The Adventurous Blonde (Warner Bros.) (1937)

PUBLICITY FOR oor e-e A. TORCHY ™ 7 “sy —BLANE Cd ON eee a oe (Review) TorchyBlane, Adventurous Blonde, Comes To Town Third in the popular “Torchy Blane” series of comedy-dramas —showing Glenda Farrell as a girl reporter and Barton MacLane as a none-too-bright detective lieutenant — is “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde,” which had its first local showing yesterday at the Strand Theatre and won hearty plaudits from its several audiences. It looks as though this idea of having the same characters go through various adventures (with entirely different stories) has caught on splendidly with the public, and Warner Bros. intend to present three more of them. First in the series was “Smart Blonde,’’ which introduced Torchy. Then came “Flyaway Baby,” based upon the recent flight around the world made by a New York girl reporter, Dorothy Kilgallon. In “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde,” as in the others, enmity exists between Glenda, as the reporter, and her male colleagues, because she is always scoring “beats” over them. Moreover, they are worried about her forthcoming marriage to Steve McBride. Four of them get together to frame her with a fake news story, and make her ridiculous. They engage an actor to play the part of a corpse and give her the “facts” of a supposedly sensation murder. Then they sit back and prepare to howl with glee when her paper comes out -George E. Stone with the false yarn. The four conspirators are played by William Hopper, Charles Foy, and Bobby Watson. Torchy and Steve postpone their nuptials to go to work on the so-called murder. In their own scrappy but effective fashion they get their story, and Torchy’s paper comes out with the murder story spread across the front page in screaming headlines. The conspirators crow over the success of their plot to keep Torchy and Steve from marrying and getting them both in plenty of trouble. But, as fate would have it, the fake yarn turns out to be true —supposed victim becoming the real victim of a murder, and so Torchy triumphs, to the discomfiture of the male reporters. She and Bart MacLane solve the mystery and bring the guilty to punishment. Glenda and Barton, in all these Torchy yarns, are just about on the verge of matrimony at the end of the picture when something happens to postpone their wedding, and such is the case here, too. Tom Kennedy is in his usual role of Barton’s stooge and driver. Raymond Hatton has an excellent comedy part, and the feminine interest is enhanced by Anne Nagel and Natalie Moorhead. A fast story, full of thrills and fun, it’s the kind of picture that the whole family will want to see and is sure to enjoy. WEDDING PUT OFF A THIRD TIME “Maybe the scenarists will fix it, in one of these “Torchy Blane” pictures, that Barton MacLane and I will be married,” says Glenda Farrell, the comedienne, now playing at _ the Strand in “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde.” “We have made three pictures now, showing me as Torchy, the girl reporter, and Bart as the detective-lieutenant. But at the fadeout of each something happens that we have to go out on another mystery, and we just don’t get around to getting married.” It’s a hectic life! THIS ACTOR WAS RUGGED IN RING Tom Kennedy, noted character comedian of the films, used to be a professional prize-fighter twenty-five years ago and longer. He had many bouts in the old Madison Square Garden in New York City. He knocked out Bombadier Wells, a British soldier who came to this side of the Atlantic looking for championship bouts. Tom has a top comedy part now in “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde,” which costars Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane and is now showing at the Strand Theatre. (Opening Day) GLENDA FARRELL IN NEW ‘TORCHY’ STORY AT STRAND That clever young girl reporter Torchy Blane—now depicted for the third time by the gay and laugh-provoking Glenda Farrell—will be seen again today on the screen of the Strand Theatre in “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde,” a Warner Bros. comedy-drama. Likewise will be seen her likeable but not-so-brilliant boy friend, Detective Lieutenant Steve McBride, portrayed by that big he-man of the films, Barton MacLane. “Toreny Blane, The Adventurous Blonde” is described as even funnier and more exciting than its two predecessors in the series, “Smart Blonde” and “Flyaway Baby,” in which the same pair of players were the principals. It is a tale about how a quartet of male reporters, irked by Torchy’s scoring of so many “seoops” over them, try to get vengeance. ‘Yhey hire an out-of-work actor to play the part of a corpse and give Torchy a lot of misinformation about a supposed murder. She hustles to her paper and writes a big story about the crime, and the framers chuckle when Torchy’s sheet appears on the street. But the gag boomerangs on the boys, because the fake murder turns out to be an actual murder, which Torchy and Steve solve, and the conspirators are the ones that prove out of luck. MOVIE PLAYER WED 25 YEARS A silver wedding jubilee was staged on the “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde” set at Warner Bros. during the making of that picture, in honor of Tom Kennedy and his wife, who celebrated their twenty five years of happy marriage. Harry Seymour, dialogue director of the company, was the host. Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, fellow players with Kennedy in the “Adventurous Blonde” picture, which is now showing at the Strand, acted as bridesmaid and best man in a silver wedding ceremony staged by Director Frank McDonald. The entire cast and crew of the picture attended and it was an unusual and delightful occasion. Mat 201—30c THEY ALWAYS GET THEIR MAN—Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane are unbeatable sleuthing team (and a romantic one) in “Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde,” now at the Strand. (Current ) Movie Fame Seldom Comes With Actor’s First Job According to Anne Nagel movie success is usually someone else’s inspiration. Given what it takes for success and placed on contract to a studio, as Anne was once to Fox and later to Warner Bros., there comes a crucial time of waiting. What you’re waiting for is that inspiration some director or casting official will have when he looks at you and says, “Just the type for that lead in my next picture!” “It?s almost a tradition in Hollywood that one doesn’t fully develop at the studio which signs you originally,” says Anne. “My case—I was at Fox when Warners bought my contract— is only one of many. Offhand, I recall Bette Davis being nearly ready to give up pictures when her original studio, Universal, prepared to drop her—and then George Arliss had that inspiration about Bette that resulted in saving one of the greatest actresses ever, for the movie industry. “That’s a thing which may stand out in movie history even in such a distinguished career as Mr. Arliss’s!” According to Anne’s observa tion, being “discovered” by movie scouts and even winning a contract by the screen test method is, today, an easier thing than making the next steps toward fame while under contract. “Provided, of course, you have what it takes as a player, plus the photographic personality and other elements required by films,” she adds. “You see, today, unlike it was in the past, the industry is organized to discover new talent. “There will follow in every case seasoning in small parts, and if needed, dramatic training in the studio. Small parts which are fine for experience but of little value for gaining the public recognition that lends one box office ‘draw’ and ultimate stardom, follow. “Then comes that period of waiting and hoping—that along will come a part suited to one’s ability, and a producer, director or casting official in charge who will get that sudden inspiration which leads him to ‘see’ one as the ideal person to play it. Anne is now playing in “Torehy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde.” [A Diy ih the \Lifebuf TORCHY’S OFF! On her maddest chase. FOLLOW THAT CAB—It’s the second lap of the race and Torchy thinks she’s got something. Mat 501-B—75c. ‘‘Torchy Blane, The Adventurous Blonde SHANK’S MARE and a fast gait on the third lap. RIDE ’EM FIREMAN! as the fire department comes to her aid. Order from Campaign Plan Editor. 9 9 Starring Glenda Farrell Now Sirens scream Showing at the Strand SHE MADE IT—Finish ing up on an ambulance! Page Five