Captain Newman, M.D. (Universal Pictures) (1963)

Conversation Genuine TwoWay Exchange For Academy Award Winner Gregory Peck (Advance) An actor—cynics aver—is a guy who if you are not talking about him, he’s not listening. Omit one of Hollywood’s foremost leading men—Academy Award Winner Gregory Peck—from any such loose generalizations. With him, a conversation is a genuine two-way exchange. Not only does he bend an attentive ear to any subject under discussion but, even more rare in some filmland circles, he carefully weighs his own comments and answers to interrogations. Peck, who has chalked up one of Hollywood’s most distinguished careers, including the winning of the Academy Oscar for his role of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” adds to his long list of notable characterizations with his portrayal of the title role in “Captain Newman, M. iene comedy-drama, a Universal release in color, ComeS..--...-..---------EO GUITC eter ce essere Theatre. He is seen as the chief of the neuro-psychiatric staff at an Air Force hospital base, a brilliant, sardonic, compassionate man who is a genius at therapy but whose dedication to his work brings him into frequent conflict with his immediate superiors. Producer Robert Arthur and director David Miller have surrounded him with a superlative assortment of co-stars, including Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert and Bobby Darin. Few actors bring to their work the serious dedication that marks every role Peck has undertaken. By the time cameras are ready to grind he has_ so thoroughly immersed himself in his characterization that, for the duration of the production, he seemingly becomes the person he is portraying. He is such a perfectionist, so intent on extracting the best possible performance, that, prior to the launching of shooting, he frequently rehearses critical sequences as much as 100 times. When he has fully digested his part, he not only knows his entire dialogue by memory, but also that of every other person in the script, a feat unequalled by any other actor on Hollywood sound stages. In preparation for ‘Captain Newman, M. D.,’”’ Peck not only conferred at length with the author of the best selling novel, Leo Rosten, but spent endless hours reading supplemental material of a related nature and in discussions with practicing psychiatrists to learn their working techniques. As one nameless supporting player observed, after watching him in action, “Why, I’d much sooner have him handle my case than my own head shrinker.” Away from the sound stage Peck completely sheds the mantle of movie star to revert to the role he enjoys most of all—husband and father. In his college days he was an outstanding athlete until an injury forced him to the sidelines. Today he is peacock proud of the athletic achievements of his two oldest sons. One, Jonathan, has won numerous track events. The other, Stephen, is on his way towards becoming a champion amateur wrestler. Another of his interests is horse racing. He recently purchased a gray Irish jumper, Owen’s Sedge, and the animal surprised everyone, including Peck, when he nosed out all the competition in the first race in which his owner entered him. He is a great reader and has one of filmland’s largest private collections of books on Lincoln, who is one of his favorite persons in history. Like Carl Sandburg, he can relate anecdotes on Lincoln for hours on end. When film commitments permit, Peck likes to get away from Hollywood for three or four months at a time, usually heading for the French Riviera where, at picturesque Cape Ferrat, not far from a village in which Somerset Maugham lives, he has a residence which he now rents, but someday intends to purchase. His wife is the former French newspaper correspondent, Veronique Passani, who first met him when she was assigned to interview him. Their marriage has been an enormous success, with Peck frequently arranging for his wife to serve as his spokesman when interviewers call. Those who know Peck intimately report that, in spite of his celluloid savoir faire, he is basically a rather shy person, little given to singing his own praises and embarrassed by too much attention. His original hope, as a youngster, was to become a physician and, to this day, notwithstanding his success on the stage and screen, he’s not sure that in becoming an actor he made the right choice. Star Flies To England And Back On Weekend (Current) No star is more conscientious about his work than Academy Award winner Gregory Peck. How he managed to show up on time on the Arizona location set of his current Universal color picture, ‘Captain Newman, M. D.,” is a case in point. The dramatic comedy is showing at the Theater. Over the weekend he flew to England to see his horse, Owen’s Sedge, run in the Irish sweeps. He was due to report before the cameras the following Monday. This involved a round-trip flight of more than 12,000 miles. When his return flight ran into unforeseen delays, he re-routed his trip to fly into Tucson. By prearrangements, he chartered a helicopter to fly him directly to the shooting site, in a primitive area near the Mexican border. He stepped out of the craft, hurriedly put on his film wardrobe and—as usual—was not a minute late in going to work. Based on the Leo Rosten best selling novel, “Captain Newman, M. D.,” co-stars Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert and Bobby Darin. It was directed by David Miller. “Captain Newman, M.D.’ tells the story of a dedicated healer of mentally ill men in the psychiatric section of an Army Air Force hospital. Oscar Award winner Gregory Peck is “Captain Newman, M.D.,” the psychiatrist who is called upon to restore men to sanity so they can return to air combat. The Universal Picture photographed in color is a comedy drama. (Still No. 1931-3 AD) Curtis Cuts Hole In Roof Of New Home (Current) Even though he just bought the house, Tony Curtis is already cutting a hole in the roof of his new $175,000 Beverly Hills home. Tony, who stars with Gregory Peck, Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert and Bobby Darin in Universal’s dramatic comedy in color, “Captain Newman, M. D.,”’ now £2) OD ONS af ener ny mea Theatre, has been an amateur astronomy enthusiast for years. He has his own viewing telescope, a 12-inch reflector geared to a celestial clock drive, and he’s remodeling his home so that he can erect an observatory dome. When it is completed, he will be able to sweep the heavens from horizon to horizon. The star says his bride, Christine Kaufmann, already is showing an interest in his hobby, and they plan to spend as much time as possible star-gazing —at the heavenly type, that is. Show Photo of Peck’s Horse In New Movie (Current) Look sharply at one of the sequences in Gregory Peck’s Universal film in color, “Captain NewTheatre, and you'll see a photograph of one of his personal favorites—his gray Irish jumper, Owen’s Sedge. Peck, who acquired the animal sight unseen while he was shooting the film, couldn’t resist the urge to post a picture of the steed among a large assortment of photographs displayed on the wall of a serviceman’s recreation hall, one of the sets for the photoplay. The horse, which finished seventh in a field of 16 horses at the Grand National Sweepstakes in Liverpool, England, is being raced regularly with Peck’s colors. Academy Award winner Gregory Peck, in the title role, and Tony Curtis, as his chief orderly, Corporal Jackson Laibowitz, bring Leo Rosten’s best selling novel, ‘““Captain Newman, M.D.,” to the screen as an exciting comedy drama. Other stars in the Universal Picture color film are Angie Dickinson, Eddie Albert and Bobby Darin. Copyright 1963 — Universal Pictures Co., Inc. (Still No. 1931-18 AD) Page 2 “Captain Newman, M. D.,~ Best-Selling Novel, Becomes Magnificent Motion Picture (Review) A best seller novel becomes a magnificent motion picture in Universal’s inspired dramatization of “Captain Newman, MD.” which-opened: yesterday.at the... 8 Theatre. Superb portrayals by an excellent cast nicely balance intense drama and robust humor to meld the story into a cohesive, entertaining whole. Under the careful guidance of director David Miller, strong personality characterizations emerge. His deft handling of the players evokes understanding and sympathy as well as guffaws and roaring laughter from the audience. Gregory Peck turns the title role into a performance of bruising impact, challenging for distinction anything he has ever done, including his Oscar-laureled contribution. Still fresh in the public mind is the star’s unforgettable portrayal of a southern lawyer in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” for which he was voted an Academy Award. His electrifying portrayal of a dedicated healer of the sick is brilliantly counter-pointed by the work of his co-stars—Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Bobby Darin and Eddie Albert. Each contributes importantly and significantly to this masterpiece of film making. The screen fairly crackles with excitement in following Peck through a farcical-tragic world of men and women helplessly caught in the comedy-nightmare of wartime, and its aftermath. Tony Curtis, whose acting stature is well known, delivers in the role of Peck’s orderly, Corporal Jackson Laibowitz, a comedy portrayal of infinite variety. He looks upon suffering as normal and contentment as neurotic. Thus he is thoroughly at home in the Army Air Force neuro-psychiatric ward headed by his superior. In his own guttershrewd, intuitive style he works minor miracles of therapy not to be found in even the most exhaustive medical books. Exciting Angie Dickinson, in her role of Captain Newman's nurse, Lieutenant Francie Corum, makes it abundantly clear why, at a time when most studios were sharply paring contract lists, she was signed to a long-term pact, earmarked for some of Universal’s most ambitious new properties. She synthesizes for Newman the private world he hopes to put together — marriage, children, a country home—when war’s fever abates. It will come as no surprise to perceptive observers of the work of Bobby Darin that he, like Peck, already is being hailed as a candidate for many awards for his portrayal of Corporal Jim Tompkins. Decorated for bravery in thirty-four missions he nevertheless considers himself a coward for having failed to rescue a buddy from a burning plane. Eddie Albert, playing the role of Colonel Norval Algate Bliss, adds new lustre to a distinguished acting career. He portrays an officer carrying the burden of a long succession of men he has sent into combat — never to return. Beset with guilt, he fights a near-uncontrollable desire to join his fallen warriors. Others lending valuable support throughout the absorbing drama include James Gregory, Bethel Leslie, Robert Duvall, Larry Storch, Dick Sargent, Jane Withers, Ann Doran, Syl Lamont and Robert Simon. The screenplay by Richard L. Breen, Phoebe and Henry Ephron is faithful to and improves on the material in Leo Rosten’s novel which has been on the best-seller lists for a number of months. It goes without saying that “Captain Newman, M. D.,” provides a glowing accolade for those behind the scenes whose collective efforts transmitted to celluloid all the incandescence of the novel. Robert Arthur who has long been an industry pace-setter for his numerous box office hits as the producer has added another masterpiece to the list of memorable films. And cinematographer Russell Metty, an Oscar winner for “Spartacus,” has turned in Eastman Color film of equal photographic merit, ingeniously adapting his versatile technique to match each elusive mood parading so enthralling across the screen. Tony Curtis in the role of Corp. Jackson Laibowitz highlights the comedy in the dramatic Universal Picture in color, “Captain New man, M.D.” (Still No. 1931-EX1) Howard Hawks First Of Angie's Visitors (Advance) Angie Dickinson’s first visitor on the set of Universal's “‘Captain Newman, M. D.’’, was none other than her original discoverer —Howard Hawks. The color film, in which she co-stars with Academy Award winner Gregory Peck and Tony Curtis, comes.................. OS CC Uae Sha eae seer eee: Theatre. The producer director took time out from his own production at the same studio to look in on Angie, who not only nabbed the coveted feminine lead but also has been signed to a long-term contract by Universal. Hawks gave the actress her first important screen role when he cast her as a dancehall girl with a past in “Rio Bravo,” starring John Wayne. In “Captain Newman, M. D.,” a dramatic comedy based in the best-selling novel by Leo Rosten, she is seen as a nurse attached to an Army Air Base neuro-psychiatric section headed by Peck. Recalling his original prediction to her of a quick zoom to stellar rating, Hawks told Angie this was one time he didn’t mind saying—“TI told you so.” The screen picturization of Leo Rosten’s best selling novel, ‘“‘Captain Newman, M. D.,” tells a highly dramatic and_ exciting story of the neuro psychiatric ward at an Air Force Base in World War II, with strong comedy overtones. Other prominent members of the cast are Eddie Albert, Bobby Darin, James Gregory and Bethel Leslie. Produced by Robert Arthur, David Miller is the director.