Constance Bennett, Brian Aherne Star in “Merrily We Live”

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

Constance Bennett, Brian Aherne Star in “Merrily We Live”

Constance Beimet, the blonde charmer of “Topper,” and Brian Aherne, last seen on the screen as “The Great Garrick,” are co-starred for the first time in the new Hal Roach M.-G.-M, production. “Merrily We Live.”

s ! ' if ■ . ; j., . t . •#-* Billie Burke, who scored so successfuly as the Victorian wife in s “Topper,” has the role of Mrs Kilbourne, a philanthropist, whose specialty is the reformation of hoboes who call at her door. Allan ‘Mowbray, also of “Topper” fame, again is cast, as a butler, but in the current production his role gives h.im more scope for) comedy than the previous one. • • ' • - .T”''

Patsy Kelly, one of the screen’s foremost comediennes, romps through the role of a cook in the Kilbourne establishment. Her life is made hectic through the enthusiasms of Mrs Kilbourne for her newly-discovered tramps and through the butler’s disgust at these humanitarian endeavours. v

In the role of a senator’s daughter whose predatory eye settles upon Miss Bennett's romantic interest in the film is Ann Dvorak. Bonita Granville, not entirely grown-up, but wearing her first floor-length dinner gown in the picture, plays the “kid sister” in the Kilbourne family. She augments her allowance by threats of blackmail

and sells petty secrets between members of the family for fancy prices.

Tom Brown is the “kid brother,” whose growing up passes unnoticed by other members of the family. He is by turns wheedling and rebellious, but nothing he does or says upsets the family's mad pace or distracts them from their individually amusing interests.

As Henry Kilbourne, nominal head of the family, but in reality as ineffectual as his wife or any of his children, is Clarence Kolb, long a star on the stage with his partner Max Dill, but now one of the screen's foremost character actors.

Marjorie Rambeau, for more than a decade a reigning favourite on the New York stage, and now widely sought by Hollywood studios for supporting roles, plays the role ol the senator’s wife.

Another popular film player lending his talents to “Merrily We Live" is Phillip Reed, “tall. dark, and handsome,” who plays the role oi Miss Bennett's discarded suitor and acts as a foil for the pranks of Aherne and Mowbray.

lion is Norman Z. McLeod. famed for his deft handling of .comedy and acclaimed for ihc success of his preceding production. ‘‘Topper.’' In addition to this lavish casting, the sets constructed, on the lot tor “Merrily We Live” • were the mostelaborate ever built on the &oaeh lot.

Two of the huge sound stages were used. In, one was the facade of a Georgian mansion, complete even ,to the trees, shrubbery ■ and flowers that bordered its walks. On the other stage was the interior of the house, .with complete continuity in the arrangement of rooms

The director of this stellar aggrega-