Book of Numbers (AVCO Embassy Pictures) (1973)

PUBLICITY Raymond St. Jacques Stars In, Directs ‘Book Of Numbers’ Raymond St. Jacques makes his movie directorial debut on “Book of Numbers,” in addition to starring in the film as “Blueboy Harris” and serving as producer. The picture is a Joseph E. Levine and Brut presentation for Avco Embassy release. Since he made his screen debut several years ago, moviegoers around the world have been treated to many sterling performances by this handsome, imposing actor with the commanding voice who recently starred in “Come Back Charleston Blue,” his 13th motion picture. In this sequel to the successful “Cotton Comes to Harlem,” St. Jacques recreated his role of Coffin Ed Johnson, a hard-nosed Harlem detective. Born in Hartford, Conn., St. Jacques was reared and educated in New Haven, where he was graduated from Hillhouse High School. He became an actor, assistant director and fencing director for the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Conn., staging all the duels and fencing scenes. Fencing has continued to be one of his hobbies and he still finds time to teach this ancient art. He made his professional acting debut in the off-Broadway play, “High Name Today,” which dealt with the Korean War. His first motion picture was “Black Like Me,” with James Whitmore. He then attracted at tention with his performance in “The Pawnbroker,” starring with Rod Steiger. His acting career was further enhanced by appearances in such films as “The Comedians,” with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; “Mr. Moses,” with Robert Mitchum; “Mr. Buddwing”’; “Madigan,” with Henry Fonda; John Wayne’s “Green Berets”; “Uptight,” for Jules Dassin; “If He Hollers, Let Him Go” and “Change of Mind.” St. Jacques has also appeared in a number of network television shows, including “The Defenders,” “Hallmark Hall of Fame” and “Naked City.” A bachelor, St. Jacques is an expert cook and finds special enjoyment in having friends sample his culinary skill. He is also an avid reader, an enthusiastic horseback rider and a first-rate amateur photographer. Freda Paynes Numbers’ Role A Throwback To The Thirties Mat 1B Freda Payne stars in “Book of Numbers,”’ now playing at the Sawee: Theatre. The film is a Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation released by Avco Embassy Pictures. In “Book of Numbers” Joseph E. Levine and Brut presentation for Avco Embassy release, Freda Payne makes her film acting debut as the pretty local society girl who falls in love with a handsome operator of a numbers bank.. As Kelly Simms, she takes the audi ence back to that nostalgic era of the thirties when skirts were midcalf, the dance was the Lindy Hop and Blacks lived in a _ separate society whites knew almost nothing about. Until now, Freda has’ been known primarily as a singer of such hits as “Band of Gold” and “Bring the Boys Home.” The fact that Freda ever became a singer-actress in the first place may seem remarkable to those friends who remember her as the painfully shy youngster growing up in Detroit. As an ll-year old, she was finally urged to get up and sing by her piano teacher at a recital. At 16, she started doing local radio commercials. That was the first time she was ever paid for singing. Then followed local nightclub engagements, followed by her first record, “Slightly Out of Tune.” Freda grew up in Detroit while the Motown dynasty was being formed and knew some of the Motown stars as children. Some were older, others younger than she. She knew Brian Holland and LaMont Dozier who later wrote music for Motown. And she recalls Berry Gordy Jr.: “When I was 13, he was still poor, but on the verge of becoming a tycoon.” Mat 2B Freda Payne is menaced by a mobster (Frank De Sal) in this scene from “Book of Numbers,” an exciting picture about the numbers racket. The Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation for Aveo Embassy release, will open at the Theatre. Newcomer Thomas Plays A Waiter In ‘Book of Numbers’ Philip Thomas, starring as the handsome, young waiter who travels South with Raymond St. Jacques to start a Black-run numbers bank, in “Book of Numbers,” a Joseph E. Levine and Brut presentation for Avco Embassy is a film newcomer who is bound to have a significant effect on the image of the Black male in American films. With his green eyes, wavy hair and olive complexion, he brings another physical view of American Black people which has been all but totally overlooked to date. He is a visual testament to the fact that Black people, far from looking alike, encompass every hue from blue-eyed blondes to darkest black. Thomas, whose only previous movie was “Stigma,” was born 23 years ago in Columbus, Ohio and reared in the Watts section of Los Angeles and in San Bernadino. He was a member of a gang which called itself the Black Mafia until he was 15. Then he became a youth minister in store-front churches and at the Delman Heights branch of Aimee Semple McPherson’s Four Square Gospel Church for five years. Philip worked his way through his first year at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh Day Adventist ministerial college, as a barber. He also worked as a short order cook, janitor, carpenter and inspector at Kaiser Steel. He made his theatrical debut in the roles of Hud and Berger in the San Francisco Company of “Hair,” in which he played for 18 months. He joined a production of “No Place To Be Somebody” in San Francisco and also appeared in the Detroit production of the play. He also appeared in the Broadway production of “The Selling of the President.” Mat 1C Raymond St. Jacques stars as the operator of a numbers bank in “Book of Numbers,” currently showing at the . Theatre. The film is a Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation for Aveo Embassy release. Gun Buff It’s little wonder that Raymond St. Jacques, producer-director-star of the Joseph E. Levine and Brut presentation of “Book of Numbers,” impressed the cast and crew with his knowledge and handling of guns used back in the 1930’s production dealing with the numbers racket. St. Jacques is a gun enthusiast of sorts, owning several classic hand pistols of his own and having studied handling and use of the famous and historic Colt .45. Several hand guns and rifles are used in “Book of Numbers” and St. Jacques instructed the actors in using the firearms. “Book of Numbers,” an Avco Embassy release, also stars singer Freda Payne, in her film debut, and screen newcomer Philip Thomas. Mat 2D Raymond St. Jacques, Hope Clarke, Freda Payne, Sterling St. Jac at the sentation for Avco Embassy release. SHORT TAKES Raymond St. Jacques, star, producer and director of the Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation of “Book of Numbers,” aged 20-years for his role in the Avco Embassy release. St. Jacques shaved the top of his head, added three gold caps to his teeth and padded his midsection to gain the desired effect. “Book of Numbers” opens == atthe Theatre. xk k * When Philip Thomas performs in a Church scene in the Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation, “Book of Numbers,” opening at the Theatre, he delivers his lines with authenticity. Just a few short years ago, Philip was a youth minister for The Four Square Gospel Church in San Francisco. Raymond St. Jacques stars and Freda Payne co-stars in the Avco Embassy release. KK Popular song stylist Freda Payne, who makes her film debut in the Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation of “Book of Numbers,” made her theatrical debut at age 11, performing a piano and voice recital before family and friends. Her reward was a new piano. Raymond St. Jacques stars in the Avco Embassy release, opening at the Theatre. KOK Hope Clarke, who co-stars with Raymond St. Jacques, Freda Payne and Philip Thomas in the Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation of “Book of Numbers,” has a very special reason for celebrating New Year’s Eves. It was on New Year’s Eve of 1959, that she auditioned and won her first professional assignment, in a New York production of “West Side Story.” An Avco Embassy release, “Book of Numbers” opens at the Theatre. NOTE Publications which use offset printing processes should reproduce the scene stills directly from this pressbook. Those using letterpress should order the Mats (by number) from National Screen. Mat 2A D’Urville Martin and C. L. Williams dress up as ku kluxers to frighten a rival numbers gang and end up frightening themselves in a very funny sequence from “Book of Numbers,” which will open at the Theatre. The picture is a Joseph E. Levine and Brut Presentation released by Aveo Embassy Pictures. PAGE SEVEN