Roughly Speaking (Warner Bros.) (1945)

‘Roughly Speaking’ Rosalind Russell Claims Motherhood Is Good Prerequisite For Screen Acting Presents Carson As Serious Lover Jack Carson, currently co-starring with Rosalind Russell in Warners’ “‘Roughly Speaking” at the Strand, is the oaf who always loses the girl. You've seen him in action countless times. At cocktail bars, in open cars, or on the front porch swing, Jack always manages to be around to congratulate but never to win, the luscious bride. Now, at last, he gets a chance to hold her tenderly at the fade-out. That happy event comes about as he goes through his paces opposite Rosalind Russell in the first of a series of roles which will be a distinct departure from the Carson character of the past. “But don’t think I’m giving up laughs for sighs,” commented Carson during the filming of “Roughly Speaking’ at Warner Bros. “It’s just that some kindhearted person has got the idea that | wouldn’t frighten all the girls, that perhaps a few might even tolerate me in a romantic scene,’ he explained. *“Any caressing that I do will have one eye cocked on the laugh possibility. In other words, I'm going to be the guy who makes love lightly.”’ Carson admitted that the task of making love to the Hollywood beauties shaped up as a formidable task. “I’ve been making love to them, of course, but always for a laugh,’ he said, wiping his brow. “Now the job becomes more complex. It’s going to be all right for me to keep on getting laughs, but at the same time I've got to be taken seriously— as a romantic figure.” Michael Curtiz, who directed him in “‘Roughly Speaking,”’ said a few things by way of explanation that Carson couldn't say. “Jack is big, rugged, and vital,"" the director explained. *‘The girls like him. He’s a good actor with a fine sense of timing. One of the most potent combinations in films is love and laughter. That’s what we're able to get from Jack.” RR Ss RRO Still C47—Mat 105—15¢ Jack Carson From Reel Louise To Real Louise Rosalind Russell, who portrays Louise Randall Pierson in Warners’ film adaptation of the latter’s best-selling autobiography, ‘‘Roughly Speak ing,’’ now at the Strand, indicated her high regard of the author when, on the day production started, she sent Mrs. Pierson a bouquet of roses accompanied by a note reading, ‘Please may I not fail you.” Jack Carson is_ co starred in the film. There is nothing like having a baby, girls, if it’s acting you're interested in, says Rosalind Rusell, who is currently co-starring with Jack Carson in Warners’ “Roughly Speaking’ at _ the Strand. Miss Russell made this sage observation as she expertly folded a piece of cloth into the familiar diaper triangle, during a recent interview on_ the “Roughly Speaking”’ set. The deft touch, she explained, was confirmation of the old saying that practice makes perfect, which is another way of saying that she herself has been a mother for some months past. “I can recommend it,’ she went on, “not only for the girl who knows that motherhood is a wonderful end in itself, but for the girl who has her eye on the stage or screen. “Take this scene,” she said, referring to the nursery set in which she was working. “I’m preparing the baby’s bath. ‘Any mother, and, in fact, Mike Curtiz, my director, could tell me exactly what to do in this scene, and I'd get by. But now, brother, | know. Roz Russell is an A-No. | diaper expert, and I’m sure the scene is going to carry conviction as a result of it. “But this isn’t the only scene in the picture where my baby lore comes in handy. There must be fifteen or twenty scenes. I’ve got to know how to hold him right side up and upside down, and how to feed him, and a hundred other things that are a part of the repertoire of the average mother. ‘Playing mama is fundamental in acting just as it is in life. In other words, there are an awful lot of mama roles both on the stage and screen. “They tell a young actress it's a good idea for her to know how to ride and swim and fence and dance. And it is, too. But at the very head of the list I'd put knowing how to be a mother.” The star’s own baby is a boy, Lance, all of whose parental attention now comes from the actress. His father, Capt. Fred Brisson, has gone off with the army. Rosalind Russell In ‘Dog House’ Again Rosalind Russell brought along her dog house to the set during the filming of Warners’ “Roughly Speaking,” in which she is currently co-starring with Jack Carson at the Strand. And she was the first to wear it. That’s right: WEAR it. The canine shelter, made of tin, approximately five inches long, three inches wide and three inches tall, is attached to a long chain. It is used as a coin bank. Twenty minutes after she arrived on the set with it, the thing was hanging from her neck—and tinkling a bit, for she had already deposited a quarter. Wearing the dog house is only part of the penalty for having committed some wrong on the set; the one who has to wear it also must deposit twenty-five cents in it. It is worn until someone else is put in the dog house. When the picture is finished, the money collected is turned over to a charitable organization selected by the crew. “We. ought to collect quite a bit,”’ the star said, fingering the dog house. “‘And don’t think I won't be wearing it again.” Miss Russell qualified by appearing on the set late. She knew she was in the dog house when the director, Michael Curtiz, mentioned her tardiness and then insisted on calling her Miss Russell instead of Roz or darling. Still 626-85—Mat 204—30c The Dynamite Kids! Lined up in battle formation and ready to charge are Rosalind Russell's screen family in Warner Bros.’ “Roughly Speaking," currently at the Strand. With Rosalind Russell, from left to right, are: Jo Ann Marlowe, John Calkins, Mickey Kuhn and Ann Lawrence. Rosalind Russell Excels In Biographical Mother Role Paul Muni played Pasteur, Greer Garson played Madame Curie, and Fredric March played Mark Twain, but Rosalind Russell, currently co-starring with Jack Carson in Warners’ “Roughly Speaking’’ at the Strand, believes she is playing the most difficult biographical role of all. Her subject is alive—so much alive that the subject was on the set all during the picture's filming and actually wrote the lines that the star speaks. The situation, perhaps unique in the history of films, results from the engagement of Louise Randall Pierson to write the screen version of her best-selling autobiography of the same title as the film. As a_ result Mrs. Pierson stood beside the camera for every foot of film. ‘‘Now if I were what you might call an angelic personality,” said Mrs. Pierson in explaining the difficulty of Miss Russell’s position, “‘the part would be a cinch for Roz. “But the fact of the matter is I've been a hellion at times all through my life, and these extremes are all in the book, and most of them went on the screen. *“Any decent self-biographer, knowing her life was going to be filmed, would probably die. “But not only do | persist in being hale and hearty—I’ve also got the colossal gall to have taken a job where I would be standing by and gawking at the poor girl who's playing me. “But I love it. (I’m a little sadistic too.)” Commenting on the above, Miss Russell said: “Don’t ever agree to do a biography of anybody still alive. But if you do, pick someone like Mrs. Pierson. She'll raise cane, but only if you try to make her too nice.” A-Doorable! Still 626-112—Mat 202—30c Rosalind Russell seems to have had enough of Jack Carson's fun-making in the above scene from Warner Bros.’ "Roughly Speaking," now at the Strand. The comedy stars are teamed for the first time in this rousing story of a family's hi-jinks during the past three decades. Hi-Jinx Hits Hilarious High Doing a scene for Warners’ “Roughly Speaking,’ the Strand Theatre’s current attraction, Jack Carson finds himself in the center of a lily pond. Standing by the edge of the pond is co-star Rosalind Russell. She leans over, extends a hand to help pull Jack out of the water. When he takes hold of her hand, it happens — and she, too, winds up in the pool. Coming up for air, she says the line: “Gee, aren’t we crazy?” After the scene had been shot and she had stepped out of the pool she said to Director Michael Curtiz: “The guy who wrote the script sure knows what he’s talking about!”’ No Cheesecake For Gay Blades In Rowdy 1900's Rosalind Russell and Ann Doran were waiting for changes to be made on the ‘Roughly Speaking” set at Warner Bros. studio during the filming of the picture which co-stars Jack Carson and has its local premiere on Friday at the Strand. Before long the c onverSaat 21oon turned to girls — girls of today versus those of ob Oe whom the actresses portray in the early part of the film. **Well,’’ said Miss Russell emphatically, “there sure was one thing about the girls of thirty-five years ago.” “Yes? What's that?’’ asked Miss Doran. “Their ankles.” “Their ankles? What do you mean?” “They didn’t have to worry about them—a trim ankle, or a thick ankle. Didn’t make any difference.” “I’m not sure | follow you,” answered Miss Doran. At this point Miss Russell rose from a canvas-backed chair. She looked toward the floor, pointed at her skirt, and lifted it. Then she proved her point. “Who could see them, what with these long skirts and high top, buttoned shoes?” Mat 103—15¢ Ann Doran Rosalind Russell Takes To The Air Rosalind Russell went for a ride in a fifteen-year-old airplane recently and immediately got into complications with the U. S. Army air force. The flight took place near Compton, Calif., where she was being filmed in a scene of Warners’ “Roughly Speaking,”’ in which she is currently co-starring with Jack Carson at the Strand. As her plane took off from the airport, two army craft appeared. They hovered about, flew close, and made strange signals. The pilot was mystified and thought perhaps there had been a slip-up in the routine application for permission to fly in what is a military zone. So he returned to the airport. A half hour later the mystery was cleared up. Two. second lieutenants wearing wings drove into the airport in a jeep. They had learned of special permission for Miss Russell's flight and had merely flown their planes over to get a good look. 13