Father Steps Out (Monogram) (1941)

a “FATHER STEPS OUT” A RIOT’ OF LAUGHTER, ACTION, ROMANCE : (Review ) Easily one of the brightest and gayest comedies to come out of Hollywood in many a moon, Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” a scream-lined laugh-fest with Frank Albertson, Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray, opened yesterday at the _................. Here is a picture designed solely and simply for laughs. It carries no message and makes no pretense to being a great dramatic masterpiece, but it does observe the cardinal rule of any photoplay—provides entertainment. “Father Steps Out” relates the adventures of a newspaper reporter who sets out to get the story of an important railroad merger, and of the president of the railroad, who spends his vacation hobnobbing with two hoboes on a cross-country jaunt. When Frank Albertson, as the reporter, is assigned to the story, he poses as a doctor and inveigles an invitation to accompany the president of the railroad, played by Prouty, on his vacation. The president’s daughter, however, sees through Albertson’s ruse and tells her father he is not a doctor but a reporter. Before Prouty can deal with the fake doctor, he falls from his private train and lands in a hobo “jungle.” Here he meets “King” and “Nap,” two gentlemen of the road, and decides to throw in his fortunes with them. ee ae During Prouty’s hobo vacation, however, matters affecting the railroad merger reach a critical point. It is the newspaperman’s job to find the president and get him to his office in time to save the deal—and, of course, insure himself a good story. From this point the film rushes madly to its whirlwind climax and winds up in a blaze of action and hilarity. Under the deft direction of Jean Yarbrough, the acting assignments in each instance are well handled, with major honors going to Albertson, Prouty and Miss Gray as the millionaire’s daughter. The picture was produced by Lindsley Parsons, Joseph West is given screenplay credit, with additional dialogue by Edmond Kelso. Young Man Experience Frank Albertson, featured with Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” LG | ee pale ena a Theatre, is one of the youngest veterans in motion pictures.. He made his screen debut in 1921 while still attending grammar school and has appeared in scores of pictures since then. Among the famous ladies of the screen with whom Albertson has been featured are Ginger Rogers, Katherine Hepburn and Barbara Stanwyck. siti eo ah + HE’S A GO-GETTER Frank Albertson has the role of a live-wire newspaper reporter with romantic inclinations in ‘‘Father Steps Out” at the __......... Theatre. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 3 MOVIE REALISM TOO MUCH FOR PROUTY For a scene in Monogram’s. “Father Steps Out,” producer Lindsley Parsons had constructed a special railroad car, complete in every interior detail. Parsons was extremely proud of the car, especially of the fact that it was constructed on special rockers to give it the effect of a speeding train roaring through the countryside. One particular scene in the picture, now at: the .....2.025.2:2.4. Theatre, took place between Jed Prouty, Frank Albertson and Lorna Gray, featured in the comedy drama, and to give the desired effect. director Jean Yarbrough called for the hydraulic rockers to be put into action. Halfway through the scene, Prouty, seated in a chair, turned pale and said to Yarbrough: “Hey, you'll have to stop that rolling, Jean—I’m getting train sick.” There was no help for it. From then on the rockers stopped rocking while Prouty worked in the train sequence. | THE DOCTOR KNOWS BEST | AS Posing as a physician, Frank Albertson, who appears as a newspaper reporter in “Father Steps Out,” gives some sage advice to pretty Lorna Gray. Jed Prouty plays “father” in this new comedy. Two Col, Cut or Mat No. 16 Hobo Deluxe Frank Faylen, who is seen as a hobo in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out” with Frank Albertson and Jed Prouty at the .............. Theatre, was driving home from the studio after work one day during production of the film. A police radio car pulled alongside and flagged the actor to the side of the road. An officer then wanted to know where Faylen had “borrowed” the car he was driving. “A guy dressed as you are, doesn’t run around in machines like this,’? said the officer, pointing to Faylen’s hobo attire. The actor spent an uncomfortable 20 minutes and finally had to telephone the studio before the policemen were satisfied. Albertson Tries Anything Once For his role in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” opening........... Bi UNO: nhc Theatre, Frank Albertson had to learn how to ride a motorcycle—and that was really an experience. Albertson, featured in the comedy drama with Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray, never had been on a motorcycle before. In fact, he learned how to handle the bike about two hours before he rode it in the picture. : The action called for Albertson to zoom down a highway behind the camera truck which was traveling at about 35 miles an hour. All went well until Albertson got his controls mixed up. The motorcycle suddenly shot from under the actor —and left him sitting in the middle of the road. No harm was done, not even to the machine, which ran into a ditch. Albertson was more careful the second try and the scene was photographed to the satisfaction of director Jean Yarbrough. ‘Variety is the Secret of Frank Albertson's Success The acting career of Frank Albertson is noteworthy because of at least two factors—that it has continued steadily and smoothly for nearly 20 years and that he has escaped the threat of being tagged as a perpetual juvenile. That 20-year record is especially worthy of comment because it classes Albertson as as true veteran of the industry despite the fact that he has not yet turned 30. It also is significant that he has passed the dangerous stage of being known simply as “that good looking juvenile” because this is the danger point for any up and coming actor. Many young actors have found their careers nipped in the bud because they failed to survive a series of pictures in. which | CUPID’S VICTIMS | Lorna Gray and Frank Albertson discover “‘that thing called love’? in “Father Steps Out,’? Monogram’s new comedy hit with Jed Prouty. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 4 COMEDIAN PROUTY WOULDN'T CHANGE PLACES WITH ANYONE The strange fact about Jed Prouty, who has been acting most of his life, is that he likes being an actor. This is something of a switch from the accepted Hollywood standard. Most film stars are ready to admit that they probably missed their callings and would have made superior lawyers, engineers or industrial> tycoons. Not Jed Prouty, however. The actor, who appears with Frank Albertson and Lorna Gray in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” openMe ae he Rt UNG osc Theatre, thinks his is the finest profession in the world and he wouldn’t trade lots with anybody. “T honestly don’t know what I would have done had I been forced into some other profession,” declares Prouty. “I’m one of those persons born to the calling and couldn’t possibly be happy with anything else. “T hope that I’m at least a competent actor—certainly I’ve been a long time learning the business— but it frightens me to think what an awful bust I would have been in practically any other line of work. “Besides, acting undoubtedly is the most. interesting of all professions. It brings to one everything that is necessary for a happy, wellrounded life . . . travel, the opportunity of meeting many and different types of people and other similar advantages. “T’ve been at this work for a long time now in all its branches, vaudeville, stock and pictures, and I still think it’s the wisest choice I could have made.” Prouty has one of his finest screen opportunities in “Father Steps Out,” as the railroad president who spends his vacation touring with two hoboes. The picture was directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Lindsley Parsons. BRIEF BIOGS OF THE STARS FRANK ALBERTSON ... Veteran of 20 years in motion pictures, he is one of the veterans of Hollywood and has appeared in every type of picture from top-budget epics to 15-chapter serials. He also is well established on the New York stage, and remembered especially because of his leading role in “Brother Rat.” Among his long list of picture credits are “Bachelor Mother,” ‘Navy Blue and Gold,” “Fury” and “Room Service.” Graduate of Hollywood High School, he is strictly a home-town boy who made good in his own home town. JED PROUTY ... Familiar to millions of theatre-goers as the father of “The Jones Family,” he is one of the screen’s most popular comedians and character actors. Has appeared in scores of pictures and worked for practically every studio in the industry. Among his successes are “One Hundred Men and a Girl,” “Duke of West Point” and Monogram’s ‘‘Roar of the Press.” LORNA GRAY .. . Considered one of the most promising young actresses in pictures today, she has her first important leading role in “Father Steps Out.” A former Broadway musical comedy favorite, her previous picture credits include “Drums of the Desert” and “The Man They Could Not Hang.” they were cast as personable leading men, with little else to do but look handsome. Variety seems to be the secret of Albertson’s long-lived, healthy screen career. The actor, who will be seen with Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” ODenING 2-2 o ss at the Es ee Theatre, has played practically every type of character _|in every sort of picture made in Hollywood. Million dollar super-specials or 15-chapter serials, it’s all the same to Albertson, who has been cast as everything from newspaper reporters and dashing young millionaires to’steeplejacks and bowery bums. In his list of film credits, for in stance, are such box-office successes as “Bachelor Mother,” “Navy Blue and Gold,” “Fury” and “Room Service.” These are but a few of the literally scores of pictures in which he has appeared since his first job in 1922. In “Father Steps Out,” fast-moving comedy drama of a railroad chief, who decides to spend his vacation touring with some friendly hoboes, Albertson has a particularly fine role. The picture was produced by Lindsley Parsons and directed by Jean Yarbrough. Joseph West wrote the screenplay, with additional dialogue by Edmond Kelso. Lorna Gray Gets Biggest Chance Lorna Gray, tabbed by Hollywood film critics and studio officials as one of the best bets for future stardom in motion pictures, has her most important role in Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,” OPeNiNG 22s at the {25 eas Theatre. The actress is co-featured in the comedy drama with Frank Albertson and Jed Prouty and has ample opportunity to display the talents that have brought her recognition in the film capital. Preview critics were unanimous in their praise of her performance, especially noteworthy as this is her first top-line role. A graduate of the New York musical comedy stage, Miss Gray, an accomplished singer and dancer as well as dramatic actress, has only been in Hollywood a couple of years. She served her apprenticeship for the screen in some short subjects and with minor roles in feature productions. Lindsley Parsons, producer of “Father Steps Out,” noticed the girl’s work in a previous Monogram picture and saw her possibilities immediately. After a conference with his director, Jean Yarbrough, he gave her the role of Prouty’s daughter in the picture. Fashion Plates For a few days anyhow, Frank Faylen and Charles Hall were the two best-dressed hoboes in the country. It was during the filming of Monogram’s “Father Steps Out,”? comedy drama with Frank Albertson, Jed Prouty and Lorna Gray now at the Theatre. Faylen and Hall, seen in the film as gentlemen of the road, wore nondescript, tattered outfits that were the result of some fancy butchery by studio wardrobe men. The costumes were parts of suits formerly worn in Monogram pictures by such actors as Charles Farrell, Michael Whalen, Johnny Downs, Wallace Ford, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. nes a NES SE oe