Shipmates Forever (Warner Bros.) (1935)

Ruby Keller Taps 14 Steps A Second In Naval Picture Iilow many taps per second does a tap-dancer tap, when that tapdancer is going at full speed? Ruby Keeler, perhaps as speedy a foot-shaker as there is, hits the floor with her sole and heel 14 times a second, 840 times a minute, and 2,520 times in a two and one-half minute dance she does in the Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ which COTNOS. | GOs CIO = soccer Saeco nda ce nod Seas TPROATLO= Oar co otic aaee 5.88.8 Warner Bros. release. While Ruby was making a tapdance scene one day her husband, Al Jolson, had some visitors on the set. Her little feet were actually twinkling as she tapped to the rhythm of ‘‘Don’t Give Up the Ship,’’ a snappy rallying sonz that Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote especially for the picture. ‘‘Boy, is she goin’ to town!’’ exclaimed one of Jolson’s friends. There may be dancers who get more taps to the second than Miss Keeler. Possibly the famed Negro expert, Bill (‘‘Bojangles’’) Robinson may. Maybe Fred Astaire. ‘<Shipmates Forever’? is a thrilling drama with catchy airs, treating with the exciting life of Annapolis cadets. The cast includes Dick Powell, Miss Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Joseph Crehan, Richard (Dick) Foran, Robert Light, Johnny Arledge and hundreds of others. Ruby Had To Become Star To See Annapolis Many New Yorkers have never seen the Statue of Liberty, many Chicagoans never went to the fair and many Calfornians never saw the Hollywood Bowl. Ruby Keeler, after living for years within a stone’s throw of Annapolis had to get married, move to California and _ become a movie star before she realized her desire to see the U. 8S. Naval Academy. At least three times, she made plans to go there, and professional engagements interfered. She finally went there to take scenes in the Cosmopolitan production, ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ which comes te the Theatre on by Warner Bros. Ross Alexander, who is seen above bidding farewell to Martha Merrill, scored a hit in support of Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler in ‘“Flirtation Walk.’’ He does it again in ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ the Cosmopolitan Production now (gas U3 RES See ae eee Semen see Theatre. Mat No. 106—10c They’re Father and Son PUBLICITY There is pathos as well as melody and humor in ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ the Cosmopolitan Production now showing at thé ou... Theatre. Above are Dick Powell and Lewis Stone in a conflict of wills. Mat No. 201—20c¢ Extras Mutiny On Director’s Orders To Cease Kissing Two hundred and fifty kisses were exchanged with quite some enthusiasm on a Warner Bros. sound stage during the production of the Cosmopolitan musical drama, ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ which comes to the —.....05..scssseesteee Theatre Fifty boys and fifty girls—five kisses for each pair! And the boys and girls were all total strangers to each other when the osculatory proceedings began. Afterward? Well, why bring that up? The scene was the Naval Academy at Annapolis. The occasion was the annual Ring Dance, at which each Midshipman who has passed his examinations for entrance into the second class becomes entitled to wear his class ring. In the center of the dance-floor a ring 8 feet in diameter is erected vertically. Each Middie and his best girl friend pass through this. For an instant they halt inside the ring. The girl slips the class token on the boy’s finger; they kiss; then pass on. The taking of this scene caused something that rarely if ever is seen in a movie studio—a complete disregard for the director’s orders. After moving about twenty couples through the ring, Director Frank Borzage called ‘‘Cut.’?’ “That means for the film to stop running and everybody to cease action. The films stopped, yes; but do you think those thirty kissless couples stopped? They did no such thing. They kept on moving right through the ring and kissing— even though they were not being photographed. ‘‘Shipmates Forever’’ is a smashing drama, with all the glamor of the life of the naval cadets at Annapolis, where many of the scenes were taken. In the cast are Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Joseph Crehan and hundreds of others. The screen play is by Delmer Daves with music and lyrics by Warren and Dubin. Navy Ceremony Shot For Picture Aboard Warship One of the most impressive ceremonies that the United States Navy knows was enacted on the quarter-deck of the battleship Pennsylvania, of the Pacific Fleet, during the production of the Cosmopolitan picture, ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ which comes to the a a ene Theatre on sciat isk as a Warner Bros. release. The ceremony is the relinquishing of the command of the fleet by an Admiral who has completed his last tour of sea-duty and ig to become Commandant of the Naval Academy at Annapolis. The scene was for a motion picture, a film of Naval Academy life that stars Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. But the ‘spectacle, none the less was absolutely authentic and stirring. Lewis Stone played the part of ‘CAdmiral Melville,’’ who has come from a long line of naval ancestors and is the father of Powell, whom he hopes will carry on the long tradition. Frederick Burton, another veteran characteractor, played ‘‘Admiral Graves,’’ who succeeds him in his demand. When an Admiral gives over his fleet to a successor, his four-starred flag, indicating his rank, is hauled down from the masthead, folded, and laid over his arm, as the salute gun fires the requisite number of shots in his honor. These scenes engrossed the rapt attention of all the officers who were aboard the Pennsylvania, and were pronounced correct in every detail. The. picture is a glamorous romance and a stirring drama with special music by Warren and Dubin. The cast includes besides Powell and Miss Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Joseph Crehan, Richard (Dick) Foran, Robert Light, Johnny Arledge and hundreds of others. Frank Borzage directed the picture from the screen play by Delmer Daves. No Gum Chewing Is Permitted In U.S. Naval Film “No gum-chewing, boys!” was Director Frank Borzage’s order to a hundred extras impersonating Annapolis midshipmen in the Cosmopolitan picture of Naval Academy life, “Shipmates Forever,” now showing at the... tatns guess Theatre, and released by Warner Bros. Borzage’s technical advisor from the school had just told him: “No naval midshipman or officer is permitted to chew gum except in the privacy of his room, or while taking part in an athletic .contest.” A small item, but Borzage insisted upon being technically correct in everything. These boys were watching the midshipmen’s boxing contests. Other examples of Borzage’s insistence on realism was in the manner of dress. Annapolis boys wore undershirts with sleeves half way to the elbow. The extras in the film were provided with these. None had ever worn such garments before. The middies also wear ankleheight shoes, not low-cut oxfords. None of the extras had ever been shod thus before. All of the lads were Southern Californians where high shoes and boots are never worn. Ordinary shirts and low shoes might have gotten by undetected in the picture, but Borzage wouldn’t chance it. “Shipmates Forever” is a stirting drama with an all star cast headed by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler and including Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Richard (Dick) Foran, Eddie Acuff, Johnny Arledge, Robert Light and Joseph Crehan. Music and lyrics are by Dubin and Warren and screen play by Delmer Daves. 5. Who is this player? 6. In “Flirtation Walk"? 7. His home town? 8. In “Midsummer Night's Dream"? Impressive Ring Dance Shown In Annapolis, Film Many beautiful ceremonies mark the four years that a Midshipman spends in the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis before he is graduated as an Ensign, but none is more impressive than the ‘‘Ring Dance’? that celebrates his entrance into the Second Class. In Dahlgren Hall, one of the Academy’s largest buildings, a gigantic ring stands in the center of the floor, and through this each Middie dances with his sweetheart. Having passed through, the girl takes the boy’s hand, places his class ring, with Navy insignia, upon his finger, and kisses him. The world at large will see this scene, for the first time, in the Cosmopolitan picture which comes SE RES ye, ts piss aa Theatre on Sr memes , released by Warner Dick Powell is the boy and Ruby Keeler is the girl. The scene was made at the Academy at Annapolis during the 1935 graduation exereises, under the direction of Frank Borzage, who also made Powell’s recent West Point picture called ‘‘Flirtation Walk.’’ Powell sings and Miss Keeler dances in ‘‘Shipmates Forever,’’ the new film, which is a glamorous romance as well as a stirring drama of Annapolis life. The cast includes besides Powell and Miss Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Eddie Acuff, Joseph Cre han, Richard (Dick) Foran, Robert Light, Johnny Arledge and hundreds of others. The screen play.is by Delmer Daves with music and lyries by Warren and Dubin. 1. Who is this star? 2.. What is his home State? 3. Is he married? 4. His current film? 9. Who is this star? 10. Married to what star? 11. Born in what country? 12. Her current film? Mat No. 208—20c ANSWERS 1. Dick Powell. 2. Arkansas. 5. Ross Alexander. 6. Yes. Keeler. 10. Al Jolson. 3. No. 7. Brooklyn, N. Y. 11. Canada. — 4. “Shipmates Forever.” 8. Yes. 9. Ruby 12. “Shipmates Forever.’’ Page Nineteen