The Crowd Roars (Warner Bros.) (1932)

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See 7 } { CURRENT CAMPAIGN. Opening Day Story “The Crowd Roars,” starring James Cagney and Joan Blondell will have its local premiere at the Theatre today. The new film brings Cagney to the sereen in the role of an auto racing champion, who, in his utter devotion to his younger brother, gives up not only the girl he loves but his title as king of the tracks as well. From advance reports it is learned that this picture is breath-taking in its description of the dangers and thrills encountered by the speeding drivers. A feature is the sequence which occurs when the gas tanks of one of the racing cars explodes, leaving a flaming trail in its wake and sending its driver to a fiery death. In addition to Cagney and Blondell, the cast includes Ann Dvorak, Erie Linden, Guy Kibbee and Frank MeHugh. Bill Arnold, Leo Nomis, Harry Hartz and Fred Frame are four of the fourteen racing “drivers who took part in the production of “The Crowd Roars” under the direction of Howard Hawks who also wrote the story. Review Cagney and Blondell Triumph In Mile-A-Minute Speedway Romance At Theatre As far as this reviewer is concerned, not even advertising adjectives, superlative as they may be, properly express the new James Cagney-Joan Blondell starring vehicle, “The Crowd Roars,” whieh opened-at the .:............ Theatre yesterday. No superlative available in the dictionary quite deseribes the picture or the performances of its players. “Thrilling,” “electrifying,” “powererful,” “sensational” and_ kindred words most closely approximate “The Crowd Roars.” It is a picture featuring the fastest action seen on the screen in months. It is mile -a-minute drama, with autos plunging and thundering down the stretch, crashing t-h-ro ug h fences and over embankments, bursting into flame, while the great crowd of spectators roars with a lust for action, spills, thrills —and blood! The story is made to order for Jimmy Cagney and Joan Blondell. Jimmy is the dare-devil champ whose JOAN BLONDELL Cut No. 16 Cut 15c¢ Mat sc Page Seven recklessness carries through death and destruction to victory. Joan’s personality kindles the fires of romance. Both are at their best, the screen’s most capable young stars. Their support is excellent, including beautiful Ann Dvorak, Erie Linden, Frank MeHugh, Guy Kibbee, and Charlotte Merriam, as well as a score or more’ of the race track’s champion drivers. “The Crowd Roars,” we repeat, beggars description. Such track scenes have never before been depicted. There have never been so many thrills packed into a picture, as every member of last night’s excited audience will attest. Men, women and children sat on seat edges, shrieked at the thrilling action scenes, laughed at the uproarious comedy, were absorbed by the unusual love interest. Filmed from a story by Seton I. Miller and Howard Hawks, who also directed it, “The Crowd Roars” concerns a reckless driver who leads a hectic life and tries to keep ‘his younger brother from both wine and women. He breaks with the girl he loves and finally with his brother. Half-crazed with anger after the break, Cagney drives in a race, wrecks the ear of his best friend and kills him. He declines to the point where he is unable to secure even a mechanie’s job. Drifting back to the Indianapolis Speedway, scene of his former triumphs, he meets the girl he loves. She reclaims him and fires him with new courage. When his brother is unable to drive in the big race, Jimmy takes his place and drives to victory. | st day of run Authentic Racing Scenes In “The Crowd Roars” At eee If it’s authenticity the movie fans want in their pictures, they’ll find plenty of it in the Warner Bros. special, “The Crowd Roars,” a speedway cyclone in which Jimmy Cagney and Joan Blondell are now being featured at the Theatre. Jimmy, who has been gangster, insurance agent, gambler and taxi warrior in his sereen life, now whirls into view as an automobile racing pilot. With him, to give the show realism and authority, are a dozen of the greatest living race drivers. Three of them are champions—Lou Schneider, winner of the 1931 Speedway crown; Billy Arnold, whom he succeeded, and Harry Hartz, who wore the ermine in 1924 and 1926. The No. 1 man in all 1932 races in this country will be Lou Schneider, whose car will bear that numeral in token of his ranking as champion. No. 2 man will be Fred Frame and No. 3 driver will be Billy Arnold. All of them are in the CagneyBlondell picture, iogether with the ears they drove in the last Indianapolis classic. ye day of run Cameramen Unsung Heroes Of “The Crowd Roars” Prominent as vital factors in the success of “The Crowd Roars,” the Warner Bros. special production starring James Cagney and Joan Blondell at the Theatre, but unhonored and unsung, are the cameramen who recorded the thrilling and electrifying scenes of the picture. The chief cameramen, Ramsey, Brannegan and MHoenekamp, with their crew of assistants, are directly responsible for making possible much of the satisfaction audiences are deriving from “The Crowd Roars.” Their daring equalled the recklessness and bravado of the professional auto racers. Special camera equipment was necessary to permit the filming of scenes at high speeds, exceeding one hundred miles per hour in many cases. In “The Crowd Roars,” aside from the unsung support given by the intrepid cameramen, the featured players turn in strong performances. The large cast includes Ann Dvorak, Erie Linden, Frank McHugh, Guy ' Kibbee and Charlotte Merriam. “The Crowd Roars” was directed by Howard Hawks, director of “The Dawn Patrol,” who co-authored the story with Seton I. Miller. Drd day of run James Cagney And Joan Blondell Reach Peak Of Careers In ‘““The Crowd Roars’’ The movie team of James Cagney and Joan Blondell, currently featured in “The Crowd Roars,” a Warner Bros. special production now at the See eee ae Theatre, made its public bow on the New York stage two seasons ago in “Penny Arcade,” which was transferred to the films under the title of “Sinners’ Holiday,” with Cagney and Miss Blondell in the same roles they played on the stage. This was followed by “Other Men’s Women.” Then, for a time, they were separated. Cagney was given roles in “The Public Enemy,” “The Millionaire” and “Smart Money,” while Miss Blondell made appearances in “The Office Wife,” “Tllicit,” “My Past,” “God’s Gift to Women” and “Night Nurse.” The Cagney-Blondell combination was recognized as a strong one by Warner Bros.-First National. Their next joint appearance is in “The Crowd Roars,” a story of high-speed automobile racing produced in Hollywood under the direction of Howard Hawks, co-author of the story. “Blonde An day of run Speed Specialist CoAuthors And Directs “The Crowd Roars’”’ Howard Hawks, specialist in speed, turned to a new form of action for the subject of “The Crowd Roars,” the Warner Bros. special production starring James Cagney and Joan Blondell at the eS oe Theatre. Hawks directed/the picture and is co-author with Seton I. Miller. During the war Hawks was recog nized by the government for his service in the aviation corps. He is also noted as one of the nation’s ace fliers. His entire career has been involved with speed of one kind or another, his story and direction of “The Dawn Patrol” having represented aerial speed and thrills from his intimate association with planes and fliers. “The Crowd Roars” is Hawks’ tribute to a type of speed that proves even more thrilling and dynamic than aerial action. His subject in his latest picture is professional auto racing, which has been electrifying crowds at the ee Tn ee with the breathtaking exploits of the dare-devil drivers who constantly face death. In “The Crowd Roars” James Cagney portrays a champion driver who plumbs the depths of ignominy after causing the death of his best friend in a gruelling race. The large supporting cast includes Ann Dvorak, Erie Linden, Frank Me Hugh, Guy Kibbee, Charlotte Merriam and a score of racing champions, among them Lou Sehneider, 1931 victor. Dih day of run Joan Blondell Earns Stardom Through her excellent work in Crazy,” “Union Depot,” and “The Crowd Roars.” Joan Blondell has been elevated to stardom by Warner Bros. Her first starring role will be in “Miss Pinkerton,” the Mary Roberts Rinehart best seller. Although her work has been of consistent excellence since she joined Warner Bros., Miss Blondell’s stardom is a direct result of her characterization in “The Crowd Roars” which is current at the Theatre. As team-mate of James Cagney she almost steals the picture from him, which is a feat in itself, considering the ability and popularity of Cagney. The entire cast of “The Crowd Roars” rose to the bigness of their assignments with equal excellence under the direction of Howard Hawks, who also wrote the story.