A Fugitive from Justice (Warner Bros.) (1940)

PUBLICITY FOR ‘A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE’ (Opening Day) ‘A Fugitive From Justice Exciting Gun-Play Film Story of Racketeers and Men Who Bring Them to Justice Opens at Strand Today Warner Bros.’ “A Fugitive From Justice,” which opens at the Strand Theatre today, promises to be one of the most thrilling picturizations of racketeers and the men who bring them to justice to have come from the studio known for fast-moving gun play action films. Cast as the young, resourceful special insurance agent is Roger Pryor, back on the screen after a lengthy tour of the country with his popular band. As his leading lady appears one of the films’ most important newcomers, Lucile Fairbanks, niece of the late Douglas, Sr., in her screen debut. They are assisted by such talented players as Sheila Bromley, Eddie Foy, Jr., Morgan Conway and Donald Douglas. “A Fugitive From Justice” opens on Dan Miller, played by Roger Pryor, the perplexed insurance inspector whose duty it is to keep Lee Leslie, portrayed by Donald Douglas, among the living, so that his company will not have to pay on his million dollar policy. This is no easy matter while a mob of gangsters are on Lee’s trail to “rub him out” for the dual purpose of preventing his court testimony and collecting the insurance. At the same time, Lee is in the precarious position of being shot on sight by the police. Lee is captured by the mob, but he escapes as Dan goes on ENGROSSING FARE AT STRAND FRIDAY One of the season’s most engrossing action films is coming to the Strand next Friday — Warner Bros.’ “A _ Fugitive From Justice,” featuring a cast headed by Roger Pryor, Lucile Fairbanks, niece of the late Douglas, making her screen debut, and Eddie Foy, Jr., Sheila Bromley, Morgan Conway and Donald Douglas. The well-timed action of the story concerns the work of an insurance investigator whose duty it is to protect the lives of policy holders who are intimidated by underworld forces... In “A Fugitive From Justice,” Roger Pryor is the special agent and Don Douglas the insured, a shady character hunted by gangster mobs as well as the police, both groups being intent on putting him “on the spot.” When Douglas is captured by the mob, it takes all of Pryor’s prowess to rescue the fugitive and safely turn him over to F. B. I. officials. The resourceful young agent also goes over big with Douglas’ sister, Lucile Fairbanks. The clever screen play by Alex Gottleib is from an original story by Leonard Neubauer and directed by Terry Morse. Young Neubauer is a recent writing discovery from the studio’s trailer department. ‘Dick’ Dates Moll Roger Pryor fought with gangsters and mobsters all day —and went home every night with a gun moll. It happened recently while Roger was on the Warner lot, starring with Lucile Fairbanks in “A Fugitive From Justice,” the film opening at the Strand Friday. Just around the corner on another stage was Ann Sothern—Mrs. Roger Pryor. She was playing the girl friend of Little John Sarto (Edward G. Robinson) in “Brother Orchid.” * the trail. Meanwhile, the mob kidnaps Lee’s. sister Janet, Lucile Fairbanks’ role, and their mother, knowing this will blast the fugitive out of hiding. Trailing the mob to their hideout, Dan and Lee take them by surprise and rescue the women. But it takes all of Dan’s wit to get the fugitive past police bullets alive, that he can be turned over to G-men. Terry Morse directed the Alex Gottleib screen play from an original. story by Leonard Neubauer. ; | THRILLS HERE! Mat 101—15c Roger Pryor and Eddie Foy, Jr. are the trouble-shooting insurance investigators in Warner Bros.’ fast-paced “A_ Fugitive From Justice,” with Lucile Fairbanks at the Strand next Friday. Fairbanks’ Kin Starred in ‘A Fugitive From Justice Villains pursue Lucile Fairbanks, but she fends them off efficiently with the aid of Actor Roger Pryor. _ It’s a scene from Warner Bros.’ “A Fugitive From Justice,” which opens at the Strand Theatre on Friday, one of the most exciting pictures that Warner's, noted _ for gunplay, has Mat 102—1i5c made. And it Lucile Fairbanks gives Lucile an opportunity for her screen debut to carry on the Fairbanks tradition set by her uncle, the late Douglas. While Roger Pryor dusts himself off and gets ready for another daring deed before the cameras, Lucile obligingly reveals a bit about herself. She wasn’t reared with either the stage or the screen as her Drama at Strand Friday One of the most thrilling action dramas of the year, “A Fugitive From Justice” is coming to the Strand on Friday. The new Warner Bros. film tells the exciting tale of the nation’s number one criminal, his flight from the law, brutal disregard of society, and eventual capture. Roger Pryor is starred. goal. She studied at the institute of Mme. de Collot in Paris and then took her A.B. at U. C. L. A., majoring in political science and philosophy. Hearing the blonde, blue-eyed girl discuss politics and philosophy, one realizes how abundantly nature has equipped her. But she’s an all-around girl who goes in for swing bands and rhumbas with as much zest as she tackles Freud. To begin with, Lucile is a feminine Robin Hood. She was on the archery team at college, played tennis and was a basketball star. Like cousin Doug, Jr., she wasn’t encouraged to act but did. She played second leads in the -Bliss-Hayden — Miniature Theatre under a pseudonym. She was amazed when a Warner talent scout spotted her, arranged a screen test, and signed her to a long term contract. She was cast in a small part in Paul Muni’s film, “We Are Not Alone” and was immediately thereafter chalked up for leads in a number of pictures—one being “A Fugitive From Justice.” Roger Pryor Starred Roger Pryor, soon to be seen at the Strand in “A Fugitive From Justice” is one of Hollywood’s most successful young men. Within the past few years he has led a popular orchestra, broadcast weekly, sung, and acted on stage and screen. In his current film, Pryor plays the role of an insurance investigator. (Review) ‘A Fugitive From Justice’ Rapid-Paced Action Film Never a Flagging Moment in New Film Hailed at Strand Last Night Headlines and radio broadcasts are interspersed with scenes of exciting action so that there is never a flagging moment in Warner Bros.’ “A Fugitive From Justice,” which opened at the Strand Theatre last night. staccato radio bulletins and “extra” editions, giving the audience the same sensation as though it were sitting in the front seat of a police car with the siren on. Featured in the fast-paced film are Roger Pryor and Lucile Fairbanks, niece of the late Douglas Fairbanks, in her promising screen debut. Other parts in the film are capably handled by Sheila Bromley, Eddie Foy, Jr., Morgan Conway and Donald Douglas. An unusual situation opens the film as special insurance agent Dan Miller, played by Roger Pryor, is put on an exciting case. His assignment is to see that the company will not be called upon to pay out a million dollar insurance policy on the life of Lee Leslie, portrayed by Donald Douglas, an underworld character yet among the living but marked for the spot by a gangster mob as well as the police. Lee’s sister Janet, Lucile Fairbanks’ role, and their mother, played by Lottie Williams, are GANGSTER FILMS NOW STREAMLINED Warner Bros.’ “A Fugitive From Justice,” which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday, illustrates the latest trend in racketeer films. It’s a gangster picture without a word of gangster “lingo.” With Roger Pryor in the leading role, playing opposite Lucile Fairbanks, the film is the first that shows a lot of “tough guys” without having them talk tough. Fast, snappy and full of speed, “A Fugitive From Justice” relies on action rather than talk to make its point, like a man who hits first and asks questions afterwards; but there isn’t a “oat or a “rod” in the entire dialogue. Pryor, as investigator for an insurance company that wants to protect its investment from a “mob” of strong arm boys and an unscrupulous blonde all intent on cashing in on a million dollar policy held by a bail jumping racketeer, sets the fast pace. LOVELY STAR MAKES DEBUT Beautiful Lucile Fairbanks, niece of the late Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., is an important newcomer to pictures. War ner Bros.’ “A Fugitive From Justice,” which opens at the Strand on Friday, marks her debut. Also appearing in the film are Roger Pryor, Eddie Foy, Jr. and Sheila Bromley. Mat 201—30c The film races along to the tune of kidnapped by the mob in a plan to lure Lee out of hiding. This is accomplished, but the gang does not count on Dan Miller’s being the fugitive’s nursemaid. Lee, a hot-headed character, is all for shooting it out with the racketeers, but Dan works out a smooth plan to trap them in their own lair. A wrong steer to the gangsters planted on a radio commentator’s program lures them to a vulnerable spot where Dan and Lee take them off guard. When the police enter the scene the insurance policy looks like a bad investment until Dan uses the commentator to help pilfer the fugitive bodily and turn him over safely to the G-men. Terry Morse directed the Alex Gottleib screen play from an original story by Leonard Neubauer. NEW STRAND FILM STARS ROGER PRYOR Roger Pryor returns to the sereen for Warner Bros. to trail “A Fugitive From Justice” through a series of adventures that ends in romance for Pryor and justice for the fugitive. Teamed with Lucile Fairbanks, niece of the late Douglas Fairbanks, who makes her motion picture debut, Pryor is seen as investigator for a large insurance company that wants to save its investment from a mob of hoodlums and a double crossing blonde all eager to cash in on the fugitive’s million dollar policy. Not only the screen, but stage and music have been Pryor’s domains as well, even though he first wanted to be a business man. The lure of the stage overcame him, however, when a friend offered him a role as a juvenile lead. After traveling with stock companies, he played in a series of Broadway successes. Pryor made his motion picture debut in “Moonlight and Pretzels,” a musical comedy. After a series of film roles he gave up screen work to go on tour with the band he organized. He is a capable singer and plays the piano, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and other musical instruments. Several years ago he gave up music and returned to Hollywood where he again entered screen work. “A Fugitive From Justice” finds him heading a cast that includes Sheila Bromley, Morgan Conway and Donald Douglas, the last named being the fleeing bail jumper who leads Pryor a wild chase before matters are settled. New Star on Horizon Fach year a new star is born. Two years ago it was Jane Bryan, last year Geraldine Fitzgerald, and now Lucile Fairbanks. Thus far she has appeared only in small roles, but as a result of her work as leading lady in “A Fugitive From Justice’ coming to the Strand, lovely Lucile will be given roles of increasing importance. In her new film she stars with Roger Pryor and Eddie Foy, Jr. Page Seven