The Man Who Played God (Warner Bros.) (1932)

The King’s English As Hollywood Sees It Comes now a new word to be | added to the long list of those offering difficulties to the talkies | — “figure.” Looks easy, doesn’t it? But it rised an amusing problem for Director John Adolfi during filming of “The Man Who Played God,” George Arliss’ latest picture for Warner Brothers coming to the Theatre next : rot “Look here,” said Violet Hem | ing, famous stage actress, one day |as she rehearsed her lines—only | she pronounced it “heah.” “I’m supposed to say, ‘That girl lover theah has a nice figure.’ Now over in England we pronounce it ‘figgah,’ but | notice that in America you say ‘figyure.’ | don’t know which to use.” “Maybe you can compromise,” suggested Ivan Simpson helpfully, “and say ‘figyuah’.” But Bette Davis capped the climax. “In Australia,” she inter posed, ‘“l hear that they call it ‘ti-gwah’?” she accented the last syllable, teo! | Indications are now that when | the line reaches the screen at the _ Theatre the young | lady in question will somehow have changed her figure for a “form.” \ Parisian Player Signed To Long Term Contract Andre Luguet, recent Hollywood reeruit from Paris, has ntract his services will be devoted Warner and First ‘ational pictures. He will be seen on the sereen of the under which ‘a long term telusivel y to i in “The Man Who Played God,” George \rlisa’ latest starring vehicle for a Luguet plays the part king for whom Mr. Arliss ‘ves a ‘command performance.’ Arliss Wrote His Own Part In “The Man Who Played God” ‘ 'eOorgze Ws arner Brox, collaborated with rae Josephson and Maude Howell Bg script of his new picture, Bis Man Who Played God,” which z Theatre will present stent . He gave particular eas on to the role of Royale, the aia played by himself. Acii ng to persons closely associated ™ Mr. Arliss in the production le pieture, he practically wrote “ entire part, which, in the "lon of those who have had preaf the film, presents him in $ Strikingly original and daring coe “The Man Who Played ie 7 two leading feminine roles, by Violet Heming and Bette 1s John Adolfi directed. Arliss hext ee fie signed a | ADVANCE READERS Player In Arliss Picture Writes Novels Louise Closser Hale, seen in support of George Arliss in his latest Warner Bros. picture, “The Man Who Played God,” coming to the Theatre next writes interesting novels in addition to acting for the screen. Others in this latest Arliss all-star picture are Violet Heming, Bette Davis, Ivan Simpson, Donald Cook, Oscar Apfel and Andre Luguet. Expert Teaches Arliss How To Play A Deaf Man George Arliss as a rule, doesn’t need coaching when it comes to his work as an actor. In “The Man Who Played God,” his newest Warner Bros. picture, however, which comes to the . Theatre nest ee , Mr. Arliss’s role is that of a great concert pianist who suddenly becomes deaf. In order to make the scenes in which he has to carry on conversation as a deaf man realistic, Mrs. Sylvia Balis, who is deaf and an expert lip reader, was engaged to advise Mr. Arliss in these phases of his role. Mrs. Balis had never before been on & studio sound-stage, but she was able to understand practically everything that was going on through her proficiency at lip reading. In the supporting cast of “The Man Who Played God” are Violet Heming, Bette Davis, Ivan Simpson, Louise Closser Hale, Andre Luguet, Donald Cook, William Janney, Hedda Hopper and others. The picture’s director is John Adolfi, who also directed Mr. Arliss in “The Millionaire” and “Alexander Hamilton.” Great Demand For Copies Of Arliss’ Unemployment Talk Requests have come in from seven atates for copies of the radio address given on the Unemployment Program recently by George Arliss, star of the Warner Bros. picture “The Man Who Played God,” coming to the Theatre next......... Mr. Arliss has received many sacks of fan mail as a result of his participation on behalf of the unemployed. George Arliss Retires From Stage For Year While George Arliss, coming to the Theatre next in the Warner Bros, picture “The Man Who Played God,” has not definitely announced his retirement from the stage in favor of talking pictures, his schedule calls for three more pictures in succession, thus preventing his return to the stage for at least a year. CURRENT READERS Arliss Aid Paves Way To Stardom For Bette Davis Bette Davis is the newest addition to that select coterie of young actresses who owe much to the kindly help and sympathetic guidance of _ George Arliss. Miss Davis was picked by Mr. Arliss to play the ingenue lead in his latest Warner Bros. picture, “The Man Who Played God,” now at the Theatre. She already counts that as thing in her BETTE DAVIS Cut No.7 Cut r5c Mat sc the most important career, Arliss has trained many young actresses and has lived to see many become famous. Perhaps his most famous protege was Jeanne Eagels. He was among the first to see in Joan Bennett a sereen actress of high promise and chose her for the important role of Clarissa in “Disraeli.” Violet Heming, who plays the leading feminine role in “The Man Who Played God,” is another Arliss-trained actress. She played with the star in the first stage presentation of “Disraeli.” Others in the cast of “The Man Who Played God,” which is adapted from the short story of that name by Governeur Morris, include Ivan Simp son, Louise Closser Hale, Donald Cook and Andre Luguet. John Adolfi directed. Arliss Selects Latest Role As Greater Than ‘Alexander Hamilton” George Arliss has explained the reason for the selection of “The Man Who Played God,” now at the Theatre, as his latest starring vehicle. “We had a hard time finding something to follow ‘Alexander Hamilton,’” said Mr. Arliss. “We finally decided on ‘The Man Who Played God.’ After visiting Europe, I am inclined to think it is the only role that can trump the grandeur of an American Sec| retary of the Treasury.” New York’s Most Famous Park Reproduced In Hollywood Central Park, New York, forms the background for much of the action of “The Man Who Played God,” George Arliss’ latest starring vehicle for Warner Bros. pictures which is now at the Theatre. The story was filmed in California so it was necessary to reproduce Central Park in and around the studios. The Central Park sets were made with such fidelity, however, that expert New Yorkers were unable to detect any faults at the premiere. Kings In Audience Not New Experience For Arliss Playing before a king, as George Arliss does in “The Man Who Played God,” now at the Theatre, his latest Warner Brothers picture, is not a new experience for this actor. Arliss has played stage roles with King George V of England in the audience and he needed no expert to advise him on the form alities and = general atmosphere of such a scene. Mr. Arliss played few of his best known stage roles in England. It is Cat No. 6 only since his Cut 15¢ Mat 5¢ talking pictures have been shown in his homeland that the name of Arliss has become as famous there as in America. However, he did play “The Green Goddess” for an entire year in London and King George was the most famous of many distinguished personages in his audiences. Arliss knows what tension, excitement and drama is involved in such an event. He has profited by this experience in planning the “king” sequence of “The Man Who Played God.” Violet Heming, who played with Arliss in some of his best known stage productions, Bette Davis, interesting new ingenue, Louise Closser Hale and Ivan Simpson, are in the cast of the new Arliss picture. Andre Luguet plays “king.” John Adolfi directed. d GEORGE ARLISS Arliss Gives Up English Tea For American Coffee The English in George Arliss gave way a little bit more to the American when he recently gave up his customary five o'clock tea in favor of coffee. During the making of his latest picture “The Man Who Played God,” now at the Theatre, Mr. Arliss called the cast together for coffee, instead of his accustomed tea, thereby causing no end of comment, as the English say over their tiffin. The coffee-drinkers in ‘The Man Who Played God’’ included Violet Heming, Bette Davis, Ivan Simpson, Donald Cook, Louise Closser Hale, Oscar Apfel and numerous others. John Adolfi, the director, also drank coffee with Arliss. —— Ee