Between Two Worlds (Warner Bros.) (1944)

Quartet of Stars in New Film at Strand Tonight (Current Theatre Story) Probably the most abused phrase in the lexicon of love is the avowal that “I love you more than life itself!” Rarely, if ever, is it employed in its literal sense. But the Warner Bros., old hands in the business of cinematic love, decided there was a picture in that expression, literally speaking. They now prove their theory by using the phrase as the theme of their latest offering, “Between Two Worlds,” which stars John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet and Eleanor Parker, and opens at the Strand tonight. A young musician (Paul Henreid) veteran of the Fall of France, is despondent because of a neurosis which leaves him incapable of continuing his musical career. Unable to adjust himself to a peacetime existence, he does not wish to involve his beautiful young wife (Eleanor Parker) in his morbid psychology. She is firm in her love for him, however, and refuses to consider life without him. Together, therefore, they embark on a singular voyage which takes them out of this world (on as strange a vessel as ever sailed the seas) where they find themselves but two of a motley group. Garfield Is Newspaperman There’s a bitter, disillusioned young newspaperman (John Garfield); an unscrupulous millionaire (George Coulouris); a happy-go-lucky American merchant seaman (George Tobias) ; an unsuccessful showgirl (Faye Emerson) ; a lovable little housekeeper (Sara Allgood); a kindly preacher (Dennis King); a socially prominent but mis-mated couple (Isobel Elsom and Gilbert Emery); a special Examiner (Sydney Greenstreet) and the ship’s steward (Edmund Gwenn). Through the eventual unraveling of the tangled problems of their fellow travelers, the young couple are taught a valiant lesson in courage and return to the task of rebuilding their lives with a healthy optimism. Producer Proves Diversity Mark Hellinger, whose most recent production was “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” proves his diversity as a motion picture producer by turning far afield for his newest effort. “In “Between Two Worlds,” he has tackled a problem as remote from the lavish, light-hearted musical as are the proverbial poles from one another. Where the musical was an extravaganza of dance and song, “Between Two Worlds” is a highly emotional, extremely personal story physically limited to a small group of players and the narrow confines of shipboard. Edward Blatt, one-time producer now turned director, directed the film with the same careful attention employed by him previously as dialogue director for such films as “Now, Voyager,” “Watch On The Rhine,” and “This Is The Army.” The screenplay, based on a play by Sutton Vane, was written by Daniel Fuchs. Original music for the picture was composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and recorded under the direction of Leo F. Forbstein. Still OB 527; Mat 101—15c JOHN GARFIELD NEW WARNER FILM, TALE OF 2 LOVES, AT STRAND TODAY (Opening Day Reader) An ocean’ voyage _ strange enough to merit its own special place among the truly great and unusual sea stories, from Moby Dick to Mutiny on the Bounty, comes tonight to the screen of the Strand Theatre. It’s Warner Bros.’ “Between Two Worlds,’ the motion picture starring John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet and Eleanor Parker. The story is that of a handful of travelers who find themselves aboard an ocean liner though no one passenger remembers having boarded the ship. At first they mistakenly assume they are on their way to America, since all had reasons for leaving war-torn Europe. But there are many odd and disturbing little factors about their voyage which defy all reasonable explanation. Despite the submarine menace, they travel with all ship lights on. Outside of their own limited group (eight in all) there are no other passengers aboard. And, too, the ship’s company consists of only one man —the steward. Travels into Unknown Sea The film arrives at an eventual explanation only after the ship has traveled a truly immeasurable distance into totally uncharted seas. And when at last the engines come to rest, it is a startling and unexpected port which awaits the moviegoer. Besides the four stars mentioned above, the excellent cast also includes Edmund Gwenn, George Tobias, George Coulouris, Faye Emerson, Sara Allgood, Dennis King, Isobel Elsom and Gilbert Emery. Produced by Mark Hellinger, the film was directed by Edward A. Blatt. The screenplay, based on a play by Sutton Vane, was authored by Daniel Fuchs. Original music was composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold while Leo F. Forbstein directed the score. POM OT Ls Sy cok 5 ot eg ee John Garfield PIP: Sea es CoS Red a a Paul Henreid ERORINSOIR oe ey ke eee Sydney Greenstreet PG i ois, af aaa oO ee Eleanor Parker ONAN ors Seka ee het ee a eae Edmund Gwenn Peete ICN i ic eo eater ey ee George Tobias WEARING oct taut oe ues See Faye Emerson ey oie iaa. eS dis ee 1 Sev ae sae George Coulouris Waa MOR ee ONS ES SE ere Ga Sara Allgood Rey. william. Duke. 55 aks Ga a ee Dennis King Nis, Cliveden-Banks:. >a kooc oe aa ae Isobel Elsom Cliveden-Baniks* = 30-55 55% SEER ane Gilbert Emery PHOWACNEE So. gs ay ae a ee Lester Matthews RST EIS me sees Gee 6 nee eae ,..Pat O’Moore PRODUCTION Produced by Mark Hellinger; Directed by Edward A. Blatt; Screen Play by Daniel Fuchs; Based on a play by Sutton Vane; Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold; Photographed by Carl Guthrie, A.S.C.; Art Director Hugh Reticker; Film Editor Rudi Fehr; Sound by Clare A. Riggs; Set Decorations by Jack McConaghy; Dialogue Director Frederick De Cordova; Gowns by Leah Rhodes; Makeup Artist Perc Westmore; Musical Director Leo F. Forbstein; Assistant Director Elmer Decker; Unit Manager Al Alleborn; Unit Publicist Bill Rice. (Not for Publication) An air raid bomb demolishes a car filled with passengers bound for a trans-Atlantic liner leaving from an English port. Former Austrian pianist Henry Bergner (Paul Henreid) and his wife (Eleanor Parker) are hurled to the ground by the bomb burst. Later, despondent, the young couple turn on the gas in their dingy flat and prepare to die together. They find themselves aboard a fog-shrouded vessel. When they recognize the passengers as those who were in the car struck by the bomb, they realize they are sailing to eternity. There is Tom Prior (John Garfield), derelict newspaperman; Maxine Russel (Faye Emerson), a faded show-girl; arrogant millionaire Lingley (George Coulouris); American merchant seaman Pete Musick (George Tobias); the Rev. William Duke (Dennis King) ; snobbish dowager Mrs. Cliveden-Banks (Isobel Elsom); her subdued husband, Cliveden-Banks (Gilbert Emery); and Mrs. Midget (Sara Allgood) a meek little housekeeper. Scrubby, the steward (Edmund Gwenn) ministers to their wants. Prior is first to guess they are dead. But Scrubby reassures them and says they await the Examiner. Examiner Thompson (Sydney Greenstreet), arrives and the passengers are told their fate—Heaven or Hell, according to the lives they have led. The Examiner decides Henry must travel between life and death, like Scrubby. But Ann refuses to leave Henry. Scrubby pleads their case with the Examiner. With a rush of cool air, Henry and Ann find themselves back in their little flat. Fresh air sweeps away gas fumes through a bomb-shattered window. The lovers are alive. (Running time: 112 minutes) SYNOPSIS Still OB 503; Mat 206—30c Believe it or not, he loves her but won’t tell her; and she loves him but wants to marry someone else! He’s John Garfield, she’s Faye Emerson and the film in which they’re all mixed up is Warner Bros.’ “Between Two Worlds,”*now playing at the Strand. LASTING LOVE IS THEME OF NEW STRAND OFFERING (Advance Theatre Story) Have you ever wondered where old Uncle John or Grandmother Jones may be today—what they may be doing—these many years after their worldly demise? Or don’t you believe it’s possible for them to be “doing” anything? Are you, in other words, one of those congenital cynics, a subscriber to the theory of total death? No matter which camp you’re in, you’ll want to see the new Warner Bros.’ film, “Between Two Worlds,” which comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday. For in this picture which depicts one of the strangest voyages ever to be recorded on film, the Warner Bros. investigate the theory of life and death in general, and the world between them in particular. Adrift ys Ocean Liner This “world between” happens to be an ocean liner adrift on a diaphonous sea on which eight people from all walks of life find themselves after a bomb has demolished the bus in which they were being driven to an actual trans-Atlantic ship. Left to their own resources, these eight casual travelers from life to death might have made their transition painlessly. Aboard the same liner, however, are two lovers who have taken their own lives by a mutual suicide pact. And these two alone, of all the motley group, are aware that they are dead. But gradually, all eight travelers are made aware of their predicament. Star-Studded Cast The Brothers Warner tell their strange and absorbing tale with a star-studded cast. Paul Henreid and Eleanor Parker are the cheerless young lovers who mistakenly thought that by opening the gas jet they would find oblivion. John Garfield plays the part of a brilliant but ideologically disintegrated newspaperman who missed his chance for integrity in this world but finds a way to redeem himself before he reaches the next one. Faye Emerson is a spirited showgirl whose fight for the “one break” is projected into the beyond, and George Tobias, Sara Allgood, George Coulouris and Dennis King are seen in the roles of merchant seamen, housekeeper, millionaire and preacher respectively, with another two travelers — an unhappily mated husband and wife (played by Gilbert Emery and Isobel Elsom) —completing the ship’s roster. Last but not least there are Sydney Greenstreet, celluloid’s erstwhile most dastardly villain, who plays the role of a representative from the beyond; and Edmund Gwenn, a ship’s steward for eternity. Produced by Mark Hellinger, the picture was directed by Edward A. Blatt, more recently associated with the Warner Bros.’ production of “This Is The Army.” The original music was prepared by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and directed by Leo F. Forbstein. Daniel Fuchs authored the screenplay which was based on a play by Sutton Vane.