The Finger Points (Warner Bros.) (1931)

LENGTH (Vitaphone) FOOTAGE 8021 Feet RUNNING TIME 88 Minutes ime: =6FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES 321 WES1 44th STREET BART FIRST NATIONAL ANID VUTASHOm PICTWRES Permission is granted licensed exhibitors reproduce with proper notice of copyright all matter contained herein. to NEW YORK, CITY, U.S. A. ARTHELMESS » THE FINGER POINTS ISYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) (Copyright 1931, Firet National Pictures, Inc., All Rights Reserved ) Breckenridge Lee, arrives in the Big Town from the South, lands a job with “The Press” as reporter, and at once makes friends with arcia Collinsyen sister, and re ‘: reporter, who ae is sober. . irst assign-| him te a gambling house | | sive district. Refusing | ash the story, Lee exlace by a by-line story. = 4 yeaten up by gangsters Richard the hospital learns Barthelmess in “The ‘loves him. Confronted ses which prevent his he begins to regret havthe huge bribes offered fimally sells out to Blanco, F nned his punishment. formation gained from secomes the most powerlice reporter in the city. Marcia grows suspicious of his sudden wealth and quarrels with him when he refuses to quite the racket. Becoming more courageous Lee tells Blanco he is going to break out of his protection, see Number One, and get a bigger cut in the graft. Blanco hurries to Number One to tell him and in the meantime Lee makes partial amends to Marcia. Blanco comes to summon Lee before Number One, who meets him masked, hands over one hundred thousand dollars, and warns ' Lee that if the story leaks about his new gambling joint, trouble will follow. Marcia, discouraged at Lee’s actions half promises to marry Breez~, if the latter will brace up and get to work. Lee, having the big bribe, goes to Marcia and promises to quit the city if she will marry ‘kim the next day. She agrees and he is making preparations for the get-away when Breezy turns in the story of the gambling house, thinking to win Marcia and approval of the editor by the scoop. The next day Breezy arrives with the paper at Marcia’s apartment, drunk, and finds Lee there. When the story is shown him, Lee knows what his fate will be. The finger points. A telephone call from Number One warns Lee to say his prayers. Against Marcia’s warning he starts for the bank, and is shot. The story ends as Marcia and Finger Points” SUMMARY Patrol’’ and ‘“‘Little Caesar. ”’ ——TABLE OF CONTENTS Breezy watch the funeral procesAccessories = 12 Lobby Frames _......sion, a great public ovation to a cc ae ete ee 12 Program Cut brave reporter who has died at the Biographies pe ee Eee ey ae hand of gangland. Breezy still beCatchlines Heves Lee to have been a hero and Marcia protects the secret of the man she loved. 3 Exploitation —-._ NOW HE’S A NEWSPAPER REPORTER Richard Barthelmess—as a newspaper reporter who withholds crime news in return for hush money | from the underworld. By the authors of °‘The Dawn ROUTINE STORY (Thie story contains ali the important facts abouts “The Finger Points.” Release ét several days before the run begins.) The management of the Theatre is pleased to announce next, as the opening date for ‘‘The Finger Points,’’ the First National picture, starring Richard Barthelmess. ‘“‘The Finger Points’’ is based on a notorious case of gang rule which recently startled the country. The thrilling melodramatic romance is the result of the collaboration of John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett, authors of ‘‘The Dawn Patrol’’ and ‘‘Little Caesar.’’ No present day writers are mor if ith the inner workings of the underworia. SS “‘The Finger Points’’ is a newspaper story and the tech nical staff included several of the most prominent newspapermen of the West Coast. The adaptation for the screen was done by Robert Lord. The remarkable photography is the work of Ernest Haller. John Francis Dillon directed. Mr. Barthelmess plays the part of Breckenridge Lee, a young Southerner who comes to the Big Town with high ideals as to the duty of the press to the public. He gets a job as police reporter on a crime-crusading paper and at first refuses the hush money offered by the gangs to withhold incriminating stories. His resistance to temptation is finally broken down by the fact that he has fallen in love with a pretty ‘‘sob sister’’ on the paper, whom he is unable to marry because of his small pay. He sells his honor and with the help of Blanco, a go-between, grows in wealth and power. Lee refuses to withhold the story of the racket of the ezar of all gangdom, a masked desperado known as Number. One, unless a huge sum is paid to him. Through a tippling pal, who isin love with the same girl, the story breaks, and the vengeance of the gang is on Lee. The finger points—and he is through. Much of the tragedy of the character lies in the fact that everyone but the girl believes to the end that the youth is honest. The chaarcterization of Mr. Barthelmess is dynamic and intensely moving. The capable support includes Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Clark Gable, Robert Elliott, Noel Madison, Oscar Apfel and Mickey Bennett. THE CAST BRECKENRIDGE LEE Young police reporter who sells out to the gang to get money to marry.----RICHARD BARTHELMESS Marcia Collins _?*<*’’ ty pm AE St Fay Wray paper, Lee’s sweetheart. T f r e Breezy Russell (rrte ana eacitinty eet Regis Toomey Lee to the gang. Boal Wi ee Se ge 8 6 eee Sa Clark Gable City Editor Brees Deceived by Lee’s duplicity. Robert Elliott Larry Hays abe gees Gambling proprietor .-Noel Madison elemento ea: Managing Editor. pone in his crusade ageinst crime.--Oscar Apfel =—-—=Wise as hic newspaper's lates’ entre.-Mickey Bennett AS WE GO TO PRESS ‘The Finger Points” is breaking all records at Strand, N. Y. Page One :