Side Streets (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Kelly Works In Studio Where He Acted As Boy Many Scenes in “Side Streets”? Taken on Vitagraph Stages Now Owned by Warner Bros. ‘It’s practically the same thing,’’ this young actor Pe KELLY went back to his home grounds—almost. explained between scenes during the production of the First National. picture, to the ‘‘Side Streets,’ PaP UP EOE SPN eet eo ae Theatre on. with Aline MacMahon in the featured role. which comes ‘“Maybe that’s a little complicated to follow,’’ he went on. “But you see I worked for Vitagraph years ago—and Warner Bros. own everything that’s left of old Vitagraph today.” Paul doesn’t look like a veteran, but he began his cinema career at the tender age of seven. When he was eight, he was a regular member of the famed Vitagraph stock company, which included such other potent names as Norma Talmadge, Florence Turner, Maurice Costello, Earle Williams, Anita Stewart, Edith Storye, Antonio Moreno, John Bunny, Flora Finch and Mary Anderson. Warner Bros. purchased all property and assets of Vitagraph some years ago. Both the Brooklyn and the Hollywood studios of the old company figured in the transfer, and many of the scenes in “Side Streets” were filmed at the old Vitagraph Studios in Hollywood. Played with John Bunny “When I began to get stage jobs more regularly, and I left pietures—I thought, for good. I played my last part at Vitagraph when I was fifteen. It was in a picture with Anita Stewart and Earle Williams. My first one I remember perfectly. I was a messenger boy and I had to hand in a telegram to Flora Finch. John Bunny was with her in the picture. He always dropped to sleep between shots on the set.” Kelly recalls that the studio would borrow a roomful of furniture from his mother’s home, which was only a block or two away. When they were finished with the furniture, they would cart it back to Mrs. Kelly’s house. Before he left Vitagraph permanently and took to the stage, Paul had worked up to the munifieent salary of thirty-five dollars weekly. No Temperament Trouble “My mother or my sister or I would hear about a_ theatrical job —and much excitement followed. I had what passed for a contract with Vitagraph then. I was a ‘regular’ member of the stock company. “So I would go to Stuart Blackton or Van Dyke Brooke or A\lbert E. Smith and say: ‘There’s a show going out on the road. My mother wants to know, would it be all right if I went along?’ They’d say: ‘Sure, go ahead.’ Then in the spring when the show had closed, I’d come back and say: ‘Here I am. My mother wants to know, can you take me on again? They always would. “That’s how ‘stars’ were handled in the old days. Maybe that’s why there were never any contract troubles. I don’t think the word ‘temperament’ ever came into use at the old Vitagraph plant.” Kelly has been in Hollywood, this time, since last August, and says the role of Tim O’Hara, the wandering sailor in “Side Streets” strikes him as the best picture “break” he’s ever had. The picture is a stirring drama of a woman’s overpowering love for a man who is a born rover. It is based on the story by Ann Garrick and Ethel Hill and dramatized for the screen by Manuel Seff. Others in the cast include Ann Dvorak, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Henry O’Neill and Marjorie Gateson. Alfred E. Green directed. : Hand In Hand Through Life Costly Fur Coats Are Used In Picture ‘Nearly $100,000 worth of fur coats are used in the fur shop of Madame Valerie, the principal setting for the First National production, “Side Streets,” which comes to the theatre on with Aline MacMahon and Paul Kelly in the featured roles. A member of the wardrobe department was present all the while, to watch them. And there was also a cop on duty day and night till the picture was finished. Aline MacMahon and Paul Kelly pledge eternal devotion in this scene from the new First National drama, “Side Streets.” The film relates the story of a great woman’s love and features a large cast of Hollywood’s leading thespians, including Ann Dvorak, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree and Henry O'Neill. The picture is coming to the Strand Theatre. Mat No. 3—20c. Al Jolson Is “‘Extra’”’ In *‘Side Streets’? Mob Al Jolson, famous star of stage and screen, who is credited with “making” talking picture plays, appears as an “extra” in the First National love drama “Side Streets,” which will eal at the Al was talking to Director Alfred E. Green when the cameras turned, and caught the singing star as he was leaving the set. Instead of interrupting the picture, Al turned up his coat collar, pulled his hat down over his eyes and joined the crowd of ex| tras. The scene was retaken three times, but Al stuck to the job. He put in a bill for $5, a day’s pay for an extra, but hasn’t collected it yet. Monkey Bites Finger Of Aline MacMahon There’s a very ungrateful monkey at the Selig zoo in Hollywood. It bit the hand that fed a8 Aline MacMahon was feeding peanuts through the bars of their cage at the zoo for a scene in “Side Streets,” the First National roe which comes to the theatre on One young miscreant was not satisfied with the peanuts, so grabbed Miss MacMahon’s finger and took a nip at it. The wound was not very serious, but’ Miss MacMahon says she doesn’t care for any more monkey business. Baby Gets Movie Job Through An Error Edward 8. Bache, seven months old, got a movie job by mistake. But he played his part and what’s more made good. Edward is the son of Jimmy Bache, a First National cop who was guarding the costly furs on the set of “Side Streets,” a picture now showing at the ....... theatre. Mrs. Bache visited her husband on the set, taking her baby with her. Director Alfred E. Green was expecting a small baby on the set that day to play the role of Aline MacMahon’s and _ Paul Kelly’s child, and ordered the mother to bring it into the scene immediately. Somewhat confused and not understanding the situation, Mrs. Bache turned the baby over to Miss MacMahon. Bootleggers Still Are Popping Up In Films There’s a bootlegger in the First National picture, “Side Streets,” which comes to the theatre on Aline MacMahon boys a bottle from him for her sailor sweetheart, Paul Kelly. When the bootlegger appeared on the scene the assistant cameraman whispered to the “boom” man: “What is this? Haven’t they heard of the repeal?” The assistant director hurriedly consulted the script girl who assured him that the particular scene in the picture takes place before the repeal. Hee we ut tbsp ome: Aline MacMahon Prefers Homely Roles Over Heroic Star of “Side Stimeta” Believes Such Characterizations Have More Color By ALINE MacMAHON (Who has the featured role in “Side Streets,» WWRUCRY CONVES 40s: TLOR Ee Cae ins ae Uae parently it embarrassed him. A REPORTER asked me a question the other day. He was trying to get at something. the First National picture DRECITC HOI Mae ieee eta eet celles ) ApI don’t know why. He looked so tongue-tied and unhappy that I tried to help him’ out. ‘‘T don’t see what it is you want to know,’’ I had to confess. ‘“Well, this is how it is, “T was told to get an interview with you. And what they want me to ask you is—well, doesn’t it take a lot of courage?” “Courage 3” “T mean for you to appear—er —well, rather plain and unattractive on the sereen?” I laughed. He was miserable with his effort at gallantry. “Now I see. Don’t torture yourself any longer. I don’t mind that sort of question.” Likes Parts She Plays As a matter of fact, people always seem a little taken aback when I tell them I adore the pants cL play." “What? 1 can hear them saying to themselves. “A grizzled grandmother; a forlorn unloved secretary; a woman, past her first youth, whose hushand flirts with another woman, because the latter is younger and more attractive?” The last is my latest role in the First National picture, “Side Streets” in which Paul Kelly and Ann Dvorak appear with me. One thing that has Been wrong with the American screen and the stage—for too long a time, is that people of talent have heen told that they must not fail to “look pretty,” and too many of them have believed it.” The roles that make a real demand on the creative talents of a player, man or woman, are usually not the “pretty” nor the “dress-up” roles. The unhappy, the unwanted, the unappreciated souls — they are the ones who have a real interest for the artist who does not wish to fritter away a career in portraying selfsatisfied, commonplace or routine figures. Heart in Character Roles I played a secretary in “The Mouthpiece” a year or so ago. That girl’s devotion may not have been recognized by the man she loved, her employer. He may have turned from her to an ingenue face. But an audience sees through such a woman’s poor little pretenses and defenses — Ann Dvorak Presented With Germ Laboratory Ann Dvorak, who dabbles in bacteriology when not working in films, received a grand_ surprise from her husband, Leslie Fenton, the day she completed Ann Dvorak appearing in First National’s “‘Side Streets” at the Strand. Mat No. 13 —10c. her latest First National picture, “Side Streets,’ now showing at Tes aera an theatre. The surprise was a complete bacteriological laboratory fitted out with microscopes and all other equipment necessary for the amateur scientist to make experiments and indulge in research work. ’? he offered, swallowing hard. Aline MacMahon ster of “Side Streets,” now at the Strand. Mat No. 12 =A MG; sees through to her great heart. That is, they do if the actress is so lucky as to catch the pulse of the character. The young reporter the other day seemed to feel that I had been unlucky in the roles assigned to me. At least that was the implication that underlay his hesitancy. Unlucky? Just the contrary. I honestly believe that in the wide variety of characters entrusted to me, I’ve been one of the luckiest players in all Hollywood. In many screen characters it is hard to find a heart. In spite of all their defenses, each one of the women so far assigned to me has had one. Without a heart to reach somewhere within the character, there is no hope of building a real characterization. Very well. Have I been lucky or haven’t I?” Actors Meet After 15 Years’ Separation Paul Kelly, playing the lead ing male role opposite Aline MacMahon in the First National picture, “Side Streets,” which Comes t0nthey* gine cn ache theBETOL OMS ht eet ol ares , found an old friend on the set. Paul had not seen Helen Lowell, veteran Broadway actress, since 1919. They were then playing together in George Tyler’s production of “Golden Days” at the Blackstone Theatre, Chicago. Three Actresses In This Screen Reunion Dorothy Tree, who has a siren role in the First National picture, “Side Streets,” now showINP CMG NG has. 8 Sr. seh eet, theatre, had an important role in “Life Begins.” Aline MacMahon, who has the featured lead in “Side Streets,” and Dorothy Peterson, another member of the cast, also appeared in “Life Begins.” Now all are in the same picture again. Ann Dvorak Building Her ‘Castle In Spain” Ann Dvorak, now appearing at THO sate ae Theatre in the First National picture, ‘Side Streets,” is determined to own their own ranch and build an Andalusian farmhouse, patterned after the farmsteads of Andalusia, which fascinated her on her honeymoon in Spain last year. Ann has not picked out the spot yet. She’s still in the delightful stage of building a rustic “castle in Spain”. Page Nine st