Penrod and Sam (Warner Bros.) (1931)

Orthodox Movie Mama Crochets And Talks Of Nothing But Her Child Character Study Of Maligned Matron Who Means To Make Her Offspring Win STARTS TODAY Live PAE GESt PART OF YOUR LIFE OVER AGAIN! @ (Short Feature. Plant in No 1 Paper 4 days Before the Run) Miles of crocheting and literally thousands of square yards of embroidery are produced each year by the patiently industrious ‘motion picture mothers” who, having accompanied their more or less talented offspring to a _ studio, sit throughout the day on the set with nothing to do except wait for the time to go home. Without exception these women occupy themselves with the different forms of needlework long popular with the sex. They seldom talk to one another, for experience has proved the danger of this form of diversion. Invariably, when they do join in conversation, the topic gets around—and quickly—to their respective sons and daughters. And no motion picture mother likes to listen to another motion picture mother discourse about her young. Not when she has her own talented child to talk about. They Fear No One It is axiomatic that a motion picture mother fears no one and respects authority lightly. The most assertive director becomes meek in her presence. Assistant directors wince when told there will be children in their next cast. They know by past experience there will be millions of questions to be answered, millions of explanations to be made, and ‘many an irate moment to be smoothed over. Let the call for lunch be delayed so much as five minutes and immediately some mother will step forward to remind the harassed assistant, or even the director himself, that “Junior cannot go without his milk. It makes him nervous and irritable, and I won’t be responsible for his work this afternoon unless you let him eat right now.” One man who has solved this major Hollywood problem, the problem of how to remain happy though directing children, is William Beaudine. Beaudine, First National director, rates next to the patient William McGowan of Our Gang fame as having directed more children, and more child subjects, than any other film maker in pictures. He directed the famous Booth Tarkington childhood classic “Penrod and Sam” with Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan in the featured roles which GOMES: CO: 1NO-o)is nes Theatre Ss Gee ea eee next. In addition to the two young principals there are fifteen children—and of course there were as many mothers—on the “Penrod and Sam” ‘sets. Beaudine’s Way Wins Beaudine’s system, or rather his formula, is a constant smile, which he dons the moment he steps on the set in the morning and wears until he leaves at night. His smile is his reply to every question, and it is as bland and innocent a grin as ever was worn by a diplomat. “T learned early in the game never Story by BOOTH TARKINGTON Director’s Daughter Gets Her First Part In Tarkington Drama (Biographical) Helen Beaudine, who plays the sister of the hero in First National’s “Penrod and Sam,” now at the.... Ses ete oes Theatre, is a daughter of the director, William Beaudine, and the role is her first experience as an actress. Miss Beaudine, a student in a Hollywood high school, was born in Los Angeles. Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan, featured as Penrod and his pal, heading the cast of which Miss Beaudine is a member. Helen splendidly portrays the part of Penrod’s long-suffering sister Mar OFFICIAL Story by Booth Tarkington STRAND First National Pictures, Inc. _ presents “PENROD AND SAM” 100% FOR ONE WEEK Spend one glorious hour with the Here’s your chance! kid you were — or should have been! Youll never for give yourself if you miss it! PENROD AND SAM LEON JANNEY JUNIOR COGHLAN DOROTHY PETERSON—ZASU PITTS and a dozen of Hollywood’s brightest kids Cut No.5 Cut 6o0c Mat rsc Fathers And Sons Should See “Penrod And Sam” (Advance Reader ) “Penrod and Sam,” the First Na Wade Boteler Plays Father Of Sam In Tarkington Hit (Biography Aug. 15, 1931) Wade Boteler, who plays Sam’s father in First National’s “Penrod andspam;“nowt the=——. 4 es Theatre, was born in Santa Ana, California. Early in his career he attended and afterwards taught at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. He later was in stock in several important theatrical centers and came to Hollywood after he was honorably discharged from the army at the end of the World War. He made an immediate success on the screen through a close business association with Douglas MacLean, whom he served as writer, director and fellow player. More recently he has devoted his time to comedy-character portrayals. One of his best previous parts for First National was in “Sin Flood”. Other pictures in which he has appeared are “Life’s Like That,” “Close Harmony,” “Navy Blues” and “The Toilers.” tional production featuring Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan comes to thet ee Theatre next. This is the jolliest, tenderest of all pictures of boyhood—and dads who are not too sure they understand just what their small sons mean—should take those same small boys with them to see “Penrod and Sam.” The cast includes a score or so of kiddies—regular freckle-faced, paper-wad-throwing, fighting, impish, angelic ones—as well as many clever grown-ups—not to forget the good old mutt, Duke. The pleasantest cure for whatever ails you is “Penrod and Sam.” BILLING ; ith to talk back to a movie mother,” ¢ = 75 Mr. Boteler is six feet tall, weighs Beaudine confides. “A grin means eon Janney S55 SsGu Seeger Sie See aes % one hundred and eighty pounds and yes or no to every question. And Junior Coghlan ee ee Seg ee eae Poe 20% has red hair and blue eyes. y ; ) pees _— Ou ead Rimage Matt Moore (Must be 3rd or better) === 10% z : . Dorothy Peterson... 5. ee 10% Penrod and Sam” are Helen Beau7, Pit 10 dine (daughter of the director) Nesasa itis see Oa ge ae ae eR Re To eae Acie Billy Lord: Matearet Screen play and dialogue by Waldemar Young __________________ 5% Marquis, Betty Graham, and the Directed by William Beaudine Se aacine SE ge Se ee ee 10% colored lads who play Herman and Verman, Dorothy Peterson, Zasu Pitts, Johnny Arthur, Charles Sellon and Wade Boteler. To say nothing of the dog, Cameo. Herman And Verman, Pals Of Penrod, Well Played (Biographical) James Robinson.and Robert Dandridge, the little colored boys featured as Herman and Verman with Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan in “Penrod and Sam,” the First National picture now at the ...... Theatre, are both natives of Los Angeles’ “Harlem” district—Central Avenue. Robert is the screen veteran of the pair, having appeared in more than one hundred motion pictures, many of them short comedies. N JANNEY R COGHLAN A First National and Vitaphone Picture Boy Actors Build Set Shacx Seen In “Penrod And Sam” The children in the cast of ‘Penrod and Sam,” the First National picture now playing at the ........ Theatre, built their own sets in many parts of the production. The youngsters built on a vacant lot at the studios the shack in which much of the action takes place. This departure was ordered by Director William Beaudine, who was convinced that only children could build it as it should be built. NATIONAL & VITAPHONE HIT A_ FIRST ‘|recently in Cover ‘Penrod & Sam’ Lot With Canvas To Ban Hookey Kids (Advance. Plant 4th Day Before) An epidemic of hookey broke out of Los largest grammar schools, and only one Angeles’ the motion picture makers of Hollywood had the remedy for it. First National was filming many sequences of Leon Janney’s new pic“Penrod and Sam” the First National picture which comes to the ture, eater are Theatte =.) Next on a large vacant lot right in the resiheart of the This “oeation” is within a few blocks of the school too great for the pupils. dential city. attraction was They left their classes by the dozens to watch and the the thrilling process of motion picture making, and many of the truants begged to be given work as members of Penrod’s gang. Director William Beaudine wantthe authorities, finally fenced, in the va ing to cooperate with. school cant lot with canvas and the young sters went back to school. The cast of “Penrod and Sam” includes Matt Moore, Dorothy Peterson, Zasu Pitts, Junior Coghlan, Johnny Arthur, Charles Sellon, Wade Boteler, Helen Beaudine, Nestor Aber, Billy Lord, Margaret Marquis, Betty Graham, James Robingon, Robert Dandridge and the dog, Cameo. Natural Kid Lingo Of “Penrod And Sam” Original With Kids (Advance. Plant 2nd Day Before) Convinced that rehearsals would take all spontaneity from the action that he desired, William Beaudine, First National director, recently made a motion picture in which the actors themselves wrote the dialogue as they made the picture. The production is “Penrod and Sam,” coming to the DhGatre. Arcee next, in which Leon Janney and Junior Coghlan are featured with an all-star cast of twenty or more children’ and just a few grown-ups. Beaudine’s system is the essence of simplicity. Knowing the Janney, Coghlan, and the elders in the cast are experienced players, he had them memorize the lines necessary to get over the story points. All others in the cast, however, were merely told the general nature of the scene and went into it with the instruction from Beaudine “Speak the reply that comes first to your mind. If you desire to laugh, let it come. Be perfectly natural in the scene. That’s what I want.” The result, according to observers, is that Beaudine got thoroughly realistie performances from all of the youngsters; performances that are so natural they might well have been filmed in the school yard or the vacant lot next door. LAST TWO DAYS TO SEE THE PICTURE ALL DETROIT LOVES! BOOTH TARKINGTON’S wibe LEON JANNEY & JUNIOR COGHLAN Cut No. 13 Cut 4goc Mat roc Page Five