Sweet Adeline (Warner Bros.) (1934)

~ PRODUCTION DETAILS = Irene Dunne Irene Dunne was born in Louisville, Ky., where she began her study of music at the Loretta Academy. Later the family moved to St. Louis, where her father had been appointed Steamboat Inspector by the United States Government. She attended a convent in St. Louis and after graduating went to visit an aunt in East Chicago, Ind. There she passed an examination as a teacher and was assigned a school in the Hoosier town. Before the school opened, however, she sang the famous “Swallow Song” before a group of musicians and was awarded a scholarship at the Chicago College of Music. Her ambition was Grand Opera, but when she was offered a part in the musical comedy, “Clinging Vine,” she took it. Later she replaced the leading lady in the show. Her first big Broadway hit was in “Irene,” after which she played in several musical comedies, among them “Lollipops,” “Sweetheart Time,” “The City Chap,” and Ziegfeld’s “Show Boat,” which was her most popular stage success. This won her a role on the screen in “Cimarron,” in which she scored an immediate success. Other pictures in which she has appeared include “Stingaree,” “Transient Love,” “Age of Innocence,” “Back Street” and “No Other Woman.” “Sweet Adeline,” her current production for Warner Bros., camen-t0. theo... Theatre We case: Hugh Herbert Hugh Herbert is a native New Yorker, having been born and educated within the reach of Times Square. Herbert’s natural theatrical talent soon led him to the stage, and after serving an apprenticeship in road stock companies, the Warner Bros. player tried his luck on Broadway. His success was instantaneous and he earned & reputation as one of the town’s ablest comedians. Brought to Hollywood for pietures, Herbert proved as funny on the screen as he had been on the stage. Numbered among his screen hits are “Kansas City Princess,” “Dames,” “The Merry frinks,” “Easy To Love,” “Fog Over Frisco,” “Merry Wives Of Reno,” “Fashion Follies of 1934,” “College Coach” and “Convention City.” His latest picture is “Sweet Adeline,” which comes to the — fasted PROAEROS OM ose * Joseph Cawthorn Joseph Cawthorn was born in New York City, where he was educated by a private tutor. He went on the stage at an early age and is one of the veterans of Broadway, being especially noted for his comedy roles and fine character portrayals. Among his stage successes are “The Little Nugget,” “The Fortune Teller,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mother Goose,” “Tammany Hall” and “Sonny.” In 1929 he joined the Hollywood film colony and has appeared in scores of successful films. Among his more recent screen ' productions are “Housewife,” “Twenty Million Sweethearts,” “Grand Slam,” “Maybe It’s Love,” “Blondie Johnson” and “They Call It Sin.” His current picture is “Sweet Adeline,” now showing at the as frvsiisscted: OL ROAUTE: Page Twenty-eight AONE oe es Si Garnet. Rupert Rockingham ................ ign: Tiga = Se Taken from the sensational Broadway musical comedy hit by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern, packed with catchy music and songs, filled with rollicking comedy, exciting romance and spectacular dance numbers, and given a brilliant cast headed by charming Irene Dunne, SWEET ADELINE is the ultimate in gigantic musicals. Miss Dunne, one of the most popular actresses on stage and screen, is supported by such talented players as Ned Sparks, Hugh Herbert, Joe Cawthorn, Donald Woods, Louis Calhern, Dorothy Dare and Winifred Shaw. Mervyn LeRoy, fresh from his triumphant success with ‘‘ Happiness Ahead,’’ directed SWEET ADELINE while the dance numbers and ballets, in which hundreds of Hollywood’s most beautiful girls are engaged, were staged by Bobby Connolly. Oscar Schmidt, (Joe Cawthorn) proprietor of a Hoboken beer garden, has two daughters, Adeline (Irene Dunne) and Nellie (Nydia Westman), who not only acted as waitresses but sang popular songs. Among the customers is Sid Barnett (Donald Woods) a song writer who is madly in love with Adeline. She returns his affections but Oscar, who is trying to make a match between Adeline and Major Day (Louis Calhern), objected to the courtship. Sid had written an operetta for Adeline, but Dan Herzig, (Ned Director ee RR SR Ean: Irene Dunne pov NEAR ee ae Donald Woods Fioce. Ceo hee Hugh Herbert Se eee Ned Sparks i ar. ee Joseph Cawthorn PALM ip ae Louis Calhern a Sree eee es Winifred Shaw ica) we ree Nydia Westman ene ee ee Dorothy Dare See ee ee Phil Regan See er ee Don Alvarado Ce ae ee Jack Mulhall eS hare ee ee Noah Berry Sparks) a producer, refuses to stage it until Rupert Rockingham (Hugh Herbert) a rich U.S. Intelligence officer, offers to finance the production if they will star Elysia (Winifred Shaw) with whom he is in love. Nellie, who has a bit part is in love with Rupert, who is ordered to spy on Elysia whom the government suspects to be a spy. Adeline goes to the Major’s apartment for a dinner, where she discovers that he is not thinking of marriage. Insulted she tries to quit the show. Adeline is in a swing act, and Elysia, crazed with jealousy, cuts one of the ropes. Adeline is seriously injured. Rupert discovers Elysia is a spy and despite his infatuation is forced to arrest her. She is deported, leaving the way clear for Nellie. Adeline recovers, and the Major, to make amends, asks her to marry him. She refuses but Oscar tells Sid the wedding is arranged. He tears up a song he has written for her, and when they are cast together in another show, the love scenes fall flat. Finally the producer dismisses the rehearsing company, leaving the lovers alone on a darkened stage, where proximity and opportunity do what the Stage director could not do. They are discovered by Oscar who begins to storm, but Adeline looks smilingly at her father and says: ‘‘Tt’s alright, Pop, we’re just rehearsing,’’ sti 5: ee eee Mervyn LeRoy Riory bys Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein IT Screen Play by ......... in ee Erwin S. Gelsey Music and lyrics by....Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II Ensembles directed by Photography by Film Editor ote oe Bobby Connolly BONE oe eg ae Sol Polito PTE ee ee Harold MeLernon BE CO a Robert Haas Gowns by ee ee eS eee, ee Orry-Kelly Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by ................ Leo F. Forbstein TRENEDUNNE 100% mn “SWEET ADELINE’ 100% by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II 20% with R. Donald Woods Hugh Herbert 60% Ned Sparks Joseph Cawthorn 60% 3 Directed by Mervyn LeRoy 25% hice dcenicns A Warner Bros. 40% Productions Corporation 5% Picture 25% Donald Woods Donald Woods was born in Winnipeg, Canada, but came to the United States with his mother when a small boy. His real name is Ralph Zink. He attended the University of California and got his first training for the stage in college theatricals. Although his home was in Hollywood, he found no opening on the screen and started his career in stock at Salt Lake City, Utah. He also appeared in stock in several other cities. His experience includes two New York plays, one “Singapore,” in which he played the lead opposite Suzanne Caubot, and the other “Social Register” opposite Edna Hibbard. “As The Earth Turns,” in which he played the leading masculine role opposite Jean Muir, was his first picture. He algo played in “Merry Wives of Reno,” and “Fog Over Frisco.” Dorothy Dare Dorothy Dare, who plays an important part in the Warner Bros, picture, “Sweet Adeline,” now ps OS ence Theatre, is a famous Broadway musical comedy star, although she is only twentyone years old. She was born in Philadelphia and started her stage career at the age of seven, playing in the musical, “Night Boat,” with Hal Skelly, Ernest Torrance and Louise Groody. She appeared in several of the Ziegfeld shows and made a tremendous hit in “The Only Girl.” Her greatest success before going to Hollywood was in Joe Cook’s show, “Hold Your Horses,” in which she stopped the show every night in her numbers with Tom Patricola. This led to her contract with Warner Bros., her first picture heing “Happiness Ahead.” Ned Sparks Ned Sparks, the famous dead pan comedian, was born in the province'of Ontario, Canada. He attended elementary school at Toronto and later the University of Toronto. His first stage work as in stock in Toronto and other cities. Reaching Broadway, he made a big success, playing with such stars as Alice Brady, Madge Kennedy, William Collier and others. Finally he drifted to Hollywood and into pictures. His most recent productions include isbn Nellie!,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Going Hollywood,” “Lady for a Day,” “Too Much Harmony” and “Gold Diggers of 1933.” His current production is with Irene Dunne in the Warner Bros. mammoth musical, “Sweet Adeline.” Winifred Shaw Winifred Shaw, tall statuesque brunette, was born in the MaWaiian Islands and her real name is Winifred Lei Momi, which is explained by her English-IrishHawaiian heritage. Her family were vaudeville performers. She has scored in. several Broadway successes, possessing a remarkable singing voice as well as acting talent. Her biggest Stage successes were with Ed Wynn in “Simple Simon,” Joe Cook in “Rain or Shine” and in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1939 and 1931. Miss Shaw but recently began her film work, playing first in “The Million Dollar Ransom.” She was then signed by Warner Bros. and has played in several musical shorts.