Sonny Boy (Warner Bros.) (1929)

DAVEY LEE in “SONNY BOY’ — Warner Bros. Latest Vitaphone Talking Picture Sonny Boy’s Big Brother A Hit As Movie Kid Davey Lee, the delightful little Sonny Boy of Al Jolson’s “The Singing Fool,” now a star in his own right, and coming next.:to athe. Sse Theatre in Warner Bros. Vitaphone Talking picture “Sonny Boy,” recently celebrated his fourth birthday at his home in Hollywood, with his older brother, Frankie, who will be remembered as the crippled child in “The Miracle Man,” which picture made the cinema fame of Lon Chaney. Mrs. Lee, mother of the two boys, has been taking Frankie to various film lots ever since the days of “The Miracle Man,” and because she didn’t want to leave Davey alone on these trips she took him to the studios with herself and Frankie. The latter has grown from a tiny tot to an awkward-age lad, too old for kiddie parts and too young for juvenile leads, so when Warner Brothers summoned Frankie 8 a possibility to play opposite Jolson in “The Singing Fool,” Mrs. Lee, Frankie, and little David went to the studio in a pessimistic frame of mind rather sure that Frankie wouldn’t be selected but with no thought at all of little David. The minute the studio folk caught sight of David they began to give considerable thought to him. And when Al Jolson cried: “Come to Uncle Al,” and David ran to the comedian, Davey was hired on the spot. Since then the child has been booked for stardom, while Frankie has decided to grow up as fast as possible, so that he may be big enough to become a leading man. Davey Lee is supported in “Sonny Boy” by Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmstead, John T. Murray, Edmund Breese, Lucy Beaumont and Jed Prouty. Leon Zuardo did the story. C. Graham Baker the scenario and Archie L. Mayo directed. Max Reinhardt Calls Davey Lee of “Sonny Boy” Rare Genius Max Reinhardt, celebrated impresario of the European stage, and widely known here for his marvelous presentations of “The Miracle” —considers Davey Lee a child of rare genius. Mr. Reinhardt was deeply moved by the little lad’s performance in Al Jolson’s “The Singing Fool.” Davey Lee comes to the Theatre next as star of “Sonny Boy,’ Warner Bros. latest Vitaphone Talking Picture. His support includes Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmstead, John T. Murray, Edmund Breese, Lucy Beaumont and Jed Prouty. Leon Zuardo wrote the story. The scenario is by C. Graham Baker. Archie L. Mayo directed. The story has to do with a family tiff, during which Sonny Boy’s mother’s sister kidnaps him to prevent the father taking him away. The piece is light comedy, and Davey dominates it—not by any of the antics of “smart” children, but by the cunningest of shy, lisping, twinkling, elfin wisdom. Audiences respond uproaniously, but their laughter is never far from tears, though in “Sonny Boy” the child is not called upon for any of the tragic feeling of “The Singing Fool.” ADVANCE STORIES PICTURES HAVE NEW BOY STAR IN DAVEY LEE Juvenile Discovered by Al Jolson Has Bright Future Ahead on the Talking Screen From New York Herald Tribune ee acee oe pos Scene trom Sonny Boy starring Davey Lee -A Warner Bros. Product: vie “BOY, BUT IT’S FUN TO GO PIGGY-BACK!” Production No. 3—Cut or Mat Master Davey Lee’s “Sonny Boy” Breaks Tidal Wave of Bravissimos By KATHARINE ZIMMERMANN New York Telegram When I think of all the bravissimos that are due to be tossed at the feet of Master Davey Lee today, following the premiere of “‘Sonny Boy’’ at the Warner Theatre, the necessity for sitting down and coining a brand new adjective looms large. Something, for instance, that takes off with a flourish of trumpets and explodes in a ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay shower somewhere around the tail end of the last syllable. For here is the most ingenious paradox that Hollywood has handed out in the memory of your correspondent,. a screen child with a sense of humor, an infant prodigy that can keep a packed house hugging itself in glee without seeking refuge once in those juvenile eccentricities known as “cute.” I must confess that as a rule I find nothing more fatiguing than a sustained seance with the genus sereen child. But the departmental bonnet is doffed deferentially to this 4-year-old gamin, who thumbs his nose engagingly at script directions (which provide, incidentally, that he be got up regardless in the sailor-suit tradition of the royal house of Guelph) and proceeds to entertain cash customers after his own fashion. Davey Lee has a genuine flare for comedy. He takes the stock situations and well-worn gags of “Sonny Boy” and contrives to bamboozle you into getting a new slant on them—the kiddie’s viewpoint, so to speak. He puts his whole heart into an uproarious imitation of Al Jolson singing his favorite anthem, “Sonny Boy.” He kids the entire “bright sayings by our littleones” situation by letting you have them with his tongue out and his nose awry. He kids the grown-ups that imperil our toddlers’ nerves with fatuous baby talk. In a word, he seems to be the answer to the juvenile film population’s prayer— another David, complete with sling and ready to avenge the disrespect that has been practiced for twenty years by celluloidia against the natural. state of childhood. The director, Archie Mayo, has made an excellent job of “Sonny Boy.” Realizing that the plot was far too old to be taken seriously, he conducts the whole picture in a mood of cheerful inanity, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The plot, by the way, has something to do with an obliging spinster who passes off her sister’s child as her own and finds herself saddled unexpectedly with a husband and a couple of provoking old in-laws. The dialogue writer deserves a couple of palms for some really adult comedy lines, and in the cast Edward Everett Horton and Betty Bronson are on the erest of the wave most of the time. Davey Lee in “Sonny Boy,” Warner Bros. latest Vitaphone Talking picture, comes to the hedtred.. Phin Take Your Own Sonny Boy To See “Sonny Boy”’ “Sonny Boy” Lee, aged four, is probably the funniest, most lovable little boy in the world, with the exception, of course, of your own little Sonny Boy—arid the tiny star comes to the Theatre in his first stellar effort, “Sonny Boy,” Warner’ Bros. latest Vitaphone Talking tpieture,.: oro, next, for ATU Otte, Saraet. days The story of the play is by Leon Zuardo, the scenario by C. Graham Baker and the direction by Archie L. Mayo. The east includes Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmstead, John T. Murray, Edmund Breese, Luey Beaumont and Jed Prouty. Take all the family to see Davey Lee and to hear his funny little words—his lisp,—his singing of new and delightful experience. “Sonny Boy!” You will find it a With Jackie Coogan advanced in London to the dignity of long trousers, Wesley Barry on _ the vaudeville stage and Andrew Lawlor Jr. with “Penrod” far behind, “movie” fans lost no time looking about to discover successors to their particular favorites. Or perhaps it should be said Al Jolson and Warners found him for them. You’ve doubtless guessed it. He is none other than the shy youngster who proved so appealing as the pathetic lad with Jolson in “The Singing Fool.” He is David, or Davey, Lee, around whom the song hit of the Jolson Vitaphone success, “Sonny Boy,’ revolves. Unaffected and perfectly natural, young Lee has none of the precocious sureness or almost impertinent confidence oftimes marring the playing of the majority of film youngsters. On the contrary, he is almost abnormally shy, and _ since his playing in “The Singing Fool” marks his first appearance on the screen it required weeks of the most careful preparation and gentle rehearsing on the part of Mr. Jolson himself and Archie L. Mayo, who directed the Vitaphone presentation for the Warners, to bring the boy to the point where he would bravely render his lines in the most poignant and telling fashion without self-consciousness or any trace of artificiality. CHILDHOOD Qur birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The soul that rises with us, our life’s star Hath had elsewhere Its setting, And cometh from afar. Not in entire forgetfulness, and not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory, do we come From God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy. —W oRDSWORTH His success following the first showing in Hollywood of “The Singing Fool” and attendant upon the premiere here at the Winter Garden rather frightens, jim epd congratulations brought embarassment and confusion absolutely painful to witness. On more than one occasion, although a manly little chap, he took refuge in tears. Since “The Singing Fool” and _ his subsequent work in the studios he has gained in self-control and assurance and has learned how to ward off “lionizing.” In no ordinary or commonplace fashion did Mr. Jolson discover Davey Lee for his present idolizers. When at the Warners’ studios in Hollywood the time arrived to pick the exactly right small boy for “The Singing Fool” dozens and dozens of mothers were on hand, each with an embryo Coogan, some with two and a few with three or more, for the appraising eyes of Mr. Jack Warner, Mr. Jolson and Mr. Mayo. Mrs. Lee had arrived with a boy in whom she thought she detected Signs of screen talent. But that boy was Davey’s older ‘brother. Davey had been brought along for the simple reason that there was nothing else to do with him. Mrs. Lee’s efforts were expended in keeping his restless legs in one place. But when she looked the other way for a moment D?vey made the most of that moment: It was in June and the lawns and gardens surrounding the gstudios were inviting. Davey trotted about the driveways until a particularly splendid flower-bed drew his attention. “Hey, there, young man!” called a friendly voice. “Where do you think you’re going? Don’t fall in that fountain.” Davey did not appear scared in the least, Al Jolson wags smiling in a friendly fashion: “Are you an actor?” Davey asked, and_ the comedian confessed. A little later Jolson came into the studio with Davey on _ his shoulders.” “Hold “ve got shoulders.” So Davey Lee was trotted into his first role and on the books of the Warner casting offices he went down as the first player of such tender years to obtain an important engagement entirely through his own efforts. Davey Lee heard at the his first starring release, ‘Sonny Boy,” a Warner Bros. Vitaphone Talking picture coming next. everything!” he ‘Sonny Boy’ cried. on my is to be seen and Theatre in SA ees Ss ee Scene trom Sonny Boy starring Davey Lee -A Warner Bros. Production sbionohenara aetna nananane eee naparenepanp a par heaanentT 3 SONNY WONDERS WHY DAD AND MOTHER ACT SO CROSS Production No. 4—Cut or Mat