Sweet Adeline (Warner Bros.) (1934)

A SW ELT DELINE ~~, CORED ON THIS PAGE: Human Interest Stories Production Briefs Breezy Items AS SUGGESTED BY FILM DAILY’S POLL OF EDITORS CERESD & LEAD-OFF STORY 5 Irene Dunne In “Sweet Adeline” Booked At Strand ““Sweet Adeline,’’ the sensational musical comedy hit by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II that set all New York a-whistling, now comes to the screen as the latest of the Warner Bros. gigantic musical specials, and is scheduled as the feature attraction at the. ......4.5...0. ee N@AatrOON sacs Irene Dunne, favorite singing star of both stage and screen, will appear in the stellar role, supported by an exceptionally talented cast of comedy and dramatic players. Miss Dunne’s golden voice became famous in such Broadway hits as ‘‘Show Boat,’’ ‘*Trene,’’? ‘‘Sweetheart Time’’ and others. The picture is laid in the glamorous Broadway theatrical district; a fashionable trysting place for young bloods and their lady loves on the outskirts of the city and in a picturesque Hoboken beer garden of the gay nineties. No Broadway musical composer has more big song hits to his credit than Jerome Kern who wrote the music for this production and also the lyrics in collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II. Hight of the catchy original ballads of the production are sung in the picture while two new ones have been added by Kern. There are two imposing and mammoth specialty numbers in which scores of pretty girls participate and other dance ensembles all staged by Bobby Connolly, famous Broadway musical comedy director. The story is the thrilling romance of the charming daughter of a Hoboken beer garden proprietor who is ardently wooed by a Broadway song plugger and a Major in the U. S. Army. Irene Dunne has the role of the beer garden songbird, with Donald Woods portraying the young song writer. Four of Hollywood’s most talented comedians take part in the production. They are Hugh Herbert in the role of a wealthy dilletante in the secret service; Ned Sparks as musical comedy producer, who puts on the show for the beer garden girl; Joseph Cawthorn as the beer garden proprietor who is trying to marry his daughter off to the villainous major, and Nydia Westman, another daughter, who teams with Herbert in a comedy role. Louis Calhern has the role of the major and rival of the song plugger for the love of the little singer. Winifred Shaw appears as a famous musical comedy star who is a spy for a foreign government; Dorothy Dare leads an orchestra in the beer garden and Phil Regan, the Radio Star Cop, appears as a singer. The picture was directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Page Four DAVEY PUB LUCIMW Lovely Irene Dunne will be seen at the Theatre on ....................... romance, “Sweet Adeline.” The cast of this film in cludes Donald Woods, Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks, Joseph Cawthorn and Dorothy Dare. Star Of Strand Musical in Warner Bros.’ musical Mat No. 8—20c + STAR STORY me Irene Dunne Has Real Singing Role In ‘Sweet Adeline’ Ever since she has been in Hollyood, Irene Dunne has hoped for a chance to star in an operetta that would give her a chance to use her magnificent voice to best advantage. “Sweet Adeline,” the Warner Bros. production, which comes to 1: Sg aor ea RR ec Theatre on Fa eae Feats soe , is the culmination of that hope. Miss Dunne, whose beautiful lyric soprano voice was recognized as Grand Opera quality when she was only 18 years old, went into musical comedy, instead. At the time, she considered it only a temporary detour on the way to the Metropolitan, but her success was so great, that she could not resist the tempting offers that followed each other so regularly.. “Sweet Adeline” gives her an opportunity to sing the beautiful music of Jerome Kern, who wrote the original operetta in collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II. “In spite of all the pictures I have already done,” she said, “I feel that ‘Sweet Adeline’ is really my debut since it is my first chance on the screen in the sort of role that makes real demands on my voice. Warner Bros. have given me the finest possible production and a perfect cast. I consider this a brand new phase of my screen career.” Donald Woods plays opposite Miss Dunne, while others in the cast include Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks, Joseph Cawthorn, Louis Calhern and Winifred Shaw. Mervyn LeRoy directed the production from the screen play by Erwin 8. Gelsey, while Bobby Connolly staged the ensembles in which scores of beautiful girls take part. Se STAR STORY vn Herbert Adds His Own Brand Of Fun To All His Films Hugh Herbert, who has the leading comedy role in the Warner Bros. production, ‘‘Sweet Adeline,’’ which comes to the .............. a HCATTOROU “s.cn5.. tes » never complains of being typed; he never raves about being miscast; he has no nervous chills over not being appreciated. ““These actors who are always complaining make me tired,’’ Hugh says with his usual bluntness. ‘‘I know a lot of them that used to have no thoughts higher than ham and eggs, who finally got enough ham and eggs and now have time to worry about their ‘Art.’ Their main worry is that somebody else might have better or bigger parts. ‘‘Tf an actor knows his. business, he does not have to worry about any part but his own. ‘“hittle parts, big parts, fat parts and lean parts—they’re all the same to me.’’ Herbert invariably brings something of his own to every role. He belongs to the school of comedians who expect to add their own comedy to the author’s. In ‘‘Sweet Adeline,’’?’ Hugh has the type of role that made him famous. He is a dumb, talkative character who explains everything without knowing anything. The picture is a mammoth musical spectacle based on the Broadway hit by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, who also wrote the catchy music and lyrics. Irene Dunne has the stellar role while others in the cast include Donald Woods, Ned Sparks, Joseph Cawthorn and Louis Calhern. Mervyn LeRoy directed the picture from the screen play by Erwin S. Gelsey and Bobby Connolly staged the dance ensembles. ¢ ON THE CAST ¢ Singing Cop Rapidly Rising To Film Stardom Fate has been kind to Phil Regan, the handsome young actor who is looked upon by Warner Bros. as one of its biggest screen “finds” of several seasons. For Phil has always managed to achieve his ambitions. First of all, his childhood ambition was to become a cop. He joined the New York City police force as soon as he was old enough, after finishing his schooling. Regan was quickly promoted and made a plaix clothes man, a job which he held over a year. He had a beautiful tenor voice, and was encouraged to do something about it, so he took lessons from John Hutchins, vocal instructor who trained Joan Crawford, Cary Grant and others. Abe Lyman heard him sing and he was invited to be “guest artist” on that orchestra leader’s program. Very shortly, Phil was given a contract with Columbia Broadcasting, where as “The Singing Cop” he became one of the most popular radio artists in the east. Several film contracts were offered him, but he accepted none until Warner Bros. came along. During the past few months, Phil Regan has appeared in several roles in “The Key,” with William Powell; “Housewife” with Bette Davis; “Dames” and “Sweet Adeline,’ the new Warner musical extravaganza, which POULCS= VOr UNG oss. sitacess seer ones TheaWEOZO Wires steers chemo sce eek The young Irish actor is five feet, ten inches tall, has hazel eyes and black hair and a Celtic smile that was lost to the radio fans who knew him only as “the Singing Cop.” Irene Dunne heads the all star cast in “Sweet Adeline,” which includes Donald Woods, Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks, Joseph Cawthorn and Louis Calhern. Mervyn LeRoy directed the production which is taken from the spectacular Broadway musical comedy by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, who also wrote the catchy music. Bobby Connolly directed the specialty numbers in which scores of beautiful girls appear. Donald Woods This lad’s contract was recently renewed by Warner Bros. for his excellent work in ““Swet Adeline,”’ the musical romance coming to the Sey soniye RY Theatre. Mat No. 6—10c