The Pusher (United Artists) (1961)

‘The Pusher’ Tells of Underworld’s Most Evil Member (Prepared Review) A gripping movie that is as topical as today’s newspapers opened locally yesterday at the ............ es Theatre. It is called “The Pusher,” and through the medium of a wellwrought, suspense-packed movie, shows the basic viciousness of that most evil of underworld characters —the narcotics pusher. Based on a story by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter, author of “Blackboard Jungle’) and adapted for the screen by the writer of numerous best sellers, Harold Robbins, “The Pusher” gives the lowdown on all the nefarious activities of that rotten game. Starting with the murder of a young kid (a member of a gang called “The Tigres”) rigged to look like suicide, we are taken on an excursion that leads from _ police headquarters to back street slums, all night drinking dives, dance halls and the palatial river-view apartment of the dope pusher. Nowhere does the director Gene Milford, who co-produced with Sidney Katz, let up on the suspense, and nowhere does Robbins’ screenplay forsake drama for preaching. The cast all give startlingly realistic performances, In leading roles are Kathy Carlyle (in her screen debut), Douglas F. Rodgers, Felice Orlandi, Robert Lansing, Sara Aman and Sloan Simpson. A haunting musical score was written by noted composer and conductor Raymond Scott. STOP CRIME — GET ‘THE PUSHER’ (Special Feature) An adage that used to apply in the eradication of the bubonic plague was “kill the rat that carries the flea that carries the germ that causes bubonic plague.” Now, a revision of that adage can be adapted to a new scourge—drug addiction and its partner—crime: “Get the pusher (seller of narcotics) who supplies the kids who commit the crimes.” A new film, “The Pusher,” which Wil GOON ko Meee ess eeiedacn re at the ME TS Theatre through United Artists release, shows how this most evil member of the underworld works. We see how he ensnares the innocent with his free “pick-ups” to give them the habit. We see his threats for non-payment, how he arranges delivery and other insidious machinery of his filthy trade. And we see what the law-enforcement agencies are doing to stop him. “The Pusher” was adapted by Ed McBain (author of “Blackboard Jungle”) from a story by Harold Robbins (author of several bestsellers). Gene Milford directed and co-produced with Sidney Katz. arn a er SLMS ok oa oe a) iN OFFICIAL BILLING THE PUSHER 100% Introducing Kathy Carlyle = 25% with Douglas F. Rodgers Felice Orlandi Robert Lansing 15% Sara Aman Sloan Simpson Sereenplay by Harold Robbins 15% Music composed by Raymond Scott 15% Directed by Gene Milford 15% Produced by Gene Milford and Sidney Katz 15% Associate Producer Bernard Storper = 15% Released thru United Artists 15% NG ad) THESHOCKPACKED. STOR OF TODAY'S “You don’t have to pay for this jolt ...not in cash.” “Daddy! If you love me «you'll get me a ‘fix’ hi ‘“‘Here’s some news for you, cop Your ' daughter’s mixed up in this!” Introducing KATHY CARLYLE with DOUGLAS F. RODGERS FELICE ORLANDI + ROBERT LANSING SARA AMAN + SLOAN SIMPSON + Screenplay by HAROLD ROBBINS + Music composed by RAYMOND SCOTT Directed by GENE MILFORD + Produced by GENE MILFORD and SIDNEY KATZ = Associate Producer BERNARD STORPER Released thru UNITED [IXJARTISTS Tr Hi nm > T R E 3 Col. x 100 Lines—300 Lines (22 Inches) Mat 301 EXCITING ACCESSORIES HOO eof a a CARD e e mee oar ° — 22x28 LOBBY CARD STILLS Re ‘TP-ART 1 ‘TP-ART 2 1-SHEET Order stills by number from National Screen. THE STORY (Not for Publication) When a teen ager is found murdered in the Liauimaeen sects cate see Kathy Carlyle THE CAST basement of a Harlem tenement with a smashed The Pusher ................ Felice Orlandi hypodermic needle nearby it leads police Lt. Lt. Peter Byrne ....Douglas F. Rodgers Byrnes (Douglas F. Rodgers) and his assistant Harriet Byrne Sloan Simpson Steve (Robert Lansing) to search fer a narcotics Gee? hae Raters lnusine ee Re hiege coca ot” SLOW AROMAS ao oss 7 Maria Hernandez .............. Sara Aman Laura (Kathy Carlyle), Byrnes’ daughter and Steve’s fiancee, unknown to both of them, is a drug addict, and receives her supply of the drug from Gonzo (Felice Orlandi) the pusher who is @ responsible for the murder of the boy and a young girl whom he is afraid will tip off the pole CREDITS Steve gets on the trail of Gonzo by following ; 3 s Lites: bot wcounieeihy the. pusher betoaeee Directed by .................... Gene Milford can make the arrest. Byrnes learns that his Screenplay by ............ Harold Robbins daughter is “hooked,” and administers the “cold Based on the novel by ...... Ed McBain turkey” cure himself. He learns of Gonzo, and Director of Photography Arthur Ornitz goes after him and traps him in his -own pentMirsieab yin. occ .aaacins Raymond Scott house. Laura and Steve, on the road to recovery, Art Direction by ............ Samuel Love recapture the happiness they almost lost. Film Edited by ................ Sidney Katz Running Time: 81 Minutes Sound Recording by .......... Ed Fenton ‘The Pusher’ — Startling — Topical As Today’s Papers (General Advance) “The Pusher,” which will open oe eS, SEN cas ee. Theatre through United Artists release, might well have been written from today’s headlines, dealing as it does with narcotics, juvenile delinquency and the efforts of a municipal police force to curb the evil. The story was written by Ed McBain (pen name Evan Hunter, author of “Blackboard Jungle”). The screenplay was written by Harold Robbins, who has a string of best-selling novels to his credit. Gene Milford directed and coproduced the film with Sidney Katz, Noted jazz composer and conductor Raymond Scott penned the score for the picture. Appearing in the cast are Kathy Carlyle (who makes her screen debut), Douglas F. Rodgers, Felice Orlandi, Robert Lansing, Sara Aman and Sloan Simpson. “The Pusher,” while depicting the wretchedness of the whole underworld, emphasizes the particular evilness of the dope pusher whose predatory nature knows no bounds of viciousness. Top Writing Team Harold Robbins, who wrote the screenplay for “The Pusher,” which will open ......:......... AbAENE yee eee... .<. Theatre through United Artists release, is the author of five novels, each of which has sold over one million copies. They include: “Never Love A Stranger,” “The Dream Merchants,” “A Stone For Danny Fisher,” and “79 Park Avenue.” “The Pusher” is based on the novel by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter) another top-notch novelist who is the author of “The Black Board 99 Jungle. Scott Scores! Raymond Scott, noted jazz composer and conductor, wrote the musical score for the exciting crime drama, “The Pusher,” which Will Opentee eee... atthe: 3) Theatre through United Artists release. For seven years he was the conductor for TV’s “Hit Parade,” and wrote the outstanding Broadway musical play, “Lute Song.” He also penned the score for the movie, “Never Love A Stranger.” Still TP-20 Mat 1A Kathy Carlyle makes her screen debut in the crime drama, ““The Pusher,” which will open ........ Sas at the .....;...:...5..: Lheatre through United Artists release. She plays the role of a girl who becomes the victim of “The Pusher,’ when she gets “Shooked” on the narcotics habit.