The Firebird (Warner Bros.) (1934)

(Prepared Review ) “The Firebird” Is Sophisticated and Intriguing Drama “The Firebird,” the new Warner Bros. production which was shown for the first time locally at the DOT ea Theatre yesterday, is a most fascinating and intriguing drama with a remarkable cast headed by ‘Verree’ Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill and Anita Louise. The story is based on the sensational Broadway hit by Lajos Zilahy as produced by Gilbert Miller. It is a startling revelation of the outburst of the dammed up love emotions of a young girl whose life has been a series of repressions. Gripped in the spell of Stravinski’s haunting and _ seductive melody, “The Firebird,” she is impelled against her will to throw herself into the arms of the popular and magnetic actor with whom she carries on a clandestine romance which: ends with the mysterious murder of her lover. Verree Teasdale, as the wife of an Austrian diplomat, is called upon to give a highly emotional portrayal of a woman who confesses to a love intrigue and killing to save her daughter’s reputation, and rises to the dramatic role with an artistry that is commendable both for its strength and its absence of overacting. The polished villian is portrayed by Ricardo Cortez, than whom there is no more seductive and handsome screen rogue. He gives his characteristic strong and easy performance which wins him. the plaudits of the discriminating and makes him anathema to the Gallery Gods. Anita Louise has a most difficult role for one so young, in the character of the firebird. She gives an excellent account of herself as a willful and somewhat petulant young lady who defies conventions to Ive her own life as she wishes. Lionell Atwill, always a strong and polished actor, gives an excellent performance in the role of the Austrian diplomat, bewildered and uncomprehending, over his wife’s strange confession to a tawdry love affair and to murder, which is later repudiated by the police. Others in the cast who deserve special mention for their work include C. Aubrey Smith, the police “The Firebird” At --Theatre Today With 4 Star Cast “The Firebird,” a strange and fascinating romance set in the background of Austria’s gay capital, comes to the ..:........4.:! Theatre today with a four star cast, including Verree Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill and Anita Louise. The four form a quartette, who together with several others, are involved in a most unusual clandestine romance and a_ baffling murder mystery. Miss Teasdale and Miss Louise are seen in the roles of mother and daughter with Atwill as the husband and father, and Cortez the menacing, although magnetic figure, who threatens to destroy the aristocratic household. The theme, based on Lajos Zilahy’s play and. Gilbert Miller’s sensational Broadway production, deals with the fatal fascination of a young girl for a popular but unscrupulous actor which ultimately results in a baffling murder. Several persons are suspected of the crime and two separate women confess to it. The police finally manage to untangle the intricately woven threads of crime in a strange and smashing climax, which brings scandal to a great diplomat’s family. Others in the cast include C. Aubrey Smith, Dorothy Tree. Helen Trenholme, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Hal K. Dawson, Russell Hicks, Spencer Charters and Etienne Girardot. William Dieterle directed the production from the screen play by Charles Kenyon. commissioner who finally clears up the mystery, Dorothy Tree as the estranged wife of the actor, and Helen Trenholme as a_ beautiful governess in the diplomat’s household, both of whom are suspected of the killing. Still other talented players in important roles include Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Hal K. Dawson, Russell Hicks, Spencer Charters, Etienne Girardot, Florence Fair and Nan Gray. William Dieterle has given the screen play by Charles Kenyon a masterly touch by his superb direction. A Smile for You One of the most beautiful smiles on the screen is that of Verree Teas dale, charming star of Warner Bros.’ “The Firebird”. This film version of the drama that thrilled the theatre-goers of two continents boasts of a great cast, including Ricardo Oirlas, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise, C. Aubrey Smith and Dorothy Tree. few Theatre. The film is now playing at the Mat No. 5—20c NS DESIGNS HER OWN DRESSES, GIVES THE DRESSMAKER THE SKETCH AND SAYS, " WAKE ME THAT ,, PHANTOM oF c Re EsTWwooD”’ OOK ig } US O25 \ FEATURED IN HE ie sizb"h AS APPEARED ON STAGE OR SCREEN /N ‘22 ong IZ Sue F IREBIRD™ ARE WECN vitizeEd? ‘THE Most P QQ Ecious THING IN LIFE” “THE GREAT (E ST THING IN THE WORLD" “ ovr B errers ' “PETER | BBETSON” “mapamMe Du Barry” ey eet: PLEASE 7 UG Spee (oc CORTEZ. Ly ae GOT HIS FIRST MOVIE JOB BY WAITING ALL NIGHT To ANSWER AN AD FOR EXTRAS LiONEL ATWi LL ENTEREO PicTURES WHEN HE WAS I7AS A FULL FLEDGED PIR eere Re Yi @ Mat No. 11—20c (These items may be used for local movie columns and as short program squibs.) Stage Stock Work Proved Too Tough For Dorothy Tree Between scenes of the Warner Bros. film, “The Firebird,’ now SHOWIN At PUG cece Theatre, Dorothy Tree confided to members of the cast that her happiest acting experience before entering the movies brought about the most serious illness she had ever known. After a series of successful seasons on Broadway and on tour throughout the country, Miss Tree went to Rochester, New York, where she was guest star of the leading stock company in that city. For twelve weeks she played a starring role each and every week, in a variety of plays, including “Death Takes a Holiday,” “Torch Song,” “Street Scene” and other well-known presentations of the legitimate stage. She. had a grand time—and a nervous breakdown! The actress declares it was worth it, hoavever, for she gained exceptional dramatic experience that might not have otherwise been acquired except through years of effort. “The Firebird,” adapted from the Lajos Zilahy play which Gilbert Miller produced on Broadway, has a_ strong cast that includes Ricardo Cortez, WVerree Teasdale, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise, Dorothy Tree and others. William Dieterle directed. HORTS Miss Teasdale's Verree Rhymes with Marie While working on the Warner Bros. production, “The Firebird,” which comes to the .....00..00....c00c000. Theatre on. ¢%...28...26:.00% 000: > Verree Teasdale, who has a stellar role, explained that her first name _ is pronounced to rhyme with “Marie.” It is a family name dating from the Civil War times when a young Northern officer named Teasdale married a southern belle of French parentage whose last name was Verree. In “The Firebird,” Miss Teasdale has the role of the wife of an Austrian diplomat who tries to sacrifice her life to save her daughter’s reputation. Lionel Atwill Keeps Up Three Estates Lionel Atwill, who has an important role in the Warner Bros. dramatic production, “The Firebird,” now showing at the .............. Theatre, has three homes. Although he lives in Hollywood most of the time, he keeps up two other establishments. One is a_ fifty-acre estate on the shores of Lake Michigan and the other is in Eccleston, Maryland. He rarely visits them, a hough he says he tries to get to cach place once a year. Dorothy Tree in Role She Liked on Stage When Dorothy Tree saw “The Firebird” at the Empire Theatre on Broadway in 1932 with Judith Anderson and Tan Keith heading the cast, she was especially interested in the role “Jolan” as portrayed by Nita Naldi. Now, by one of those strange twists of fate for which Hollywood is famous, Miss Tree is enacting that very role in the Warner Bros. picture, based on the play, which comes to the Sede Rey Theatre on Verree Teasdale, Ricardo Sorters Lionel Atwill and Anita Louise, head the cast of the production which was directed by William Dieterle. Miss Tree has the role of the estranged wife of a famous actor who is mysteriously murdered in his apartment. Cortez Finds Slapping Girl Hard Task In one scene of the Warner Bros. picture, “The Firebird,” wihhiehvcomes;to the ti:3....ebvenest Theatre:ond aie..ccks Halse » Ricardo Cortez was required to slap a woman, and didn’t enjoy the task. Cortez had to hit Dorothy Tree, but he repeatedly ruined things by being too gentlemanly and _ it was only when Miss Tree assured him that she didn’t mind a stinging slap for the sake of the picture, that Cortez managed to enact the scene properly. “The Firebird” is a_ thrilling drama, filmed from the Lajos Zilahy play produced on Broadway by Gilbert Miller. The cast includes besides Cortez and Miss Tree, Verree Teasdale, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise and _ others. William Dieterle directed it from the screen play by Charles Kenyon. Atwill Plays Cello In "The Firebird" Lionel Atwill, an accomplished musician, has successfully concealed the fact from Hollywood for many years, but disclosed it during the filming of the Warner Bros. production, “The Firebird,” which comes to the Theatresonya:... Wis eee: “Tt’s too bad you don’t play a musical instrument,” said Director William Dieterle to Atwill. “But I do,’ came the answer. “Get me a cello and we'll have a trio.” The cello was brought and Atwill joined the two actresses in playing a beautiful musical composition which was used in the scene. Anita Louise Meets Old Chum in Film Anita Louise and Dorothy Tree have been chums for years but they had not seen each other for several months although they both work at the Warner Bros. studios. The exigencies of picture schedules had kept both busy and far apart. Then they were finally cast in the same picture, “The Firebird,” which comes to the.................. theatre ONNF tere cree aagies , and met again, renewing the old friendship. Cortez Has 39 Fancy Cigarette Holders Ricardo Cortez, who will be seen pufling cigarette after cigarette in fancy holders in the Warner Bros. picture, “The Firebird,” now showTUN VE BEM Gy ee hare ecto ae Theatre, has thirty-nine holders made of all kinds of materials including agate, meerschaum, amber and _ briarwood. These he uses almost exclusively for picture purposes, preferring a pipe in private life. In “The Firebird,” Cortez has the role of a villainous although popular Viennese actor who entraps a beautiful young girl who afterwards kills him. Anita Louise has the role of the girl while Verree Teasdale and Lionel Atwill are her aristocratic parents. Ricardo Cortez Reads Between Scenes Ricardo Cortez, who has the role of a villainous but popular Viennese actor who is strangely murdered in the Warner Bros. production of “The Firebird,” witch ‘comes: ‘to. thes2 iat con ‘Theatiexon 42... ance.) Ge » is an avid reader. He has one of the most extensive libraries in Hollywood. He always carries a book to his work and can be seen between scenes pouring over the volume. His favorite authors are Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemingway, James Branch Cabel, Joseph Conrad and Gene Fowler. Viennese Atmosphere Accurate in Film There is no question of accuracy in the detail of Vienna settings and atmosphere in the Warner Bros. picture, “The Firebird,” Witch ,comes:toithes.a.2.,..0tseek oF. SE DGALTOS OMe 3% occ gee sna? tae It was directed by William Dieterle, who formerly lived in Vienna. He went to great lengths to faithfully reproduce scenes of life in Austria. Anton Grot, art director, on the picture was a native of Vienna, as is also Ricardo Cortez, who is co-starred with Verree Teasdale, Lionel Atwill and Anita Louise. Page Seventeen