International House
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Bela Lugosi plays a jealous ex-husband in this all-star comedy set in the International House Hotel in Wu Hu, China, where a Chinese inventor is trying to sell his television-like invention, the radioscope. Lugosi, who had filed for bankruptcy in October, 1932, was filming International House at Paramount during the day and Night of Terror at Columbia through the night as he tried to work his way out of debt.
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Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Eddie Sutherland
Screenplay: Francis Martin and Walter Deleon
Original Story: Louis E. Heifetz and Neil Brant
Cinematography: Ernest Haller
Costumes: Travis Banton
Music & Lyrics: Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin
Running Time: 70 minutes
Copyright Number: LP3918, June 3 1933
Cast:
Peggy Hopkins Joyce: Herself
W.C. Fields: Professor Quail
Stuart Erwin: Tommy Nash
Sari Maritza: Carol Fortescue
George Burns: Dr. Burns
Gracie Allen: Nurse Allen
Bela Lugosi: General Petronovich
F. Chase Taylor: Colonel Stoopnagle
Edmund Breese: Dr. Wong
Budd Hulick: Bud
Lumsden Hare: Sir Mortimer Fortescue
Franklin angborn: Hotel Manager
Harrison Greene: Her von Baden
Henry Sedley: Serge Borsky
James Wong: Inspector Sun
Sterling Holloway: Entertainer in sailor uniform
RudyVallee: Himself
Cab Callowy and His Orchestra: Themselves
Baby Rose Marie: Herself
Ernest Wood: Newsreel reporter
Edwin Stanley: Mr. Rollins
Clem Beauchamp: Cameraman
Jerry Drew: Cameraman
Norman Ainslee: Ticket manager
Louis Vincenot: Hotel clerk
Bo-Ching: Bell-hop
Wong Chung: Health Inspector
Etta lee: Peggy’s maid
Lorna Andre: Chorus Queen
Ethan Laidlow: General’s henchman
Carry Daumery: Hotel guest
Andre Cheron: Hotel guest
Bo Ling: Cigar counter clerk
Frank O’Connor: Telegram clerkThe Hollywood Reporter, February 16, 1933
Cyril Ring: Mr. Brown, assistant hotel manager
Mary Jane Sloan: Sugar Bowl
Edwin Stanley: Mr. Rollins, electrictricity company boss
Gwen Setter: Tea Pot
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The Milwaukee Sentinel, December 13, 1932
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The Evening Independent, October 13, 1932
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The Milwaukee Sentinel, November 29, 1932
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Schenectady Gazette, December 28, 1932
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The Lewiston Daily Sun, January 12, 1933
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The Evening Independent, February 10, 1933
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 16, 1933
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The Hollywood Reporter, February 16, 1933
Lugosi to Paramount
Bela Lugosi was signed yesterday by Paramount for the third leading role in “International House,” which Eddie Sutherland is directing. The Sugarman-Delaney office negotiated for the player.
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The Evening Independent, February 22, 1933
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The Evening Independent, February 27, 1933
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The Hollywood Reporter, March 3, 1933
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Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, March 29, 1933
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Schenectady Gazette, March 30, 1933
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Prescott Evening Courier, April 3, 1933
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Schenectady Gazette, April 6, 1933
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St. Pitsburgh Times, March 12, 1933
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The Hollywood Reporter, May 8, 1933
“International House fast”, funny movie “BURLECUE ‘
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The Film Daily, May 19, 1933
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The Film Daily, May 24, 1933
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The New York Times, May 27, 1933
Wild Fan
At the Paramount they are dispensing humor by the shot-gun method, and it should be said at once that “International House” has some direct hits. In a mad scenario the new film finds a generous amount of space for such diverse comics as W. C. Fields, Stuart Erwin, Burns and Allen and Stoopnagle and Budd, with a corner for Peggy Hopkins Joyce to dig gold in. Measured in laughs, this potpourri of unrelated talents is surprisingly good. A Chinese of questionable genius brings most of the cast to the “International House” with his announcement of an invention which combines the best features of the radio and television. Bela Lugosi, with the sinister eyes, is on hand to represent Russia at the demonstration. Mr. Erwin, acting for an American company, has a talent for catching childhood diseases, and when he comes down with the measles the “International House” is quarantined. George Burns and Gracie Allen are the house doctor and nurse, occupations which let them run through their hilarious dialogue at any given moment. How W. C. Fields, whose destination is Kansas City, finds his way into this lunatic ménage in a helicopter is something that cannot possibly matter after the picture has started on its unsteady course. With his regal and somewhat beery manner, his precious silk hat, his frozen face and his unlit cigar, he keeps his audiences in perpetual roars. His athletic argument with the hotel clerk, which brings most of the “International House” thundering about his ears, is the funniest thing in the picture, unless it be his clandestine rendezvous with Miss Joyce in her boudoir. Doctor Wong’s demonstrations of his great invention permit the introduction of such radio entertainers as Rudy Vallee, Cab Galloway and Baby Rose Marie. To Mr. Vallee falls the only really inept episode in “International House,” and that is the fault of the script. Although the writing is uneven, a great deal of it is funny, and it is of particular help to Mr. Fields and to Burns and Allen. Showboat. Gauged by the amount of applause and the chuckles from the audience the Paramount can boast of one of its best stage presentations. In a showboat setting the headliners, Ray Bolger and Gus Van, display their versatility. Mr. Bolger as usual holds the attention by his ingenuity, especially when giving his terpsichorean satire of Rubinstein’s “Melody in F,” while Mr. Van, once teamed with the late Joe Schenck, captures his share of honors with several character songs. The remainder of the bill comprises entertainers of unusual calibre. Among them are Helen Lynd, who impersonates Maurice Chevalier, Zasu Pitts and Mae West; Ann Judy and Zeke, in a hill-billy turn; Pop and Louis, two talented young tap dancers; the Buccaneers, and the Lucas Octet. The entire presentation has been staged by R. H. Burnside. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, based on a story by Lou Heifetz and Neil Brant; music and lyrics by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin; directed by Edward Sutherland; a Paramount production. At the Paramount. Peggy Hopkins Joyce . . . . . Peggy Hopkins Joyce Professor Quail . . . . . W. C. Field Tommy Nash . . . . . Stuart Erwin Carol Fortescue . . . . . Sari Maritza Dr. Burns . . . . . George Burns Nurse Allen . . . . . Gracie Allen General Petronovich . . . . . Bela Lugosi Dr. Wong . . . . . Edmund Breese Sir Mortimer Fortescue . . . . . Lumsden Hare Hotel manager . . . . . Franklin Pangborn Herr von Baden . . . . . Harrison Greene
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Photoplay Magazine, June, 1933
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St Petersburgh Times, June 10, 1933
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St Petersburgh Times, June 11, 1933
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The Ogdensburg Advance and St. Lawrence Sunday Democrat, June 11, 1933
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San Jose Evening News, June 16, 1933
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San Jose Evening News, June 19, 1933
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The Montreal Gazette, June 19, 1933
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Prescott Evening Courier, July 5, 1933
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Rockford Register-Republic, July 8, 1933
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Rockford Register-Republic, July 9, 1933
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Sarasota Herald-Tribune, August 6, 1933
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Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, July 15, 1933
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Posters
Midget Window Card
Australian Three sheet
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Lobby Cards
Herald
Courtesy of http://zontarmag.blogspot.jp
German Cinema Programme
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Stills
Courtesy of www.benitomovieposter.com
Courtesy of www.benitomovieposter.com
Bo-Ching, Bela Lugosi and Peggy Hopkins
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Sheet Music