Mister Moses (United Artists) (1965)

Publicity Things Liable to be in Bible Ain't Necessarily ‘Moses’ (Advance Production Feature) When Max Catto’s famous novel “Mister Moses” was first published, there were many who professed to see in it a parallel with the story of Moses in the Old Testament. Not necessarily so, says Producer Frank Ross, who brings the motion picture version of the book to the screen in the Panavision-Technicolor achievement of the same title and starring Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker as the Joe Moses and Julie Anderson of the novel. The film, a United Artists release, opens ....... S0AOS., cee Theatre. “In some of my pictures,” says Ross, “there has been something T have wanted to say. In this one there is no message. I am quite content to tell the story of a devil may-care, fast-talking medicine man, working his way through Kenya.” If you really want to look for it, there is something of the Biblical story in the modern film version. There is the burning bush for example; the snagging of Joe Moses in the bulrushes where he is found by Miss Baker; the parting of the waters in a hydraulic power project, and the leading of a people into a promised land. “With it all, is much humor, says Ross. The picture “Mister Moses,” is a robust comedy and a fine adventure story full of warmth and humanity — set against incomparable scenic backgrounds.” The “incomparable backgrounds” were provided by Nature herself. Filmed in its entirety on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Africa, a mere 50 miles from the Equator, there is not only excellent scenery, but also some breath-taking views of Africa’s gorgeous veldt country. Most of this was taken in Kenya’s famed Amboselli Game Preserve said to be the world’s largest wild life sanctuary, and many animal sequences for the film were taken of wild animals going about their daily business quite unaware that they were being preserved on celluloid for the ages. More than 500 Masai tribesmen, who weren’t quite sure they understood what these crazy foreigners wanted of them but did it anyway, are also included in the enormous cast which includes, besides Mitchum and Miss Baker, Ian Bannen, Alexander Knox, Raymond St. Jacques, Orlando Martins and Reginald Beckwith. The Masai are led into a “prom Still MM-4 ised land” by the prophet-like character portrayed by Mitchum. The task of transferring Catto’s novel to the screen was done by Screenwriters Charles Beaumont and Monja Danischewsky. Ronald Neame directed the spectacle and its music was composed and conducted by John Barry. ‘Moses’ Player In Shakespeare Play By Request It’s not every actor who gets an invitation to appear as a guest performer in a Shakespeare play by a government, but that’s what happened to Raymond St. Jacques, noted New York Shakespearian actor while he was on location in Kenya, Africa for Frank Ross’ “Mister Moses,” Panavision Technicolor United Artists release opening..... atiiher.u st... Theatre. The screen treatment of the wellknown Max Catto novel of the same name stars Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker, and St. Jacques, who is a Negro, has a strong supporting role. He is a great favorite in the new African republic because of his appearances there in the noted “The Defenders” television shows. When a government culture official discovered that he was in town for the picture, he immediately extended an invitation for the player to appear as Iago in a special performance of “Othello” at Nairobi’s leading theatre. The performance was a sell-out but previous commitments made it impossible for St. Jacques to give any encores. “Mister Moses,” which was prepared for the screen from Max Gatto’s famous novel by Charles Beaumont and Monja Danischewsky, was directed by Ronald Neame. Its music was composed and conducted by the noted John Barry. Mat 2C Carroll Baker nurses Robert Mitchum back to health after he is booted out of an African village for trying to sell a “health remedy” to some gullible natives. “Mr. Moses,” a United Artists release in Technicolor and Panavision, will open ... . Theatre. The film, which is based on Max Catto’s best .... at the selling novel, was produced by Frank Ross and directed by Ronald Neame. PAGE 8 Still MM-12 Mat 2A Robert Mitchum is cast as a lovable renegade in Africa where he hands out a line of sweet talk to natives, settlers, missionaries and women, “Mister Moses,” in which he stars with Carroll Baker, will open at the © © 6 & si 9We <6 .... Theatre through United Artists release. The picture is in Technicolor and Panavision. Mitchum Called Perfect ‘Joe’ For ‘Mister Moses’ Adventurer “The most underrated actor in the business!” That’s what film producer Frank Ross says of his star Robert Mitchum, who appears opposite Carroll Baker in the former’s three-milliondollar Panavision-Technicolor treatment of the great Max Catto adventure novel “Mister Moses,” opening CLs | ae rai Theatre through United Artists release. And it’s Mitchum’s own fault, say those who know. There has come into being a legend about Mitchum that he’s a 2-B actor—bored and blasé. The legend says he can’t act and doesn’t want to. Mitchum has done nothing to disillusion anybody about this. In fact, say some, he likes the reputation. But, insist those who know him, that’s the Bob Mitchum of legend. The Bob Mitchum of fact is a very different person indeed. He’s witty, intelligent and an excellent companion—if he happens to take a liking to you. If he doesn’t, keep away from him. “By the time I was 18.” says Mitchum of himself, “I had no illusions left. I was a ferret-faced kid who had done a spell in the chain gang. I wrote poetry—but hid it for fear that somebody might read it. I hoped for nothing. Expected nothing.” Since those tough early days, everything has happened to Mitchum. He has done it all, seen it all and he gave up being surprised at anything a long time ago. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mitchum entered pictures by a round-about way which took him through hobo jungles—and chain gangs. His first chance came as a bad guy in the original “Hopalong Cassidy” westerns starring William Boyd. It wasn’t, however, until he ap Susie Steps Out Billed simply as “Susie of Nairobi, Kenya,” a full-grown African elephant, weighing three _ tons, makes her film debut opposite Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker in the Frank Ross Panavision-Technicolor Production “Mister Moses,” from the Max Catto best-seller, OAM De voooae Ce ee ap Theatre under United Artists release. : As readers of the novel will recall, “Susie,”—called Emily in the story—plays a very important role in the adventure romance. But debut or not, says Director Ronald Neame who put her through her paces, she’s a born trouper. And a ham, too. peared in the great “Story of G.I. Joe” that movie-going America took him to its heart and he has been a consistent favorite since. The role of Joe Moses in “Mister Moses,” fits him like a glove. A tough cynic, circus roustabout, sometime swindler, perhaps even a smuggler, a “main chancer” of the first order, the character created by Catto in the novel is one of the most descriptive in modern fiction. It was almost natural that Ross should have picked him for it. “People say I play myself in every part,” says Mitchum. “I wouldn’t know. I just stand and do what I’m told. Lady Elephant Won't Forget Bob Mitchum As readers of Max Catto’s famous adventure novel “Mister Moses” will recall, a very important role in the story is played by a lady elephant named Emily. Well, Emily also plays an important role in Frank Ross’ Panavision-Technicolor version of the story which opens at the siete enone Theatre under United Artists release with Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker in the top starring roles. The “Emily” of the picture is really “Susie,” of Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, around which “Mister Moses” was shot on location, and “Susie” doesn’t understand English, much less movie talk. So, when Director Ronald Neame cried “Cut,” after a crucial sequence in which Mitchum was riding her, she just didn’t understand. She kept right on walking and walked right into a motorized camera dolly whose operator did understand, and was moving into action for the next shot. The result? Bob Mitchum was thrown and suffered an injured leg which set back production of “Mister Moses” for several days. “Susie,” however, was not hurt. But it won’t happen again, promised “Susie” owner. “Susie” was taught to stop immediately upon the command “Cut,” and she did so beautifully from thence forward— she never forgot. But then again, neither did Mitchum. Charles Beaumont and Monja Danischewsky wrote the screen treatment of the noted Catto novel, and John Barry wrote its music. eeeeeeee Challenges Intrigue Frank Ross, Producer Of ‘Mister Moses’ Challenge has always intrigued producer Frank Ross. A native Bostonian, educated at Philips Exeter and Princeton, he entered the construction business from the bottom as a digger ot basements and wound up on the top floor of the business. When he discovered that this business was not for him he deserted it and became a singer—with, well, from fair to middlin’ success. Then he discovered singing was not for him and he went into movie production, the first picture in which he had a hand, that of assistant producer, being the epochal “Of Mice and Men.” Today he is one of Hollywood’s top floor producers. His latest production, the Panavision-Technicolor treatment of Max Catto’s great novel “Mister Moses,” filmed in its entirety in Kenya, Africa with Rob ert Mitchum and Carroll Baker in the top starring roles, regarded as a triumph in action-adventure romance. it-opensiai. ace AlRtNGS comet es Theatre, through United Artists release. Ross was a success as a_producer from the start. Among these successes are “A Lady Takes a Chance,” “The More the Merrier” and “The Devil and Miss Jones,” all starring Jean Arthur, who impressed him so much that he married her. “Mister Moses,” in which Mitchum plays the title role, is the story of a lovable con man, stranded in Africa, who, much against his will, is drafted into leading a tribe from their ancestral home, which is to be inundated behind a newly-built power dam, to a new land. Rare Photography Striking motion pictures of wild animals at work and play in Kenya’s world-famous Amboselli Game Preserve, said to the world’s largest wild life sanctuary, are included in the Frank Ross Panavision-Technicolor Production “Mister Moses,” film treatment of the famous Max Catto best-seller, opening thea ctstewe tote Theatre. Other rare beauty shots include views of Lake Naivasha, The Great African Rift—and Carroll Baker, who shares stellar honors with Robert Mitchum in the United Artists release. Ronald Neame directed. Extra! Extra! Film Press Agent Makes Good! Screenwriter Monja Danischewsky is living testimony to the fact that it’s a downright canard to say that motion picture press agents never get anywhere. Danischewsky, a native of Archangel, Russia and a graduate of the Royal College of Art in Leningrad before the revolution, was a press agent in London’s famous Ealing Studio for ten years. He quit to become a screen writer and _ producer. His first was the comedy triumph of a few years ago “Tight Little Island.” He also had a hand in writing and producing such hits as “The Love Lottery,” “Meet Mr. Lucifer” and “The Galloping Major.” His latest assignment was with Charles Beaumont to prepare the screen version of Max Catto’s bestseller “Mister Moses” for the threemillion-dollar Frank Ross Production in Panavision and Technicolor which opens ........ at tne Theatre. Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker co-star in the United Artists release, which was directed by Ronald Neame. Its music was composed and conducted by the noted John Barry. Still MM-5 Mat 1C Carroll Baker, as the daughter of a missionary, meets the wandering con man, “Mister Moses,”” played by Robert Mitchum, in Africa. The picture of that title, filmed in Panavision and Technicolor, opens .... . Soe the Theatre through United Artists release. Game Preserve Seen In ‘Mister Moses’ Kenya’s famed Amboselli Game Preserve, world’s largest wild animal sanctuary, is among the dramatic African beauty spots examined by the cameras in Frank Ross’ three million dollar PanavisionTechnicolor Production of the famous Max Catto novel “Mister Moses,” opening at the Theatre. Other regions where action for the United Artists adventure romance was filmed included Lake Naivasha, in Equatorial Africa, and the great and mysterious “Rift,” the still unexplained cleft in the earth which stretches for hundreds of miles through Eastern Africa. Robert Mitchum and Carroll Baker costarred under the direction of Ronald Neame. Music for the film was composed and conducted by the famed John Barry. Still MM-29 Mat 2D Robert Mitchum, as Mister Moses, astride an elephant, leads a group of African natives to better territory. Any resemblance to the patriarch of Old Testament fame, is purely coincidental. The picture of the same name, in Panavision and Technicolor, opens at the . .. +++. Theatre through United Artists release.