Side Streets (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Fine Acting Marks “Side Streets,” a Strong Love Drama There is so much real drama in the First National picture, “Side Streets,” which had its local preMORO vrentent Renan re aay hii, Theatre yesterday, that one is apt to lose sight of the remarkable sereen acting that characterizes the production. Aline MacMahon, portraying the role of a sedate and matronly fur shop proprietor, who had fallen in love with and married an impecunious young sailor, with a wandering foot and a roving heart, has been given a part that allows this really great actress to show to what heights she can rise in depicting suppressed emotion. Miss MacMahon achieves pathos without bathos; her econstant forgiveness of her philandering husband is entirely free from mawkish sentimentality. A role that in ordinary hands would have degenerated into the characterization of a female prig, becomes a sympathetic and convincing one as played by her. Paul Kelly, as the youthful married Romeo, was a happy selection for the part of a roamer with a woman in every port, and he has made an appealing character out of this lovable raseal. Ann Dvorak, playing a woman who held her love too lightly, gives a splendid characterization and the work of Dorothy Tree. —~-as the niece. who would repay her aunt’s kindness by stealing her husband, vamps her way through the picture with unusual distinetion. Helen Lowell, veteran. stage actress, in the role of a worldlywise spinster with an acid dripping tongue, shows why she was, for so many years, one of Broadway’s leading celebrities. The story, which is the struggle of a woman to hold her husband against his own nature and other predatory women; the wife’s great love, her willingness to sacrifice herself and her final triumph, is filled with intense drama, thrilling incidents and love interest. Fine work is done by other capable players, including Henry O’Neill, Marjorie Gateson, Mayo Methot, Renee Whitney, Lynn Browning, Lorena Layson, Dorothy Peterson, Clay Clement and Paul Kaye. The story was written by Ann Garrick and Ethel Hill. Director Alfred E. Green turned out this splendid picture from the screen play by Manuel Seff. Aline MacMahon Talented veteran of Broadway and Hollywood, Miss MacMahon is shown here as she appears to Abner Dean, noted caricaturist. The star’s latest film is “Side Streets,” coming to the Strand. Mat No. 11—10c. Page Eight = Ves S2 MISSED HER FIRST BIG STAGE ROLE WHEN THE CONTRACT BEING SENT HER WAS CAUGHT IN A MAIL CHUTE. _L/ LABORATORY FOR THE / «G ages HAS A COMPLETE H f va STUDY OF GERMS SQ a XX ATHER RANCH HOME These stars are now appearing in First National’s dramatic hit, “Side Streets,” coming to the Strand Theatre next Wednesday. CRASHED THE Movies AT SEVEN AS 4 SECOND HAND FURNITURE MAN WHEN THEY USEO HIS MOTHERS FURNITURE FOR THE SET.~ 1 vy })))% Wm D8 / My a) Mat No. 6—20c. “Side Streets,” Tale Ann Dvorak Prefers . of Fight for Love at Today “Side Streets,” the story of a woman’s great love, which is in conflict with lesser loves and “lights-o’-love,” comes to the theatre today with Aline MacMahon in the stellar role, and Paul Kelly taking the masculine lead. The story is that of a sedate and matronly shopkeeper who falls in love with a much younger sailor, married him, and then fights to keep him despite the wiles of other more attractive women, one of them her own young niece. Loves come and go with kaleidoscopic swiftness in the lives of the characters of this First National masterpiece, but the one deep passion of the fur shopkeeper is a love that endures despite slights, neglect and unfaithfulness. She forgives, and forgives again, with a complete forgetfulness of self. Ann Dvorak and Dorothy Tree are two of Paul Kelly’s loves. Other prominent players in the cast inelude Helen Lowell, Henry O’Neill, Marjorie Gateson, Mayo Methot, Renee Whitney, Lynn Browning, Lorena Layson and Dorothy Peterson. The story was written by Ann Garrick and Ethel Hill. The picture was directed by Alfred E. Green from the screen play by Manuel Seff. Her Hushand’s Love To Screen Stardom Just as for the prodigal of Biblical days, the fatted calf was killed for Ann Dvorak when she returned to the Hollywood fold, following her mutinous departure from filmdom a little more than a year ago to go on a world honeymoon tour with her husband, Leslie Fenton. That startling walkout set back her starring career, but now that she has been forgiven, it is announced that she probably will be given a stellar opportunity during the present year. At present, Miss Dvorak is playing a romantic feminine lead in “Side Streets,” the First National picture which comes to the i baiesupeemelr ues Theatre on “Hollywood misunderstood the incident,” says Miss Dvorak, discussing her going away. .“I simply loved my husband more than stardom, which many people thought was an unusual thing.” “Side Streets” is the story of a woman whose life was dominated by one great love. It was written by Ann Garrick and Ethel Hill and dramatized for the screen by Manuel Seff. There is a strong cast which includes Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly, Ann Dvorak, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Henry O’Neill and other talented players. Alfred E. Green directed. 3 Actresses Violate Screen Superstitions Stage and sereen actors are very superstitious, and few would whistle in a dressing room, put an umbrella on the stage or accept a pin from a wardrobe woman. Taking off a wedding ring is absolutely taboo. Usually a tape is placed over the band to conceal it when necessary. But in “Side Streets,” three actresses consented to take off their wedding rings during the scenes. Aline MacMahon, in the featured lead, only had to leave her ring off in the early sequences, as she is. subsequently married. But she took it off for these early scenes. Ann Dvorak, who has the role of an unwed mother, also lays aside her ring as does Helen Lowell, who is a spinster in the picture. y Newspapers Ef fect Star’s Reunion With Her Father Ann Dvorak, Who Has Leading Role in “Side Streets,”’ Finds Parent After 13 Years ql < & : . of the leading roles in ‘‘Side Streets,’’ which comes : FTER years of separation, Ann Dvorak, who has one The story behind Ann Dvorak’s nation-wide search for her father dates back thirteen years to the day little sevenyear-old Ann McKim said goodbye to him and started west alone to make her home with her mother. Since that time, Ann McKim, who, when she grew up, adopted the screen name Ann Dvorak, had never seen her father until reShe didn’t much about him except that she had good times with him and that as a little girl she loved him very cently. remember much. Edward McKim had been a member of her mother’s stock company which traveled the Orpheum Circuit as Anna Lehr and Company. McKim played everything from Shakespearean roles to vaudeville comedy. Lost Track of Father Ann’s mother remarried in California and Ann grew up under her care and protection. So completely did Ann McKim lose her identity as Ann Dvorak that she admitted shortly after her marriage that she doubted if her father knew that the actress whose name was blazing in a thousand theatrelobbies. was—his daughter. Her young husband, Leslie Fenton, also an actor, encouraged Ann to institute the search for her father. “Tt had always been on her mind,” he explained, “ever since I have known Ann. I knew it worried her and I thought it would be best if she could find out something definite about him —no matter what it was.” As a child Ann traveled with the Anna Lehr Company and her memory of those days is altogether pleasant. Chie Sale was a member of the troupe for a time. Ann met him again when they the “Stranger In Town” a little more than a year ago. She asked Chie about her father. He told her all he knew—but he knew nothing of shared leads in picture Paul Kelly A welcome addition to the ranks of leading men, is this handsome lad. He appears with Aline MacMahon and Ann Dvorak in “Side Streets,” the new First National drama now at the Strand. Mat No. 5—10c. Ann Dvorak Be free Winsome is the only word to describe this pretty young actress. Don’t fail to see her in “Side Streets,” the First National picture coming to the Strand. Mat No. 4—10c. the whereabouts at that time of Edward McKim. Then at twenty-one, Ann suddenly determined to learn more about her father. Shown Film of Herself When Ann and Leslie landed in New York after their runaway honeymoon trip, members of her family told Ann that’ they thought they had seen Edward McKim’ somewhere in the welcoming crowds. When Ann got back to Hollywood. she decided to ask the newspapers to help her find her father. The story was broadcast all over the country. Edward McKim’s brother, who lives in Philadelphia, saw the story about Ann’s search. Edward McKim was in the interior of Florida at the time, out of touch with the newspapers and mails. However, his brother finally got word to him. He returned to Philadelphia, where he makes his home and sent Ann a few hundred feet of motion picture film. She had it run on a projection machine at the Warner Bros. studios, and her mother knew positively it was Ann. Ann Lehr reealled that McKim, who was then a director for the old Biograph Company, had taken the film of little Ann. He had kept it in a vault for nearly seventeen years. As soon as MeKim was able to get a leave of absence —he is in government employ now—he went to Hollywood, where father and daughter were reunited at last. And the first thing that the father asked wag to see Ann’s latest picture. As she had. just finished work in “Side Streets,” the picture was run off for him. “Side Streets” is the story of a great love written by Ann Garrick and Ethel Hill and dramatized for the screen by Manuel Seff. Others in the cast inelude Aline MacMahon, Paul Kelly, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree and Henry O’Neill. It was directed by Alfred E. Green.