Smart Blonde (Warner Bros.) (1937)

“SMART BLONDE” ee U Bei Perr by (Lead-Off Story) Glenda Farrell Introduces New Type To Screen Something new in the way of a feminine character on the screen is promised in ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’ a mystery-comedy-drama produced by Warner Bros. and starring Glenda Farrell, which will be shown: at “the 0.4.64. ees. Theatre Onc eons ees ‘“Torchy Blane’’ is the new character, and she is to run through a series of light yet thrilling pictures, impersonated in each by the lively, likeable and wisecracking Glenda. It is true that girl newspaper reporters have been shown in films before — but no girl in any way like Torchy, who is alternately flippant and serious; as nervy as any of her male journalistic confreres, yet altogether feminine. Real girl reporters who have seen previews of ‘‘Smart Blonde’’ say they gladly welcome Torehy into the profession of ‘‘ Ladies of the Press.’’ The picture is primarily a murder mystery, yet it is said to have plenty of laughs, and occasional songs and dances, in night-club scenes. Co-featured with Miss Farrell and aiding her in solving the mystery — is husky Barton MacLane, in the role of a police detective. Others in the cast are Winifred Shaw, whose throaty contralto introduces a new torch song; Jane Wyman, Charlotte Winters, Addison Richards, Craig Reynolds, Joseph Crehan and others. Frank McDonald directed ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’? which was an original story by Frederick Nebel, adapted for the screen by Don Ryan and Kenneth Gamet. (Opening Day Story) “Smart Blonde” Brings New Type To Strand Today ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’ a mysterycomedy-drama from the Warner Bros. studios, which has its first local showing today at the ............ Rec Theatre, will, it is promised, put on view for public approval a brand-new character -— Torechy Blane, girl newspaper reporter. The vivacious Glenda Farrell portrays Torchy, and with the aid of Barton MaclLane as a police detective, solves a murder mystery which confronts her at the very beginning of the picture. ‘‘Smart Blonde’”’ is the first of a series of comedy-dramas in which the dashing Torchy Blane will be the central figure, portrayed, of course, by Miss Farrell. Not since the days of the adventure serials like ‘‘The Perils of Pauline,’’ ‘‘The Hazards of Helen,’’ and the like, has there been a series of pictures with the same girl as the chief protagonist. But each of the present Torchy Blane pictures will be complete in itself, and altogether different from the others. With Miss Farrell and MacLane in ‘‘Smart Blonde’’ are many other noted players, including Winifred Shaw, Craig Reynolds, Addison Richards, Jane Wyman, Charlotte Winters, David Carlyle and Joseph Crehan. Frank McDonald directed the picture from a screen play by Don Ryan and Kenneth Gamet, based on a story by Frederick Nebel. Page Eight They're ‘Teamed At Last Glenda Farrell, the No. 1 wise cracking gold digger of the screen and Barton MacLane, ace tough guy of the films, are co-starred in a new series of Warner Bros.’ adventure pictures, the first of which, ‘‘ Smart Blonde,’’ opens at the Para Theatre on Mat No. 210—20e Birthday Party On Set Lacks Guest of Honor Pauline Garon, who has a small role in “Smart Blonde,” the Warner Bros. newspapermystery-police thriller which is now playing at the ............ Theatre, had a birthday during the filming of the picture. Glenda Farrell and Barton McLane, who are featured in “Smart Blonde” planned a birthday party for her which was to be a surprise. They invited all the other members of the east to attend. Then they waited — but the star guest failed to appear. Finally the assistant director was asked where she had gone. “She finished work early. so I let her go home,” he replied. Barton MacLane Co-starred with Glenda Farrell in the first of a series of Warner Bros. pictures based on the adventures of ‘‘Torchy Blane,’’ a hard boiled girl reporter, Barton MacLane, noted screen bad man COMES tO thes ee Theatre ON rie Gene in ‘Smart Blonde.’’ Mat No. 107—10c Jokers Provide Black Eyes For Movie Director Movie Director Frank MeDonald has resigned himself to being a martyr. They just won’t !et him alone on the first day of his pictures. It started a year ago ‘“Broadway Hostess’’ went into This directorial when production. being MeDonald’s first venture, pranksters around the set rubbed burnt cork on the camera ‘‘finder’? with the result that every time the director looked through it he obtained a beautiful black eye without knowing it. The practical let him whole first day’s work before let jokers go through the ting him in on the gag. Ever since then, they’ve let the director have it on the first day of his pictures. When he began work on ‘Smart Blonde,’’ the Warner Bros. comedy-drama now at the ee eee Theatre, the ribbers This time they said it with printing. followed their custom. The first scene was in the office of a city jail. In the opening shot Barton MacLane and Glenda Farrell were to be seen inspecting the faces and records of hardened police characters’ pictures on the wall. Someone had slipped onto the set in the early morning hours and substituted new posters for the ones hung there by the property man. On every one of them was a picture of McDonald! But Frank ‘‘took it’’ with a grin. No wonder he’s one of the most popular directors on the lot. “Smart Blonde’’ is a combination mystery-newspaper-police thriller, co-featuring Glenda Farrell as a wisecracking but brainy girl reporter and Barton MacLane as a hardboiled but capable detective-lieutenant. Other notables in the cast are Winifred Shaw, Craig Reynolds, Addison Richards, David Carlyle, Jane Wyman and Charlotte Winters. It was directed by McDonald from a screen play by Don Ryan and Kenneth Gamet, based on an original story by Frederick Nebel. (Review) *“Smart Blonde ’’ Introduces Gay New Film Character Torchy Blane, Girl Reporter, Glove-Fiiting Part For Clever Glenda Farrell ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’ introducing a new and fascinating character called Torchy Blane, girl newspaper reporter, which was the Warner Bros. presentation at the Theatre yes terday, won enthusiastic approval from local audiences. Torchy is portrayed by the fast-talking, wisecracking and : ; : agi altogether likeable Glenda Farrell. This picture, the producers say, is the first of a series with Torehy Blane as the heroine. ““Smart Blonde’’ is a fast-moving comedy-drama, based on a murder mystery which Torchy helps to solve. In the solution she has the aid of her friendly enemy, Detective Lieutenant Steve MeBride of the police. Steve is played with gusto by big, husky Barton MacLane, who alternates in the movies between heroic and tough roles — and does both very well indeed. Speed and action are the vital elements of ‘‘Smart Blonde.’’ It begins with the introduction of Torchy as she gets an interview on a mile-a-minute train; goes immediately into the killing of the man she has been interviewing; progresses into night clubs, police stations and other hot spots in a big city, and maintains until the final fade-out the suspense it starts out with. Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane both give believable and intensely interesting performances as reporter and cop. Winifred Shaw, dark, throaty contralto, is especially attractive as a_ nightclub singer, with a tuneful lament, ‘‘Why Do I Have To Sing A Toreh Song??? A small brunette newcomer named Jane Wyman has some delicious comedy scenes — in one of which she wakes up on a morning after to find a huge St. Bernard in her room, about which she has no recollection. David Carlyle and Charlotte Winters are effective as a pair of menacing crooks. Other important characters are ably handled by Joseph Crehan, Craig Reynolds, Addison Richards and Tom Kennedy. Frank McDonald, youngest of Warner Bros.’ directors, handled the making of ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’ which was prepared for the screen by Don Ryan and Kenneth Gamet from an original story by Frederick Nebel. Glenda Farrell’s Torchy Blane stories are destined to be surefire hits. Wini Shaw Prefers to Act Rather Than Sing “Why Do I Have To Sing A Torch Song?” is the name of a song which Winifred Shaw sings in ‘‘Smart Blonde,” the Warner Bros. comedy-drama which opens at Theatre, on And that’s just the question that the lovely and voluptuous Miss Shaw is asking herself. “My ambition is to be a dramatic actress,” she says, “and little by little, I think that I’m getting there. As ‘Dolly Ireland?’ in this picture, I sing, but I also have a dramatic role to play. I want to make a reputation for myself as an actress, rather than as a singer.”’ Nevertheless, Miss Shaw’s voice is so good that it looks like she’ll have to go on singing if her fans have anything to say about it. Glenda Farrell Long the recognized leader of the sereen’s wise cracking gold diggers, Glenda Farrell is now a hard botled girl reporter in ‘Smart Blonde’’ first of a new series of Warner Bros. adventure dramas based on the exploits of ‘‘ Torchy Blane.’’ It opens at the LCG OUT GP ON aerate errs Mat No. 108—10c Actor Sleuth Is Offered Courses In Mail School It’s going to be pretty tough for somebody if Barton MacLane ever catches up with the guy who has been subscribing to a whole batch of correspondence detective schools in his name. The courses began to arrive a couple of days after the actor began work in Warner Bros.’ de tective story ‘‘Smart Blonde,’’ which=comes to: thes .24.5.. nase Phea tre ON aces ce . The first morning’s mail brought him letters from six different detective training schools and a whole assortment of tin badges, fingerprint detection powders, sets of false whiskers and such. Later mail deliveries added to the collection. One ‘‘ school’? went so far as to send him a false nose and a pair of handcuffs, and all of them enclosed bills for the first installment in home course deteetion. MacLane is seriously considering taking one of the best courses. He says it might help him find the person or persons who are responsible for the ribbing. ‘“Smart Blonde’’ is a combination mystery-newspaper-police thriller, featuring Glenda Farrell as a wisecracking but brainy girl reporter and MacLane as a hardboiled but capable detective lieutenant. Other notables in the east are Winifred Shaw, Craig Reynolds, Addison Richards, David Carlyle, Jane Wyman and Charlotte Winters.