Stage Struck (Warner Bros.) (1936)

i STRUCK PUBLICITY Frank McHugh Is Dragged Into Drunk Roles By Ruse Comedian Now Living It Down With His Part In ‘Stage Struck” Because his first movie test caught Frank McHugh utterly by surprise, he entered films as a player of comic character drunks, and for a long time he was able to get no other parts. Playing one inebriate after another, he was one of the busiest comedians on the screen during his first several years in pictures. A large proportion of the forty-odd characters he has created on celluloid are drunks. Yet McHugh in private life stays strictly on the wagon, and his stage career was a succession of character comics who were equally non-alcoholic. Lately, he has managed to win his way out of the inebriate class of screen characters almost entirely. From a fine character-comedian role with Fidward G. Robinson and Joan Blondell in “Bullets or Ballots”, Frank has stepped to what is probably his finest screen part to date, in the all-star musical “Stage Struck’, the First National picture which comes to the.............. Theatre Here, as an assistant dance director with a Broadwav girlygirly show. he vies for scene honors with Dick Powell. Joan Blondell. Warren William. Jeanne Madden and such celebrated snecialty entertainers as The Yacht Club Bovs. The storv of McHush’s initial sereen test ond whv it launched him so fatally into a cinematicallv inebriate career is an amusino one. Tt came ahout throueh a deht of gratitude owed McHuoh hv Rohert Armstrone, a deht renaid in ineenious and amazing fashion. with heavv interest. McHueh and Armstrone had vlaved in stock together in Des Moines. Towa. and dreamed of getting on Broadway. A scout caurht one of their shows, thought McHugh was great and took him straight to the Great White Wav. He couldn’t be persuaded to do the same for Armstrong. desnite McHusch’s pleas in his nal’s hehalf. One discovery was enough for one trip. McHuszh made an immediate hit on Broadway, and the instant he was entrenched he negotiated a part for his friend Boh. That led directly to Armstrone’s initial film contract and a brilliant screen career. McHugh’s drunk roles seem to have passed with “Stage Struck”. a_ rollicking musical comedy _ romance with all star cast. Special numbers were written and sung by The Yacht Club Bovs, with other songs by E. Y. Harburge and Harold Arlen. Busby Berkeley directed the picture from the screen play by Tom Buckingham and Pat C. Flick, based on a story by Robert Lord. Guards Health of Fishes In Picture Add to the list of queer movie jobs that of temperature taker to fishes. An expert at this particular job, thermometer in hand, was required to go from one glass tank to another in a set used for “Stage Struck”, the First National musical, which comes ROUEN Csctensnssac.csaeatatssccsiacteree Theatre a)t Ree ee re ee , with Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Warren William, Frank McHugh and Jeanne Madden in the stellar roles. The set represents the Battery Park Aquarium in New York City. Dick and Jeanne sing a musical number there and make love shamelessly in front of all the fishes. Rare and expensive fish were necessary for the tanks, and to prevent losses an expert guarded their health. His job was to see that the water was the right temperature, cold for sea and mountain fish, warm for those from the tropics. SS Page Thirty Two in Luck Famous Tunesmiths Write Catchy Airs E. Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen, famous tunesmiths responsible for such hits as “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” and “It’s Only A Paper Moon”, are particularly happy over the numbers they wrote for “Stage Struck”, the First National Musical, which COMES tO “thE ikesecsstcacteees Theatre OU eerimtee rote nS They are sung by Dick Powell, Jeanne Madden and the Three Cheers, radio trio. The new catchy songs they wrote for this production are “Fancy Meeting You”, and “In Your Own Quiet Way”. Frank McHugh furnishes much of the hilarious laughter that is evoked by “Stage Struck”, the new First National comedy laugh and song hit now OF LEG stinscrisiesncisingaeiongotiaes Theatre. Here the genial comedian is shown wearing a grin that’s not part of the show. And the chorus cuties with him may be the reason. Mat No. 215—20c Powell Radios Song To Honor Triplets Dick Powell, who plays the part of a dance director in the First National musical, “Stage Struck”, which comes to the............ Theatre ONG. sacccimanGes » recently received a telegram from a fan to sing a song on the radio in honor of the baby boy of which he was a proud father. Before Dick went on the air, with the song already picked, he got another wire saying, “Hold it, there’s a girl, too—twins”. During a pause for station announcement, a third wire arrived. “My gosh. Another boy—triplets !” Dick was floored but found a song on the program that fitted the occasion—“Three’s A Crowd!” Jeanne Madden'sGown Has 40 Foot Train Jeanne Madden, the golden voiced newcomer to the screen, who makes her bow in films with Dick Powell in “Stage Struck”, the First National musical now showTO AUST rc:..ccrescetsacsssorsieces Theatre, wears a unique gown in the picture. It was designed by the famous Hollywood costumer, Orry-Kelly and took ninety-seven yards of material to make it. The train is forty feet long. Dick Powell Is Real Moving Picture Fan _ Dick Powell is one of the best movie fans in the film colony. On the set of his current starring First National musical, “Stage Struck”, now showing at the.......... Theatre, Dick aired some opinions on movie-going to his fellow-players, Joan Blondell, Warren William, Jeanne Madden and Frank McHugh. “Even though I’ve been kept pretty busy during the past two years, I’ve managed to see most of the films considered important, and many others, which held special interest to me,” he declared. Frank McHugh Once Dance Director Nothing connected with the show business is new to that ace comedian of the First National menage, Frank McHugh. Now that Frank is playing an assistant chorus director in the big musical, “Stage Struck”, which COMES StOThEek.s..s cesses Theatre on Beene ear eee , he reveals the fact that he once served in that very capacity in connection with a reallife Broadway musical. Dick Powell is dance director in chief in the picture with Joan Blondell, and Jeanne Madden playing opposite him. Joan Blondell’s Film Gown Revealing Joan Blondell wears a dress in her latest First National picture, “Stage Struck”, now showing at Wi Grcccaitertan tas Theatre, that OrryKelly, designer, terms the “typical Blondell silhouette.” Styled to reveal the luscious figure of this popular blonde star, the gown is made of slinky black satin, bias-cut, short as to skirt, and then is set off with a frilly collar of white embroidered organdie that frames the face. “That’s Joan as her fans expect to see her,’ comments the stylist. “If I didn’t put her into at least one such sirenish frock in. every picture, her fans would be disappointed, and then I’d start getting letters; All Types of Fens Write Dick Powell Dick Powell, who gets more fan mail than «ny other star in the picture business, has exploded the idea that there is such a thing as any particular type of person who writes fan letters to stars. Powell, currently starring in the First National musical, “Stage Struck”, now playing at the............ Theatre, recently checked up on his mail. He said that every imaginable type of motion picture fan was represented among those who had written. School Girl Leaps Into Movie Lead In One Jump Jeanne Madden Now Playing Opposite Dick Powell In “Stage Struck”’ Jeanne Madden may not mean a thing to Mr. and Mrs. Public until she pops out at them from the screen as the love interest with Dick Powell in “Stage Struck”, the First National picture, which comes to the.............000.cce00 eae COREY EON... cscs sso Aces But she’s more of an enigma to the motion picture folk than Garbo. It isn’t strange that Jeanne’s name or photographic image § g doesn’t prick the memory of theatre patrons. She has never acted on a public stage, or anywhere else except in school-girl operettas. She never faced the cameras, except for screen tests, until now. In fact her only experience in appearing before the public was a very brief beginning as a concert singer. Jeanne was doing all right at that, it must be admitted. In fact, after her film test had been made and the usual rather leisurely method of considering it was under way, a frantic wire came from a film scout with headquarters in New York: “HURRY DECISION JEANNE MADDEN STOP SHE MAY BE SIGNED METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPANY.” The motion picture industry gets all hot and bothered when someone else wants someone it is considering. No moss grew under the feet which hurried to secure Jeanne’s signature on a contract. To Hollywood at large this fact does not explain the daring experiment of giving an unknown girl one of the most important acting roles in a picture like “Stage Struck”, opposite a star such as Dick Powell, and in company with such players as Joan Blondell, Warren William, Frank McHugh and other notables. Jeanne’s acting assignment not only runs through the entire film, giving her a total footage of celluloid second only to Powell’s, but it has its histrionic difficulties. True, it is not one of those characterizations only a Bette Davis or a Helen Hayes could handle. But it is one that requires talent. Jeanne’s future in the movies, under these circumstances, is a matter for most interesting speculation. A_ little Scranton, Pa. high school girl with an abiding desire to become an opera singer, she comes from middle-class, nonprofessional parents. She is quiet, thoughtful, and as natural and unabashed in her social contacts in Hollywood as in her film scenes. According to Director Busby Berkeley, Jeanne completed her work in “Stage Struck,” a_hilarious musical -comedy revealing theatrical life behind the scenes with flying colors. Special numbers for the picture were written and sung by the Yacht Club Boys, with other lyrics and music by EK. Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen. The screen play is by Tom Buckingham and Pat C. Flick, based on a story by Robert Lord. Powell Is Travestied In His Own Film A touch of “The real” Dick Powell was put in the First Na tional musical. “Stage Struck”, which comes to the..........0+ Theatre ONAGesics ane Dick’s amusing habit of talking to himself when he thinks he’s unobserved, was incorporated into a little comedy scene by Robert Lord, the author. The scene in the picture shows Powell on the observation platform of a moving train. Suddenly he bursts into speech and gestures. “T’ll put the girls here and the moon there,” he says pointing. Other members of the cast, who have quietly slipped up on him, burst out laughing. Turning, he sees Joan Blondell, Warren William, Frank McHugh and Jeanne Madden. And since the joke was on Dick himself originally, the flustered look he puts on in the scene isn’t all acting. Head Big Cast Dick Powell and Joan Blondell head the big all star cast of “Stage Struck”, First National’s merriest comedy romance with music, which OPENS AL ENG .icrccscrscscesssesseerere Theatre Ofbsssssadgrve<asvaoewats It is replete with laughter and catchy new songs. Mat No. 109—10c High Schoo! Girl A Real Film Find When Jeanne Madden sang her first song for the First National musical, “Stage Struck”, which comes=-tot thessaeevtcnceecss Theatre ONAis Jeng siete es , it became ap parent to studio workers who heard the number, why Miss Madden is considered a_ sensational find. Miss Madden, a Scranton, Pa. high school girl who is making her film bow in “Stage Struck”, is also said to do fine work in dramatic scenes of the picture, playing a difficult acting role in. company with such seasoned .troupers. as Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Warren William and Frank McHugh. Film Musical Started By Yacht Club Boys The Yacht Club Boys and Frank McHugh want it known that theirs was the honor of starting First National’s most ambitious musical, “Stage Struck”, which comes to WM ese scsesccavsosst pete a CARTE “Olina The film got under way with the YCB, Messrs, Charlie “Adler, George Kelly, Jimmie Kern and Billy Mann doing its first official “shot”. : --The fourgenial madmen mistake McHugh. for the character played by. Dick Powell,. a Broadway dance director. They’re jobless, and. they pounce on McHugh, assistant dance director, to put them in a new show. 2% Before McHugh can_ escape they’re acting and singing all over the place, to the bewilderment and joy of a throng of passers-by. This is one of their acts in their special musical numbers.