So Big (Warner Bros.) (1953)

RS GOREN eae ET OR | | ee WHAT Y U on, — t SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Newt “SO BIG” Cast of Characters SELINA PEAKE BARBARA STANWYCK Re George Brent Dirk (as a boy).............Dickie Moore Bigs O Mara... se Bette Davis wine Hemple......-...... Mae Madison Dirk (grown).-......: >. Hardie Albright PrmnonFeake. . Robert Warwiék Mmmeesteen =. 2 Arthur Stone meeivis. DOJONG=-....... 22.35. Earle Foxe Blase Ol... FS Alan Hale | i Se aS ior Dorothy Peterson Selina (as a little girl)....... Dawn O’Day Roelf (14 years)........: ..Dick Winslow Seawiaim Ooms... =... ts. Harry Beresford Sere diemple... +... Eulalie Jensen Mrs; teébbits.......=. Elizabeth Patterson 0 Se es eae ee ae Rita LeRoy Widow Paarlenburg..... Blanche Frederici Mee OchOr... =... Willard Robertson Mieaen-aunts............ Martha Mattox Emma Ray I re a eae Olin Howland Pierwencral..-.. Andre Charon Country doctor Harry Holman Reverend Dekker RUST Sere Lionel Belmore The Story * "ia Peake, whose mother is dead, is »vexten to Chicago by her father, a gambler, and sent to a finishing school. Shortly after Selina’s graduation her father is killed and she is left penniless. Julie, a particular chum, persuades her father to get Selina a job as a school teacher in a small Dutch settlement. She lives at the home of a crude farmer, whose son, Roelf, she helps with hig lessons and who adores her. Eventually, Selina marries one of the Dutch farmers, Pervus Dejong, and her life becomes that of a farmer’s wife—but instead of thinking it drudgery she sees beauty in everything connected with the soil. Finally a boy, Dirk, is born and her whole hope is centered in him, She takes him to the fields with her and daily measures his growth, calling him “So big.” Pervus dies and leaves Selina nothing but the farm. She goes to work with determination to make good for her boy. She sends him to school and college and finally establishes him in business as an architect. Selina has grown into a fine character whom everyone loves. Dirk, is a weak character. He falls in love with Paula, a married woman, who persuades her husband to give Dirk a job in his officee—and then with Dallas O’Mara, a beautiful young girl and talented artist. She will not marry him because he is weak. In the meantime, Roelf, who had left the farm at his mother’s death, has become a great artist. Returning from Paris, he meets Dirk and learns that he is Selina’s son. He immediately asks to be taken to her and they go to the farm, taking Dallas with them. Selina has a fine sense of values and she sees what a fine character Roelf has become, at the same time realizing the faults of her son. She sees that her hopes for her son are blasted but rejoices in the fineness of Roelf. Her eyes are sad, but beauty has not faded from her soul. Page Two Biographical Briefs BARBARA STANWYCK — One of the screen’s most talented actresses, whose rise to stardom was nothing short of phenomenal. Started out as a chorus girl in New York. First attracted attention in “Ladies of Leisure.” Since then she has scored marked success in “Tlhieit,” “Night Nurse,” “The Miracle Woman,” “Forbidden” and “So Big.” She is the wife of Frank Fay. Born in New York City. GEORGE BRENT — Well known stage actor, recently signed to a long term contract by Warner Bros.-First National. Born and educated in Dublin, Ireland. Started his dramatic career while in school. Since then he has owned six stock companies and* played over a hundred leads on the stage. On the screen in “The Rich Are Always With Us” and “So Big.” BETTE DAVIS—Began her stage career with the Provincetown Players. On the sereen in “Bad Sister,” “Seed,” ‘“Waterloo Bridge,” “Juvenile Court,” “Way Back Home,” “The Menace.” Under her new Warner Bros. contract she appeared in “The Man Who Played God,’ with George Arliss, “The Rich Are Always With Us” and “So Big.” Born in Lowell, Mass. MAE MADISON—Young Hungarian-American actress under contract to Warner Bros.-First National. Has played in such pictures as “The Mad Genius” with John Barrymore, “Bought,” with Constance Bennett, “Union Depot” and “So Big,” with Barbara Stanwyck. Born in Los Angeles, Calif. ROBERT WARWICK—Well-known player of both Broadway stage and screen. Formerly a star of the screen in the old days of silent pictures, but gave it up to go back to stage. In talking pictures he hag been seen in “Unmasked” and most recently in “The Woman From Monte Carlo” and “So Big.” HARDIE ALBRIGHT—Has appeared on the stage in “Saturday Night,” “Three Sisters,” “Gang War,” “Cradle Song,” “The Greeks Had A Word For It” and “Young Sinners.” Seen by Fox officials Production Staff Based on the BOvel by © Edna Ferber Adaptation. .... J. Grubb Alexander and Robert Lord Director = William Wellman Cameraiian Sid Hickox Art Director ==... Jack Okey William Holmes Running Time _ 82 minutes Length 7466 feet in the latter play and signed to play the same part in the picturization of the play. Also appeared in ‘Hush Money,” “Skyline” and “Heartbreak.” For Warner Bros. he recently appeared in “So Big” with Barbara Stanwyck. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa. EARLE FOXE—After gaining stage experience, he entered pictures with the old Kalem Co. Originally started out to be a mechanical engineer but gave it up in.favor of acting. On the screen in “Blindfold,” “Four Sons,” “Fugitives,” “The Ghost Talks,” “Good Intentions” and “So Big.” Born in Oxford, Ohio. ALAN HALE — An old and talented favorite sinee he first appeared for Biograph in “The Cowboy And The Lady.” His most famous parts were in “The Covered Wagon,” “The Four Horsemen” and “Robin Hood.” He deserted the role of actor for several years, during which he directed pictures. Since his return to acting he has appeared in numerous pictures ineluding “The Leatherneck,” “Union Depot” and “So Big.” Born in Washington, D. C. DOROTHY PETERSON—tTalented stage actress who entered films when First National brought her to Hollywood for “Mothers Cry.” She has also appeared in “Bought” with Constance Bennett _ and in “So Big” with Barbara Stanwyck. Born in Hector, Minn. 4 HARRY BERESFORD—Famed on stage as creator of “The Old Soak” role, and an instant success on the screen. His recent pictures include “Heaven On Earth,” “Dance Team,” “Sob Sister,” “Charlie Chan Carries On,” “Seandal Sheet,” “High Pressure” and “So Big.” WILLIAM A. WELLMAN — (Director) Has brought to the screen such recent successes as “Public Enemy,” “Night Nurse,” “Safe In Hell,” “The Star Witness,” “The Hatchet Man.” During the war he was an intrepid aviator with the Lafayette Escadrille, which made his direction of that ace of air pictures, “Wings,” so realistic. His latest effort is “So Big,” starring Barbara Stanwyck. Official Billing Warner Bros. Pictures, Ine. & The Vitaphone Corp....... 5% present BARBARA STANWYCK..... 100% in “SO BIG?) 255 Se eee 85% Based on novel by EdnaxFerber—— = 50% with George Brent = = Se 65% Bette Davis <== se ot 40% Dickie: Moore = 5% Directed by William A. Wellman 3.32 20% A Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Picture......... 40%