Penrod and Sam (Warner Bros.) (1931)

LENGTH (VITAPHONE) >) 6527 Feet ~ RUNNING TIME 71 Minutes 321 WEST 44th STREET FIRST NATIONAL oxo YU TAPHON TALKING sirst National Pictures PELCTWRES Permission is granted licensed exhibitors to reproduce with proper notice of copyright all matter contained herein. NEW YORK CITY, U.S. A. BOOTH TARKINGTON’S PENROD AND SAM LEON JANNEY—JUNIOR COGHLAN SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication ) Copyright 1931 by First National Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved Penrod Schofield, aged twelve, is head of the gang which meets in the boxboard clubhouse on the vacant lot next his home. Though Herman and Verman, colored twins, are members—Rodney Bitts is kept out because he is a bully and because his father is the town’s richest man. Georgie Bassett is black-balled because he is much too nice. The story opens as Penrod comes out of school after being kept in for half an hour. Sam, his pal, waits for him, and the two are offended to see Marjorie, the small lady of —“their hearts, walking by with the __ detested _Georgie._Sam_and Penrod hurry to the shack to plan ways to get even with their rival. That night Penrod’s parents urge him to be friendly with Georgie whose father has complained to Mr. Schofield. Penrod listens without interest. He is supposed to write a letter to be read at school but instead plays with his dog, Duke. The next morning in a panic he grabs a letter from the desk of his sister Margaret. Much to his embarrassment the teacher makes him read it aloud, though it proves to be an ardent love letter. After school Rodney Bitts leads a gang in heckling Penrod, and the latter is beating Rodney up, as Old Man Bitts comes along. Georgie’s father has again seen Mr. Schofield who orders Penrod to take the lad into the lodge. Georgie is admitted though with fearful initiation rites of which Rodney gets a part. That night both Mr. Bassett and Mr. Bitts call to report Penrod’s behavior to their boys.. His dad. gives him a spanking, which is eased however, by the fact that he has put a shingle in the seat of his pants. Marjorie gives a party and both Penrod and Sam want to be thought her swain. Penrod sees her in advance and makes the proposition that she pretend to be Sam’s girl, but in reality be his. Sam discovers the plot and he and Penrod have a fierce fight which breaks up the party. Penrod’s sister Margaret leads him home in disgrace. Penrod’s father does not punish him— for that afternoon his beloved dog, Duke, had been killed by a car. The next day Duke is buried with ceremony, on the club-house lot, the gang acting aS mourners. Life goes on as usual until one day when Penrod and his gang are giving a carnival on the lot. Rodney Bitts arrives and orders them away, saying that his father has bought the lot from Mr. Schofield, who is pressed for money. Penrod at first does not believe his father would have sold the lot which holds Duke’s grave. The next day, he goes to Mr. Bitts’ to try to buy back—not the whole lot—but just the grave. Bitts refuses. That night, in a touching scene, Mr. Schofield sees his error, and a PRINTED IN U.S. A. Meet Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan as they appear in the title roles of Booth Tarkington’s “Penrod and Sam,” the First National picture coming to the Cut No. 18 Cut 30c Mat toc few days later hands Penrod a title to the lot. “It’s yours forever, son,” he says. The gang has a grand celebration as they again take possession of the shack. The picture closes as Penrod and Sam are plotting an elaborate initiation for Rodney, the villain. WHO'S WHO LEON JANNEY— Famous boy actor seen in “Courage,” “Old Eng: lish”, “Father’s Son,” “The Doorway to Hell” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Ogden, Utah. MATT MOORE—Sereen in “Traffic in Souls,” “Pride of Clan,” “Tillie the Toiler,” “Beware of Blondes,” “Phyllis of Follies,”.“Dry Martini,” “Coquette,” ‘‘Side Street,’’ “Squealer,” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in County Meath, Ireland. DOROTHY PETERSON—Broadway stage favorite. “Mothers Cry,” “Party Husband,” “Bought” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Hector, Minnesota. ZASU PITTS—Celebrated character actress. On sereen in “Devil’s Holiday,” “Monte Carlo,’ “Little Accident,’’ “Lottery Bride,” “Squealer” “Passion Flower,” “River’s End,” “War Nurse,” “Sin Takes a Holiday,’ “Free Love,” “Finn and Hattie” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Parsons, Kansas. Hey, Gang! Come On Over! On screen in} JUNIOR COGHLAN—Famous boy actor. On sereen in “Mike,” “Slide, Kelly, Slide,” “Square Shoulders,” “The Girl Said No,” “Yankee Clipper’, “Harp-in Hock,” “Country Doctor,” “Let ’Er Go, Gallagher,” “Marked Money,” “River’s End” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in New Haven, Conn. JOHNNY ARTHUR—Favorite on stage. On sereen in “The Desert Song,” “The Gamblers,” “Divorce !Made Easy,” “Hot Lemonade,” “A Hint to Brides,” “Adam’s Eve,” “Show.of Shows,” “Aviator,” “Per ‘+ sonality,” “She Couldn’t Say No,” “Cheer Up and Smile,” “Going Wild” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Seottsdale, Pa. NESTOR ABER—Boy actor who plays Rodney, the bully, in “Penrod and Sam.” Seen in films by Fox and Educational. Born in Los Angeles. BILLY LORD—Boy actor plays part of Georgie Bassett in “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Atlanta, Georgia. JAMES ROBINSON and ROBERT DANDRIDGE—Los Angeles colored boys who play the parts of Herman and Verman in-“Penrod and Sam.” CHARLES SELLON—Celebrated on stage. On sereen in “The Bad Man,” “Borrowed Wives,” “Big ROUTINE STORY (This story contains all the important facts about “Penrod and Sam.” Release to all papers several days before the engagement opens.) Hail, hail the gang’s all here — or will be all here... . next— when “Penrod and Sam,” First National’s brilliant. screen version of the immortal Booth Tarkington story of boyhood and girlhood, too, for that matter — comes to the...... Theatre, for an extended run. Penrod is played by Leon Janney, the ‘regular’ boy who won such success in “Courage” with Belle Bennett; in “Old English” with George Arliss and in “The Doorway to Hell,” with Lew Ayres. Penrod’s freckled pal Sam is portrayed with delightful roguishness by the no less famous boy-actor, Junior Coghlan — and there are a score of other rough-neck, romping youngsters, not forgetting, Duke the ill-fated and beloved dog. An interesting fact about the canine in question is that the same dog who so wisely acts the part in the silent version, nine years ago—acts the part in the present picture. The same director, William Beaudine, also was in charge. Mr. Beaudine, himself the father of a large brood of kiddies, has the interesting experience of directing his own daughter, as the rather domineering sister of Ben. Herman and Verman, the twin buddies of the heroes are portrayed by two well known negro boy actors, Dandridge and Robinson. Interesting grown-ups, needful to the: story as dads, moms, teachers, and what not — are played by Matt Moore, Dorothy Peterson, Zasu Pitts and others. The settings are unique, the shack where the secret club of young hoodlum meets, having been built by the kids in the cast. Dialogue, too, much of it, is in the kiddies own vernacular—“Penrod and Sam” manages to be the best example of grand and glorious entertainment offered this “season for kids of all ages — seven to seventy. THE CAST PENROD, 4 ed twelve, leader of the gang-_.LEON JANNEY MR. SCHOFIELD, Penrod’s father MATT MOORE MRS. SCHOFIELD, Penrod’s mother DOROTHY PETERSON JUNIOR COGHLAN JOHNNY ARTHUR ZASU PITTS CHARLES SELLON WADE BOTELER SAM, Penrod’s pal MR. BASSETT, Georgie’s papa MRS. BASSETT, Georgie’s mamma MR. BITTS, Rodney's dad MR. WILLIAMS, Sam’s father MARGARET, Penrod’s sister RODNEY, The village bully, thrashed by Pen NESTOR ABER BILLY LORD MARJORIE, Who makes Penrod and Sam jealous MARGARET MARQUIS BABY RENSDALE, Little girl who likes Penrod BETTY GRAHAM JAMES ROBINSON ROBERT DANDRIDGE HERMAN, Colored lodge member VERMAN, Herman’s twin DUKE, Penrod’s beloved dog Money,” “For the Love of Lil,” “Sea Legs,” “Tom Sawyer,” ‘Man . to Man” and “Penrod and Sam.” Born in Boston, Mass. WADE BOTELER—On screen in VITAPHONE “Sin Flood,” “Life’s Like That,” “Close Harmony,” “Navy Blues,” “The Toilers’?’ and “Penrod and SHORT Sam.” Born in Santa Ana, Cal. eS WITH THIS HELEN BEAUDINE—Daughter of director of “Penrod and Sam.” Makes debut in the picture as Penrod’s_ sister. FEATURE Page One