The Flirting Widow (Warner Bros.) (1930)

( Vitaphone ) FOOTAGE LIRTING FIRST NATIONAL | AND V TAPHON _ REG. Fey “4 air (FIRST 1G NATIONAL VR PICTURES | A% TRADE MARK PICTWRES NEW YORK, CITY, U.S. A. WIDOW This Is A First National and Vt TApnoxe Picture Cash in on the Name! DOROTHY MACKAILL VAMPS ’EM WITH LAUGHS AND ROMANCE Sex Appeal Can’t Be Hidden Under Muslin, Says Star Dorothy Mackaill Wears Masculine Dress in “Flirting Widow” If a woman has sex appeal she can «lresS any way she chooses and her “Tt” will still shine through. This is the conviction of Dorothy Mackaill, First National’s blonde ae‘tress whose screen allure has won her many starring roles. “Tf you have sex appeal,” said Miss Mackaill, “you can wear burlap or ‘muslin and still keep that attraction.” The actress, made these observations nection with her role in “The fj _-tting Widow,” the all-talking Vitaphone production coming See a) ae ‘to the Theatre, in which ‘she wears mannish clothes and a mas “seuline hair bob during much of the film: Miss Mackaill’s wardrobe clerk and even studio officials suggested she wear something more feminine for her role as the older, unmarried ‘sister in this English drama. But Dorothy insisted on the ultra-mannish ‘style, and convinced the sceptics it would make no difference in her ‘screen personality. First “rushes” of the picture proved she was right. She sacrifices no feminine appeal or “It” by wear‘ing the London made wardrobe which hides her angles and curves from the camera’s eye. The blonde actress, however, graces the picture with the customary feminine gowns. In fact, she makes up for her departure toward the masculine by wearing some of the most stylish models seen in any of her productions. The entire company of “The Flirting Widow” had their wardrobes made by London dressmakers and_ tailors, the story being located in the British eity. Basil Rathbone, the English actor, ‘js east opposite Miss Mackaill. A stellar group of players is in the sup“porting company, including such outstanding ones as Leila Hyams, WilYiam Austin, Claude Gillingwater, Emily Fitzroy, Flora Bramley, Anthony Bushell and Wilfred Noy. “The Flirting Widow” tells of an ‘English family who follow an old tradition which does not allow a younger daughter to get married until the oldest daughter is engaged or married. Miss Mackaill is the older sis ter, who must wear green stockings ns a mark of unbetrothal. The story is adapted from A. E. W. Mason’s “Green Stockings” and was directed by William A. Seiter. (| Cut No. 17 Cut 20c Mat 5c Printed in U. S. A. louder before. Cut No. 5 Cut 40€ Mat 10c » Vr ¥ Based on_ story A Matrimonial Mirthquake! Unusual comedy-complications. Laughs from roars to guffaws! Romance with a flaming widow and a husband who just wouldn’t play dead. Dorothy Mackaill and a great cast guarantee longer and laughs than ever First National Pictures, Inc. presents “Green Stockings’ by A. E. W. Mason. Family of Actors Sidney Bracey, butler in “The Flirting Widow,” First . National comedy which comes to the : Theatre next , i8 &@ member of a prominent old Australian theatrical family. For more than three hundred years the Braceys have been connected with the Australian theatre. Sidney being the first to permanently desert the boards of his native land. Dorothy Mackaill is featured in ‘The Flirting Widow” with Basil Rathbone. Actor and Playwright Basil Rathbone, English actor who has the male lead in “The Flirting Widow,” Dorothy Mackaill’s new First National picture coming to the Theatre devotes much of his spare time to writing. He collaborated on “Judas,” a play in which he was starred on the New York stage. Rathbone is married to Ouida Bergere who became famous by adapting to the screen most of Mae Murray’s successful pictures. “THE FLIRTING WIDOW” SPARKLES WITH CLEVER COMPLICATIONS | AND SOPHISTICATED COMEDY Dorothy Mackaill, Basil Rathbone Give Fine Performances In Adaptation of Famous Stage Play “Green Stockings” (PREPARED VITAPHONE REVIEW) The King’s English When somebody asked Dorothy Mackaill if she used an English accent in her latest First National picture, ‘The Flirting Widow,” now playing at the Theatre, she said | sen waer’t on Foglish accent There are a lot of them. The average Londoner doesn’t speak Oxford English; the Cockney is a breed all by himself; the North of England man is as different in accent from the South of England man as a Northern Yankee from a Kentucky colonel. “That’s why it hands me a laugh to hear anyone speak of ‘an’ English accent. The one I use in ‘The Flirting Widow’ is as nearly like the general American language as any.”’ Basil Rathbone, a famous English actor, plays opposite the star, and many other members of the cast are English. “Their natural accents, by the way, are all as different from one another as mind is from Al Smith’s or Will Rogers’ ’’ Miss Mackaill declares. Emily Fitzroy Turns From Drama to Comedy In ‘Flirting Widow” (ADVANCE NEWS STORY) Emily Fitzroy, whom critics have called ““the Cromwellian mother,” portrays a kindly middle-aged Englishwoman in “The Flirting Widow,” next attraction at the Theatre, which -day run Hateur poise, grandeur of manne are characteristic of the roles usually entrusted to the delineative powers of Miss Fitzroy, but she proves her versatility by ineluding hilarious comedy in her latest performanée, As Aunt Ida, Miss Fitzroy does skilful work in a scene where .she becomes inebriated after innocently imbibing too much brandy and loudly declines to help Celia, her niece, out of her plight as a synthetic widow. Dorothy Mackaill heads the cast of “The Flirting Widow,” which is an adaptation of A. E. W. Mason’s popular story, “Green Stockings.” Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams, William Austin, Anthony Bushell, Flora Bramley, Claude Gillingwater and Wilfred Noy complete the supporting cast. The picture is a First National and Vitaphone offering directed by William A. Seiter. begins Few things are more diverting and lightful. “The Flirting Widow” is English comedy. And when that comedy is competently played by an English cast, as in the case of “The Flirting Widow,” Fire+ * Vitaphone p shown at the result is bo hehtinl A$ _ all that und yr People who long been awa kaill is past-mis sophisticated com day, an attractive yo. given to swagger, 1 tweeds, and a feigned m. dependenee which she is tre. from feeling, Miss Mackaill tops splendid performances she has given in her last several audible films. Clever Story Celia is constantly beseeched by her younger sister, Phyllis, to contrive some means of finding a satisfactory husband since Sir William Faraday will not give his consent to the marriage of his youngest daughter until Celia, the eldest, is married. Celia thinks men are harmless and altogether agreeable creatures but hasn’t yet found one she would care to live with. She is quite content to be the efficient manager of her father’s household. Because she dislikes to make Phyllis unhappy Celia finally announces her engagement to a Colonel Smith, stationed with the British army in Arabia. She supposes no such person ‘exists and even goes so far as to address a letter to him in care of an Arabian regiment. There is a Colonel Smith and when he arrives in London. and eonfronts Celia with her letters she is thoroughly uncomfortable. Basil Rathbone as Colonel Smith makes an ideal leading man for Miss Mackaill. Much of the film is given te elever repartee between the two and they acquit themselves with charm land finesse. Leila Hyams is beautiful ‘and effective. William Austin, Emily Fitzroy, Claude Gillingwater, and Wilfred Noy complete the capable cast. with highly specialized portrayals. William A. Seiter’s direction carries “The Flirting Widow” along at a brisk tempo and sustains it as one of the season’s. brightest comedies. 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