Universal Weekly (1928-1930, 1933-1936)

26 Universal Weekly September 28, 1929 Milwaukee Critics Like “Drake Case” Uniyersai Pictorial News Kansas City's Latest Murder Mystery! Principals in “The Drake Cue" (Left) District Attorney Caldwell, young Prosecutor who is conducting the case for the state. (Center) Scene in Judge Morris’s court where Lulu Marks is on trial for her life. (Right) Lulu Marks accused of the murder of Dons Blake, as she hears the State's demand for her life. (AH photos courtesy Globe Theatre where “The Drake Case" Universal's 1 00* Talking Picture is now showing) These window placards were displayed all over Kansas City and attracted wide attention on account of a sensational local murder. “THE DRAKE CASE” PROVES SENSATION IN KANSAS CITY Exploitation Plays Up Murder Mystery IF “The Drake Case” were just another murder mystery its release at the present time would leave the movie world cold. It is, however, a “different” murder mystery. It has, like several of its contemporaries, a courtroom scene. But what a courtroom scene! Peggy Patton, popular motion picture critic on the Wisconsin News, went to the Alhambra last week prepared to say, “thumbs down!” Here is what she actually wrote: “Well, I spoke out of turn in this column last week. I vowed if they ran another court trial down my neck on the silver sheet, it would be just too bad. But I hadn’t figured on ‘The Drake Murder Case,’ Alhambra. Court trial or no court trial, if it is a good picture one is going to like it and the present photoplay is one decidedly worth seeing. For what is more interesting than mystery and intrigue, a thing that keeps you guessing and baffled. ‘The Drake Murder Case’ does all that. “The story opens with promising ingredients. There is a servant who has a most unusual hold on her mistress; a child who vows she hates her own mother; and a murder that seems to be utterly without motive. You know that the two women hate each other, but you are at loss to understand why, considering their different stations in life. When one is arrested for the death of the other, she refuses to talk in her own defense, stating only that she did not kill the woman, but was glad she was dead.” It Really Could Happen Says Milwaukee Leader “The Who Did It?” film at the Alhambra this week, featuring the late Gladys Brockwell, is one of those unusual mysteries which might really have happened. “If you are one of those annoying individuals who insists on taking your mystery tales with analysis, you are safe with the Alhambra story, called ‘The Drake Case.’ It has no leaks through which to admit the waters of unreality which often flood mystery stories. “Mrs. Drake, all set for a trip to Europe with her stepdaughter, is interrupted by a determined and sinister woman servant who first insists THE unflagging popular interest in mystery films gave the keynote to the exploitation campaign on Universal’s “Drake Case” in Kansas City. Manage William Flynn of the Globe Theatre and Exploiteer Ravenscroft took advantage of a sensational murder case occupying attention locally by issuing a Universal Pictorial News captioned “Kansas City’s Latest Murder Mystery!” Unnerneath, as the accompanying illustration shows, was a scene from Universal’s thrilling all-talking picture and pictures of the prosecuting attorney and the defendant. These News Bulletins were used lavishly in windows throughout the city. Another bid for the patronage of the legal profession consisted in an that she will not sail and then undertakes to prove it by taking the things out of her mistress’ suitcase. “ Then comes an amazing unwinding of episodes which culminate in a courtroom, to the satisfaction as well as surprise of everyone. “Beside Miss Brockwell, whose acting is excellent, Forrest Stanley stands out in his portrayal of a sarcastic district attorney such as you love to hate. Robert Frazier is all that the lawyer for the defense should be. The defendant is, of course, Miss Brockwell, the woman servant.” nouncements to a special mailing list of 1,300 lawyers. Publicity was printed in Legal News, the local daily legal paper. Ten thousand throwaways were distributed as a tie-up with the Commercial Fingerprint Identification Bureau on the value of fingerprints as evidence and identification. This was especially apropos in view of the prominent part fingerprints played in “The Drake Case.” A heavily veiled woman in mourning proved a striking walk-around for street exploitation. She carried a sandwich board on which appeared : “I am heart-broken. Mother accused of Murder “DRAKE CASE” Help me absolve her! Now on trial at the Globe Theatre.” The outdoor advertising consisted of twenty-five 24-sheets and three hundred 1-sheets. In addition, 150 window cards were displayed and the Pictorial News described above. Publicity was given the film through radio, movie reviews and newspaper columns. The picture packed them in at the Globe for a solid week. “The Drake Case” has one of the most tense courtrooms yet to reach the talking screen. It is an Edward Laemmle production, with Gladys Brockwell, Forrest Stanley, Robert Frazer, Barbara Leonard and James Crane cast in the principal roles.