City for Conquest (Warner Bros.) (1940)

® Opening Day ‘City For Conquest’ Starts Local Run At Strand Today A powerful drama of undying love in the big city is the thrilling theme that will greet Strand audiences today when Warner Bros.’ new film, “City For Conquest” starts its local run. The film, starring James Cagney and Ann Sheridan, is as turbulent, exciting and dramatic as New York City itself. Cagney plays the part of an East Side newsboy who discovers that one must be hard and tough to make a dent in the town. Ann Sheridan has the role of a girl who finds that the price of success can be very high. Together they plan to accomplish something—to beat their way through the cruel oppression of the town’s seven and a half million struggling souls. Ann dances her way to fame while Cagney tries to earn enough money to marry her and send his brother through music school. They find that the city can be conquered, but only if one can face great tragedy and sacrifice. Their’s is a story that will never be forgotten. “City For Conquest” has a supporting cast that is unsurpassed. Frank Craven, fine actor of the legitimate theatre, plays the role of a wise, old philosopher who knows his New York inside out—from the Battery to the Bronx. Frank McHugh lends humor to the film as a typical Noo Yawker who is never at a loss for words of advice. Donald Crisp, known for his splendid performances, runs true to form as Cagney’s unswerving pal. Arthur Kennedy, fresh from the New York stage, is cast as Cagney’s brother, who composes a “Symphony of the Magic Isle” that is the soul and tempo of New York. Also featured in the brilliant cast are George Tobias, Jerome Coman, Elia Kazan, Joyce Compton, Lee Patrick, Anthony Quinn, Blanche Yurke, George Lloyd, Thurston Hall, Ben Weldon, John Arledge, Ed Keane, Selmer Jackson and Joseph Crehan. Max Steiner wrote the accompanying musical score. Anatole Litvak, the fine director who did such grand work with “All This And Heaven Too,” has come through once more with a perfect job of direction in “City For Conquest.” The film was adapted for the screen from Aben Kandel’s bestselling novel by one of Hollywood’s most dynamic scenario writers—John Wexley. ‘Oomph’ Gets No Time Out from Film Work Ann Sheridan had a three minute vacation between finishing “City For Conquest” and Stia-ptirne “Honeymoon For Three.” “There will be a moment of silent concentration,” eracked the redhead, “while Annie shifts her screen affections from Mat 109—15c Jimmy CagAnn Sheridan ney to George Brent.” Ann shares starring honors with Cagney in “City For Conquest,”’ a dynamic story of bigcity life, based on the best-selling novel by Aben Kandel, which was adapted for the screen by John Wexley. Anatole Litvak directed the production. ® Prepared Review PUBL Cll’ Cagney, Sheridan Triumph in Powerful Human Film Story, ‘City For Conquest’ CAST: Danny Kenny..... James Cagney Pepey Nash itt.’ Ann Sheridan “Olde TIMER sesso s Frank Craven Scotty MacPherson.Donald Crisp SOMEUUGE 2 cyaaeiesis ot sosrets Frank McHugh Eddie Kenny...Arthur Kennedy SRT TRINS crea RSke esis 3 George Tobias SS DANE 2 secs peter wis woete Jerome Cowan SGOORI =e essitle eb abeles Elia Kazan Murray Burns ...Anthony Quinn CGAAVS S25 cus wae ele Lee Patrick Mins: Nasik .de eeaee Blanche Yurka ASOLO 2a ecubom ats George Lloyd Wath yd oneccracsr eg vs ete Joyce Compton a\' 1pm BT X0) ok 6 Or Thurston Hall MOND Wssaurets ccuc shabu uaeezend is tate Ben Welden Salesmanesnk. 22s John Arledge CUM rates ce Fecev erent ont Sous, tes Ed Keane TVOCHOIR vaganece seen sa Selmer Jackson DOCtORTS stats foe ee Joseph Crehan PRODUCTION: Directed by Anatole Litvak; Screen Play by John Wexley; From the Novel by Aben Kandel; Directors of Photography, Sol Polito, A.S.C., and James Wong Howe, A.S.C.; Art Director, Robert Haas; Dialogue Director, Irving Rapper; Film Editor, William Holmes; Sound by E. A. Brown; Dance Direction by Robert Vreeland; Gowns by Howard Shoup; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore; Special Effects by Byron Has kin, A.S.C., and Rex Wimpy, A.S.C.; Orchestral Arrangements by Hugo Fredhofer; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein; Music by Max Steiner. The powerful magnitude of the world’s greatest city is the vital dramatic force which motivates the action of the Strand Theatre’s new dramatic hit film, “City For Conquest.” With James Cagney and Ann Sheridan heading a sterling east of players, “City For Conquest” moves right up into the front ranks of new season film fare. Aben Kandel, on whose novel the film is based, has written a solid American story that faithfully mirrors the stark tragedy, the lusty humor, the abject loneliness and the heart-warming friendliness that go hand in hand on the city streets. John Wexley’s screen adaptation has shaped the story into expert cinematic form, with pungent dialogue that fairly crackles from the screen, and Anatole ® Second Day Story Local Critics Praise Cagney-Sheridan Film “City For Conquest,” the new Warner Bros. drama _ starring James Cagney and Ann Sheridan, which opened yesterday at the Strand Theatre has received much favorable comment from newspaper critics and local audiences alike, all of whom agree that this is the type of vital human interest drama _ which makes the best possible screen fare. (List quotes here:) A dynamic story of the world’s greatest city and what it does to the young people who go out with high hearts to conquer it, “City For Conquest” is based on Aben Kandel’s novel. John Wexley adapted it for the sereen production. Anthony Quinn's ears back, but Ann Sheridan won't let them fight. Still CC 20; Mat 211—30c TRIANGLE OF TROUBLE—James Cagney (right) is all ready to pin rival Film is "City For Conquest," now at the Strand. Litvak’s direction has given the film story the fluid ebb and flow of life itself. There is Cagney, as Danny, the stocky slum boy, who tries to conquer the city with his fists. There is Ann Sheridan, as his girl, whose dancing feet carry her to fame and fortune. There is his brother, played by Arthur Kennedy, a musical genius who translates the noises of the city into a wonderful symphony. There is Danny’s boyhood pal, played by Elia Kazan, thwarted, embittered product of the slums who seeks to conquer with stiletto and Tommy gun. And then there is Frank Craven as the Old Timer, omniscient, ubiquitous, who roams the city’s streets, watching over them all and weaves their stories into one symbolic voice of the city. Performances are uniformly excellent, with Cagney and Miss Sheridan setting the pace for the rest of the cast. As they demonstrated so ably in the recent “Torrid Zone,’ Cagney and Sheridan are a perfect screen team — Cagney’s hard-boiled pugnacity and straightforwardness being perfectly offset by Miss Sheridan’s volatile spirits and colorful vivacity. Frank Craven’s masterful handling of the ‘Old Timer’ role marks another triumph for this seasoned performer. Arthur Kennedy, a film newcomer, who plays the young musician, and Elia Kazan, of the Broadway stage, both do standout jobs in featured character roles as «ao Donald Crisp and Frank McHugh. “City For Conquest” is that very rare thing, a motion picture without a dull foot of film. Moving along at a swift and satisfying pace from fade-in to fade-out, it is an exciting human interest story of wide appeal. © Third Day Story New Strand Film Gets Record Crowds Since its opening Friday morning, “City For Conquest,” the new Warner Bros. film, has played to capacity crowds at all performances, with the ‘“‘standing room only” sign out for the evening showings. According to the management, the film has broken all previous attendance records for the past season. James Cagney and Ann Sheridan are co-starred at the head of the cast of “City For Conquest,” with Frank Craven, Frank McHugh, Donald Crisp, Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Jerome Cowan and many other noted players in the featured supporting cast. The film is based on Aben Kandel’s novel. ® Holdover Story ‘City For Conquest’ To Be Held For 2nd Week The Strand Theatre management announces that “City For Conquest” originally scheduled for one week, will be held over for a second week. The James Cagney-Ann Sheridan film has attracted record crowds at every performance since its opening on Friday, and the management has realigned its film schedule in order to give the picture additional playing time.~._ “City For Conquest,” which has been enthusiastically hailed by local critics as the year’s finest human interest drama, stars James Cagney and Ann Sheridan. John Wexley adapted the story for the screen, from the dynamic novel by Aben Kandel. eandidshots Mat 306—45c Snapped at random around the set of "City For Conquest," the Strand's new film hit: (Left) Look-alikes Jimmie Cagney and his little sister Jeanne have a family confab. (Center) Director Anatole Litvak gives Cagney and Sheridan a pointer. (Right) So long, folks. La Sheridan is homeward bound after a day's work on the Warner lot. ®@ Current Feature Director-Writer Duo Scores New Hit At Strand When the violent events of “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse’”’ first associated Anatole Litvak with John Wexley, they launched one of the screen’s most successful teams. In the period since “Dr. Clitterhouse”’ was filmed and released, the team of Wexley as scenarist, and Litvak as director, has pounded at the emotions of motion picture goers with other powerful films. Recently, the team of Wexley and Litvak worked together again, mixing its ingredients of strain and uproar in a stark new drama adapted from Novelist Aben Kandel’s best selling “City for Conquest.” The film opens Friday at the Strand. Litvak and Wexley have laid their scenes in tumultuous New York City. Here, in the big city streets and byways, John and Anatole are again mingling adventure and adversity for a carefully chosen Warner Bros. east. Jimmy Cagney, as the East Side boy who tries to conquer the city; Ann Sheridan as his childhood sweetheart who dances her way to fame; Elia Kazan as the loyal little gangster who meets his own end avenging Jimmy; Donald Crisp as the steadfast old friend; Arthur Kennedy as the lad who scales the musical heights because his brother still believes in him; Frank McHugh as the hero worshiping truck driver; and Frank Craven as the all wise and unfettered old bum, who speaks with the voice of the city itself, (because he seeks nothing for himself) supply the human characters. With them Wexley, who himself grew up from the parched poverty stricken streets of the big city, and fought his way to distinction as a Broadway writer, supplied a realistic background of passion and conflict. Litvak supplied the same impression of human strain, and overhanging destiny, that gripped the audiences in his many previous pictures. Between the two of them, John and Anatole, they make New York come to life on the screen as a sprawling, noisy, violent, overpowering place where fateful things happen— but a place that the movie fans pay out a box office fortune to see on the screen. And Another Tough Guy Bites the Dust! James Cagney may be embarking upon a brand new phase of his long and lustrous film career if current indications mean anything. In previous OLS. he could take the girls or leave them alone but in his last two pwet wires: tS Th. Ove dod. Zone,” and the . hew Mat 110—15c “City For James Cagney Conquest,” which is showing at the Strand, it’s romance that takes up most of Jimmie’s time. Perhaps the erstwhile tough guy is getting more susceptable, or possibly the script writers are just feeling their oats. But most probably it’s that girl Ann Sheridan who co-stars with him in both films!