Star Witness (Warner Bros.) (1931)

se as "SURE IT WILL MAKE A LOT Walter Huston Plays District Attorney In “Star Witness” (Biography July 15, 1931) Walter Huston, who plays the part of the district attorney in “The Star Witness,’ the Warner Bros. production now at the Theatre, is known as one of the most accomplished and versatile actors on either stage or screen. On the latter he first came into prominence in “Gentlemen of the Press.” . ee weer Huston is a Canadian by birth, and is of Scotch and Irish parentage. His father was a contractor, and young Huston studied to be an engineer. At the age of eighteen, however, the acting idea became too strong. After a period with a Toronto stock company he ran away, riding the brake beams to New York. After half starving there for some time he finally landed a threeline part in Richard Mansfield’s company, promptly bungled his lines the first night and was fired. He dogged it along in acting until 1905, when he gave up the stage and returned to Toronto to follow engineering. Meanwhile he had been married. The call of the stage was too strong, however, and after four years he returned, organizing the vaudeville team of “Whipple & Huston.” He remained in vaudeville for twelve years. His break came in a peculiar way. Realizing he was getting nowhere in vaudeville he decided to go in for an elaborate act. He invested $5,000 in stage equipment, and hired a cast. The Keith people would only give him $1,250 for the act. He needed $1,500 a week to make it pay. Just then the Shuberts were making their abortive attempt at “vaude,” and they offered him twenty weeks at $1,750 a week. He took it, but later was blacklisted by the Keith people. — He was very hard up when he happened to see a play that a friend was to produce. He read it and felt that he could play the title role. It was “Mr. Pitt.” He got the role, and was a star overnight. “The Fountain,” “Congo,” “The Barker,” “Elmer the Great,” “The Commodore Marries,” and “Desire Under the Elms” followed. Then pictures claimed him. Following “Gentlemen of the Press,” he appeared in “The Lady Lies,” “The Virginian,” “The Bad Man,” “Abraham Lincoln,” “The Ruling Voice” and “The Star Witness.” Huston is six feet tall, weighs one hundred and eighty pounds, has blue eyes and dark hair, and was born April 6, 1884. He has a son twenty-three years of age, who is a well-known author. Despite his picture career he hopes to continue to do an occasional play in New York. Frances Starr Plays AProminentRoleln “Star Witness” (Biography July 15, 1931) Frances Starr, who plays the part of Ma Leeds in “The Star Witness,” the Warner Bros. production now at the ...... Theatre, is seen in her second screen role, her first having been in “Five Star Final.” Miss Starr is one of the most famous actresses of the stage. Among her successes are “The Girl ~ I Left Behind Me,” “The Moth and the Flame,” “The Royal Box,” “If I Were King” and “The Easiest Way.” Her latest stage roles were Isabella Queen of Castile in “Immortal Isabella” in 1927; Dora in “Diplomacy” in 1928; and “Fallen — in which she toured in 1929. Miss Starr was born in Oneonta, New York. She was educated in the Albany schools, first appearing there on the stage under the management of Frederick Bond. The following autumn she joined the Murray Hill Theatre stock company, remaining with them several seasons. Miss Starr now resides in Garden City, Long Island. Page Six CLIMAX The pathos, co Striking j WALTER CHARLES SALLY BLANE — Cut No. 8 In Every Picture To Conjure Luck (Current—Plant sth Day) True to a precedent started when he directed “Wings.” Director William Wellman plays a minor character bit in his latest screen offering, “The Star Witness,” the Warner Bros. production now at the oe Theatre. Mr. Wellman has appeared before the cameras in every film he has ever directed, considering it a concession to luck which he cannot afford to miss. In “The Star Witness” which features Charles (Chic) Sale and Walter Huston, Wellman appears as a telephone company workman, employed at cable splicing in a street manhole. As such he has a brief scene with Chic Sale, who plays his famous character of the Union Army veteran. Others in the cast of “The Star Witness” are Frances Starr, Sally Blane, Grant Mitchell, Edward J. Nugent, Dicky Moore, Ralph Ince, Tom Dugan, Russell Hopton, Fletcher Norton, Robert Elliott, Guy D’Ennery, George Ernst, Mike Donlin, Noel Madison, Ed Deering and Nat Pendleton. OF CLIMAXES! “STAR “CHIC” DICKEY MOORE — GRANT MITCHELL FRANCES STARR-RALPH INCE A WARNER BROS. & VITAPHONE HIT! Director Plays Bit Chic SaleBrings His man, woman and child hail it as the perfect picture: STRAND with HUSTON SALES ROBERT ELLIOTT Cut 40c, Mat 10c Favorite Creation In “Star Witness” (Advance—Plant 4 Days Before) Of the many characters he has created Charles (Chic) Sale has more affection for old Cap Summerill—the man who knew Lincoln —than for any of the other thirty odd people he has made famous through years of presenting them in the theatre. “I have worked out a separate philosophy for each of my people,” Sale explains. “Each is an individual, with a definite personality apart from mine. The old Captain, with his trick knee, and his memories of the Battles of the Wilderness and of Shiloh, is my particular pet, although Lem Putt—the specialist—is a likable fellow too.” Sale, now in Hollywood has been spending his time with the man who knew Lincoln—who is one of the principal characters in Warner Bros. “The Star Witness,” which comes to =the-s =: Theatre........ next. In this picture Sale is featured with Walter Huston and Frances Starr. Others in the cast are Sally Blane, Grant Mitchell, Edward J. Nugent, Dicky Moore, Ralph Ince, Tom Dugan, Russell Hopton, Fletcher Norton, Robert Elliott, Guy D’Ennery, George Ernst, Mike Donlin, Noel Madison, Ed Deering and Nat Pendieton. WALTER HUSTON AND CHIC SALEHEAD BRILLIANT CAST OF “STAR WITNESS” CURRENT ATTRACTION ATTHESTRAND Melodrama Blends With Quaint Humor And Humanity In Latest Warner Bros. Film Which Was Loudly Applauded By Local Fans Last Evening (Review Featuring the Cast) Chic Sale is a whole show in himself. Few there are who do not know him through his score or so of vaudeville characterizations, his “Specialist” his radio program or his syndicated articles—and now he makes his screen bow in a story built about one of his most lovable creations—Gran’pa Summerill, the Man Who Knew Lincoln. Gran’pa Summerill on a_ fortyeight-hour leave from the Soldiers’ Home—visits his daughter and her family—sees a man shoot another just outside the window while he and his folks sit at dinner—making them all liable to be called as witnesses before the district attorney —who is played with consummate art by Walter Huston. The family, all but Gran’pa Summerill—are intimidated into silence. The little boy of the household is kidnapped and his father waylaid. Gran’pa meanders through the streets, near the supposed haunts of the thugs, playing his fife as he goes. He frees his grandson—rounds up the thugs—gives some clever tips to the local cops—and caps the climax by appearing at the trial of the killer as star witness. But what thrills and laughs there are along the way—before this is accomplished. Frances Starr splendidly portrays Gran’pa’s daughter and mother of the stolen boy. Other parts are deftly interpreted by Sally Blane, Grant Mitchell, Edward J. Nugent, Dicky Moore, aged five, Ralph Ince, Tom Dugan, Russell Hopton, Fletcher Norton, Robert Elliott, Guy D’Ennery, George Ernst, aged nine, Mike Donlin, Noel Madison, Ed Deering and Nat Pendleton. _ William A. Wellman, who directed the first great air-picture, “Wings,” and recently did “The Public Enemy and “Night Nurse,” directs “The Star Witness” with his usual skill. Story, dialogue and adaptation are by Lucien Hubbard, who deserves credit for conceiving one of the most unusual and delightful creations of this or any season. Chic Sale, as the foxy old Civil War soldier, who is forever talking about the battles he has won—tippling or giving his opinions on any and every subject—is a character of moving and unforgettable charm. As we said in the beginning, he is a show within himself. So is Walter Huston—and so is Frances Starr. A great cast and a great picture—a picture for everybody. Take all your friends to see it. The The Savoy Theatre, realizing its duty as a civic institution, urges you to see “The Star Witness” and bring the whole family. _ Cut No. 15 Grant Mitchell Seen As Victim Of Knaves “TheStar Witness” Sate (Biography July 15, 1931) Grant Mitchell, who plays the part of Pa Leeds in “The Star Witness,” the Warner Bros. p§ ~tion, now at the ...... y has been a leading actor 2 American stage since 1902, whv.. ne made his debut with Richard Mansfield in Shakespeare repertory. He is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio State University and Harvard Law School. He practiced as an attorney for three years before enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in preparation for a theatrical career. After his appearance with Mansfield he was under the management of Charles Frohman for six years, appearing in numerous plays. The turning point in his career was his employment by George M. Cohan — to create the title role in “The Tailor Made Man,” which put his name in electric lights. He later created starring roles in “Get Rich Quick Wallingford,” “It Pays to Advertise,” “The Champion,” “The Whole Town’s Talking,” “The Hero” and many others. P x lately toured the country it vival of “It Pays to Adve...” His first talking picture role was in Warner Bros. “Man to Man.” Mr. Mitchell is five feet seven inches tall, weighs one hundred and fifty-five pounds and has sandy hair and brown eyes. He says his hobby is watching other people act,» rest is guaranteed. and his pastime is walking. No finer entertainment —no greater thrill no © deeper understanding of life—has ever been conceived by human mind. with WALTER HUSTON CHIC S Ade DICKEY MOORE GRANT MITCHELL FRANCES STARR RALPH INCE SALLY BLANE ROBERT ELLIOTT . A WARNER BROS. & VITAPHONE DRAMATIC THUNDERBOLT 4 Cut 40c, Mat 10c NET