Dark Victory (Warner Bros.) (1939)

ONLY BETTE DAVIS COULD PLAY IT! Photographic impressions of Bette Davis, America's number one dramatic actress, as she appears in several scenes of her newest triumph, "Dark Victory," opening at the Music Hall on Friday. George Brent and Humphrey Bogart are featured with her in this drama of a love thatis stronger than life itself. Mat 304—45c Bette Davis In ‘Dark Victory Year’s Greatest Romantic Drama Academy Award Winner Heads Stellar Cast Including George Brent, Humpbrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald In Drama At Radio City Music Hall On Friday 66M ARK VICTORY,” the Warner Bros. picture which opens at Radio City Music Hall Friday, presents Bette Davis as the ill-starred heroine of one of the tenderest, one of the most poignantly beautiful romances ever unfolded upon the screen. It is a story of great love and dauntless courage, both pitted against an implacable fate, and it offers the brilliant Miss Davis what she herself considers the greatest role of her very impressive career. While the character portrayed by Miss Davis might still dominate the narrative even if played by a lesser actress than the matchless Bette — so compelling is the role — the production is by no means a one-woman tour de force. It has a supporting cast that is fully worthy of its gifted star, and the brilliance of her performance serves to inspire them all to a superlative pitch of excellence. Playing opposite the lustrous star is George Brent, and in uniting with her to bring this moving romance to the screen he has the most sympathetic role of his notable career. Another lover of Bette’s, albeit a frustrated one, is played by Humphrey Bogart, and his portrayal of an uncouth but honest and genuine Irish horsetrainer, different from anything he has done previously on the screen, is fraught with interest, for it proves that he is not only an ace bad man but an superb actor. | Perhaps the most interesting personality in the cast, aside from the star, is an Irish lass named Geraldine Fitzgerald, who has the second most important feminine role even though this is her first . Page Ten eS (Lead Story) American picture. Trained on the stage in Dublin and with seme experience in English pictures, she was signed by Warner Bros, after a sensationa: New York stage debut last year and is regarded as destined for certain stardom. Other members of the truly impressive cast include such players as Ronald Reagan, Henry Travers, Cora Witherspoon, Dorothy Peterson, Virginia Brissac, Charles Richman and Herbert Rawlinson. Unquestionable assurance that the talents of these players are utilized to their utmost is the fact that the production was directed by Edmund Goulding, famous director of many hits, the last of which was “White Banners.” Goulding is known throughout the screen world as an expert at dealing with the interplay of human relationships in films. A brilliant musical score by Max Steiner, who scored such pictures as “Green Light” and “The Life of Emile Zola” adds immeasureably to the dramatic meaning of the picGune, Pa STORY OUTLINE: (Not For Publication) —“'Dark Victory” is the story of a beautiful and headstrong young heiress who suddenly learns that she has only ten months to live. She conquers this stroke of Fate by the power of a great love, and ultimately finds peace and happiness in the brief span of life allotted to her. Here is a magnificent tale of courage, brilliantly preformed by Bette Davis, and a stellar supporting cast which includes George Brent, Humphrey Bogart and Geraldine Fitzgerald. Edmund Goulding, celebrated for his ability to make films with a special appeal for women, directed. The screen play, which was written by Casey Robinson, was based on a stage play by George Emerson Brewer, Jr., and Bertram Bloch. Bette is presented as the gay and carefree young leader of a rich “horsy” set of society folk. There is nothing of the spoiled and petulant young heiress about her. She’s ‘a very modern young thing but a thoroughly likeable one withal. Then love and destiny enter her life and bring about a complete metamorphosis in her character. The unusual drama is essentially the story of her thoroughbred courage in facing a love that is greater than life itself. Only an actress of Miss Davis’ calibre would dare undertake a role which required such subtle shading of mood and character as is necessary to show the growth of an immature, pleasure-seeking girl into a woman who has tasted all life can offer and has triumphed above all fear. The advance notices on her performance prove that it is the greatest one of her spectacular career. Twice-winner of Motion Picture Academy Award for her performance in “Dangerous” and the recent “Jezebel” (which won her the 1938 award), she is already being named as the most likely prospect to receive the coveted honor in 1939 for her work in “Dark Victory” and “Juarez,” a forthcoming Warner Bros. production in which she plays the Empress Carlota. In this picture, one of the most important of the coming film season, Miss Davis is co-starred with Paul Muni and Brian Aherne. Handsomely mounted, “Dark Victory,” played against rich backgrounds SHORT ADVANCE NOTICES “Dark Victory” Coming “Dark Victory,” a Warner Bros. production starring Bette Davis will open at the Music Hall on Friday. The highly dramatic love story was directed by Edmund Goulding from the screen play by Casey Robinson, based upon the stage play by George Emerson Brewer, Jr., and Bertram Block. Besides Miss Davis, the cast includes George Brent, Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Cora Witherspoon, Henry Travers, Dorothy Peterson and many others. Max Steiner wrote the score. Bette Davis In New Film Bette Davis, who recently received the Award of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences for the best performance of 1938 for her work in “Jezebel,” is the star of “Dark Victory,” the drama opening at the Radio City Music Hall Friday. Miss Davis also received the award in 1935, Playing opposite her in “Dark Victory” is George Brent, and the cast also features Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Henry Travers, Cora Witherspoon, Dorothy Peterson and many others. Edmund Goulding directed from the screen play by Casey Robinson, based upon the stage play by George Emerson Brewer, Jr. and Bertram Block. Drama Inspires Song Inspired by the dramatic plot of “Dark Victory,” the Bette Davis starring picture he directed for Warner Bros., Edmund Goulding wrote a song which is featured in the production. It is called “Give Me Time for Tenderness.” Goulding composed the melody and Elsie Janis wrote the lyrics. The director got the idea for the song from the central situation of “Dark Victory,” which opens next Friday at Music Hall. Also featured in the cast with Miss Davis are George Brent, Humphrey Bogart and Geraldine Fitzgerald,