Confidential Agent (Warner Bros.) (1945)

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[ee ‘Confidential Agent’ Now Playing At Strand (Current Theatre Story) In line with Hollywood's growing policy of borrowing from currently successful literature in order to improve the quality of its product, Warner Bros. has fashioned its newest film hit, ‘“Confidential Agent,’ from the novel of the same name by Graham Greene. The book, it will be recalled, enjoyed an earlierand impressive success in its own right. ‘The film transcription, currently to be seen at the Strand Theatre, is one more example of how the camera can embellish and improve upon the written word. Co-starring a new and provocative team of screen romancers, Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall, the picture also boasts an unusually competent company of supporting players, among them Katina Paxinou, Peter Lorre, Victor Francen and George Coulouris. Follows Novel For those who missed Greene’s book when it was published a few seasons back, it is here noted that producer Robert Buckner made a wise choice when he decided to adhere closely to the original story line which made _ the novel an instant member of the “I-couldn’t-put-it-down” school of literature. As a result, the motion picture attains the same measure of absorbing action and mounting excitement which distinguished its literary progenitor but, in best Hollywood tradition, adds the extra lure of a top-notch, impassioned love story. The combination is all to the good. The film, like the book, is concerned with the dramatic adventures of the Spaniard, Denard (Charles Boyer), ex-— musician, now employed by the Spanish Republican Party as a confidential agent. Ordered to London on a special mission concerning the purchase of large stores of British coal, Denard sets out on an incredible voyage. At the outset he meets Rose Cullen (Lauren Bacall), impetuous daughter of British nobility, who is at first attracted to the mystery surrounding the man, then, later, falls in love with him. Their tenuous love is subjected to numerous dangers but grows stronger with each succeeding tribulation. Denard himself encounters beatings, robbery and finally, murder, before his suspenseful journey comes to an end. -Of mortal enemies, Denard can claim an abundance. There are Mrs: Melandez (Katina Paxinou), manageress of the small London hotel in which he makes his abode; Contreras (Peter Lorre), a “contact’””» man attached to the Spanish Republicans; Licata (Victor Francen), suavely treacherous fascist; Captain Currie (George Coulouris), British Army, Ret., and active opportunist; and, Jastly, the curious Mr. Muckerji (Dan Seymour), ponderous Hindu and follower of a mysterious Far Eastern philosophy. How Denard meets these enemies and outwits them through a series of hairraising encounters that includes at least one brutally sadistic attack on his own person, the heartless murder of an innocent little girl who tries to aid him, and a breathtaking pursuit and escape through the labyrinth of blackest London streets, makes for as exciting an evening of entertainment as has come out of Hollywood in a season lush with screen excitements. Robert Buckner produced the film for Warner Bros. while Herman Shumlin, whose most recent effort was the successful “Watch On The Rhine,” directed. Franz Waxman contributed the film’s original music. New Screen Team Arrives Friday At Strand Theatre (Advance Reader) Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall are co-starred in Warners’ new romantic drama, “Confidential Agent,” which opens on Friday at the Strand Theatre. The film, which also boasts an excellent company of supporting players, among them Katina Paxinou, Peter Lorre, Victor Francen and George Coulouris, is an adaptation of Graham Greene’s well-known adventure novel of the same name. For her first screen. appearance since her successful debut opposite Humphrey Bogart in Warners’ “To Have And Have Not,’ Lauren Bacall plays the role of an impulsive English girl who becomes entangled in the hazardous adventures of a freedom-loving artist (portrayed by Charles Boyer) when he embarks upon a new career as confidential agent for the Spanish Republican Party. His mission carries him to England and it is here, against the background of pre-war London, that the action cf the picture takes place. Before the film has run its course, a breathless pattern of pursuit and escape, brutal attack, robbery and eventually murder has been accomplished. Robert Buckner produced the film for Warner Bros., Herman Shumlin directed and Franz Waxman contributed the original music. Mat 107—15c Victor Francen DANGER Still 651-27 Mat 204 — 30c Victor Francen, Lauren Bacall and George Coulouris spell danger in the above scene from Warners’ newest drama of love and adventure, ‘Confidential Agent," which arrives Friday at the Strand theatre. Co-starred in the film are Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall. Use these items all together as a 2-Column feature, or individually as fillers. If used in the latter way, be sure to include your playdate credit in each paragraph. ———TInside Information on “CONFIDENTIAL AGENT” Charles Boyer, currently co-starring with Lauren Bacall in Warners’ ‘Confidential Agent’ at the Strand, entertained Admiral Charles Fenard of the French Navy on the studio lot during the picture’s filming, and found they had a mutual friend in Lt. Commander Douglas Fairbanks who was decorated by the Admiral at a recent ceremony in London. Katina Paxinou, famed character actress who plays the important featured role of "Mrs. Melandez'' in Warners’ "Confidential Agent,"’ renewed her professional association with Charles Boyer during the picture's filming. They had previously worked together for Greek War Relief. While visiting on the set of “Confidential Agent,”’ Norma Boleslawski showed the director, Herman Shumlin, and stars Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall, a copy of her late husband’s book on acting which, she explained, would soon be published in Braille as a result of numerous requests from blind students throughout the United States. The first film made by Charles Boyer, currently co-starring with Lauren Bacall in Warners' 'Confidential Agent" at the Strand, was "'Barcarole d'Amour," which he made (in French) in Berlin in 1930 as a member of the French company brought in by the German producers to do a complete French version. Lauren Bacall, who co-stars with Charles Boyer in Warners’ “Confidential Agent,” currently at the Strand, learned to drive a complicated British Vauxhall of early vintage, in less than five minutes for a sequence in the picture. Director Herman Shumlin made a scene, lasting over two and half minutes, comprising two full pages of dialogue, with Charles Boyer and Victor Francen for Warner Bros.’ "Confidential Agent,"’ in only one take. This sets a new Hollywood record in economic film-making. Victor Francen, currently to be seen in an important featured role in the Charles Boyer-Lauren Bacall co-starring film, “Confidential Agent,’ has been a friend of Boyer’s for twenty-five years, from the time they played together in the Paris presentation of “A Thousand And One Nights,” in which Francen had the role of the Sultan and Boyer was one of the princes. Victor Francen, who plays a leading role in Warner Bros.’ "Confidential Agent,"’ was once known as the Barrymore of the French stage, and did not speak a word of English until he came to New York a little more than four years ago. It’s ‘Whistle While You Work’ On ‘Agent’ Set Lauren Bacall may be an expert on whistling of all kinds, including the variety she produces on the small gold whistle that dangles at her right wrist on a_ gold chain, and Peter Lorre is no slouch when it comes to whistling as he kills. For confirmation, see “M,” the murder thriller he made some years ago in Europe. But when it comes to getting immediate attention by whistling, no one can equal Herman Shumlin, who directed the Charles Boyer-Lauren Bacall starring film, ‘“Confidential Agent,” now playing at the Strand. Shumlin simply puts two fingers to his mouth, whistles — and that whistle stops everything, at once. It’s an old trick he learned on the farm in Indiana, the director explains. Still Bacall 72 Mat 102 — 15c Look who's back! It's Lauren Bacall, of "To Have And Have Not" fame, as she appears in Warner Bros.’ ''Confidential Agent,’ now playing at the Strand. Co-starred with her in the film is Charles Boyer. A-Star Trio Born Amid Props And Studio Noise The Shumlin, Bacall, Boyer Concert Trio was born on the set during the filming of Warners’ “Confidential Agent,” now at the Strand, when director Herman Shumlin, after directing a sequence with music in the restaurant of the Dover Road tavern, borrowed a violin and played “Humoresque. Plays Violin Charles Boyer, inspired by the director, followed suit although he has not played for about twenty-eight years, and Lauren Bacall sat at the piano and did a good job of accompanying, despite lack of practice. George Coulouris, Victor Francen, and other members of the cast diplomatically suggested that the trio do some rehearsing before giving a public performance at the Philharmonic or the Hollywood Bowl.