The Matrimonial bed (Warner Bros.) (1930)

sis t — ) \ | “THE MATRIMONIAL BED” — A Warner Bros. and Vitaphone Production “MON DIEU! IS IT MY LATE DEAR HUSBAND?”’ Jcene trom “The Matrimonial Bed" A Warner Bros. Production MADAME CORTON AMAZED AT DASHING BEAU—WHO comes as a hairdresser, but so much resembles her first husband that she thinks the story of his death in a rail| road wreck must be a mistake. Production No. 1—Cut or Mat A WARNER BROS. AND VITAPHONE PRODUCTION WARNER BROS. Present THE MATRIMONIAL BED Time — The Present Place — Paris Aad Ae ase LILYAN TASHMAN Waitierie: Coren FLORENCE ELDRIDGE Gushwe Corton es JAMES GLEASON Gore eo eS eS BERYL MERCER ado phe Ay obl et. ~ er e FRANK FAy Wa Atan her eS 8 ee ee MARION BYRON Dsante 1 rebel VIVIAN OAKLAND Dr. Friedland____... ARTHUR EDMUND CAREWE GOON NGS Se JAMES BRADBURY ADAPTED BY SEYMOUR HICKS FROM THE’FRENCH PLAY BY YVES MIRANDE AND ANDRE MOUEZY-EON SCREEN PLAY AND DIALOGUE BY HARVEY THEW DIRECTOR MICHAEL CURTIZ Theme Song FLEUR D’AMOUR by / MITCHELL, GOTTLER AND MEYER HYPNOTIST RESTORES LOST MEMOR TO HOTSY HAIRDRESSER WHO CLAIMS FIRST WIFE, FORGETTING SECOND THE STORY Inside the beautiful Paris home o Gustave and Juliette Corton, Corinne, a servant long in the same employ and Marianne, a new maid, are hanging the repaired picture of Adolphe Noblet, the former master of the same house and the former husband of Juliette. It is the fifth anniversary of the death of Adolphe and Juliette has gone, as is her custom, to visit the grave. She has remarried and is now the wife of Gustave, a former friend of the family, by whom she has a child. Corinne is in love with the memory of her former master and Marianne sees in the picture of Adolphe the likeness of a hair dresser she knows .as Leopold Treble. She calls Leopold for an appointment for that evening for her mistress, Juliette, who wants her hair dressed, to prove to Corinne that Leopold and Adolphe look alike. Juliette arriving home meets her friend Sylvaine, a smartly gowned woman who expects to marry Auguste Chabonnais, another friend of the Corton family, but who admits she is in love with a hair dresser named Leopold. She also sends for him for Juliette. Dr. Friedland is to be a dinner guest with Chabonnais, Corton, in love with Juliette and their child, is jealous of the attention the picture and memory of Adolphe receives. Even the servants resent his marriage to Juliette and everyone refers to the memory of Adolphe with the words, “What a Man!” Both Marianne and Sylvaine meet Leopold at the entrance when he arrives. Neither of these ever knew Juliette’s first husband, Adolphe, but both have had their affair with Leopold and are anxious to see him alone. When Leopold is introduced to Juliette she is amazed to recognize in him her former husband, Adolphe, and though he apparently does not know her, she calls Chabonnais and Doctor Friedland to question Leopold while he dresses her hair, hoping to prove that he is or is not Adolphe. Leopold gets the impression that he is in a mad house, the people act so curiously and when Corinne, the old servant falls at his feet as a welcome he is convinced of it. His famous power over women has not before got him into such a muddle. The discovery that he has a sham rock birthmark on his chest per suades Doctor Friedman that the hair dresser may really be Adolphe and he determines to try an experiment. Dr. Friedland hynotizes Leopold, learns that Adolphe is his real name and that the railroad accident that was supposed to have killed him only brought on an acute loss of memory. When he wakens the hair dresser it is Adolphe who comes from his trance and who believes he has had only a short nap. Innumerable complications naturally follow. Adolphe recognizes Juliette as his wife and knows nothing of his hairdressing activities nor does he remember his affairs with Marianne and Sylvaine. In desperation Juliette says the baby belongs to Sylvaine. Corton is warned to say nothing, since Adolphe might die of the shock. The servant Corinne welcomes the old master. Marianne and Sylvaine try to continue their affairs with Adolphe whom they know only as Leopold. Adolphe, believing himself the master of the house and the husband of Juliette, is annoyed because Corton hangs around. Adolphe discharges Marianne for being familiar and she telephones Leopold’s wife, at his hairdressing establishment and she starts for the Corton mansion. Adolphe finally battles off Sylvanne, who leaves in a huff, but Corton, unable to bear the situation any longer, tells Adolphe the truth. Both refuse to give up Juliette and a race ensues to see which of the two husbands can undress and get to bed first. They tie just as Suzanne, Leo pold’s wife arrives on the scene. Adolphe fails to recognize this wife and refuses to believe he has four sons, two sets of twins, at home. SLO IR SEER F ,|UPROARIOUS PARISIAN FARCE IN WHICH WIVES, SWEETHEARTS, TWINS, HUSBANDS, LOVERS, LOOP-THE-LOOP THE STORY IN BRIEF A Parisian widow, happily remarried, is horrified to see in her new hairdresser a man who is her former husband’s double. A hypnotist restores the hairdresser’s memory, and the two keep the secret that he is indeed the first husband. He forgets his own second wife and two sets of twins, and disturbs his first wife’s husband by his attentions to her. After many _ love tangles he goes with his second wife and babies, leaving his first wife in ignorance of his identity. Dr. Friedland steps in and offers to explain. While he talks with Suzanne, Adolph learns that Juliette loves Corton and her child by Corton and that if he stays as Adolphe he will ruin the lives of five children and two women. Though he loves Juliette, he determines to leave. Adolphe talks the matter over with Suzanne and promises that he will return with her if Dr. Friedland ean hypnotize him back to the life of Leopold. This he already knows from the doctor is impossible. With elaborate ceremony Doctor Friedland pretends to hynotize Adolphe and he awakens, apparently the same old Leopold. Bidding goodbye to the family he has upset so badly, he drives away with Suzanne and their four children, who exclaim with irrepressible admiration, “What a Man!” (Advance) All Adult Humor In Coming Screen Farce It is adult humor that permeates “The Matrimonial Bed,’ Warner Bros. French farce coming next .... . to the Theatre. Spicy and pointed, it will prove irresistible to those who like smart and sophisticated comedy. It is built about the amazing experiences of a French gentleman about town, who meets with an accident and loses his memory, eventually awaking with more than his share of wives, families and affairs. The hero is happily cast in such a comedy. He has the smooth assurance that enables him to handle interesting situations with a humorous and inoffensive twist. / Lilyan Tashman, Florence Eldridge, Beryl Mercer, Marion Byron and Vivian Oakland are the women involved in Fay’s adventures and James Qleason, Arthur Edmund Carew and James Bradbury, Sr., are (Advance) **The Matrimonial Bed”’ Farce, Deals With Memory Loss A little amnesia is a dangerous thing. The husband who suffers an amazing and eventful loss of memory in “The Matrimonial Bed,’ a_ sophisticated comedy offering by Warner Bros. which comes to the Theatre next, has the misfortune to remember at the most embarrassing moment. So he believes that if one must forget one’s past one should make a clean sweep of it and forget it all, leaving no gates open and no strings loose. The hero plays the part of a heartstirring Frenchman who wakens suddenly to find himself leading a dual life, or treble or quadruple. The resultant confusion creates a situation seldom equalled for hilarious fun. Lilyan Tashman, Florence Eldridge, James Gleason, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Beryl Mercer and Marion Byron are in the cast. Michael Curtiz directed. (Advance) “If You Cry—I Laugh” Proved In Screen Farce That peculiar quirk in human nature that makes one man’s troubles another man’s—amusement,is—used to advantage in a French farce, “The Matrimonial Bed,” the Warner Bros. and Vitaphone production which comes to the Theatre next. The victim of a loss of memory in the story and consequently the husband of two wives and object of numerous other more passing affections, has the time of his life, high-stepping through the spicy situations that result. It is hilarious fun, with just a touch of drama in the final denouement. A splendid east, equal to all the exacting requirements of a light and clever comedy, escorts the hero through the story. Lilyan Tashman, Florence Eldridge, James Gleason, Beryl Mercer, Arthur Edmund Carew and Marion Byron have the principal roles. Michael Curtiz is responsible for the direction. “ENCHANTE, MADAME!” the men he bests—one way or an-| Scene from” TheMatrimonial Bed" other—in the battle of wits. Michael Curtiz directed. Sisco smieme acsiitin cia ot SETI EE A Warner Bros. Production— Production No. 2—Cut or Mat sophisticated _