on a prison mutiny, in which long term and life prisoners risk everything, including their lives to escape from jail. A well-known judge said recently: “The ‘jail break,’ or co-operative attempt by many men to escape serv‘ng sentences, is a new phase of crime development in the United States. These attempts are in most cases directed from the outside, and are as carefully planned as the human mind can imagine. Fortunately, they rarely succeed, but it demands the utmost vigilance on the part of guards and wardens to frustrate them.” As can be expected, “Numbered Men” is packed with drama and suspense. It is mostly a tale of men, but romance, too, exists in the prison life depicted in a boy and girl friendship in the environs of a convict labor camp. Conrad Nagel, Bernice Claire, and Raymond Hackett are featured. The story, which is adapted from Dwight Taylor’s play, “Jail Break,” occurs mostly behind the bars. When the prison mutiny starts, the boy is involuntarily drawn into it, although he has but a short time before he can rejoin his sweetheart. Nagel appears as a “good conduct” prisoner, Miss Claire, a charming new screen personality, is the girl on the outside, and Hackett is the youth. In the all-star cast of prominent characters are Tully Marshall, Ralph Ince, Maurice Black, William Holden, Blanche’ Frederici, Ivan Linow, George Cooper and Frederic Howard. Mervyn Le Roy directed this First National picture. Cut No. 18 Cut goc Mat roc “Numbered Men” is based on Dwight Taylor’s famous stage play, and like the play gives a true picture of prison life, and a startling one. The prison background, inside the grim walls, out on the roads with the gangs, and at the convict farms, constitute the entire background for the plot, and it is an intensely interesting one. Against that background, a fascinating love story and drama with plenty of punch and action is enacted. Ralph Ince, Tully Marshall, Maurice Black, William Holden, Ivan Linow, George Cooper and other favorites appear in the allstar cast. Gone is their country. Gone are their loves. Gone is everything but hope. Just numbers among other numbers. But their souls still live. Their desires still burn. Their hearts still ery for the pleasures they see from behind steel bars. Is it any wonder they go stircrazy? NUMBERED Fate wrote their story with a steel pen, dripping the ink of life. Now the camera creeps into their souls to capture all their hidden ‘thoughts and strange secrets. You'll see their INSIDE STORY dramatically depicted by CONRAD NAGEL BERNICE CLAIRE RAYMOND HACKETT Ralph Ince, Maurice Black, Wm. Holden, Tully Marshall ae fe we we How much of a part does Love play? What gives these numbered men the crazy courage that sends them rushing in wicked frenzy to freedom or ruin? Adapted from the stage play “Jailbreak” by Dwight Taylor Directed by Mervyn LeRoy A First National & Vitaphone Picture Begins Tomorrow At The STRANI Prison Scenes In Factory | Nagel Noted For Enunciation A large factory in Southern CaliAlthough Conrad Nagel, who apfornia was rented and put into opera-| pears in “Numbered Men,’ now at tion for prison scenes of “Numbered|the .......... Theatre, has been onMon,” now ~at tho. The-|the screen for some time, it remained atre. It was of course impossible|for the advent of talking pictures actually to take these scenes behind|to discover his greatest quality was the walls of the penitentiary, because} his splendid voice. It is claimed that of the disturbance of discipline and| Nagel has better enunciation than the possibility of riot. any other actor in Hollywood. |