Father Steps Out (Monogram) (1941)

Credits Produced by Lindsley Parsons Directed by Jean Yarbrough Ass’t. Director....Wm. Strohback Jack Ogilvie Mack Stengler Glen Glenn Screenplay by Joseph West Additional Dialogue by Edmond Kelso A Monogram Picture The Cast Jimmy Dugan....Frank Albertson J. B. Matthews Jed Prouty Helen Matthews John Maxwell John Dilson Mary Field Paul Maxey Tom Oliver Mrs. Benton Butler Here's the Amusing Story (Not for Publication) Jimmy Dugan, ace reporter for the Herald, is assigned by Macy, his managing editor, to get the inside story on a titanic railroad merger that is being swung by J. B. Matthews, president of Bay Shore Railroad. Matthews has wrested control of a rival line, Midland Central, from Tom Oliver and the story is of national importance. Posing as a doctor, Dugan gains admittance to the Matthews mansion and convinces “J. B.”’ that he is the assistant to the regular Matthews family physician. While Dugan is faking an examination of the millionaire, the latter’s pretty daughter, Helen, enters the room and recognizes the reporter as the highway cavalier who fixed a flat tire for her the previous day. She signals to her father that Jimmy is a reporter and Matthews immediately “clams up.” To get rid of Dugan without arousing his suspicions, the railroad magnate _ invites him on a vacation trip he is starting on the following morning. However, the reporter is given the wrong departure time. Jimmy misses the train, but starts a wild cross-country pursuit in his roadster, later shifting to a stolen motorcycle. He catches up with Matthews’ private car and fasttalks his way into Helen’s good graces. While Jimmy is doing this Romeo stint inside, Matthews accidentally falls off the observation platform of the train and lands in a hobo jungle. Two hoboes, King and Nap, accept him as a fellow “knight of the road” and think his story of being president of the railroad is hilarious. Matthews enjoys the free and easy ways of the hoboes and decides to travel with them. With the nation’s headlines screaming about Matthews’ disappearance, rival tycoon Tom Oliver starts a campaign to regain control of Midland Central. Hearing that Jimmy Dugan has the inside track in the search for Matthews and may find him at any moment, Oliver assigns two strongarm men to follow the reporter. They have instructions to hold Matthews until a certain hour when the controlling stock will change ownership. Dugan does learn where the railroad president is and tells him of the financial war being waged to smash his railroad empire. Oliver’s men move in and attempt to kidnap the millionaire. They put Dugan out of action and are about to succeed with their coup when Matthews’ hobo pals take a hand and rescue him. With minutes to spare, Matthews races to his office, releases enough collateral to secure his controlling interest and bests Oliver. Jimmy Dugan gets a controlling interest in Helen. Young Veteran {Fake Medicine Frank Albertson, featured with) Daygzafes Actor Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” WOW AG TNO s <scccsicerec:Theatre, will celebrate his 20th year in pictures next November. The actor made his first film in 1921 as a child actor and has been seen in scores of films through the following years. Among his successes are “Fury,” “Connecticut Yankee,” ‘Room Service” and “Bachelor Mother.” JED PROUTY Familiar to moviegoers as the head of the cinema’s “Jones Family,” Jed Prouty essays a new comedy role in fast-moving ‘Father Steps Out.” One Col. Cut or Mat No. 2 Monogram’s It doesn’t make much difference now, but Jed Prouty still is curious about. the nature of the pills he swallowed for a scene in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” comedy drama now playing at the Theatre. After this particular scene had been photographed from several different angles, with Prouty as a millionaire hypochondriac taking a couple of large pink pills each time, the actor suddenly asked: “Say, what are these pills, anyhow?” Director Jean Yarbrough didn’t know, so he called the prop man— who didn’t know either. In fact, nobody on the set seemed exactly sure where they had come from. With about a dozen pills in his stomach, Prouty could only go ahead and hope for the best. They must have been all right, because he survived and still is going strong. Frank Albertson, Lorna Gray, also appear in “Father Steps Out.” Promising Starlet Lorna Gray, recognized as one of Hollywood’s most promising and talented young actresses, has a leading role in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out” as part of a featured cast headed by Frank Albertson and Jed Prouty. This is the actress’ most important screen role and preview critics unanimously predicted a brilliant future for her. Jean Yarbrough directed the picture which sOPenSreise at the | $ “DOCTOR” ALBERTSON PRESCRIBES Newspaper reporter Frank Albertson announces a startling diagnosis while posing as a physician to millionaire Jed Prouty in “Father Steps Out.”’ Lorna Gray enjoys the impersonation. Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 15 New Comedy Reveals Hilarious Tale of Millionaire Vagabond (Review ) Entertainment Plus! That’s the rating for Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” a grand combination of comedy and action as presented by a sparkling cast headed by Frank Albertson, Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray. The picture opened yesterday at the Theatre. Here is one of those all too rare gems that starts out with a bang and marches steadily along until it reaches a rip-roaring surprise climax. It’s a sure-fire comedy with enough action and suspense to please all types of theatre-goers. “Father Steps Out” concerns itself with the adventure of a young newspaper reporter who is assigned to cover the story of an important railroad merger. He manages to crash the family circle of the president of one of the railroads, and is even invited to join the magnate on his vacation. , The picture swings into high when the president is accidentally thrown from the train and finds himself in a hobo jungle. He elects to spend his vacation touring with two gentlemen of the road, while half the nation searches for him. The reporter finds the president just in time to save the railroad merger, and gets both his story and the girl. Director Jean Yarbrough has turned in a swell job and draws the most from his talented cast. Prouty scores with his clever portrayal of the railroad president, while Albertson is equally as good as the newspaper reporter. Lorna Gray provides the romantic interest. Others in the cast, all of whom handle their assignments well, include Kathryn Sheldon, Frank Faylen, Charles Hall, John Maxwell and John Dilson. “Father Steps Out” was produced for Monogram by Lindsley Parsons. NOOtN@e sae 5670 Feet Running Time _._........... 63 Minutes Code-Numbers. 7490 Very Tiring Frank Albertson probably is the only man on record who spent six hours changing an automobile tire—only he changed the same tire four times during the stretch. It was all for a scene in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” now at the ____._....._.... Theatre. The scene called for Albertson, featured with Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray, to carry on a conversation with Miss Gray while switching tires on her car. Director Jean Yarbrough photographed the shot from many angles, so Albertson had to keep repeating parts of the process for the greater part of a day. VAGABOND DAD Jed Prouty has fun as the million aire who turns hobo in “Father Steps Out” at the __.....__.. Theatre. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 1 ‘FUN PROMISED IN “FATHER STEPS OUT” (Advance) Heralded as one of the funniest comedies produced in Hollywood this season, Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” with Frank Albertson, Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray, opens hia Se atthe! :3\i 2. Theatre: Critics and preview audiences have been unanimous in their praise of this smoothly paced, fast-stepping comedy drama. The picture concerns itself with the adventures of a newspaper reporter, played by Albertson, and of a railroad president, Jed Prouty. With a railroad merger of national importance hanging in the balance, the president suddenly decides to take a vacation, meets two hoboes in a highway “jungle” and hits the road with them. From this novel premise, Joseph West. has created a clever screenplay that gives both director Jean Yarbrough and his cast ample opportunity to turn in top-flight performances. Critics credited Yarbrough with an exceptionally deft job of direction that keeps the picture rolling smoothly. Prouty, famous for his characterizations as Father Jones in “The Jones Family” series, has one of the best roles of his screen career. Albertson, youthful veteran of the screen, also has an exceptional acting opportunity as the breezy newspaper reporter. In addition to Lorna Gray, others in the cast include Kathryn Sheldon, Frank Faylen, Charles Hall, John Maxwell, John Dilson and Mary Field. The picture was produced by Lindsley Parsons. Edmond Kelso is credited with additional dialogue on West’s screenplay. All-Around Man Jed Prouty, featured with Frank Albertson and Lorna Gray in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” now at LS RAR ARP ee Theatre, has been trained in practically every branch of the acting profession. He has worked in vaudeville, musical comedies, stock and straight dramas, in addition to his motion picture work. Prouty gained top popularity as the “bread-winner” of the screen’s “Jones Family.” LAUGH FEST COMING With Frank Albertson, Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray in leading roles, Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” a comedy drama screamlined for laughs, opens 2... aks. at the So ee Theatre. Others in the cast include Kathryn Sheldon, Frank Faylen, Charles Hall and John Maxwell. The picture was directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Lindsley Parsons. DIRECTOR PICKS LORNA GRAY AS CHOICE IN STARLET STAKES Anybody interested in developing a “future book” on the chances for stardom of young screen actresses should make an odds-on favorite of Lorna Gray, recognized as one of Hollywood’s more promising film aspirants. Miss Gray, comparatively new to motion pictures, is one lady of whom it can be said—‘“she’s going places.” This is true because she has all the physical advantages, beauty, charm, a shapely figure— plus acting ability and musical talent. Hollywood, where a coming star is spotted long before the general public is aware of the fact, ranks the girl as an almost sure-fire bet for stardom, despite the fact that she has had only one important leading role. This is in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” which opens Pea cae poo S| PP rae ale Theatre. Miss Gray is part of a featured cast headed by Frank Albertson and Jed Prouty, and the fact that she holds her own against such talent is a tip-off on her abilities. Director Jean Yarbrough, who has worked with many top-rank actors in his day, was so impressed with her work in “Father Steps Out” that he freely predicted a bright future for her. “Lorna has approximately 20 times as much talent as many of these youngsters now being groomed for big things,’ declared Yarbrough. “That’s a broad statement, of course, but it happens to be true—you can’t work with a player through an entire production and not get a pretty good line on her abilities.” Miss Gray, who has worked hard to develop her dramatic talents, is taking her career with a level head. She realizes that she still is fighting to get to the top, and then will have to fight to stay there. “T only hope I can make good,” she says, “and that I keep on making good after I get over the first tough hurdles.”