Stolen Holiday (Warner Bros.) (1937)

Mannequins Vs. “Gold Diggers” In Date Contest There was a ‘‘date’’ rivalry between several hundred pretty girls at the Warner Brothers studios in Hollywood several months ago. On one side was that famed crew known as the ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1937,’? and on the other a less numerous but even more high-powered group of charmers — mannequins working in Parisian fashion shows that are a feature of Kay Francis’ starring vehicle, ‘‘Stolen Holiday,’’ a First National picture which opens AbecthOt ose Theatre on Hasty and incomplete scannings of conquest on the studio ‘‘lot,’’ with male employees as date seekers, gave the mannequins a distinct edge. There was striking general difference in the two groups of girls. The mannequins were tall — averaging over five feet six. The chorines were shorter, averaging about five feet four. For their height, the mannequins were slimmer. But curves weren’t neglected. Curves were where curves should be! PUBL! Cag y¥ Parisian Fashion Show On Screen Rains’ Voice Is Great Asset To Character Actor One of the most flexible voices in motion pictures is that of Claude Rains. He can make it edged — almost saw-edged if you will — or can tune it into a soft, purry quality at will. It can be menacing. It can be appealing. It has the latter quality in ‘*Stolen Holiday,’’ the First National picture showing at the ........ Sit tosses Theatre and in which Rains supports Kay Francis. But it was the saw-edged voice that got him his first job in pictures. That was in a movie where his face was never seen until the last reel — and then he was dead. The picture was ‘‘The Invisible Man,’’ a tale about a mad scientist who could remove himself instantaneously from the sight of everyone else. In order to do this he had to keep himself swathed like a mummy. In the picture, one minute you’d see Claude, the next minute you wouldn’t. But his voice could always be heard. And it was because his voice had the unique quality needed to make the role stand out, Rains, long a noted stage actor, was given the part. Though Rains wasn’t seen in In ‘‘Stolen Holiday,’’ which stars the glamorous Kay Francis, occurs a parade of ’round the clock fashions that picture, his rise in the movies for 1937. The scene is Mme. Picot’s — the salon sensation of Paris. The mannequins were imported from was rapid afterward. He was Paris and the gowns were designed by Orry Kelly. ‘‘ Stolen Holiday’?-comes to: the —.ccc......scn. Theatre, on splendidly cast in ‘‘Crime Without osha pe Ab palane! 6 Ian Hunter and Claude Rains have the leading male roles. Passion.’’ His most recent triumph Mannequins used on the ‘‘Stolen Holiday’’ set are, as a class, a new element in pictures. The change of government in France has thrown many professional models of all nationalities, the cream of international beauty, out of employment. Fashion modelling isn’t what it used to be in oncegay Paree. So many of the girls have drifted to Hollywood, seeking film jobs. These mannequins are truly cosmopolitan in origin. There are Eurasians among them, and several Chinese and Japanese girls, used in the picture not as models but cigarette girls. Striking beauty of face, form and carriage is, together with tallness, their one common characteristic. ‘‘Stolen Holiday’? is a thrilling, romantic story of the rise of a lovely but humble manequin to the position of queen of fashion in Paris, dictating to the whole world what women shall wear. Others in the cast besides Kay Francis include Ian Hunter, Claude Rains, Alison Skipworth, Alexander D’Arcy, Betty Lawford, Walter Kingsford and Frank Reicher. Michael Curtiz directed, from a screen play by Casey Robinson. Kay Francis Wins Hearts Of 10,000 In Simple Speech Unquestionably, the toughest ordeal for most motion picture stars to face is that of making a personal appearance before a crowd. They get stage fright. The majority of them will do their utmost to avoid the task. One of the most acute sufferers in this respect is Kay Francis, currently starred in ‘‘Stolen Holiday,’’ now playing at the .............. Theatre. Last summer she was scheduled to talk at the nurses’ convention, but when she stood up all she could think of was the Florence Nightingale oath, learned for her part in ‘‘The White Angel.’’ She repeated it, thereby winning the hearts of 10,000 nurses. Fated To Meet And Love She wanted to retain her position as fashion dictatress of the world, he wanted to rise to great diplomatic heights, but when Alison Skipworth (left) introduces Ian Hunter to Kay Francis, the carefully controlled hearts of these two ambitious people do a tailspin, in ‘‘ Stolen Holiday,’’ the First National drama that comes to the ................ TNCQE 6 ON iis ke Mat No. 202—20c Mat No. 301—30e kashion Racket Exposed In New Kay Francis Film French Designers Make Big Changes Yearly To Force Open Women’s Purses The inside story of that international racket known as Fashion holds shocks and surprises even for such a sophisticated, intelligent and widely-travelled person as Kay Francis, acknowledged to be one of the best-dressed women in the world. Incidental to the filming of her latest starring picture, for First National, ‘‘Stolen Holiday,’’ which comes to the .............. EMQG BI oo 2c ores... , Kay discovered some things about Parisian style dictatorship, fashion designing and so on, which are startling enough to pass on. Part of these revelations were made through the usual process of research connected with the picture. Others came from Madame Irma Bouttier, technical expert brought from France by Director Michael Curtiz to keep an expert eye on the conduct of the modiste shops and famous style marts reproduced for the film drama. For example, where do the fashion designers get their ideas? Who is it that decides what shall be fashionable at any given period throughout the civilized world? Who dictates to modern women of all nations what is, and what is not stylish at the moment? It is a matter of psychology. Through style designing, the woman who wears the latest is made to feel beautiful, confident, superior. But she who wears last year’s mode is made to feel as conspicuous as Lady Godiva posing on the corner of Forty-second and Broadway — without her horse! The mechanics are simple. They consist merely of the Parisian style dictators each season — in fact, as often as possible — in altering the basic design of current styles so radically that previous models of comparatively recent vintage cannot be remodelled to conform. Thus, madame, you must buy a new gown, a new tailored suit, a new this or that, or be very conscious of the fact youre outmoded! First, whatever the individual design of a costume, it must remain so distinctly one of the current mode that one could no more mistake it for yesterday’s than one could mistake a Confederate Army uniform for a modern U.S.A. olive-drab doughboy outfit. Second, it must differ sufficiently from its fellow uniforms to give a little sense of variety, individuality and taste. Madame Bouttier recalls one striking creation suggested by an examination, through a microscope, of the varicolored scales on a_butterfly’s wing! While “Stolen Holiday” displays a parade of the very latest, most ravishing styles, designed in Hollywood today for copying in Paris next year, (and don’t think the fashion czars negleet to take hints from the movies!) it also does its bit to expose the fashion racket, the foreign dictatorship of style, and the vast waste resulting from the psychological mania stimulated. This, however, is purely incidental in the film plot, as is, in fact, the fashion background itself. The story deals basically with high drama and romance behind a gigantic financial scandal on the Continent. “Stolen Holiday” is a thrilling, romantic story of the rise of a lovely but humble mannequin to the position of queen of fashion in Paris, dictating to the, whole world what women shall wear. Others in the cast, besides Miss Francis, include Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Alison Skipworth, was in Warner Bros.’ ‘‘ Anthony Adverse,’’ in which he played the evil, leering Don Luis, cruel husband of Anthony’s mother. In ‘‘Stolen Holiday’’ he is a rather likeable scamp, whose financial operations and their subsequent crash brought about worldwide panic. He uses the gentle, persuasive voice in this picture. ‘Stolen Holiday’? is a thrilling, romantic story of the rise of a lovely but humble mannequin to the position of queen of fashion in Paris, dictating to the whole world what women shall wear. Others in the cast, besides Rains and Miss Francis, include Ian Hunter, Alison Skipworth, Alexander D’Arcy, Betty Lawford, Walter Kingsford and Frank Reicher. Michael Curtiz directed from a screen play by Casey Robinson. Keep Guard Over Costly Furs For “Stolen Holiday” Two plainclothes detectives were employed by Warner Bros. during the filming of fashion salon scenes of Kay Francis’ latest picture, “‘Stolen Holiday,’’ the First National production which comes to theese Pheatre:On. sees Their duties were to keep an eye on certain high-priced items in feminine apparel, chiefly fur trimmed wraps, which were kept on the set. Typical was a coat and silver fox fur piece worn by Shirley Lloyd studio featured player, as a model in the fashion show. The outfit was valued at $2,000. The nature of the scenes necessitated the models changing costumes right on the stage behind screens, so for each of the 58 mannequins used there hung on racks behind the modiste shop from four to eight costly outfits. ‘*Stolen Holiday’’ is a thrilling romantic story of the rise of a lovely, but humble mannequin to the position of queen of fashion in Paris, dictating to the whole world what women shall wear. Others in the cast, beside Miss Francis, include Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Alison Skipworth, Alexander D’Arcy, Betty Lawford, Walter Kingsford and Frank Reicher. Page Seven