The Bargain (Warner Bros.) (1931)

SELECTED AS ONE OF THE SIX BEST DORIS KENYON BUILDS A NEW CAREER ON ASHES OF HER FORMER HAPPINESS Charming Star Now At The Theatre in “The Bargain,” First National Drama, Spends Summer In Europe As A Singer, Small Son With Her; Is Widow Of Milton Sills By CARLISLE JONES (Absorbing Human Interest Story—Plant First Day of Run In No. 1 Newspaper) Hollywood, Calif—Out of the ashes of her former great happiness, Doris Kenyon has built herself a new career. has built it deliberately and conscientiously, learning while | She she did so that work is still the greatest cure for sorrow and that a child is the panacea for all the world’s ills. Less than a year ago her own little world went suddenly to pieces. Milton Sills died, suddenly and unexpectedly, the tragic climax to a long series of misfortunes which included broken health, impaired fortunes and a prolonged struggle to gain back both. He left as solace one child, Kenyon Sills, and the memory of a peculiarly happy romance and marriage. There are few women in pictures so unconsciously lovely as Doris Kenyon. For many months previous to her husband’s death she had been away from the screen, nursing him back to health, encouraging him in his determination to start his career anew. There was no certainly that there was a place left for her in the industry to which she had given her life, first as an actress and then as a star’s wife and helper. But there were few alternatives offered Miss Kenyon and she determined to find out if she could make the comeback that her fighting husband had started to make when death overtook him. An opportunity to work would have a double value in that it would be financially welcome as well as a chance to forget her troubles temporarily in the high-pressure atmosphere of studio production. Tt was natural that Miss Kenyon -should_turn &rst to the First National studios where she had most recently made pictures and where Milton Sills had done his most notable work. Doris Kenyon had not been forgotten in the long months of her practical disappearance from Hollywood and an assignment .was forthcoming almost immediately. She played an important role in the picture “The Bargain” and awaited the results and the final judgment of executives after its completion, with some anxiety. Long before this, during the year which she spent with her husband in the East while he was recuperating from a physical breakdown that foreshadowed his eventual death, Miss Kenyon had continued her study of music and the related arts in New York and Boston. There was talk then of a concert tour for her in Europe but she abandoned _ those plans temporarily when Mr. Sills was thought able to return to Hollywood and work, and went back West with him. Now the tentative plan was revived by her manager and definite concert dates for European appearances were made. Meanwhile the studio’s verdict on Miss Kenyon’s first performance had been delivered. They wanted her immediately for other pictures. She had agreed to be in Paris early in June. Well, they wanted her services continuously until that time. In the ensuing weeks of hard work, Miss Kenyon has told her friends, she has found herself again, has won back some of her self confidence and her courage to face the future and to accept the past. She played opposite Walter Huston in “The Ruling Voice” and rushed from that to the leading role opposite George Arliss in “Alexander Hamilton.” At William Powell’s request the production of his first picture for Warner Bros., “The Other Man,” was delayed several days until Miss Kenyon was available for the leading role in that too. The time before her promised sailing for her concert tour in Europe was growing shorter and shorter. It “ was necessary to work day and night part of the time to complete the sequences of “The Other Man” in which she appeared, before the last possible Page Four day she could leave Hollywood to eatch her boat. In this sudden stampede of work she found herself often physically tired but mentally rejuvenated. Her mother packed for Miss Kenyon as well_as for herself and for little Kez.,on Sills and following the last hectic day on the Warner Bros.-First National lot the tired actress and her mother and son said goodbye to their friends and started on the trip to Paris. To those who expressed surprise that Miss Kenyon should leave in the very middle of what seemed to be an amazing “comeback” to _ the screen, she said: “T have been through so much I feel the need of a complete change. This European tour has been planned long ago. I want a chance to establish new values and to find myself. Part of the time I will have for study and some for rest. “They want me back for pictures in September and I am planning on that. Meanwhile I am to have the thrill of singing in Paris, Berlin and Budapest and of attending the Mozart festival in Salzburg. It will be wonderful. I am counting on it to help me very much, I want to find new songs and study with several special teachers. “T hope more than all to test my courage and to prove to myself that I ean do what I have hoped to do for so long. That is why I am going, that and the fact that I promised mother months ago that I would go.” It was like Miss Kenyon to choose a slower train for her trip East beeause the faster train left at an hour which would interfere with her little boy’s bedtime. It was like her, too, to walk around the vast Warner Brothers-First National lot on that final day of rush and hurry to say goodbye to the members of the various crews who had been with her for one or more of the four pictures she had made in quick succession. Miss Kenyon will be in Europe before any of her “comeback” pictures are released. At the studios there is no doubt in the minds of any one connected with the productions that Your life and mine .. your dreams... your hopes... the things you have in your heart .. see them in Philip Barry’s great play of the business . man who wanted \ to be an artist Doris Kenyon... the wife of the business man who wanted te be on artist . UNA MERKEL The return of Doris Kenyon to the / screen ... a great and gracious star The even greater in talkies BARGAIN LEWIS STONE CHARLES BUTTERWORTH DORIS KENYON EVALYN KNAPP JOHN DARROW | OSCAR APFEL A FIRST NATIONAL AND VITAPHONE PRODUCTION DIRECTED BY ROBERT MILTON ~ YOUR THEATRE SIG ae ON BLACK). Cut No. 25 Cut 60c Mat rs¢ she will find an enlarged and enthusiastic publie audience welcoming her return. Something of her radiant personality, which sorrow did not dim but rather enriched, is brought more forcibly to the talking sereen than it ever was to the silent screen. Those who ought to know believe Miss Kenyon is just at the threshold of a new career, built, as suggested, on the ashes of her former happiness. The actress is also a linguist and a sincere and thorough student of music, languages and folk song . has successfully mastered twel guages for song purposes am A actually sing in seven of them during her tour in Europe. Following her return in the early Autumn, Miss Kenyon has several concert engagements scheduled in the East and a very urgent invitation from Hollywood to start another Warner Brothers picture. With renewed courage and hope she confidently expects to do all these things in good time. Others beside Miss Kenyon in the east of “The Bargain” now at the ee et ee Theatre ..........next, are Lewis Stone, Evalyn Knapp, Charles Butterworth, John Darrow, Oscar Apfel, Una Merkel and Nella Walker. “The Bargain” is an adaptation of “You and I”, the Harvard Prize Play by Philip Barry, which enjoyed over a year on Broadway. Robert Milton directed. Not Rolling Stone — When It Comes His Turn To Be Seated (Advance—Plant 4 Days Before) While Lewis Stone was working in “The Bargain,” the First National production which comes to the Theatre he revealed himself habit, as a victim of when it comes to the use of chairs. , At the first lunch period, he walked into the dining room and seated himself at the first vacant table. after that, he automatically drifted to Ever the same chair when lunchtime came, and the waitress always kept the place vacant for him. On one occasion, he found his favorite seat occupier rather chose to wait until it was than to go to another table. ~On the set, too, he took a particular fancy to a certain chair which he appropriated between scenes. If Director Robert Milton happened to eall a huddle for discussion of the script, Stone would drag his pet chair with him rather than try out a new one. He confesses that at home he has one chair which he regards as his particular property. with Mr. Stone are Evelyn Knapp, Charles Butterworth, Doris Kenyon, John Darrow, Oscar Apfel, Una Merkel and Nella Walker. The picture is an adaptation of “You and I,” the HarPhilip Barry, Featured in “The Bargain” vard Prize Play by which enjoyed more than a year’s run on Broadway. Evalyn And John Axc Teamed As Lovers In “The Bargain” (Advance Reader) Beautiful Evalyn Knapp and John Darrow play the part of the young lovers in “The Bargain” the First National picture which comes to the Regt eee Theatre next. Their charming youthfulness accounts for many of the most delightful scenes in an altogether delightful play. Others featured are Lewis Stone, Charles Butterworth, Doris Kenyon, Oscar Apfel, Una Merkel and Nella Walker. The piece is an adaptation of “You and I,” the Harvard prize play by Phillip Barry, which enjoyed more than a year’s run on Broadway. Robert Milton direeted.