Old English (Warner Bros.) (1930)

Warner Bros. Present George Arliss in ‘SOLD ENGLISH” Current ARLISS, AMES AND GALSWORTHY COLLABORATE ON OLD ENGLISH” Star, Producer and Playwright Work Together With Director to Create Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Master ADVERTISEMENT WARNER BROS. presenE AR GEORGE T heatre Next AEE ‘Geor e Arliss tn "Old Endlis 4 Warner Bros. Prod ee Production No. 4—Cut or Mat (Current) NO MORAL POINTED IN “OLD ENGLISH,” _ ARLISS TRIUMPH There is no moral lesson attempted in the John Galsworthy drama “Old English” in which George Arliss is starring on the Vitaphone screen for Warner Brothers now at Soe eet Theatre, but it is a fine and sympathetic story of an aged but spirited old rascal whose early indiscretions finally catch up with him. Arliss played “Old English” for three years on the American stage and it proved to be the most fina» eee, ck “SS and ciusuvauy protitaple or all his stage productions. The screen version was worked out with the assistance of the famous author John Galsworthy who cabled the necessary additional dialogue to Hollywood from England. A perfect cast and the expert direction of Alfred EB. Green contributed much to the finished production. piece Which Comes to the A most distinguished staff of collaboraters worked on the production of “Old English,” the Warner Brothers and Vitaphone production starring George Arliss, which comes.to the Theatre next__.__.. This staff was headed by none other than John Galsworthy, the famous English playwright, author Current ARLISS STARTED CAREER IN WEIRD MELODRAMA More than forty years ago an ambitious young actor secured a Silent supernumerary part in a rousing melodrama then touring British provinces, called “Saved from the Sea.” It was the beginning of a remarkable career for that young actor, whose name was George Arliss and who has recently completed the transfer of his greatest stage success to the Vitaphone screen for Warner Brothers. This latest production is John Galsworthy’s famous drama “Old English,” which Arliss played for more than three years on the New York stage and on the road. It took a year of persuasion on the part of Mr. Arliss to secure the screen rights for this production from Galsworthy. tinguished >~“*hor-ssd see—an?!e2" . Arliss-warner Brothers production, “Disraeli,” did he finally consent to having his play screened. A carefully selected cast, chosen by Arliss personally, supports the star in this production and Alfred E. Green, who directed “Disraeli,” directed this also. Ivan Simpson, Leon Janney, Doris Lloyd, Betty Lawford, and several from the stage casts of the same play appear in “Old English.” “Old English” is the current atiraction’-at. tne = Theatre. ADVERTISEMENT WARNER BROS. present GEORGE ARLISS in OW by John Galsworthy € What a Grand Old Sinner He Was Wish. , i* [TAP HONE REG. TRADE Two Cel. Ad—Style A—Cut or Mat Only when that_dis| ie of both the play and the book from which the play was taken. Mr. Galsworthy could not be lured to Hollywood from England to work with “Old English” first hand but he and Mr. Arliss held long consultations last winter over the problems of filming the famous story and he kept in close touch with actual* production by cable. Another notable who loaned his time and talents to make sure that “Old English” should be the great success it is, is Winthrop Ames, retired producer, friend and patron of Mr. Arliss, and one of the greatest theatrical experts in the country. Mr. Ames came personally to Hollywood for the purpose of watching the production and of advising on problems as they appeared. He, too, is a close friend of Galsworthy and the two were in frequent communication by cable while “Old English’ was being filmed. “Old English” was the greatest stage success of Mr. Arliss, and promises to be even more popular as a Vitaphone picture than was his record-setting “Disraeli.” The cast of “Old English” includes Ivan Simpson, Doris Lloyd, Betty Lawford, Leon Janney, Harrington Reynolds, Reginald Sheffield, Murray Kinnell, Ethel Griffies and Henrietta Goodman, Alfred BE. Green directed. Current Arliss Takes on Personality of Parts He Plays George Arliss has a peculiar ability of identifying himself with the characters he portrays on stage or screen. This was true with “Disraeli” to such an extent that more people in the world think of Disraeli as looking like Arliss than as he actually did. The same thing is true in “Oid English,” the famous Galsworthy drama which Arliss has made into a Vitaphone picture for Warner Brothers and which is now showing Stine <a as Theatre. In the original Gaisworthy story Sylvanus Heythorp, which is the real name of “Old English,” was described as a tremendous man, very fat, very red of face and very short of breath. But Arliss made “Old English’ what he is today in the great picture by that name and he is not at all like the original described by the author. So completely did Arliss come to dominate the part that when the scenario was prepared for the screen production—with the assistance of no less an authority than John Galsworthy himself—“Old English” was described briefly and as looking like George Arliss. The cast of “Old English” includes Ivan Simpson, Doris Lloyd, Betty Lawford, Leon Janney, and others. Alfred E. Green directed. Current You'll Love “Old English” Rakish, wily and rumbling as is the ancient beef-eating character known as “Old English” and portrayed by George Arliss in the Bros. and Vitaphone production now playing at the. Theatre, you will love him on sight. A — hata EG. TRADE What a Grand Old Sinner He Was They knew how to sin in the good old days. gentleman was judged by the ladies he loved and the liquor he drank. And “Old English”? was a gentleman of the first rank! TTAPHONE [SREEUEE Two Column Ad—Style B—Cut or Mat Current CAN YOU IMAGINE ARLISS BEING DISCHARGED FOR INCOMPETENCY Strange as it may seem George Arliss, dean of the stage and screen, was once actually discharged for incompetency and it was the very subtlety that marks his portrayal of character that lost him his part. It was during his first years on the stage that Mr. Arliss, who is now to be seen in Warner Bros. Old “Hn elish atthe ss Theatre, was given the role of villain while touring with a company through the English provinces. Because of his inclination toward honest acting which prevented him from tearing a passion to tatters as was the prevailing mode of heavies of the day, young Mr. Arliss was given notice, with the explanation that he was not strong enough for the part. Although he now stands at the head of his profession, he put in many discouraging years in England and it was not until he came to America that he was properly recognized. “The Devil’ was his first starring vehicle but “The Green Goddess” and “Disraeli” both of which he was later starred in by Warner Bros, and “Old English” have been his most successful starring vehicles. Current ARLISS GLORIOUS AS _ BLUFF “OLD ENGLISH” George Arliss is now to be seen 2 ria 8 8 = ae ee Theatre in the title role of “Old English,” the latest Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production which is an adaptation of the celebrated play by John Galsworthy. Mr. Arliss is magnificent as the wily and ancient beef-eating, sinful ship-owner. ~ In “Old English” he plays the part of Sylvanus Heythorp, past eighty, early Victorian but with many indiscretions to his credit. Mr. Arliss is surrounded by an excellent cast including Leon Janney, Doris Lloyd, Betty Lawford, Murray Kinnell, Ivan Simpson, Ethel Griffies, Henrietta Goodwin, Reginald Sheffield and others. The play is an adaptation of the John Galsworthy stage success. Alfred E. Green directed. ADVERTISEMENT WARNER BROS. present eorge Arlissin Oa f nol” J A r = bude TTPO One Col: Ad—Style C— Cut or Mat ©