The Crash (Warner Bros.) (1928)

Directed by Edward Cline From the Best ilton Sills Scores Hit in Dramatic Railroad Picture Humor, Satire, Romance and Stark Realism Pervade ‘‘The Crash,’’ From Frank L. Packard’s Novel In a role that is aptly suited for his known histrionic ability, Milton Sills scored emphatically with the audience at the Theatre last night, when his latest First National starring picture, “The Crash,” opened at that theatre. It is a stronger and more forceful Sills who appears in this production—a Sills who plays a difficult role with a restraint and firmness that makes the audience live through the work-a-day world of the two-fisted, hardfighting Irishman who rules a gang of laborers with his fists. “The Crash’ cannot help but hold the interest from beginning to end. Humor, satire, romance, pathos and stark drama follow in rapid succession. -It is that rare type of picture that leaves the audience in doubt as to the finish until the final fadeout. The central character, portrayed by Sills, is Flannagan, boss of a railroad relief train, stationed in an isolated spot, high in the Sierra Mountains. Flannagan is a man’s man without frills until he meets the soubrette of a cheap burlesque troupe that has been stranded. He sees something in the girl that no one else ever has, and in spite of the small-town gossip and jeers from his fellow workers marries her.. The drama of this strangely mismated couple trying to survive the meanness and heartlessness of a small town provides a theme that lifts it head and shoulders above the ordinary movie plot. Ie lon dia novfarmoanono ig. given bv. LiUid Pi Lvurimiance= Thelma Todd as the show girl. This young lady has that rare combination of both beauty and talent —a combination that is rapidly pushing her to the front ranks of our motion picture luminaries. Wade Boteler, as the buddy of Sills, deserves mention, while William Demarest as the “heavy” could not be improved upon. Others in the picture, all of whom are ideally cast, include Yola d’Avril, Fred Warren, Sylvia Ashton and DeWitt Jennings. The direction was by Edward Cline, who should be congratulated for the way he has presented a difficult theme with clearness and dispatch. TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT A POSTER OF A BURLESQUE DANCER (ADVANCE READER) A show bill on a wall depicting a beautiful show girl doing a daring dance is at first the means of attracting and later repelling the hero of “The Crash,’ a new First National Picture coming next ... Na ea ae to the Theater. Milton Sills is starred in the title role. Thelma Todd is the burlesque queen. The poster announces the coming of the traveling show to town. It is still there after the company has gone, and the girl has remained behind as wife of the boss. But after a quarrel and attendant troubles, the husband goes out and tears the last remnants of the now tattered poster from the wall and stamps it under foot. Edward Cline directed this novel picture. Author of “iindline” Charles Kenyon, who adapted “The Crash” from Frank L. Packard’s magazine story, ‘The Wrecking Boss,” is the author of the famous stage success, ‘“Kindling.” Milton Sills is the star of “The Crash,” which is now showing at Theatre. eee ere eens Engaged Actor Because He Falls Without Injury William Demarest, who plays with Milton Sills in First National’s “The Crash,” now at the Theater, was famous for his comedy “falls” while on the vaudeville stage. He could tumble from any height, sprawling all over the stage, without injuring himself. Perhaps that is the reason this comedian was chosen as_ the heavy or villian in ‘The Crash.” It is his first unsympathetic role —and he suffered the usual beating at the hands of Sills that the heavies usually do in this star’s pictures. Demarest was knocked across 2766 m= by Sills-in--their first fight and the former vaudevillian took the fall so beautifully that Thelma Todd, the leading lady, screamed, thinking he was hurt. But he wasn’t. FILM WORLD-FAMOUS LAKE AND TAVERN IN SILLS? “THE CRASH” (ADVANCE READER) The world-famous Tahoe Tavern dining room, located on the shores of Lake Tahoe, California, plays a prominent part in Milton Sills’ latest starring picture for First National, ‘““The Crash,’ which comes Theatre on Lake Tahoe is considered one of the show places of the world and the most beautiful lake on the Pacific Coast. The company, headed by Sills and Director Eddie Cline, was on location at the lake for more}: than a month. “The Crash” is a screen version of Frank L. Packard’s magazine story, “The Wrecking Boss.” The supporting cast is headed by Thelma Todd, who plays the leading feminine role. The others include William Demarest, Wade Boteler, Yola d’Avril, Sylvia Ashton, DeWitt Jennings and Fred Warren. fs Seller New Novel by Frank L. Packard RICHARD A. ROWLAND presents (r2is with THELMA TOL , '$ ON Crash trains leader Directed by EDDIE CLINE 52nd. SILLS burlesque queen. Cut No. 8. Cut $1.00. Mat 20c. Resounding to the Call of an Empty Heart! of steel against steel as two meet in a head-on collision. The crash of emotions as a_ burly of men marries a_ beautiful And the biggest crash of all that awakened a great love in the heart of a doubting hus Cooks and Dances In “The Crash,” the current attraction at the Theatre, Thelma Todd, who plays the feminine lead, has plenty of chances to show her versatility. She cooks for a gang of railroad workers, danees in a show, plays the piano and rescues a baby from a burning train. An Unbobbed Actress Thelma Todd, leading lady in Milton Sills’ starring vehicle, “The Crash,” which comes to the BPS aetae Theatre on one of the few remaining screen actresses who has not bobbed her hair. She is a beautiful blonde and swears she will retain her tresses until the “cut” is demanded by a certain role. ee eer eer eses eveveee Hunting a Husband? If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, Thelma Todd, who plays the feminine role in the First National Picture, ‘The Crash,” which comes to the ...... Aare inne Theatre on should have no trouble finding . husband for every occasion. In the production she cooks for Milton Sills and does a great job of it. MILTON SELES Cut No. 15. Cut, 65c. Mat, 15c. THELMA TODD TEACHES STAR T0 TOSS A FLAPJACK (NEWS ADVANCE) Thelma Todd, newest of cinema leading ladies, is an ex-school teacher, yet one would hardly expect her to be teaching Milton Sills to turn a flapjack by throwing it into the air from a frying pan. Neverthless, it happened. Miss Todd is Sills’ leading lady in his latest First National starring picture, ‘‘The Crash,” which comes to the Theatre on While the picture was being filmed in the High Sierras, the star was initiated in the art of flapjack turning by Miss Todd. Sills can role a cigaret with one hand. He plays tennis and golf, and even pilots an airplane. He can stand on his head and turn a somersault. But never had he mastered the art of tossing a flapjack. “The Crash” is a story of railroading in the High Sierras and was adapted from the story of the same name by Frank L. Packard. -Eddie Cline directed. The support ing cast includes William Demarest, Wade Boteler, Yola d’Avril, Fred Warren, DeWitt Jennings and Sylvia Ashton. Old-Fashioned Burlesque One of the old-time burlesque shows—the kind that travels in its own train and plays every hamlet of more than 200 population—is seen in “The Crash,” starring Milton Sills, which comes to the SEE Theatre, commencing Eddie Cline directed the picture and Thelma Todd plays the leading feminine role. Thelma Todd Plays Roles in One : (ADVANCE NEWS) Thelma Todd, leading lady in Milton Sills’ latest starring First National Picture, ‘“‘The Crash,” which =<comies toc these 6 s..c. ino. .c wlace Theatre commencing plays two distinctive roles in the production. She is a chorus girl in the early reels and a demure housewife at the finish. It is not a dual role, however, as the change is brought about by her love for her husband. In other pictures in which she has appeared, notably “Heart to Heart,” “Vamping Venus” and “The Noose,” she has been neither chorus girl nor housewife! So she is getting a double experience in a single picture. It might be added that she has her first screen experience as a mother in ‘The Wrecking Boss,” as the picture closes with Sills and Miss Todd the parents of a baby girl. “The Crash” was directed by Edward Cline from the story of the same name by Frank L. Packard. The cast includes William Demarest, Wade Boteler, Sylvia Ashton, Yola d’Avril, Fred Warren and others. Giant Wrecking Crane A wrecking crane capable of lifting four times its own weight, or 160 tons, is seen in “The Crash,” the current attraction at the Sree cecnth ee Theatre. Milton Sills is starred in the picture, and Thelma Todd plays the feminine role. eeeeee Supporting Cast of 200 A supporting cast of more than two hundred persons are seen in Milton Sills’ latest starring vehicle, “The Crash,’ now showing at the Pe on ei EE Theatre. Included are such names as Thelma Todd, William Demarest, Wade Boteler, Sylvia Ashton and a number of others. Page Three