The Finger Points (Warner Bros.) (1931)

—_—_ re Pisa ere =e Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Robert Elliott-Names That Mean Plenty To The Fans. Play Them Up! “THE FINGER POINTS” STARS RICHARD BARTHELMESS IN A STARTLING EXPOSE OF MODERN RACKETEERING METHODS (Prepared Review Playing Up the Story) Richard Barthelmess was given an enthusiastic reception last evening at the Theatre, when his latest First National picture, “The Finger Points,” opened its engagement, The star has never had quite so dynamic a role as that given him by John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett, authors respectively of “The Dawn Patrol” and “Little Caesar.” Mr. Barthelmess is again indebted to John Francis Dillon for expert direction. The settings are authentic and the modern photography presents many new angles on a picture as thrillcrammed as a zero hour. Barthelmess plays the part of a young Southerner who comes to the Big Town with high ideals as to the duty the press owes to the public. He secures a job as police reporter on a paper which has just inaugurated a crusade against crime, and goes| f; into the fight with zest, resisting bribery, and publishing a story which puts a notorious _enogie joint out of business. His first acquaintances in the newspaper office are Marcia Collins, a charming “sob sister,” and Breezy Russell,.a tippling good fellow, who loves her whenever sober. Breck becomes infatuated with the pretty || lady, and finding himself unable to marry her because of his small |] salary, gradually comes under the power of greed, and the possibilities of wealth which await him if he || accepts graft from the gangs and covers crime, Barthelmess portrays the dying |! sense of honor, and the growing|| ruthlessness of the man io is doen sinaanity: ~The support given the eta? is excellent. Beautiful Fay Wray is the girl f° whom the young reporter sacrificyhonor. Breezy, the reporter, who ir Prrectenisy brings down on his pal tl -vengeance of the gang, is based on the life of a notorious eharacter whose adventures filled the papers recently. You do mot know Richard Barthelmess until you have seen him in “The Finger Points.” Better than “Weary River” Barthelmess at his greatest! Never, never, never such a story! It lives! It breathes! You'll live it over a thousand times! ingrat' -gly portrayed by Regis Toome < “Alibi” fame. Ominous slow-vo Robert Elliott is cast as the cit litor and Oscar Apfel as the m# ing editor. Noel Madison is effe..ve in a sinister role and Mickey Bennett fits in admirably as the office devil. Mickey Bennett Here In “‘The Finger Points”’ (Biography as of March 1, 1931) Mickey Bennett, who has an amusing part in “The Finger Points,” the First National picture starring Richard Barthelmess, now at the Theatre, was born in Victoria, British Columbia, on January 28th, 1916. His first appearance on the stage was at the age of eight months, and he was in vaudeville for several years with his father. Eight years ago he played in his first motion picture. with FAY WRAY “The Finger Points” is evidently | ija forest flre and his family moved to. Author of “The Finger Points” Is Husband “OF Lovely Feminine Lead (Biography as of March 1, 1931) John Monk Saunders, co-author of |: First | 3 National production starring Richard | } to the]: “The Finger Points,” the which comes Theatre next, was born in Hinckley, Minnesota, on November 22, 1897. One year later his home was destroyed by Barthelmess © eee eee eee eee A SIUMULO 2 ec ete eer ee eee Pine City. He attended the public schools of Seattle and holds degrees i from the University of Washington |* and Oxford, England, the latter being the result of a Rhodes Scholarship. The World War served as an inter|| lude in this educational process and |{ Saunders served as an aviator, aban|} :|doning his aerial acrobatics after the | * Armistice was signed. He preferred a year on the editorial staff of the New York Tribune to the chair of English at an Eastern |’ ‘| girls’ college, and later became as|{ sociate editor of the American Magazine. The authorship of “Wings” sent Saunders to Hollywood where he has been ever since, with the exception of a jaunt into Europe which resulted in a novel based on his hilari ous meanderings among bars and bullrings. stories as “The Legion of the Condemned,” “The Dawn Patrol,” which also starred Barthelmess, and “The Finger Points,” which he wrote in collaboration mn with ” W. &R. Burnett. He thas written such screen Saunders is married to. Fay Wray, who appears in “The Finger Points” as the newest of the Barthelmess leading ladies. numerous short stories and articles |_ He is the author of published — in Liberty, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, The American and other magazines. Sinister Slowness Of Robert Elliott Gone In Gang Film (Biography as of March 1, 1931) Robert Elliott, famous stage and screen charactor actor, who plays the role of the city editor in support of Richard Barthelmess, First National star, in “The Finger Points,” the First National picture now at the Theatre, was born in Ithaca, New York, and began his stage career at the age of twenty. Elliott’s fame spread throughout the country because of his special aptitude for detective types, the most celebrated of which was in “Broadway,” which he played both on stage and screen. Having created the ominously calm, | slow-voiced detective, Elliott found many opportunities awaiting him in || pictures and has achieved an excep|| tional reputation in such sensational features as “Lights of New York,” “Doorway to Hell” and others. Famous Playwrights Do ‘The Finger Points’ (Current Reader) Two celebrated authors wrote the story of “The Finger Points,” the SCARED? es oe i First National production starring Mat sc Richard Barthelmess which is now attracting large crowds to the .... Theatre. They are John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett. Saunders is nationally known as a short story writer and has just had his first novel, “Single Lady,” published. He is also the author of “Wings,” “Legion of the Condemned” and “The Dawn Patrol.” Burnett is the novelist who is eredited with “Little Caesar,” “Iron Man,” and “Saint Johnson.” “The Finger Points”’ Big Crime-Thriller (Current Reader) The story of a young reporter, his temptation, complication with gangsters and final penalty form the framework of “The Finger Points,” the First National production starring Richard Barthelmess, now playing at EhOE ies wr a Theatre. The story was adapted for the screen by John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett, and was directed by John Francis Dillon. Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Clarke Gable, Robert Elliott and a large cast make up the supporting players. Barthelmess plays the role of the reporter and it is said to be the most daring thing he has ever attempted. If Richard Barthelmess and Fay Wray look a little scared to you in the above picture, blame it on Dick’s latest role. He is cast as a racketeering reporter in “The Finger Points,” now playing at the . Theatre. The boys get wise to his racket, but Dick always comes back with “You dare not kill a reporter?” Dare they? COLD TYPE Was His Tesi LEAD Was Their Answer! Among his silent films are “A Boy of the tStreets,” “Big Pal,” “Tillie’s Punctured Romance,” “United States Smith” and “The Cohens and Kellys.” He was the first child to play in a talking picture, having the title role in “The Dummy.” Among his more recent talkies are “The Ghost Talks,’ “Footlights and Fools,” “Strictly Modern,” “Big Business Girl,” and “Father’s Son.” Cosmopolite Plays Important Part in ‘The Finger Points’’ (Biography as of March 1, 1931) Noel Madison who appears at the Theatre in “The Finger Points,” the First National picture starring Richard Barthelmess, has an unusually vivid artistic background. His father was Maurice Moscovitch, member of the old Moscow Art Thea tre group under Dantchenke and ee ee ey REGIS TOOMEY Story by JOHN MONK SAUNDERS AND W. R. BURNETT. REXY A First National & Vitaphone Hit! Cut No. 4 Cut 20c Mat s5¢ Stanislavsky, and one of the finest Shylocks seen in London. His mother was a well-known actress and his brother is a noted violinist. Mr. Madison started his histrionic career in “Charlot’s Revue” at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. He has appeared in Shakespeare, melodrama, comedy, vaudeville, musical comedy and farce. Though born in America and educated in France and|Saunders and W. R. Burnett, and Switzerland he calls Auckland, New Zealand, his home. He has toured the world many times. In addition to Elliott the cast of the Barthelmess picture includes Fay Wray, Clarke Gable, Regis Toomey, Oscar Apfel and others. John Francis Dillon directed it from the screen story by John Monk Saunders and W. R. Burnett. Leia by JOHN MONK SAUNDERS, auther ef fh Caites ae RICHARD | ve ae BDARTHELMESS The FINGER POINTS with FAY WRAY REGIS TOOMEY A First National & Vitaphone Hit [OE WS WARFIELD DIREC HON PSCST CAST THEATRES INC, Barthelmess’ Latest Is Crime-Thriller (Current Reader) i Thrills and timeliness mark “The Finger Points,” the First Nationa] production starring Richard Barthelmess currently running at the Theatre. The story is based on a recent sensational crime case in one of America’s Big Towns— with Barthelmess as the reporter who becomes involved with the underworld. The story was written by John Monk “You Can’t Kil A Re porter” was his shield. And his stories ripped the underworld wide open! But bullets can’t tell reporters from anyone else. directed by John Francis Dillon with Fay Wray in the feminine lead opposite Barthelmess. Cut No. t Cat 4oc Med r0¢ Page Five