The Church Mouse (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Ap La 1 ante = A spicy, snappy comedy, based on a famous Broadway stage hit, that gives an intimate picture of the drab young women who aetually rule the rulers of great business institutions, and ineidentally a glimpse or two of Parisian whoopee centers, is “The Chureh Mouse,” which will open at the theater on ‘ Charming, blonde Laura La Plante has the stellar role of the young stenographer, desperately poor, who invades the office of a financial magnate through the window with the connivance of a window cleaner, and whose major duty is shooing away the horde of predatory females who are attracted by his wealth and personality. The supporting cast of British film stars is headed by Ian Hunter, who portrays the banker who works when he works and loves when he plays, and who is inelined to play m™ than he works. Laura finally loses her job as secretary to take that of his wife, after taking a few lessons in allure from a predecessor who eared nothing about wedding rings. “The Church Mouse” is an ex tremely modern version of the G@inderella story, set in London and Paris. It gives a peep into milady’s boudoir and the trans formation of the secretary whose employer considers her part of his offiee furniture into a beauty who captivates not only his brother and partner, but the big boss himself, is cleverly and subtly portrayed. Miss La Plante has become one of England’s most popular film stars since she went there two years ago. She is more beautiful than ever and under the expert direction of Monty Banks, himself a famous silent picture star, gives one of the finest performances of her successful career. Others ‘in the cast are Edward Chapman, who has the part of the banker’s assistant; Clifford Heatherley who is his partner, and Jane Carr, a London radio star, who portrays the former secretary who not only knew what she wanted, but who was able to teach the secret to Laura. “The Church Mouse” was adapted for the sereen from the play of the same name by Paul Frank and Ladislaus Fodor. (Advance Story) “Church Mouse” Story of Ambitious Steno “The Church Mouse,” the First National comedy which comes to the Theatre : stars the beautiful Laura La Plante. The supporting cast is headed by Ian Hunter, the London favorite. Others are Edward Chapman, Jane Carr, Clifford Heatherley, John Batten, Gibbs McLaughlin and Florence Wood. Monty Banks, who directs, also plays a prominent comedy role. It’s all about a secretary who gets rick quick—and wins the boss. LA PLANTE E CHURCH MOUSE with TH IAN HUNTER e MONTY BANKS 46 Lines— Mat No. 4—10c Page Two The Intimate Affairs of a ue -, Very Private * Secretary! LAURA LA PLANTE and IAN HUNTER in “The Church Mouse,” the First National comedy coming to the Strand Theatre next. Mat No. 10—20c ON THE GAST “The Church Mouse” Was Hit of Season on Broadway Stage “The Church Mouse,” the First National comedy in whieh Laura La Plante will be seen at the theater on ; is based on the suecessful stage play of the same name which kept Broadway audiences laughing for many months several seasons ago. Laura La Plante Mat No. 9 —10c Miss La Plante plays the role of the efficient but unattractive secretary of Ian Hunter, for whom she has a deep admiration. She, however, is just a bit of machinery to him until-she meets her predecessor, who had graduated from position of the boss’ stenographer to that of his “girl friend.” Laura gets a few lessons in what a girl has to know from her rival, and makes such good use of this knowledge that she lands her employer via the wedding ring route. (Advance Story ) Many Beautiful Girls in “Church Mouse”’ There is enough feminine beauty and allure in “The Chureh Mouse,” the First National com edy in which Laura La Plante will open at the theater on , to supply even one of the big Hollywood musicals. With charming blonde Miss La Plante heading the cast, and exquisite Jane Carr portraying the “menace,” there is a whole bevy of beauties, each of whom has for her special purpose the ensnaring of Ian Hunter, who has the role of an international banker. There is a scene in a Montmartre cafe which features one of the fastest rhumbas imaginable. Laura La Plante Was Star at Sixteen Laura La Plante, who is the star of the First National eomedy “The Church Mouse” which opens at the theater on , has been on the screen since she was 14 years old, and for 12 years has been a star. She is not yet 30 years old. Miss La Plante returned to the screen this year after two years of sucess on the stage. She is the wife of Irving Asher, Managing Director of Warner Bros.-First National studios at Teddington. * PRODUCTION STORY Film Street Scenes For “Church Mouse” In Busy Thorofares Laura La Plante, who is starred in “The Church Mouse,’ which will open at the theater on , worked with the cameramen in Fleet Street, Strand, Westminster Bridge and Lower Regent Street in London for three hours without attracting the attention of uny of the teeming thousands who passed her during the filming. Dressed in a shabby eoat and skirt, with worn flat shoes, a scarf and thick stockings, Miss La Plante went in and out of telephone booths, on and _ off buses and dodged traffic. On one occasion, Monty Banks, the direetor, pretended to be drunk and staggered in front of a taxicab to save a “shot” from being spoiled. “The Church Mouse” is the story of one of those drab young women who fight their way to success in hig business institutions and who frequently rule the men who rule the industries. It was adapted from the popular stage play of the same name and has distinct Continental flavor, the action being set in London und Paris. Miss La Plante is supported by a cast of prominent British artists headed by Ian Hunter, one of England’s favorite West End stage actors. While the dialogue and situations are clever and_ gophisticated, there is a charming love story of the Cinderella type, in which the stenographer not only wins, but holds, the heart of her pilandering employer despite the machinations of many feminine rivals, (Advance Story ) lan Hunter Plays Three Roles in “Church House” Compelled to portray the roles of his great-grandfather, his grandfather and himself, Tan Ilunter, the noted English actor who is leading man for Laura’ La Plante in the First National comedy “The Church Mouse,” Which will open at the theater on , is givena remarkable opportunity to display the fine versatility that has raised him to the first ranks of English players. Ifunter plays the part of a banker, scion of a famous house, { rreparea meview) “The Church Mouse” Is Spicy Comedy of Love and Business Laura La Plante, even more charming than when she was the heroine of the adventure serial, “Perils of the Yukon” in the silent picture days, garnered new laurels in her latest starring ve hicle, “The Church Mouse,” which opened at the .......... theater yesterday. “The Church Mouse” was an outstanding hit on the stages of America and England and the screen version surpasses the original. The transformation of Miss La Plante from a drab girl, so desperately poor that she invaded the office of a finandier through the window in quest of a job, into a radiant beauty who captured her boss’ errant heart is astounding. The story begins in 1834, stops for a minute in 1854 and then leaps to 1934, showing the progress of the banking firm of Johnathan Steele, a part portrayed by Ian Hunter, a popular English stage star who will shortly be featured in Hollywood productions. Hunter plays the roles of both his grandfather and _ his great grandfather, as well as that of a present day financier who likes to play among the bright lights of London and Paris, but who doesn’t want too fair secretaries to distract his mind during business hours. ‘OPENING DAY STORY “The Church Mouse” Will Open Today .....Theatre Patrons of the theater will welcome back one of their favorite screen stars today, when “The Church Mouse,” based on the famous stage hit of the same name, opens for an engagement of days with charming, blonde Laura Ia Plante in the stellar role. Monty Banks, himself a popular comedian in silent picture days, directed. The production, which takes place in London and Paris, has a prologue starting in 1834, a sequence in 1884, and the two scenes bring the story to 1934, “The Church Mouse” is a eclever, spicy comedy detailing the adventures of a young stenographer who is so desperate for a job that she invades the office of a prominent financier through the window, lands a position as his private secretary, fights off hordes of his lady friends, and finally, by taking a few lessons from her predecessor, who had lost her job in the office to become the banker’s companion in play time, manages to lead the philandering financier to the altar, It’s a Cinderella theme brought up to the minute with a Continental flavor, and is said to give not alone an intimate glimpse behind the scenes of big business, but into the private lives of big businessmen as well as into night life in Paris and the boudoir of a charming lady who knows exactly what she wants ‘and what it takes to get it. Supporting Miss La Plante is a cast of noted British film players headed by Ian Hunter, one of England’s favorite stage stars. The action takes pl don and Paris, show Fleet Street and Montmartre in able rhumba is introduced. The dialogue is clever and spicy, the humor is sophisticated and through it all runs a love story on the Cinderella theme —_ hansen Banks the director 1a8 brought ver . date. : a Miss La Plante, who went to England two years ago, hag be. come one of that country’s most popular motion picture stars, She makes the most of the dramatie situations afforded her and ig always sincere and convincing in her interpretation. Hunter is excellent in his part and gives a thoroughly satisfac. tory performance. Jane Carr a popular radio star, is pleasing in the role of a former secretary of Hunter’s who become the companion of his leisure hours, only to lose him to Miss La Plante when her lessons inspired that efficient secretary to make a play for her employer’s affections, The audience thoroughly en. joyed the work of Clifford Heatherley and Edward Chapman, two fine comedians. Others who did excellent work are John Batten, Gibb MeLaughlin, Florence Wood and Monty Banks, who in addition to direct. ing the production played the role of an eavesdropping window washer. W. Seott Darling adapted the screen version from the play by Paul Frank and Ladislaus Fodor. STAR STORY! Studio Experts Find Difficulty Making Lovely Star Ugly ace in Lonhe Scenes in & night club jn which a remark. Making a homely woman beautiful for the sereen is a much simpler task than making a beautiful woman homely, according to Monty Banks, director of the First National comedy “The Church Mouse,” in which Laura La Plante and a company of English film stars are appearing at the theater. anks, himself a famous film comedian in the silent picture days, is one of the ace directors of the Warner Bros. Teddington studios, and plays a comedy role in the picture. “As the title would suggest, ‘The Church Mouse’ tells the story of a very poor girl, one of life’s courageous little fighters whose extreme poverty deprives her of the many aids to beauty used by her more fortunate sisters,’ Banks declared. “She is always hungry, and good clothes were out of the question. “To play this character, Miss La Plante, who is a singularly heautiful woman, was obliged to wear the shabbiest clothes the studios could provide. Her makeup was applied in such a way as to suppress every feature that goes to make a woman attractive. The result is that her first appearaneces on the screen show her as distinctly homely, and the metamorphosis between the girl who gets a job by invading & banker’s office through the win dow and the same girl in gala attire is startling.” The Intimate Affairs of a Very Private Secretary LAURA LAPLANTE |! Um: BOR 4 THE CHURCH INOUSE in First National's who believes in working during gg business hours. When he finds himself being distracted by his too fair secretary he fires her, and then engages her at a bigger salary, to be his playmate at such times when the big business brain needs a little frivolity. a, Ss 1AN HUNTER MONTY BANKS | 66 Lines—Mat No. 3—20c BL, MA, eee ee ae alata atin