Dr Ehrlichs Magic Bullet (Warner Bros.) (1940)

PUE 2 'D = CIT’ Lead Stories Cast and Production WARNER BROS. FOLLOW UP ‘PASTEUR’ AND ‘ZOLA’ WITH NEW FILM—‘DR. EHRLICH’S MAGIC BULLET’ Edward G. Robinson Forsakes Gangster Roles to Characterize Dr. Paul Ehrlich grea bemmete G every precedent for dramatic frankness, “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” starring Edward G. Robinson, will be the next attraction at the Strand Theatre, starting on Friday. Contrary to what might be expected from the title and the presence of Robinson at the head of the cast, the new film is not a gangster picture. Alert to the public demand for that which is new and unusual, Warner Bros. have been pioneers in the field of screen entertainment since the earliest formation of their company. In 1927, they introduced sound to the hitherto silent screen, thus revolutionizing the entire medium of the screen. ~ The screen’s first smashing attack on injustice, “Fugitive From A Chain Gang” came from the Warner Bros. studio, starting a new and powerful trend toward films with important social content. Then in the darkest days of the depression, they cheered the world with “FortySecond Street”, first of the largescale musical pictures which have had an established part in screen programs ever since. In rapid successsion, Warner Bros. followed with ‘such films as “Little Caesar”, “Anthony Adverse’, “The Story of Louis Pasteur”, “The Life of Emile Zola”, each marking a milestone in the screen’s march of pro gress. Now in 1940, comes Warner Bros. most sensational film, Edw. G. Robinson Has Greatest Role In New Strand Film “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet’, a film constructed along the same lines as “The Story of Louis Pasteur”, comes to the Strand Theatre tomorrow as the feature film. The pictures have a great deal in common in that they represent a new trend in the motion picture field, entertainment and service, but beyond this lies a highly interesting fact. “Louis Pasteur’ of course paid tribute to Dr. Pasteur eminent French scientist. “Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” is an entertaining and dramatic picturization of the life and work in the medical field of Dr. Paul Ehrlich, winner of the Nobel Prizefor his scientific discoveries. It so happens that Ehrlich was a friend and disciple of Pasteur, and carried on some of the work that the French scientist started. Like Pasteur, Dr. Ehrlich sought constantly to establish an ever closer relationship between medicine and chemistry. He named and sought that recurrent dream of every sincere microbe hunter, a “magie bullet” which would kill microbes, just as a cartridge from a rifle will kill big game. For Dr. Ehrlich, this dream came true, to the infinitely great benefit of all mankind. Edward G. Robinson has his greatest role as Dr. Ehrlich and is said to give a performance equal to those which Paul Muni gave in “The Story of Louis Pasteur” and in “Emile Zola”. “The Story of Dr. Magic Bullet”! Forged in the white-hot fires of one-man’s courage, the magic bullet is mankind’s strangest weapon, and the story of its discovery is one of the most heroic ever told. In telling it, the producers have opened up an entirely new vista in thrilling screen entertainment. Edward G. Robinson’s-role is entirely foreign to anything he has ever before done on the screen. As Dr. Ehrlich who was as well known in his country as Thomas Edison was here, he is said to turn in a performance of the highest calibre, rank Ehrlich’s ing in dramatic stature with those which Paul Muni gave in “The Story of Louis Pasteur” and “The Life of Emile Zola’. The man who created the character of “Little Caesar”, which gave rise to a score or more of gangster characterizations, has reached a new stage in his career, and one that bids fair te go down in the annals of screen greatness. Featured with him in the cast are Ruth Gordon, famous stage star, Otto Kruger, Donald Crisp, and dozens of others. Under the painstaking direction of William Dieterle, whose Mat 221—30c EDWARD G. ROBINSON has his greatest screen role as Dr. Ehrlich, the rebel genius, in "The Story of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet", coming to the Strand. CAST Dr. Emil Von Behring... Minister Althoff Franziska Speyer Professor Hartmann Dr. Hans Wolfert Mittelmeyer Dr. Lentz.... Dr. Robert Koc Dr. Morgenroth Rais Judge .... Dr. Brockdo Miss Marquardt... EDWARD G. ROBINSON Ruth Gordon Otto Kruger Donald ‘Crisp ...Maria Ouspenskaya Montagu Love ...Sig Rumann ....Donald Meek Henry O'Neill Albert Basserman eee ae Edward Norris Harry Davenport Louis Calhern Louis Jean Heydt Charles Halton Irving Bacon Douglas Wood Theodor Von Eltz aca gherteceesre ree Hermine Sterler PRODUCTION STAFF Directed by WILLIAM DIETERLE Original Screen Play by John Huston, Heinz Herald, and Norman Burnside; From an idea by Norman Burnside; Music by Max Steiner; Director of Photography, James Wong Howe, A.S.C.; Art Director, Carl Jules Weyl; Dialogue Director, Irving Rapper; Film Editor, Warren Low; Sound by Robert B. Lee; Costumes by Howard Shoup; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein; Orchestral Arrangements, Hugo Friedhofer. Running Time . . i! 103 Minutes [18] other work included such films as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Life of Emile Zola”, “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” has received the most careful attention in every detail of production. The dialogue is magnificent and absorbing, the background authentic and descriptive. John Huston, Heinz Herald and Norman Burnside wrote the original screen play, from an idea by Burnside. ‘Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet’, Thrilling New Drama, Coming Not since the advent of talking pictures did such radical news emanate from Hollywood as when Warner Bros. announced that it would film the story of the life of Dr. Paul Ehrlich. Edward G. Robinson stars in “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet.” Not a gangster picture, yet a war on the deadhest public enemy of all, it is highly exciting film entertainment. It will be shown locally at the Strand Theatre, starting Friday. Harry and J. L. Warner, who introduced talking pictures to the world when they made “The Jazz Singer” and revolutionized the entire industry, have again biazed a new trail by producing “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet.” Their innovation in 1927 began a controversy that was furiously debated but which finally influenced the entire course of modern films and now, thirteen years later, they have again made another significant contribution to the screen with a rich and colorful story that reveals the amazing progress of science. Their film, “The Story of Dr. | Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” is the culmination of a program that began with “The Story of Louis Pasteur.’’ At that time the entire industry was skeptical of the plan to present the screen biography of a scientist. “Who is interested in germs?,” just about summed up the attitude of the disbelievers. Yet “Pasteur” set a precedent which has labeled Harry and Jack Warner and their executive producer Hal B. Wallis the most progressive and fearless leaders in the industry. It is certain to say that the Warner Bros. and Hal Wallis, who displayed such excellent showmanship in “Pasteur,” “Zola” and “Juarez,” have provided fine entertainment in “Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet” in addition to making the screen the most important medium in combatting ignorance on an important issue. Radio, newspapers, church, government and health organizations have pleaded with potentates of the screen to lend their aid. Warner Bros. had the courage to’answer the appeal. William Dieterle directed “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet,” as he did the ether “biographies.” The Ehrlich picture will probably start a controversy that will rival the election debates; but it will be the healthy controversy through which the industry will progress. ‘