Captured!

[Leslie Howard in Captured! 1933]

In March 1933 Leslie Howard was filming Captured! for Warner Brothers. The film co-starred Howard's friend, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Howard had met Fairbanks during the summer of 1925 when the two happened to be crossing the Atlantic aboard the RMS Majestic at the same time. Fairbanks was just fifteen years old and hadn't yet made his first film.

Out of the Picture

Today's photo is missing Leslie Howard. Why? Because he was behind the camera, a place he would much rather be. He was an avid photographer and his interests were really behind the camera, writing, producing and directing, rather than in front of it.

Here, he snaps a photo of his friends at Los Angeles station there to retrieve him and his wife, Ruth Martin (far right), upon their return to Hollywood after one of many trips east or abroad. How would you like to have this welcoming committee?

[Leslie Howard and his wife, Ruth Martin (far right)
being met at Los Angeles station by
Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,
Claudette Colbert, Douglas Fairbanks and Joan Crawford]

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I'm Just Here For The Violin Lessons

Leslie Howard once stated that he didn't chase women but couldn't always be bothered to run away. However, while he was filming Captured! (1933) he was a frequent visitor to the set of Gold Diggers of 1933 which was filming in the next soundstage.

Apparently, he was so enthralled with all the women that when asked if he would take the salary cut being imposed by First National Films during the studio financial crisis of 1933, he quipped, "First, tell me, will those girls be working on The Gold Diggers of 1933 set very long?" After being informed that they would, Howard finally responded, "Well, in that case, just don't bother about cutting. I'll be only too happy to work for nothing."

[Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., who were filming Captured!,
are being taught violin basics by Busby Berkeley, dance instructor
for Gold Diggers of 1933. Yes, their eyes really are on the violin.]
Modern Screen, July, 1933

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