Stage Struck (Warner Bros.) (1936)

Below is the official billing for “Stage Struck”. It is important that this be followed without change or variation. Important changes were made after posters and heralds were on the press. Be sure to follow billing below in all your publicity. WARNER BROTHERS Pictures, Inc. present DICK POWELL STAGE ‘STRUCK with JOAN BLONDELL WARREN WILLIAM—FRANK McHUGH THE YACHT CLUB BOYS JEANNE MADDEN—CAROL HUGHES CRAIG REYNOLDS—HOBART CAVANAUGH Directed by Busby Berkeley MUSIC AND LYRICS BY E. Y. HARBURG AND HAROLD ARLEN A FIRST NATIONAL PRODUCTIONS CORPORATION PICTURE 25% 5% 100% 90% 85% 85% 85% 50% 50% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% George Randall (Dick Powell), a Broadway dance director, is trying to whip the chorus of a new musical comedy into shape, assisted by Sid (Frank McHugh). He is interrupted by his fretful employer, Wayne (Hobart Cavanaugh), the producer, who announces he has hired Peggy Revere (Joan Blondell), notorious for shooting the last of her many husbands, because she’s putting money into the show. Before the argument is settled Peggy herself arrives, and her high-handed attitude brings about a pitched battle between Randall and herself. She leaves the show flat and Wayne fires Randall. Ruth Williams (Jeanne Madden) waylays Randall and asks for a try-out. Randall likes her, but explains he is out of a job himself. Reproached for losing his job by his mother (Spring Byington), his sister Grace (Carol Hughes) and his agent. Toots O’Connor (Lulu McConnell) he goes to a night club to drown. his troubles. There his friend, the astute young Broadway producer Fred Harris (Warren William), finds him, and tries to get him to sign a dance-director’s contract to handle a show he is going to put on. Randall wakes up next morning and goes to Harris’ office to try to get out of his contract. Harris assures him it’s legal and he will not let him out. But just then the mysterious backer and star of Harris’ show appears. It’s Peggy. At the sight of Randall she demands that he be discharged. Grabbing his contract, she tears it up. Relieved, George bows out. Director Screen Play by Comet eer meee weer see ee neta eeeesseseseeee Again he meets Ruth Williams, and once more he has to plead that he’s jobless, but he asks Sid, who has been hired by Harris, to find her a place. Then he discovers that he is still bound to Harris, the destroyed contract being only a duplicate. Harris makes Peggy believe that her seeming hate for Randall is love in disguise. Ruth insists on getting into the show, and uses the influence of the “hammy” leading man, Gilmore Frost (Craig Reynolds), to this end. Randall suspects the worst, and as he has to play up to Peggy, there is a rift in their romance. On the opening night of the show, Peggy calls George into her dressing room. She puts her arm around his neck, pretending to show him how she is going to make love to Frost in the show. Just at that minute Frost steps in. Jealous, he takes a swing at George, who side-steps and knocks him cold. When he comes to he is raving angry at Peggy and gives her a swift kick. Peggy drinks gin, her lights go out, and she is hustled off to a hospital. But she revives and rushes back to the theatre, insisting on going on in her part. Harris is tearing his hair, knowing she is going to prove a flop and ruin the show. Just then there is a shot. Iiveryone runs back to Peggy’s dressing room. She has shot Frost. The police take them both away and George and Ruth go on in the place of Peggy and Frost. They make a great hit with the audience —and with each other. asnevan snc Nigagaes cea Busby Berkeley Pen eek ny a ee Tom Buckingham and Pat C. Flick Special Numbers written and sung by............ The Yacht Club Boys bog 0 Ge 2 Da ee SU oa = Pn 7 eR On SIRE SERCO Robert Lord POU E OI AL UY aaa ossicles Byron Haskins, A. S. C. Be COP as Gein aastcccnteon ice Tom Richards RTI Ad PECL OF Sy recipe Snes vadigsiestgansncstitiersseee Leo F. Forbstein Lyrics and Music by. «....5....00...... E. Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen Special Photographic Effects by.........sssescsssssseereeees Fred Jackman Special Orchestral Arrangements bY........scscccseeseees Ray Heindorf a UF ass ods Aer anaspvanaid cats vedeesherka ates Lapioocoes Robert Haas es, SE Tee eR REET er pantie oreiabitee Ded costaons Orry-Kelly BP PUMIME SECON OPS «cc osces ap cecainveczdier rerhaaainanniacstiias ieos Irving Rapper 7 BLONDELL A born “trouper”, which is the highest praise the acting profession can_ bestow upon a player —Joan Blondell was christened “Rose” when she was born in New York City in 1909— Her father and _ mother were troupers and a_property tran k was her first cradle — At the age of four months she made her first stage appearance— Has been on the stage ever since —She has played in repertory all over the globe, tank towns in China, split weeks in Germany, and has crossed the continent of the United States 56 times while playing in vaudeville—Between times she has been a circus hand, a Joan Blondell Mat No. 116—10e / waitress, and for 15 minutes, a clerk in a New York department store—Is now one of the outstanding film stars in Hollywood — Never attends Hollywood parties but likes to dance—Prefers to buy her clothes in New York, but thinks Hollywood the ideal place in which to live—Takes long hikes and is a champion swimmer—Is a good tennis player—Goes to prize fights once a week and likes football matches — Does not care for golf—Doesn’t bother with beauty formulas — Believes in lots of baths — Likes to read and loves music—Has never been in an airplane and doesn’t want to—Dislikes bridge, diets, mashers and jewelry—Hates to answer a telephone—Loves pop and cider—Is generous to a fault and is one of the most popular stars in Hollywood—Has one son, Norman Scott Barnes, born in 1934—Is five feet four inches tall, weighs 115 ponds has grey eyes and blonde hair—is now playing in “Stage Struck” the First National picture, which opens LS oe eee ae orn ns Theatre Latest a R CILMOUETTE JEANNE MADDEN She is 18 years old and a year graduated from the Scranton, Penna. high school, so she hasn’t had much opportunity to develop any of the eccentricities often associated with motion picture stars — As a matter of fact, she was borg in Scranton, went to school there, played tennis, went to dances, had her quota of boy friends and more girl friends—She also had a remarkable singing voice which her parents recognized, and sent her to New York to study— After a few weeks she was given a chance on the concert stage, where she was heard by executives of the Metropolitan Opera Company—They placed her under contract and sent her to Queena Mario for further training — Warner Bros.’ talent scouts heard her sing and saw her perform and gave her an immediate contract to appear in filmusicals —She has not been long in Hollywood, and has the unusual distinction of being cast in the leading feminine role of the first picture in which she ever worked—This is the First National Jeanne Madden Mat No. 114—10c¢ musical “Stage Struck”, which OVENS: BE, ANC. cescdigs.csseres Theatre (0): Rae eee Naturally, Miss Madden’s chief art interest is singing and opera is her ultimate goal. WA WILLIAM Mis earliest ambition was to be an actor—It wasn't until after he had served in the Engineers’ Corps of the A. E. F. and the armistice had been signed that he joined a theatrical troup e— toured the army camps in Europe —Upon his return to America decided to try his luck on the stage—Managers became interested and soon he found himself in a road company of “I Love You”—His name is Warren William Krech—Was born in Aitkin Minn.—Loves the sea— His vacations and free time are usually spent navigating his yacht in the Pacific—Has clay tennis court on his grounds in addition to a nine-hole putting course which is quite popular among his neighbors—Is a practical inventor with numerous gadgets to his credit— His latest film is the First National filmusical “Stage Struck”, which is now showing at the............ Theatre. Warren William Mat No. 118—10e McHUGH He’s been a stage manager, a dance director, and an actor ever since he was a small boy in Homestead, Pa,. where he was born — His parents were of the theatre, and so were his brothers—For years he was a trouper in stock compa nies in the bars Rams United States : and ~~ Canada, * before his friend, Frank Fay got him to accept a role in “Bright Lights’—He is a rather serious minded chap, reserving most of his funny antics for the camera—His closest friends are those whom Pat O’Brien declares to be “the mugs of Hollywood”, of whom Pat and Frank are leaders — His hobbies are his family, his home and _ his friends—He attends most athletic meets and his favorite sport, to watch, is boxing—His current picture is “Stage Struck” the First National musical now at the............ Theatre. Dick Powell, born in Mountain View, Ark., on February 14, 1904 —His first effort as a vocalist was “Casey Jones” which he was taught to sing by an old railroad engineer — He is said to get the most fan mail of any male motion picture star—He can play any musical instrument except the violin and the bag pipes—Studies voice seriously and hopes to become a concert singer— Likes to play golf, swim and ride horseback, but says he has no time to devote to golf or horses—Arises at 6 A. M. daily and plays badminton for an hour for exercise—His chief hobby is photography and he is seldom seen without a quick action camera—Sneaks up on people and snaps their photographs—Is six feet tall, weighs 172 pounds and has blue eyes and auburn hair —Dick rode to school on the back of an old horse behind his brother, then went to high school and finally had a year at Little Rock College Organized an orchestra and played for dances around Little Rock—Sung in a church choir for $60 a month; also for weddings and funerals—Clerked in a grocery store, “jerked” sodas, tested gas meters, collected money out of pay station telephone booths—His career really began when a visiting orchestra took him on as a singing and playing member — Considers “42nd Street” and “20 Million Sweethearts” his favorite pictures —Has ambitions to stop singing and try some really dramatic roles —Gets around 8,000 fan letters a week—Buys his clothes in New York but prefers to live in California—Has no pet economies and no special aversions—Likes to play golf, go swimming and horseback riding—Is an expert bridge player and is a football fan—Has a huge collection of musical instruments— Enjoys making home-made movies —Is a flying enthusiast and hopes to own his own plane soon—Got his start in motion pictures when a Warner Bros. talent scout watched his work as master of ceremonies at a Pittsburgh theatre—His first screen role was in “Blessed Event” Every motion picture in which he has appeared has been a hit— Now appearing in the First Na Dick Powell Mat No. 115—10e tional musical “Stage Struck” which will open at the.............. 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