The Thief (United Artists) (1952)

PUBLICITY MATERIAL Lovely Rita Gam, dubbed the “sex-without-words” girl, appears with Ray Milland in the first no-dialogue picture since the era of sound, “The Thief,” which opens ................ atthe 2 a Theatre. Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse produced and directed. Still TT-Adv 6 Mat (2B) Ray Milland, as a fleeing spy, eagerly waits for Rita Gam to leave the phone, in this scene from the no-dialogue film, ‘“‘The Thief,” which is coming .................... fOsthe 7.000. a. eee Theatre. Stull TT-110 Mat (2C) RAY MILLAND AS ‘THE THIEF’ IN ERA’S FIRST NO-DIALOGUE FILM (General Advance ) Unique, unusual, different are adjectives that have been used until they became meaningless in attempts to stimulate interest in new motion pictures. So at first glance it would seem hazardous to describe the new United Artists release of “The Thief,” a Harry M. Popkin production which was produced by Clarence Greene and directed by Russell Rouse, in those terms. Yet anyone must agree that when a picture is released which uses not one line of dialogue to tell its story (and this after more than a quarter of a century since movies became talkies), that picture is No Chatter— Much Action (Prepared Review ) We saw a history-making picture yesterday. It was Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse’s suspense drama for production by Harry M. Popkin, “The Thief,” which made its local howsatsthe= are Theatre through United Artists release. It was history-making because this is the first film since sound was_ introduced more than a quarter of a century ago that a story is told without a single line of dialogue. Through the expert use of camera, sound effects, music and the sheer impact of the story itself, dialogue is made superfluous. Ray Milland plays the title role, his best since the Academy-Awardwinning “Lost Weekend,” which depicts a brilliant scientist turned spy. His remorse, his flight, his furtive activities during the theft of atomic secrets are depicted more brilliantly through expressions and_ gestures than could be conveyed by any spoken line, The feminine lead is played by an alluring newcomer to the screen from the world of TV; a Miss Rita Gam, dubbed by newsnapermen the“sex-without-words-girl” and her performance shows just how right they are. When she glances at Milland, saunters away seductively toward her room, and softly closes the door, no one needs any dialogue to understand the glance, the walk or the shutting of the door. The picture is personified suspense from start to finish, culminating in a breath-taking chase atop the Empire State building in a howling wind. This picture has everything—except dialogue — and that would get in the way. Others in the cast of this new screen achievement are Martin Gabel, Harry Bronson, Rex O’Malley and Rita Vale. Type Casting Ray Milland, who plays the role of a scientist in “The Thief,” which OPENS sac 0ts atephemeniay nc Theatre through United Artists release, the first talkless picture since the introduction of sound a quarter of a century ago, is by way of being a real-life scientist of some standing. A well-known amateur astronomer, Milland has developed a 12% inch reflector for astronomical telescopes which is currently being used for charting the heavens by the Atomic Energy Commission at Alamagordo, New Mexico. The unusual chase and suspense thriller does not contain a single line of dialogue, and is also devoid of subtitles or narration. Rita Gam, newcomer to the screen and Martin Gabel, appear with Milland. Ray Milland tries to elude an F.B.I. agent in this scene from “The Thief,” coming ................ towthe n26 oe evs! Theatre. Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse produced and directed the Harry M. Popkin production for United Artists release. Still TT-73 Mat (1C) Chase On Top Empire State The Empire State Building, a towering and normally sedate enough office building, makes its second appearance as an important scenic prop in a movie in “The Thief,” new United Artists release which opens OM ee SEUNG tere eaeretcs Theatre. Written, produced and directed by Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, “The Thief” starring Ray Milland is a highly unusual suspense drama in which, for the first time since sound films came in a quarter of a century ago, not a single line of dialogue is used. The Empire State’s movie debut, some fifteen years ago, might have left a scar on the soul of a less sturdy edifice. It took place in a picture called “King Kong.” After scaring half the population of the metropolis half out of its wits, King Kong prudently clambered up the Empire State Building to escape the massed onslaught of New York’s Finest. The Empire State sequence is the climactic scene in a_ breathtaking chase in which Ray Milland. as “The Thief,” tries to escape from an F.B.I. agent. The sequence begins at the 86th floor observation roof, then continues up the stairwell to the 102nd floor and finally to the top of the building, the very spot made famous by King Kong, and now occupied by a lofty antenna. Milland, refusing a double, played the entire scene himself, in a wind which roared at a velocity of 55 miles an hour. unique, unusual and different. The original concept of a story told entirely in terms of action and reaction without dialogue occurred to Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse while they were on location shooting “The Well,” a picture which brought them many honors and awards. “The Thief,” which stars Ray Milland and will have its local debut thisaeetoets that thet cerca Theatre, was expressly designed and written to fall within the limits of its dialogless framework. As the coauthors of the screenplay emphasize, not every story can be told in the same manner. Lack of dialogue definitely does not mean lack of action. On the contrary, “The Thief” is able to pack more action in its telling because at no point is it slowed down by talk. The action has to do the “talking.” The suspense-packed story concerns the _ panic-stricken flight of a prominent scientist after the FBI discovers that he has been supplying atomic secrets to a group of foreign agents. His anguish and the hair-raising pursuit of the FBI make for screen excitement that “words” cannot describe. Others in the cast include Martin Gabel of “Fourteen Hours” fame and a newcomer to the screen, Rita Gam, who conveys more glamor in a glance than many an actress does in three pages of dialogue. The brilliant musical score was written by young, talented conductorcomposer Herschel Gilbert who wrote the score for “Without Warn ing.” Unorthodox A music teacher portrays a sinister and shadowy character. A Theatre Guild subscription head plays a woman scientist. A member of a church choir appears in the role of a strong-arm gunman, These are samples of some of the unorthodox casting methods used by Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, writer-producer-director team of “The Thief,” new United Artists suspenseand-chase thriller opening on. ............ ate ther? ie Theatre, with a cast headed by Ray Milland, Rita Gam, Martin Gabel, Harry .Bronson, Rex O’Malley and Rita Vale. Hidden Camera “The Thief,” sensational new talkless film which opens on ............... BU tne ee ase Theatre, was shot almost entirely on actual locations, by means of a concealed camera. The unusual chase and suspense thriller, a United Artists release, stars Ray Milland, with a high-powered featured cast including Rita Gam, Martin Gabel, Harry Bronson, Rex O’Malley and Rita Vale. It was written, produced and directed by the team of Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse, whose startling drama of last season, “The Well,” won nationwide acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination. Official Billing HARRY M. POPKIN presents RAY MILLAND 1007 THE THIEF 107% with MARTIN GABEL and introducing RITA GAM Executive Producer HARRY M. POPKIN Written for the screen by CLARENCE GREENE & RUSSELL ROUSE 15% Musie by HERSCHEL GILBERT Produced by CLARENCE GREENE Directed by RUSSELL ROUSE A Harry M. Popkin Production Released thru United Artists 15% Running Time: 85 Minutes Synopsis (Not for Publication) Dr. Allan Fields (Ray Milland), atomic scientist working in Washington, D. C. on a special assignment, is part of a network of spies. He makes microfilm copies of secret documents which he supplies to an agent, Bleek (Martin Gabel) who then channels it through many others in the network. When one of the couriers in the chain of spies is killed in an automobile accident in New York City, a tin of microfilm is found clutched in his hand. Fields is ordered by higher-ups in the ring to go to New York and await further instructions. He leaves Washington with the F.B.I. hot on his trail. In New York, he holes up at a small rooming house where he sees an enticing girl (Rita Gam) but fear of haying his identity revealed prevents him from becoming further acquainted with her. He receives instructions to meet a woman on the 86th floor of the Empire State building. He does so and is spotted by an FBI agent. (Harry Bronson). Ina desperate attempt to escape, Fields climbs up to the tower where he kills the agent. Conscious stricken, he gives himself up to the FBI. AUN aA ELS oo ok anak dees Soon eens Deeg Ray Milland Mirsaiblee keene or oe gotten ino tis ite Martin Gabel NMRA CAT eerepeeetee SB ey eee oe ito ats ee Rita Gam ER ATIGRS BU RE eS, aden 3 eee c gaat eens Harry Bronson Mewar strain ss... co esc lee kc esneg ss cee John McKutcheon NVR sep beh ni ys 25505. cshc 2s pies doeacse fe foe een oe ee Rita Vale ES eral eer eth 2 acinh cutie peter de nsusea tree Rex O’Malley NX Fall ears ore etc ieee eso es Sed Se eae Joe Conlin e Credits Executive Producer............................ Harry M. Popkin PrGaucenyee oe. okies eee Clarence Greene DIPeCtOR <a ee a ee Russell Rouse Written by........... Clarence Greene and Russell Rouse Marsa te Bod cae nie a Hershel Gilbert Production Supervisor............................. Maurie Suess Production Assistant.............................. Winston Jones Assistant Director................0.....0.00.00000Leon Chooluck Biline Rditorccts. 1... do ei ere Chester Shaeffer Cinematographer .......................0.0::::ce eee ‘Sam Leavitt Production Designer....................... Joseph St. Amand Page Thirteen