The Man Who Talked Too Much (Warner Bros.) (1940)

THE MAN WHO TALKED TOO MUCH — CURRENT PUBLICITY (Opening Day) ‘Man Who Talked Too Much’ Today's New Film at The Strand The Strand Theatre’s new film today is Warner Bros.’ fastpaced, dynamic story of an underworld mouthpiece, “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” starring George Brent and Virginia Bruce. Taking full advantage of the strong Frank J. Collins play, Warner’s cast the film with such capable players as Brenda Marshall, Richard Barthelmess, staging a screen comeback in a character role, and William Lundigan. A dramatic situation opens the story as the confession of a murderer clears a boy of the crime for which he was executed, convicted by District Attorney Stephen Forbes, played by George Brent. Steve has been too successful in his convictions and is suddenly shocked into resigning. When he moves into a cheap law office his secretary Joan Reed, played by Virginia Bruce, goes with him. She loves Steve, and is proud of his courage. Business is bad for Steve until he becomes the mouthpiece for J. B. Roscoe, played by Richard Barthelmess, contact man _ between city hall and the underworld. He moves to swankier offices and adds two newcomers to his firm — another secretary, Celia Farrady, portrayed by Brenda Marshall, and his young brother John, played by William Lundigan, just out of law school. When John realizes that his brother’s firm is shady, he decides to do something about it. He turns over Steve’s incriminating evidence about Roscoe to Federal authorities. Then the gangster plants a murder charge on the boy. John is convicted, and all seems hopeless until Steve gets onto the trail of the murderer and brings him to justice on the eve of John’s execution. Roscoe attempts to kill Steve but is killed himself on the getaway when his car overturns. Dick Barthelmess Shares His Good Luck With Pal When Dick Barthelmess walked on the Warner set of “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” which is now at the Strand Theatre, he said, “Fellows, meet my pal Shorty English.” Shorty, who is 69 years old, needed no introduction. He has been in the picture game for twenty-five years. He first met Barthelmess in the D. W. Griffith days when he served as prop man for Dick’s first picture. A strong friendship sprang up between them. As Dick climbed the ladder of success, he carried Shorty right along with him. Shorty worked on every picture Dick made. George Brent Planning Hawaiian Homestead Between scenes of ‘The Man Who Talked Too Much” at Warners, George Brent told of his purchase of a 75 acre pineapple ranch in Hawaii, just outside Honolulu. Brent has made three trips to Hawaii during the past year. Twice, he was called back to work by the studio before he could complete negotiations for the property. On his last trip from which he has just returned, Brent made the deal. He plans to make his home in Hawaii after the completion of his Warner Bros. contract which has two years to run. UNDERWORLD MOUTHPIECE AT WORK in Warner's Mat 202—30c "The Man Who Talked Too Much", coming to the Strand Friday. (Left to right) George Brent, Virginia Bruce, William Lundigan and Richard Barthelmess. (Review) Fast-Moving Excitement in ‘Man Who Talked Too Much’ George Brent, Virginia Bruce, Barthelmess, Head Strand Cast There’s pulse-pounding excitement packed into every minute of the Strand Theatre’s current attraction, “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” Warner Bros.’ fast-moving, exciting film which opened there last night with George Brent and Virginia Bruce in the co-starring roles. The vital Frank J. Collins play has been given a well-rounded production with an outstanding cast in support of Brent and Miss Bruce. Excellent performances are given by lovely Brenda Marshall, Richard Barthelmess in an important screen comeback, and William Lundigan, promising young player. Vincent Sherman directed and Walter DeLeon and Earl Baldwin wrote the screen play. District Attorney Stephen Forbes, played by George Brent, is a glib-tongued orator with an impressive list of convictions. It is when an innocent boy is added to his list, and the guilty person confesses too late to save him, that Steve washes his hands of the work and says, “I would rather see 100 guilty men go free than to see one innocent man die.” His understanding secretary Joan Reed, played by Virginia Bruce, goes with him to his new office on the wrong side of the tracks. Business is bad, and eventually he ties up with J. B. Roscoe, portrayed by Richard Barthelmess, an underworld character. Business booms and the office expands to include a new secretary, Celia Farrady, Brenda Marshall’s role, and Steve’s brother John, played by William Lundigan, fresh out of law school. John realizes that his brother isn’t running an honest law firm and decides to do something drastic. He opens Steve’s vault to Federal authorities, turning over incriminating evidence against Roscoe. But this boomerangs when Roscoe frames an airtight murder charge against the boy. This challenge brings Steve back to his old self as he uses all his ingenuity to exonerate John and elear himself with Virginia. George Brent, Star of New Strand Film, Regular Guy Among Hollywood’s most likeable stars is George Brent, who stars in Warner Bros.’ “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” with Virginia Bruce, Brenda Marshall, Richard Barthelmess and William Lundigan, which is currently showing at the Strand Theatre. He is never influenced by other people. He does just what he pleases. He lives alone and likes it. George Brent is his name and he hasn’t changed since he first set foot in Hollywood twelve years ago. Brent is as independent as a fellow could be and still retain his friends. Nobody has ever laid claim to knowing him intimately. His friends say he can be the life of the party. His great sense of humor is relied upon to spark a conversation. Although seldom given the opportunity to laugh in pictures, his laugh is so contagious it soon can have a room full of people following suit. What lies underneath this gayety and humor, no one except Brent, seems to know. Brent could stop working today and never have to worry financially. He has two large annuity policies which start paying off next year. He owns a well established community market and two gas stations which have proved sound investments. George never knows when an impulse to travel will hit him. When he starts a picture, however, he’ll always finish it before giving way to wanderlust. One time he went to Honolulu and without leaving the boat sailed back on it. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he decided he wanted to return to the islands and remained on _ the boat for the next trip. While working in “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” he was handed eight new pages of script upon reporting to work in the morning. George said, “If the writer of this story comes down here today, I’ll make him say these pages over fifty times.” The writer didn’t show up on the set for a week. He wasn’t sure that Brent was kidding. [ 10] (For Fashion Page) Virginia Bruce Sets Pace For Secretarial Modes Spotlight on Career Girls’ Styles in New Strand Film There’s fashion inspiration aplenty for the modish career girl in the wardrobe Howard Shoup designed for Virginia Bruce in Warner’s “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” the film starring George Brent and Miss Bruce, currently showing at the Strand Theatre. All Virginia’s frocks are simple because she acts the part of a very efficient secretary, but they’re not stark because Virginia has romantic notions. Consequently her entire wardrobe could serve as an ideal for every girl who plays the same role in real life. Bright touches on dark frocks with huge hip pockets as the only detail, frilly white jabots and collars to frame the secretarial face becomingly but not disturb the order of the office, and shiny patent accessories are the order of Virginia’s stunning clothes. In one scene she adds spark to a simple poudre blue wool jersey dress by wearing a bright scarlet leather belt. An No Need for Makeup Warner officials had to be shown first before they would believe that Virginia Bruce did not need movie make-up. Miss Bruce is the only actress in Hollywood who has never worn screen make-up of any kind. When she tested for her role in “Flight Angels’ for Warner Bros., she wore none. The test proved satisfactory but officials were still skeptical. She completed the picture without once having to resort to paint or powder. The results were so successful, she was signed for the leading feminine role opposite George Brent in “The Man Who Talked Too Much” . without make-up. Address: Pacific Ocean! George Brent’s address on week-ends and between pictures for the next year will be the Pacific Ocean, care of the “South Wind”, his new yawl. Brent, who recently finished the leading role in Warner’s “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” plans to enter his 86-foot sail boat in the 1941 Honolulu sailing race and right now is starting to fit it up for the big event. Lefty Is Righthanded ~ In each of the five pictures Mare Lawrence has made at Warner’s, he has had the nickname of Lefty. In “Invisible Stripes,” “Socrates,” “The Road Gang,” “Dust Be My Destiny,” and now “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” which is now playing at the Strand, he has been a gangster of one type or another. Lawrence is not a southpaw. "Oscar" Disappears! Sam McDaniels, Hattie’s brother, who’s featured in Warner Bros.’ ‘The Man Who Talked Too Much,” which is now playing at the Strand, borrewed his sister’s Academy Award “Oscar” to impress Eastern relatives. Hattie was ready to call the police when Sam returned the missing prize. ¢ CURRENT other office frock in gray silken wool shows large pockets that give side width to a slim skirt, a black leather belt and a silver chain necklace tacked on the round, high neckline. There are,numerous suits. One is in beige broadcloth with a fresh white pique collar. Added interest is in the shiny brass military buttons on the coat. More tailored is a suit with gray and black striped skirt and black wool jacket with manv small pockets. This suits Virginia’s tailored personality in her role. Virginia wears girlish frocks, too, with hints of summer. A black crepe has a shirred front skirt, short puffed sleeves edged with ruffled pink eyeleted organdie and a low “V” neckline outlined with wide collar of the same pink frill. Still on the side of femininity, a navy silk wool dress has elbow length sleeves and low square neckline edged with a broad white lace collar run with quaint ribbon beading tied in a dainty bow. SHORTS ° Star Is Homeward Bound Brenda Marshall, who has just completed her role in “The Man Who Talked Too Much” at Warner’s is going to return to her home, the island of Negros in the Philippines, and spend a month with her father, owner of a large sugar _ plantation. Brenda’s father is anxious to retire and has been trying to persuade his daughter to take over the running of the plantation. Brenda wrote her dad, “I can’t imagine myself as a business woman. If you owned a theatre instead of a plantation, I might try it.” Barthelmess Comes Back Richard Barthelmess, former matinee idol who went into retirement six years ago, is back in films to stay. Barthelmess is looking forward to a new career as character actor. He is featured in Warner Bros.’ “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” starring George Brent, Virginia Bruce and Brenda Marshall, which is now playing at the Stran Theatre. Strand Star is Botanist Virginia Bruce is planning to do something with which her first movie contract interfered. She will enroll in the University of California at Los Angeles extension school for a course in Botany. While on the set of “The Man Who Talked Too Much” at Warner’s, Miss Bruce explained, “T spend most of my time between pictures working in the garden. It is my hobby and now my interest has become so keen, I plan to take the course in an effort to become a real expert.” Reunion On Set George Tobias, Alan Baxter, Marc Lawrence, and director Vincent Sherman had a reunion on Warner set of “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” which opens at the Strand on Friday. They all played together in the New York stage play, “The Black Pit,” in which Baxter played the lead on Broadway five years ago.