Bordertown (Warner Bros.) (1935)

+ BORDERTOWN OPENING DAY © Colorful Drama, “Bordertown, at _.. Theatre Today Paul Muni, one of the greatest actors of the stage or screen, comes to RING ee. gee ae Theatre today in the Warner Bros. production. “Bordertown,” which is said to be the most powerful drama in which he has ever appeared. The picture, suggested by Carroll Graham’s novel, is a stark, realistic picturization of the colorful life in a town on the American border, with its night clubs and gambling resorts frequented by American millionaires and bored society women seeking diversion. In this atmosphere that Paul Muni, in the role of a foreign youth rises to riches and power as the proprietor of a fashionable night club and gaming hall. Handsome, magnetic, he is loved by two women, one a fiery adventuress who slays her husband to try to win him, and, when scorned, charges him with the murder. The part is played by Bette Davis, who is said to surpass even her splendid performance in “Of Human Bondage.” The other woman in the triangular romance is an American society woman, who plays with the handsome young proprietor of the night club, a flirtation which the mad youth takes seriously, and which ends in tragedy. Margaret Lindsay has the role of this woman. ‘The entire cast is a talented one and includes such players as Eugene Pallette, Robert Barrat, Henry O'Neill, Gavin Gordon, Hobart Cavanaugh, William Davidson, Arthur Stone, Vivian Tobin and Soledad Jiminez. Archie L. Mayo directed the picture from the screen play by Laird Doyle and Wallace Smith. Robert Lord wrote the story, which was suggested by Carroll Graham’s sensational novel. STAR STORY © Paul Muni Has His Finest Role In “Bordertown” Practically all border towns are lawless, according to the author of “Bordertown,” the Warner Bros. production, which comes to the bathe e Reise a: gp BN eAGre JOM: osies. crete 55 with Paul Muni in the stellar role. He speaks of this as “the taint which seems to envelop all boundaries.” “Bordertown” is the story of a young man who grows up to be a power in his particular part of the underworld. The role of Johnny Ramirez seems particularly suited to Paul Muni, suggesting a great similarity to his part in “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang.” In “Bordertown,” however, Muni is called upon for a greater dramatic range, since this story has greater scope. It takes him from the cantaloupe fields of Imperial Valley to the vice haunts of “Bordertown” and thence to the drawings rooms of his American society friends. Carroll Graham, the author whose novel suggested the picture, was coauthor of “Qteer People” and brings to his latest story the same candid analysis of human frailties and virtues. The most significant commentary on “Bordertown” is Muni’s enthusiasm for it, since he only does two pictures a year and consistently refuses to accept stories that are routine in plot or characterization. Muni is supported by Bette Davis, Margaret Lindsay, Eugene Pallette, Robert Barrat, Henry O’Neill, Hobart Cavanaugh and Gavin Gordon. Archie L. Mayo directed the picture from the screen play by Laird Doyle and Wallace Smith. The story is by Robert Lord. bY PUB Ib UCU’ Picture of the Month Paul Muni, the “Fugitive From the Chain Gang,” and Bette Davis, man-wrecker of “Of Human Bondage’ are teamed in the strongest roles of their careers in the Warner Bros. production “Bordertown,” which opens at the 0.000.000.0000... Pheatre on 2A. 5 6 a BS Yow'll see Margaret Lindsay and Eugene Pallette in the supporting cast. Mat No. 3—20c BEV EEW Muni at His Greatest, Is Seen in His Finest Drama “Bordertown” Is Gripping Story Wonderfully Portrayed by Star and Bette Davis Orv: again Paul Muni comes to the screen with a blazing picture of real life—life that touches the rough, raw edges, but is so picturesque and colorful that it gripped the atten tion of every spectator at the Ate mgitiss Theatre yesterday where it was shown for the first time locally. The picture is “Bordertown,” suggested by the stirring novel by Carroll Graham. Warner Bros. for Paul Muni, have chosen a plot that is startling in its emotional intensity. Not since he played the role of a convict in “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,” has Muni appeared in a picture of such dramatic importance and such outstanding ruggedness. One of the most. brilliant and colorful actors ~ of the American stage or screen, it is in such characterizations as that in “Bordertown,” that Muni rises to the full height of his talents. He instills both life and fire into the character of a foreign youth who is torn by conflicting emotions in his desperate battle to win success and love against insurmountable odds. Stung by the injustices done his people, he decides that only the rich get the things worth while in life, and goes to a resort town on the United States border where he acquires both riches and power as the proprietor of a night club and gambling resort. It is in this picturesque setting that most of the scenes are laid; a community wild and lawless; a cabaret frequented by persons of every caste, rogues and outlaws and adventuresses, and by American millionaires and society women seeking diversion. Bette Davis has the role of'a fiery adventuress, wife of Muni’s pardner, who slays her husband in the hope of winning the love of the younger man. She does a splendid piece of : in this latest starring vehicle acting in a tremendous emotional scene where she vents her fury, the fury of a woman scorned, on the man she loves, by accusing him of the murder she herself had committed. The other leading feminine role is played by Margaret Lindsay, who has the part of a bored society woman who seeks a new thrill by flirting with the young gambler Miss Lindsay portrays with great skill this woman of ice and fire who plays with a blazing voleano, the while she tries to be aloof enough to keep from being singed. The surging, torrid love of the youth for the society beauty brings about the tragic climax which is as gripping as it is unusual, There is an exceptionally talented supporting cast which includes Eugene Pallette, Robert Barrat, Henry O’Neill, Hobart Cavanaugh, Gavin Gordon, William Davidson, Arthur Stone, Vivian Tobin and Soledad Jiminez. Archie L. Mayo has given the production an unusually fine interpretation through his sympathetic understanding and knowledge of the characters. His direction is entirely in keeping with the story which Robert Lord wrote in brilliant style. The screen play is by Laird Doyle and Wallace Smith. The picture as a whole is powerful and compelling entertainment, a dramatic masterpiece that no one should miss. >> PRODUCTION STORY > Invisible Ray Is Shown as Murder Tool on Sereen The invisible ray, the new scientific discovery used in many homes of the wealthy to guard their residences against burglary, now appears in motion pictures as a weapon for murder. In the Warner Bros. production, “Bordertown,” which comes to the Pr te ......; Lheatre on Eee 9 a Situation arises in which Bette Davis desires to rid herself of her husband, Gene Pallette, in order that she may marry Paul Muni. At first she tries every enticement at her command, but without success, for Muni does not believe in the double-cross. Pallette, in love with his wife, has built for her a beautiful residence across the border. Among other conveniences, he installed an_ invisible ray apparatus to open and close the doors of their garage. One night she drives him home from his gambling place after he had been drinking. The auto enters the garage, where she leaves the car running, with Pallette still in the back seat. She takes one last look as she walks from the garage and through the invisible ray. As she does so the door drops electrically, leaving her husband to die by monoxide gas. “Bordertown” is a powerful drama of the rise and fall of an indomitable youth, set in a picturesque border community, wild, lawless, colorful; ridden by rogues, gamblers, out casts, and the rendezvous of American millionaires and bored society women. Others in the cast include Margaret Lindsay, Rebert _ Re~rct Henry O’Neill, Hobart ‘Cavahiugn 7 and Gavin Gordon. Film Extras Dance to Paul Muni's Radio No one was more surprised, and amused, than Paul Muni when he stepped from the Warner Bros. stage during the production of “Bordertown,” now showing at the A EE Bats . Theatre, to find 150 extras from the picture dancing in the street to music furnished by the radio’ in his own car. Creator Paul Muni has created another role that will live in sereen history— Johnny Ramirez, gambling house proprietor, in the Warner Bros. dramatic triumph, “Bordertown,” now playing at the Mat No. 4—10c Belt Chem It's “THE PICTURE OF THE MONTH See Page 11 Page Five