Wonder Bar (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Newspaper Kictionization Adapted from First National’s great musical drama, starring Al Jolson, Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell and a dozen other stars, coming soon to the Strand. CHAPTER IX NEZ collapsed and Harry, his strength fast failing, caught her in his arms. The musie hit a crashing crescendo as Harry sank to his knees with Inez in his arms. The audience applauded enthusiastically, relieved that the dramatic and sensational number was over, totally ignorant of the fact that a man had been stabbed before their eyes. Al, smiling professionally, ran out on the floor and put his arms around Inez and Harry, pretending to embrace them, while in reality he was helping them hold their feet. Harry bowed weakly to the erowd. Inez, semi-hysterical, leaned heavily on Al’s arm. Smil ing and bowing, he escorted them off the floor. Instantly, his jovial attitude changed to one of concern. “What’s the matter with you!” he demanded. “T stabbed him—TI him—” babbled Inez, ently. “You’re talking silly, honey,” Al said. “Come inside and sit down.” Inside the office, the girl suddenly collapsed in Al’s arms, and he placed her tenderly on a divan. “Inez—come on, honey—” Harry sank into a chair. “Harry!” Al ordered, curtly. “Tell Richard to see if there’s a doctor out there.” There was no answer. “Did you hear me?” stabbed incoher Al de Adapted from First National’s great musical drama, starring Al Jolson, Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell and a dozen other stars, coming soon to the Strand. manded, impatiently. “Go tell Richard to—” He stopped. Something :n Harry’s appearance startled him He crossed to the man and lifted his head. Harry was dead! Shocked, Al locked at his own hand. It was stained with blood. He hurried out the door. A group of chorus girls waylaid him, asking questions. “What’s the matter with Inez?” “Did she faint?” “Everything’s okay,” Al quieted them. “Don’t stand around here. Get ready for the finale. Go on beat it.” They scurried away. Pete, the auto call man, rushed up. “Say, boss,’ he said, “something’s wrong with Captain Von Ferring!” “Don’t bother me. IT got enough on my mind—” “Your number, Al,” cried Richard, running in from the Bar. “You’re on in two minutes.” “They can stall for a little,” Al answered, grimly. CHAPTER X turned to their table. Mic: LIANE RENAUD smiled at her husband as he re ‘‘Sorry, dear,’’ he apologized. ‘“‘I finally got rid of those men who wanted to talk business. Even here, I have to neglect you.”’ ‘‘Don’t be silly,’’ she answered. ‘‘I’m ready to go home. I’ve had enough for many, many evenings. I’m very tired.”’ As she arose, she purposely dropped her evening bag. It opened on the table and several trinkets spilled out. among them the diamond chain. “Darling—look—there it is!” she cried, holding up the chain. “And I was sure I’d lost it. It must have been in my evening bag all the time.” “You should be spanked for being so careless,” he chuckled, as they left The Wonder Bar, arm in arm. Al, in his dressing room, was frantically making up for his number—a blackface one—while Inez paced distractedly back and forth. “ve killed him—I’ve killed him,” she moaned. “Now, now, honey,” Al soothed. “You haven’t killed him at all.” “But the knife. I—I saw the blood!” “Only a scratch. Nothing to it. In fact, Captain Von Ferring is driving him home now—in the morning everything will be okay. You stay here and quiet your/ self. I’ll be right back.” “All right,” she consented, reassured by his hearty manner. He hurried out, and a moment later was singing his number in the crowded cafe. Simpson and Pratt, alone at their table while their wives were powdering their noses, thought it high time to assert themselves. Simpson called Mitzi and Claire, the percentage girls. “Look, baby,” he said. “Me and my friend are taking our wives home. As soon as they’re asleep we’ll meet you. Have you got an apartment?” “Have we an _ apartment!” Mitzi exclaimed. “T’ll say we have. You’ll love it.” “You don’t have to sell us,” Pratt chided. “We’re sold now.” Al, still in makeup, was saying goodbye to his guests when he called Richard over. “Bat for me, will you Richard?” he whispered. “I want to duek and take Inez home.” “Sure. I understand—and good luck.” He grinned as Al hurried away. In the stage director’s office, Tommy was seated on a divan holding Inez’ hands as she sobbed, hysterically. “Honey, please,” he begged. “But look, boss!” Pete insisted, displaying a wad of paper money. “Twenty-eight hundred francs, Captain Von Ferring pushed it into my hand. All he had. You better get a hold of him. He says leading the way to the stage director’s office. “What's the matter with them?” demanded Richard, recoiling as he saw Inez and Harry. “You blabbed about him run They supported his limp form between them, as they walked out past the gendarme. (The dramatic climax to “Wonder Bar,” First National’s musical extravaganza which stars Al Jolson, Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez and one of the largest casts ever assembled.) he’s going to run his car over a cliff. I’m stalling him outside.” “A lot of bunk,” Al barked, angrily. “He always says that when he’s cock-eyed.” “T know. But he’s cold, stoney sober tonight!” An idea flashed into Al’s mind. “Then maybe he is on the level,” he said. “We got to take the chance. Stall him a little longer, see?” “Sure, boss.” Pete ran out the door. Al, tense with excitement, turned to Richard. “Come y in here,’ he ordered, “T don’t know what came over me,” she sobbed. “I know he’s no good—and yet the thought of leaving me—” “Come on, ‘sweet, stop erying,” he pleaded. The girl buried her face in the boy’s shoulder. “Oh, Tommy,” she wept. Al eagerly opened the door, but his smile faded as he saw the girl in Tommy’s arms . “It’s all over now, honey,” Tommy said, softly. “Why should we talk about it?” “Yowre wonderful to say that, Tommy.” They discovered Al] down at them. “How do you feel, Inez?” he asked. “Shaky—but Tommy’s been talking to me.” She looked gratefully at the young orchestra leader. Al felt almost like an outsider as he watched them. “When you're ready, Inez,” he said, finally, “I thought maybe a ride in the fresh air might—you know—rest your nerves a little.” Inez and Tommy were a trifle embarrassed. “That’s sweet of you,” the girl said, hesitantly. “Sure, Al, but you see—” Tommy stumbled, awkwardly—“‘well, I kind of thought I had some new tunes I wanted Inez to hear. I was going to drive her home.” “Oh, sure. That’s okay.” Al noticed that her hand unconsciously had strayed into Tommy’s. “Come with us, Al, come on!” urged Tommy. Al was smart enough to see they were merely being kind. He forced a grin. “Me? Sit and hear a couple of kids croon ballads?” he demanded, gruffly. “Nothin’ doin’, Them days are over for me. No—you kids beat it. I don’t know but looking ning away with that Renaud dame in front of Inez,” Al answered, quickly. “She must have blown her topper—she stabbed him out there on the floor.” “Tl get a doctor,’ Richard started out. “Too late. I’ve got to get the body out of here before Inez comes to and we have the joint full of cops. Are you going to help me?” “You don’t have to ask that!” “Okay. You on one side of him—and me on the other. We’ll walk him out the employees’ en trance. If anybody sees us, he’s drunk, understand?” “But you can’t leave him in the alley—” “Grab him—you’ll see.” Quickly, Al and Richard lifted Harry’s body. They put his limp arms about their necks and supporting him between them, walked out. At the kitchen entrance, they encountered a gendarme having a glass of wine. Richard was terrified. “These actors—” said Al, winking at the officer. “Wine always gets ’em. Lucky there’s a friend out there to take him home.” “Here’s hoping this isn’t from the same bottle,’ laughed the gendarme, raising his glass. In the alley, Al saw Pete holding Captain Von Ferring in conversation. “Von Ferring’s car,” Al ordered, tensely. “That black one.” The two men supported Harry’s body to the limousine. They opened the door and put the dead gigolo in the rear compartment on the floor. Al slammed the door. Richard was trembling. “Quick—beat it inside,’ Al ordered. As Richard ran into the building, Al hailed Pete. “It’s all right,” he called. “Take the Captain to his car.” Von Ferring climbed behind the wheel. “Goodby, Al,” he said. “Be sure and get the morning papers.” “Will I?” answered Al dryly. “Captain, you don’t know the half of it.” With a roar the car pulled away. (To be Concluded) Keener His shoulders drooped. Suddenly he felt tired, as he said good bye to the girl he loved. (One of the closing scenes from ‘Wonder Bar,” First National’s unique musical comedy, which is coming soon to the Strand.) what you got the best idea at that. Good night Happy landing.” His shoulders drooped; strangely tired, he turned and left them. His makeup removed, dressed for the street, Al wandered through the deserted cafe, eerie in the half-light, chairs stacked on the tables, a scene of gaiety stripped of its tinsel. A newsboy pushed open the front door. “Extra! All about the big accident! Car plunges over cliff!” he hailed Al. He held up the paper. The headlines read: CAPTAIN VON FERRING AND HARRY, FAMOUS DANCER, DIE IN CRASH! Al shook his head, and turned toward the cashier’s desk. Absent-mindedly he picked up a dice cup, rolled the dice, and started at what he saw. He had thrown a seven. He promptly rang up “no sale” on the cash register, took out all the money, stuffed it into his pocket, puffed up his coat collar, and slowly walked through the door to the street. The huge neon Wonder Bar sign flickered out. Darkness settled over everything. — THE END — Page Twenty-one