The Firebird (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Teasdale and Menjou are Best Dressed Film Pair Star of ‘*The Firebird” and Husband Have Many Things in Common By Carlisle Jones Any other woman, about to become the bride of one of the ten best dressed men in the world, might have had moments when her courage would fail her. But Verree Teasdale, who became Mrs. Adolphe Menjou early last fall after finishing her role in “The Firebird,” the Warner Bros. production now showing at the .............0.0....... Theatre, had never realized that she should be frightened until an enterprising columnist asked her the question when she was working on the picture and just before her marriage. \ TERREE TEASDALE wasn’t a bit afraid. “Why,” she gasped, “how amusing. It never occurred to me to worry about Mr. Menjou’s clothes. How can they concern me? Why should I be alarmed just because Mr. Menjou dresses well?” Adolphe Menjou doesn’t just “dress well,’ the lady was reminded. He was listed by a group of world famous tailors as one of the ten best dressed men in the whole world—a list on which no other motion picture star was given a place and on which even His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, was conspicuous by his absence. Even so the tall, blonde, assured young woman refused to register alarm. “It’s just one of those Hollywood questions no one should answer,” she parried. “It just doesn’t seem important to me. I’m not scared.” Probably the lady’s noticeable lack of alarm over Mr. Menjou’s reputation for faultless tailoring might be explained by her own aptitude for wearing clothes. The tailors who picked Menjou to represent the film colony in their distinguished list, commented on his assurance, his confidence in_ his clothes and his lack of self-consciousness inside a checkered waistcoat. Miss Teasdale has the same flair. She appears no less self assured than her husband. Capable actress though she is, Miss Teasdale is recognized first of all as a runner-up for the title of best dressed woman of the screen. Her arrival on the West Coast made Kay Francis, Norma Shearer, Ruth Chatterton, Constance Bennett, and other notably well dressed screen stars, look to their laurels—and their wardrobes. Whatever place she wins in Hollywood’s style parade for herself, one thing is certain. When she and Adolphe Menjou are seen together, they are the best dressed couple in all the _ well-dressed world! But Miss Teasdale and her husband have many things in common besides the ability and disposition to wear clothes. She is a poised woman of the world, who describes herself frankly as “expensive, not extravagant.” He is an _ experienced gentleman of the “man about town” school, a dilettante, who might, if necessary, live frugally but never cheaply. In “The Firebird” Miss Teasdale has a role exactly suited to her character. That of the wife of an Austrian diplomat. The picture is a thrilling and most unusual drama of the love life of a beautiful young girl later accused of the mysterious murder of a famous Austrian actor. There is an all star cast which includes besides Miss Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise, C. Aubrey Smith, Dorothy Tree, Helen Y‘renholme, Hobart Cavanaugh and Robert Barrat. William Dieterle directed the picture from the screen play by Charles Kenyon, based on the play by Lajos Zilahy. Lionel Atwill Traveled World Over in Repertory Now Playing Leading Role in “The Firebird” After Distinguished Career HOSE young men who yearn to see the world don’t have to join the navy, according to Lionel Atwill, who has a leading role in the Warner Bros. production, “The Firebird,’ which comés.to these). 2.2 k Theatre on Those with wanderlust need but to join English touring theatrical companies, if they’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity. “There’s nothing like a touring repertory company,” says the noted actor, “for giving eager young actors and actresses a broader view, not only of the world, but of acting. “In order to play in all the various English-speaking countries, a player must know how to ‘sell’ his or her talents in many different manners. The type of acting that goes over beautifully in the West End of London might win indignant hoots in New South Wales. “It’s not just ‘playing down’ to the provincial audiences, either. Rather it’s knowing and understanding the dissimilar characteristics of the natives of different parts of the world.” Atwill received his first professional engagement at the age of twenty, after giving up his architectural studies in order to follow a stage career. His first part was in. “The Walls of Jericho,” presented at the historic Garrick Theatre in London. Soon after he received an offer to tour the provinces for two years with a repertory company. A Broadway star for many years, Atwill’s rise in the cinema Page Eighteen world has been rapid since his talkie debut in “The Silent Witness,” which was also his latest stage success. He has also rendered outstanding performances in “Stamboul Quest,” “Nana,” “Song of Songs,” “Sphinx,” ‘Doctor X,” “The Mystery of the Wax Museum,” “Secret of the Blue Room,” “Beggars in Ermine,’ “One More River” and “Age of Innocence.” In “The Firebird” Atwill shares stellar honors with Veree Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez and Anita Louise. The picture is a thrilling and most unusual drama of the love life of a beautiful young girl and the mysterious murder of a famous Austrian actor. Others in the cast include C. Aubrey Smith, Dorothy Tree, Helen Trenholme, Hobart Cavanaugh and Robert Barrat. William Dieterle directed the picture from the screen play by Charles Kenyon based on the play by Lajos Zilahy. Verree Chic Verree Teasdale has sprung to prominence on the screen, not only for her dramatic talent, but for the chic and modish creations she wears. Her latest film at the TA ME cose tcacsecs Theatre is Warner’s “The Firebird”, in which she appears with Ricardo Cortez and Lionel Atwill. Mat No. 1—10c Ricardo Cortez Known as Man of a Thousand Deaths Slain Oftener Than Any Other Actor; Again Murdered in “The Firebird” ICARDO Cortez, who has one of the stellar roles in the Warner Bros. production, “The Firebird,” which comes to We ist ees Theatre om LA! > is known in Hollywood as “the man of a thousand deaths.” He has been killed for film purposes oftener than any other actor. Ever since the suave actor launched upon his screen career under the handicap of being dark and handsome, he has been called upon to portray roles which invariably lead up to his cinema demise. Cortez threatens the happiness of people through reel after reel, but before the final fade-out he is always killed by one means or another so that the hero and heroine can go on through life without annoyance. He has been shot, stabbed, drowned in acid and strangled, and if those who have killed him gained temporary audience approval, the fact remains that Cortez is today more popular than ever. The killers fade from movie popularity, but their victim remains to go through the process time after time. An interesting thought in connection with the actor’s characterizations of villains is that it is often reflected in his fan mail. “Why don’t you reform?” he has been asked quite seriously. “How can you continue, year after year, being such a mean individual?” is another question contained in his mail from picture goers. Away from the screen Cortez is in direct contrast to his film portrayals. He is quiet, earnest, sincere. He is an actor who concentrates on his career and who strives constantly to improve in his acting technique. Nor has he been content alone Verree Teasdale Fought Her Own Way to Success Quick Thinking Aided Star of “The Firebird” In Climbing Ladder to Fame role in the Warner Bros. production, “The Firebird,” now W sie: sort of a girl is Verree Teasdale, who has the leading showing: AL ANE. 0 2i...,4.- Bb, om Theatre? Everybody knows that she is pretty, one of the screen’s ten best-dressed women and a famous comedienne. So much for Verree Teasdale, the actress. What of Verree Teasdale, the woman? She was born in Spokane, Washington, of well-to-do parents. Her stage aspirations were born in school. She announced on the day she graduated that she was going to be a Broadway actress. Not a soul who knew Verree thought of doubting it. She studied at the Sargent School of Dramatic Art and at the New York School of Expression, went to plays, read plays and studied plays. She decided not to waste time with theatrical agents. She would go directly to the producers. It never occured to Verree that she might fail to get in. She barged in, told Philip Barry how good she was and what a mistake it would be to put on “The Youngest” without her. He was smart enough to believe her—and that was Verree’s first step up the Broadway ladder. After that, she discarded the ladder and simply jumped the rest of the way. She took a course in designing simply as a measure of self-improvement. She designed most of her own stage gowns and turned down several offers of positions as a designer. She sketches beautifully, is a fine musician and an accomplished dancer. With an avid interest in everything that is cultural, she reads all the good books that she can crowd into a busy life. Even since becoming a Warner Bros. contract player, she manages to find time to read most of the new biographies and novels. Withal, Verree is no high-brow. Fun-loving, gay-spirited, she gives no surface impression of being learned. She likes golfing, swimming, and riding, takes in the tennis and football matches and is a with improving his acting. He has studied the allied branches of the motion picture profession and knows cameras, lighting, vocal effects. This knowledge, coupled with his ability as an actor, has kept Cortez before the screen for many years, going onto greater fame and povularity with film fans, long after the usual “short life” of a movie star has passed. In “The Firebird,” Cortez has the role of a popular Viennese actor who meets a sudden and mysterious death. The picture is a thrilling and most unusual drama of the love life of a beautiful young girl, in addition to the mysterious murder of the famous actor. There is an all star cast which includes besides Cortez, Verree Teasdale, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise, C. Aubrey Smith, Dorothy Tree, Helen Trenholme. Hobart Cavanaugh and Robert Barrat. William Dieterle directed the picture from the screen play by Charles Kenyon, based on the play by Lajos Zilahy. witty dinner companion. In “The Firebird,” her present nicture, she has her most important role and won the enthusiasm of William Dieterle, the hardest director in Hollywood to please. Her big stage hit—as the dumb but beautiful girl in “The Greeks Had a Word for It”—is her favorite stage role. “The Firebird” is one of the most unusual as well as one of the most dramatic pictures to come to the screen. and is set in the colorful hackeround of Austria’s gav canital. There is a talented all star cast which includes besides Miss Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill, Anita Louise. C. Aubrey Smith, Dorothy Tree, Helen Trenholme, Hobart Cavanaugh and Robert Barrat. William Dieterle directed the picture from the screen play by Charles Kenyon, based on the play by Lajos Zilahy, produced by Gilbert Miller and adapted by Jeffry Dell. Members of the cast of “The Firebird”, Warner Bros.’ dramatic film from the popular play of the same name. Seen above are Verree Teasdale, Anita Louise, Lionel Atwill and Helen Trenholme. The film opens FN A 17 an Sal abironaN Theatre tomorrow. Mat No. 2—20c