Oil for the Lamps of China (Warner Bros.) (1935)

Stephen Chase (Pat O’Brien) is a young American sent to China to represent a great oil company. Jilted by one woman who refused to endure the hardship of life on the frontier, he persuades Hester (Josephine Hutchinson), who had been left alone in the Orient on the death of her father, to marry him, although he had known her but a few hours. Later they fall deeply in love, but this is strained when Chase leaves his wife at child birth to fight a fire that is threatening to destroy the company tanks. The child dies and for a time she is terribly embittered, thinking her husband cares more for his company than for her and the child. One of' their friends, Jim (Lyle Talbot) gets sick of the drudgery and returns to New York. Chase and his wife also return later and decide to quit China, but when they find Jim down and out, because, as he explains, life in the Orient unfits a man for anything else, they return. Alice (Jean Muir) and her husband, Don, (John Eldredge) are two of the Chases’ best friends, but Don does not understand the Chinese and Chase is foreed to transfer him. This makes Hester furious again, for she loved their neighbor’s boy Bunsy (Ronnie Cosby) whom she had _ nursed through the dreaded cholera. Communism breaks out and bandits overrun the country. Chase is ordered to give the company’s money to the bandit soldiery. He escapes with MacCargar (Donald Crisp) and makes his way through a swamp _ to safety, although MacCargar is shot and killed. Having saved the company’s money Chase becomes a hero. But Hartford (Henry O’Neill) a new man comes to take charge of the company, and demotes Chase to an office boy’s job. Years ago Chase had invented a lamp which so increased the sale of oil that the company had made millions out oft. Hester, being practical, had had this patented while she was in New York. She goes to the new boss and demands that her husband be given an important job telling him she controls the patent rights for the lamp. He gives in. Chase, that night returns to his home overjoyed and tells his wife he knew the company never forgot its men. He knows nothing of his wife’s part in the matter, and she never tells him. PRODUCTION. DETAILS Pat O’Brien Pat O’Brien was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and educated at Marquette University where he studied law and starred in football. He gave up law to join a stock company and finally drifted to New York, making his first Broadway appearance in “Gertie.” While rehearsing for the lead in “Tomorrow and Tomorrow” his release was purchased and he was taken to Hollywood to play Hildy Johnson in “The Front Page,” his first picture. His most recent pictures are “Devil Dogs of the Air,” “Flirtation Walk,” “TI Sell Anything,” “Were Comes the Navy,’ and “Twenty Million Sweethearts.” He is now appearing in “Oil for the Lamps of China,” which COMGS TOR:DNG = eat ee re DNC a EROS On. errs acein nee eoe Lyle Talbot Lyle Talbot was born in Pittsburgh where his father was manager of a stock company. After several years in stock and in the Little Theatre field, he was signed by Warner Bros.-First National for a role with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in “Love Is a Racket.” Since then he has appeared in many outstanding productions, including “While The Patient Slept,’ “Red Hot Tires,” and “Murder in the Clouds.” His current feature is “Oil for the Lamps of China,” which comes to the Josephine Hutchinson Josephine Hutchinson, the famous stage star, made her real bow on the sereen in the Warner Bros. production of “Happiness Ahead,” although as a child, she played a small part in a silent picture with Mary Pickford, called “The Little Princess.” Miss Hutchinson started her professional stage career in Washington, D. C., where she worked for three years in stock. Her first New York play, which called attention to her talent, was “A Man’s Man.” Later she played in the Civic Repertory Theatre with Eva Le Gallienne. Her pictures include “Happiness -Ahead,” “The Right .to Live,” and her current production, “Oil for the Lamps of China,” which comes to the..... SST Nae ase Mhealrer<0n s<sc52 = 2 Arthur Byron Arthur Byron is one of the best known actors on the American stage and has been associated with it all his life. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1872, of theatrical parents, he launched upon his stage career in 1899 working with his father. His screen work includes “The Man With Two Faces,” “Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing” and “The Secret Bride.” His current production, “Oil for the Lamps of China,” is now Showitigeat= theo a Awe eae Jean Muir Jean Muir was born in New York City, received her education in private schools in the East, and upon graduation studied in Paris. Returning to America, she met John Drinkwater on the boat. He became interested in her stage ambitions and gave her a position in his company on Broadway, she soon became well-known through fine performances in “The Truth Game,” “Peter Ibbetson,’ “Melo,” “Life Begins” and “St.. Wench.” Her latest pictures include “The White Cockatoo,” “Gentlemen Are Born,” “Desirable,” and “Dr. Monica.” Her current production is ‘Oil for the Lamps of China,” which COMES A LOAtNe aie ee a Se eer eae Mica tne soNs= sy : John Eldredge John Eldredge was born in San Francisco, his grandparents having come to the West Coast at the time of the Gold Rush in ’49. He was educated at the University of California where he made a specialty of dramaties. Later he went to New York, where he made a hit on Broadway in “Goodbye Again.” His first picture was in a role he played on the stage, which Warner Bros. produced under the title of “The Man With Two Faces.” Eldredge has an important role in “Oil for the Lam ee Ts CHICE EO Tere se a ee wrepnen “Ghise Sete eer rae 1S) REE So peel sees Sete On Ree SE A Josephine Hutchinson PAT eran Sse Carp AS cat Sy Arcee OE a De Se SERRATE CEE eRe Jean Muir DO Fee Se ee ee ee John Eldredge PN ee ees siete SUReaT Se eeeee oat _.....Lyle Talbot NOS BOSS eS ee ee eee arian 225 oe ce ee pe ee ee Henry O’Neill Welt ePrice Ps Sy ee Donald Crisp BON Seeger so 3 _..Ronnie Cosby Kin EES EE Ss a ee ee ay Ss _.. Willie Fung Ho ==: eit ee ta Tetsu Komai Ce ae ie PaaS Se See ane wee ae rae George Meeker DIT OC BOY See te Ee oe ee Christian Rub DGH ec ere gs ee ee Se geet eee Edward McWade Miss: Canning 2 a Pa 8 _..Florence Fair SURI EY 2 ak ns eee eee a a William Davidson Clepeenya ca <0 Sys Sn ee ers as _...Joseph Crehan Young -Chingse 285 .. IR Piano Rett Sue er ee ae Keye Luke DpCaner 8 se ae ee Es es a gees _...Willard Robertson “Theatre. ~ showing at the VITAPHONE PRESENTS 7 Shorts You'll Like For Your Bill With This Picture How Many. Please? ... . Dir eOb ar Se Peet ee ek vase gen oeees Mervyn LeRoy CTCCN Pay OV a. Ss ee Soh se eae Laird Doyle Based on the Novel by... Alice Tisdale Hobart bbs OY ce ee Musical Jurecior << 32 ee Eg SG ad kee ee ae Orry-Kelly ee ee Leo F. Forbstein “Oil For The 10% LAMPS OF. CHINA” 100% By Alice Tisdale Hobart 10% WE. DO OUR PART with Pat O’Brien—Josephine Hutchinson—Jean Muir 75% Lyle Talbot—Arthur Byron 60% Directed by Mervyn LeRoy 20% A Cosmopolitan Production 40% Released by First National Productions Corp. 5% and the Vitaphone Corp. ‘*‘BUDDY’S LOST WORLD.” “Looney Tunes.” Buddy’s adventures in seeking the Lost World. (7 minutes—No. 9707) FIFTY DOLLAR BILL, “Broadway Brevity.” Musical revue with specialty artists of stage and radio plus Vitaphone chorus, (20 minutes—No. 9110) THE YANKS ARE COM ING, “See America First.” Historical short depicting leading events and personalities of the World War period. (10 minutes—No. 9511) POLLY MORAN in “PRETTY POLLY,” “Big V Comedy.” Famous Hollywood star in a hilarious comedy burlesquing Hollywood’s better-known names. (18 minutes——No. 9210) J. FRED COOTS in “MOVING MELODIES’ with Lilian Shade, “Pepper Pot.” Well-known composer. and. night club star featuring some of his best known numbers. (11 minutes—No. 9624) “INTO YOUR DANCE,” “Merrie Melody.” Cartoon comedy featuring the hit song of the film “Go Into Your Dance.”’ ee iee (7 minutes—No. 9808) DAVE APOLLON & CO. in *“*‘THE WISHING STONE,”’ “Melody Master.” Stars of the stage playing hit songs of the day in their inimitable style. (10 minutes—No. 9911) _ Page Seventeen