Rhapsody in Blue (Warner Bros.) (1945)

8 Celebrities In ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ Play Real Roles Gershwin’s Friends Star In Warners’ New Film Biography The latest film trend, induced by biographical pictures of contemporary characters, is to have celebrities of screen, stage and music portray themselves. A record case in point is “Rhapsody In Blue,” Warner Bros.’ story of the late George Gershwin, currently playing at the Strand Theatre. The Jesse L. Lasky production not only pictures twenty-two true-life characters, but has eight of them portraying themselves. The film's principal portrayers are Paul Whiteman, the rotund maestro who in* troduced Gersh| win's “Rhap-. sody In Blue,” : from which the picture takes its | name, and was otherwise close@ ly associated f™ with the composer; Oscar Levant, the concert pianist who was one of Gershwin’s closest friends; and Al Jolson, who introduced the song ‘“Swanee’ and made it Gershwin’s first hit. Also prominently cast as himself is George White, the Broadway producer, for whose famed “Scandals” Gershwin wrote music. Playing themselves in featured interpreTa Geo ns" -00 Gershwin music are Anne Brown, the original Bess of “Porgy and Bess’; Hazel Scott, pianist and songstress; and Tom Patricola, famed dancing star of the Gershwin hits era. Patricola emerged from retirement to do some of his original dances in the picture. Rouben Mamoulian, the director, is another celebrity who donned makeup to play himself in the Gershwin film. Mamoulian directed the original stage presentation of “Porgy and Bess.” True life characters impersonated by actors include members of the Gershwin family with Robert Alda starring as George, Herbert Rudley playing Ira; Rosemary DeClamp s.a-s Mother Gershwin and Morris Carnovsky as Father Gershwin; also such musical celebrities as Walter Damrosch, Jascha Heifitz, and Igor Stravinsky, along with publishers, song pluggers and Broadway notables. Fictional characters are greatly in the minority in the film, with Joan Leslie and Alexis Smith, the feminine stars, carrying the most important of these roles. self Mat 101—15c George White Mat 125—15c¢ Oscar Levant Mat 108—15c Hazel Scott ‘Porgy And Bess’ Star In ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ Time Has Wrought Many Changes—But None So Odd As In The Case Of These Girls HOLLYWOOD—Twelve long years ago, according to the story file at Warner Bros., 107 luscious chorus lassies, then engaged in a musical titled, "Gold Diggers of 1933," were asked to describe, collectively, the Blue-eyed, dusky Anne Brown says she’s proud to consider herself one of the late George Gershwin’s “minor successes. “It was Mr. Gershwin who discovered me and gave me my first professional singing role,” the shapely concert artist explains. “Now, years after his death, it is through him that I am in a motion picture. Some day, I hope I may rank as one oO is more important contributions to music.” Same ‘Catfish Row’ Miss Brown had just stepped down from “Catfish Row” — the same “Catfish Row’ through which she had strolled and sung during the six years she was the stage “Bess” of Gershwin’ s “Porgy and Bess” — only slightly embellished to conform to motion picture standards, and enlarged to the commodious accommodations of a Warner Bros. sound stage. She had been singing the ever-popular “Summertime” as her contribution to “Rhapsody In Blue,” the film biography of Gershwin, which is now at the Strand Theatre. Sings ‘Summertime’ “T first heard ‘Summertime’ when it was hot from Mr. Gershwin’ s pen, she said. “He played it for me, then asked me to sing it, to see how it would sound.” Miss Brown said she was a student at Juilliard School of Music when she learned that Gershwin’s Negro opera “Poroy and Bess” ~ then called just “Porgy’—was to be presented. “T wrote Mr. Gershwin, asking that he give me an audition, with the idea of getting a small part in the production. e gave me the audition, then called in some of his associates to hear me sing a second time. Sings For Mother “After the second audition, he had me sing for his mother. A few days later, he informed me I was in the opera. Not in a small part, but as Bess. Subsequently, he changed the title to ‘Porgy and Bess.’ I like to cherish the conceit that my singing had something to do with the title change.” , For six years, “Porgy and Bess” was Miss Brown's caEEGD: Finally, she decided she should branch out. During the past year she has toured the country in concert engagements: Only recently, and after producer Jesse L. uasky had signed her for her movie debut role in “Rhapsody in Blue,” she sang in Hollywood Bowl. ok Just 27, and as photogenic as they come in pictures, Miss Brown hopes to do more film work. In the meantime, she'll return to the concert stage for a busy season. “Rhapsody In Blue’ stars Robert Alda, who makes his screen debut in this film, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Charles Coburn and a host of celebri ties who play themselves. Prominent among the latter are Paul Whiteman, Oscar Levant, George White and Hazel Scott. Produced by Jesse L. Lasky, whose most recent film biography was the highly successful “Adventures Of Marl Twain,’ the picture was directed by Irving Rapper. kind of a man that could get ‘em. The resulting composite was a heavenly gent, 29 years of age, six feet tall, weight 178, athletic type with wavy (not curly) brown hair and blue eyes. He also had to dress well, dance better and have money! During production of Warners’ musical biography, “Rhapsody in Blue,"’ which stars Robert Alda and Joan Leslie, more than 200 equally beautiful and purportedly as particular lassies were asked the same question: They salvoed in utter unison and complete accord: "Anything, just so it's a m-a-n!"' Vowed To Succeed By Thirty, Just Made It Robert Alda, Who Plays Gershwin In Warners’ ‘Rhapsody In Blue,’ Gets Film Offer On Eve Of Crucial Birthday “Success in the show business by my thirtieth birthday! Otherwise, I'll put an end to this miserable life its uncertainty, its homeless wandering, its senteel poverty. That was the resolution made by Hollywood's newest star, unfulfilled a year ago, and perilously close to Still RB 595 Mat 119—15c Anne Brown sings ‘Summertime’ from George Gershwin's "Porgy And Bess," in Warners’ "Rhapsody In Blue,'' stirring film tribute to America's great composer, now at the Strand. Broadway Producer Portrays Himself In New Warner Hit George White Seen In Gershwin Film, ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ Wearing the same doublebreasted blue suit and black bow tie he wore for the Broadway opening of his “Scandals of 1920,” George White played his first self portrayal scenes in Warner ros. “Rhapsody in Blue,” the film story of George Gershwin, which is the current attraction at the Strand Theatre. They showed him appearing at the Broadway opening of his “Scandals of 1920.” Gray-haired, but springystepped and youthful-looking, White said he didn’t think his appearance had changed much in the 23 years since he introduced the music of the then almost unknown Gershwin with his 1920 show. At least not enough for the studio makeup department to do any “touchup”’ jobs. First Gray Hairs “T started to get gray fast when | began producing the ‘Scandals’, said White. “For a few years my hair was blackgray. Now I guess you'd call it gray-black.” As for the double-breasted blue suit and the black bow tie, White said he kept them for luck. | always wore the same style blue suit and black bow,” he explained, “but I put away the outfit I'd had for the first Gershwin show opening. When I checked in with producer Jesse Lasky and director Irving Rapper at Warner Bros. they said one of the first things I'd have to do would be go over to the wardrobe department and get measured for clothes of the story period. “T told them I didn’t have to go any farther than my own wardrobe trunk to get the things I needed. I’ve got ‘em on now. having remained unfulfilled by his thirtieth birthday. The star is Robert Alda, who was catapaulted from obscurity in burlesque to stardom in the role of George ershwin in amer Bros. great biographical film, “Rhapsody In Blue,” currently at the Strand. Still RB 168 Mat 211—30c A musical trio—Robert Alda (as George Gershwin), Al Jolson and Joan Leslie—discuss one of Gershwin's song hits in the above scene from Warner Bros.’ “Rhapsody In Blue,"’ currently at the Strand Theatre. “On that very morning | would have gone to work as a clerk in some New York business establishment if the lucky card hadn't come up for me this past year,” Alda observed recently. Married and the father of a nine-year-old son, the new star spent more than fifteen years touring the burlesque and vaudeville houses of the country, trailing his little family most of the time. Was Wretched Life “It was a wretched life for them,” said Alda. “I was full of misgivings, had been. for years. | cursed the fate that had directed my footsteps into the show business.” “For years when I came into New York I had contacted the Warner Bros. office, and when time went by and | didn’t get anywhere, my hopes became more and more forlorn.” On Alda’s last visit there, however, he met Steve Trilling, who was impressed, and Trilling brought him to the attention of Jack L. Warner, executive producer. When Alda heard the part he was being considered for, which was much sought after by many established screen players, he became so nervous that he was unable to eat for three days. Finally, the word came through that he had the job, and he almost collapsed from joy. “Yes,” he says, “I had a birthday cake, the only one I've ever had in show business. It had thirty candles. It was either candles or clerkship in an office. Thank heaven for the candles!” Also starring in the musical biography of the immortal composer are Joan Leslie, Charles Coburn, Alexis Smith and numerous celebrities of stage and screen who figured prominently in George Gershwin’s life. 33