Wonder Bar (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Portrait Of Beauty The exquisite Kay Francis heads the all star cast of ‘Wonder Bar,” unique musical drama coming to the Strand. Mat No, 5—20c Lead-off Story World Famed Play “Wonder Bar” to Open Here Soon Out-doing all previous sensational combinations of stars and spectacles, First National’s long awaited international musical drama, “Wonder Bar,” will be shown for the first time locally Bb DWCasccaentyvarceerecqnexctagiaxs Theatre OM nnese Ss etadstsaeec cena Kay Francis plays the leading feminine role opposite Al Jolson, who portrays the proprietor of the “Wonder Bar.” Ricardo Cortez and Dolores Del Rio have the coveted parts of the two dancers, while Dick Powell and Henry Kolker have the roles of the American composer-orchestra leader and the husband of Kay Francis, respectively. Hal LeRoy, the sensational Broadway player, plays the role of himself in a thrilling dance sequence. Guy Kibbee and Hugh Herbert play the two American tourists with Ruth Donnelly and Louise Fazenda as their wives, in important comedy and character roles. Robert Barrat has the part of the army officer, who drives his auto over a cliff and unconsciously covers up a murder. Fifi d'Orsay and Merna Kennedy will be seen as the two flirtatious hostesses in the fashionable Parisian night club. As “Wunderbar,” this unique musical proved an international sensation a few years ago. It played for months in all of Europe’s capitals and was brought to this country as a stage starring vehicle for Al Jolson. He took it on the road after a season in New York and no production since “The Miracle” has been so generally and so generously welcomed. A few months ago First National acquired the screen rights to the production and proceeded at once to make extensive plans for its presentation as the greatest film spectacle of modern times. It is said that the screen version of “Wonder Bar” returns to some extent to the European script which was considerably altered for the American stage production. This increases the importance of the roles played by the long list of stars assigned to the picture. Busby Berkeley, creator of the musical numbers that featured “Gold Diggers of 1933”’—“42nd Street” and “Footlight Parade,” created and staged the special musical spectacles on a scale never before attempted even in these previous successes. Berkeley’s ability for sensational departures from the ordinary in camera work has made screen history in the past year. Opening Day Story Grand Opening of ‘Wonder Bar’ At... Tonight Tonight’s the night of the grand opening of tle First National mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle, “Wonder Bar,” to be shown in this city at the ideGenctesieteins Theatre. The picture is based on the internationally famous play that was the sensation of Europe a few years ago when it played before king and commoner in Continental capitals. Again it was a sensation on the American stage with Al Jolson in the stellar role. Al Jolson in the film version, plays the same role as an entertainer de luxe. Other members of the stellar array include Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell and Hal Le Roy. The supporting cast is quite as imposing including such notable players of stage and screen as Guy Kibbee, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda, Fifi d’Orsay, Merna Kennedy, Henry O’Neill, Robert Barrat and Henry Kolker. In addition there are three hundred beautiful chorus girls picked from 9,000 applicants who dance and sing clad in diaphanous gowns for the gigantic spectacles created and staged by Busby Berkeley, the wizard of musieal ensembles. Berkeley, who also staged the numbers for “42nd Street,” “Footlight Parade,” and “Gold Diggers of 1933,” is said to have surpassed even the gigantic spectacles in these pictures by the uniqueness, beauty and magnificence of his new conceptions. These spectacles spice the dramatie production which has been staged on a grand scale, the locale being a night club of gay Paris, the story centering about the entertainers, their romances Camera Highlights Of The New Strand Hit Stars, Spectacles, Music Fill ‘Wonder Bar’ to Brim First National’s Hit Reaches New High in Screen Achievement and Beauty EVER in the memory of this reviewer has there been staged a show of such magnitude and magnificence as the First National production of ‘‘ Wonder Bar,’’ which had its premiere at the ........... Theatre yesterday, where it was acclaimed with spontaneous and vociferous applause by a wildly enthusiastic audience. ‘“‘Wonder Bar’’ is not just another musical. Warner Bros.-First National have produced three great musicals, Romance Dolores Del Rio and Dick Powell are the love interest in “Wonder Bar,’ coming to the Strand. Mat No, 51—10e with each other and with patrons. The limitations of the stage have been overcome on the screen which permits of a production of far greater magnitude. This cameraman has caught the mood, spirit and tempo of the First National mammoth musical drama, “Wonder Bar,” coming to the Strand with an all star cast and 300 Busby Berkeley dancers. Mat No. 29—30e ‘42nd Street,’’ ‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ and ‘‘Footlight Parade,’’ in the past year. It was held that they had hit the high spots with these three productions; that they could not go on indefinitely putting out greater spectacles. But Warner Bros.-First National have again done the seemingly impossible. ‘‘Wonder Bar’’ is something entirely new, so vastly different from anything that has gone before it that there is no means of comparison. It surpasses its predecessors not only in its uniqueness and novelty, but in the beauty and grandeur of its spectacle and its throbbing drama of life. And what a cast! Six brilliant stars, with a dozen featured players to say nothing of five hundred other performers. Jolson has his old stage role which he enacts with all of his old time fire and enthusiasm as one of the world’s greatest entertainers. He sings two catchy new songs in English and a Russian gypsy melody, as well as acting as master of ceremonies at the gay Parisian night club where the drama is set. Kay Francis is stately and charming as the somewhat flirtatious wife of a wealthy banker who has lost her head over a cabaret singer. Dolores Del Rio, the magnetic brunette and the dashing Ricardo Cortez make an excellent team as the dancing marvels of ‘‘Wonder Bar’’ cabaret, whose fiery and impassioned last performance of the newly invented **Gaucho’’ dance ends in the stabbing of the lover. Dick Powell sings as engagingly as always, as well as giving an excellent performance as an orchestra leader and the rival lover for the beautiful Del Rio. Hal LeRoy, the famous stage star, performs one of his wizard dances that takes the house. Other notable performers in the cast include Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda, Ruth Donnelly, Fifi d’Orsay, Henry O’Neill, Robert Barrat, Merna Kennedy and Henry Kolker, all of whom do excellent work. It is impossible adequately to describe the magnificence of the spectacles created and directed by Busby Berkeley, that master craftsman who staged the numbers not only for ‘‘Wonder Bar,’’ but for ‘‘42nd Street,’’ ‘‘ Gold Diggers of 1933’? and ‘‘ Footlight Parade.’’ The number ealled ‘“Don’t Say Good Night,’’ set on a revolving stage and encircled by gigantic pillars and glass, is a revelation in beauty and splendor and can be appreciated only by being seen, Three hundred of Hollywood’s most beautiful dancing and singing girls romp through this and other numbers amid a riot of color and dazzling light effects. Lloyd Bacon, who guided Jolson through the ‘‘Singing Fool,’’ in the early days of the talkies, has welded the various parts of this mammoth production into a complete dramatic entity that makes it thoroughly balanced entertainment. Earl Baldwin wrote the screen play while the catchy music and lyrics are by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. If you only go to one show a year, this is the one you should not miss. Page Five