East of the River (Warner Bros.) (1940)

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PUBLICITY OPENING DAY e REVIEW e PERSONALITY STORIES (Opening Day) John Garfield in Exciting Drama At Strand Today New York’s slums provide the poignant setting for Warner Bros.’ new dramatic film starring John Garfield, Brenda Marshall and Marjorie Rambeau, “East of the River,” which opens at the Strand Theatre today. Garfield plays Joie, the wastrel son of Mama Raviola, Italian restauranteur — Marjorie Rambeau’s role. Mama’s adopted son, Nickie, is played by William Lundigan, Brenda Marshall is Laurie, Garfield’s girl friend with a shady past, and George Tobias is Mama’s headwaiter. The talented cast have important, strong roles enhanced by a Fred Niblo Jr. script, from an original story by John Fante and Ross Wills. Alfred E. Green, young director who is rapidly making himself heard from the Hollywood scene, handled the production. The story is about Mama Raviola’s attempts to raise her boys through all the hardships of life in a tough New York neighborhood. Nickie turns out wonderfully, graduating from engineering school cum laude, while Joie is released from San Quentin after a three year term, during which he was supposed to have been a successful orange grower in California. With his hardened girl-friend, Laurie, the prodigal son returns. Mama accepts Laurie as Joie’s fiancee, and a fine understanding between the two women grows to love. All is well until Joie gets into another scrape, then expects Laurie to run away with him again. But she has changed, and refuses. Joie leaves alone, but when, shortly, Laurie and Nickie fall in Jove and announce their engagement, Jolie returns to threaten Laurie into coming away with him. Mama hears of this, goes to his room and lets him have a wallop that sends him sprawling across the floor while she dénounces him. The exciting climax comes when Joie, remorseful, wanting to square things, gets Laurie and Nickie married while a gangster mob is waiting to get a nm, Young Actor On Rise to Stardom Bill Lundigan, who plays John Garfield’s brother in Warners’ “Hast of the ! which opens today at the Strand, and Olivia de Havilland’s fOUr O thse:riin : ‘Sa nita He : Trail,’ hopes he doesn’t get M. 104—15 ; : at c ivia socked Oli 1 William Lundigan and kissed Garfield. The handsome young player, has proven himself a capable actor since his first screen appearance in “Dodge City,” is slated for a promising career by Warners. Star Recalls Lean Days Brenda Marshal, who became a New York working girl in Warners’ “East of the River,” which opens today at _ the Strand, ruled against the script which had her paying $10 a week room rent. She never paid more than five when she was struggling along there, she insisted. So five it is. Mat 202—30c WEDDING BELLS RING “EAST OF THE RIVER" for William Lundigan and Brenda Marshall in this scene from Warners’ "East of the River," starring John Garfield, which opens at the Strand on Friday. Brenda Marshall’s New Role Will Bring Her Film Fame Brenda Marshall is playing a “tough” girl for the first time in her screen career. Like Ida Lupino when she heard about that role in “The Light That Failed,” Brenda raised her voice and demanded to be cast in War BRENDA MARSHALL ner Bros.’ “East of the River,” which opens at the Strand Theatre today. There are, as she knows, two sure-fire ways for a young play er to win quick acclaim. First is the always reliable dying act. The second way is to play tough. It took pictures like “Of Human Bondage,” “Marked Woman” and “Jezebel” to make Bette Davis a star. Barbara Stanwyck, now in Frank Capra’s ‘Meet John Doe,” struck her pace when she suffered in ‘Stella Dallas.” Hard-bitten, suffering roles, also made stars of Merle Oberon, Katherine Hepburn, Helen Hayes and Ruth Chatterton. Hollywood oracles are now prophesying Brenda Marshall’s name being added to this list. Brenda’s films have been four. She. was the beautiful spy in “Espionage Agent,” the pretty girl in “Money and the Woman,” a lovely secretary in ‘The Man Who Talked Too Much” and Errol Flynn’s luscious reward in “The Sea Hawk.” These pictures proved she was beautiful and could act. But her best chance comes in “East of the River.” Her opening scene shows her waiting outside prison walls for the release of her boy friend, John Garfield. She has managed during his three year absence by means not condoned as strictly ethical. One of these was kiting checks in Reno. She is wanted for forgery. Brenda feels confident, because she knows full well that the way to get along in Hollywood is to be tough. Directs Strand Film Alfred Green, who directed pictures in Chicago during the wild and joyful days of the Essanay boys, handled Warner Bros.’ ‘‘East of the River” with John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, George Tobias and Bill Lundigan, which opens at the Strand today. It is a serious picture, requiring hard and concentrated work. Green is soft-spoken, quiet on the set. He has always been admired by his co-workers for the quiet thoroughness with which he tackles a motion picture production. It is probably his fine appreciation for art, for which he is known in Hollywood, that is responsible for the distinct personality he injects into his assignments. From the series of George Arliss pictures he directed — “The Green Goddess,” “Old English” and ‘“Disraeli”—to his recent “Flowing Gold,” this poignant quality has shown through. John Garfield in New Action Role John Garfield, the tough guy who never winced when slapped around by the hardest-fisted screen muggs in Hollywood, was knocked clean off his feet when Marjorie Rambeau swung at him in Warner Bros.’ “East of the River,” which opens today at the Strand. Alfred Green, directing, wanted to fake the slap. He said it would photograph better, that sound could be dubbed in later. Garfield objected. The real thing was necessary, he insisted. Miss Rambeau_ sided with Green, remembering the time years ago when she fetched up such a hefty stage slap that she scattered an actor’s false teeth into the third row seats. “T can take it,” said Garfield. He took it—smack on the left jaw. Caught off balance, he fell, sprawled on a bed, picked himself up rubbing a smarting face. “Lady,” he grinned, “that’s the hardest lick I ever took. Next time we’ll fake it.” (Review) Wrong Side of Tracks Is Background for Gripping New Film at the Strand The drama of life on the wrong side of New York Town is tellingly depicted in Warner Bros.’ moving “East of the River,” starring John Garfield, Brenda Marshall and Marjorie Rambeau, which opened at the Strand Theatre last night. Fast moving and exciting, the story is woven around colorful characters of New York’s tenement jungle which have been artfully cast with capable, wellsuited players. John Garfield, who himself hails from the same setting used in “Fast of the River,” plays his role with sincerity. Brenda Marshall, lovely looking screen newcomer, proves her fine talent in a role different than any of the several in which she has already won praise. Veteran stage and screen star Marjorie Rambeau does a fine job as the Italian Mother. George Tobias turns in another comedy performance that is quickly bringing him to the attention of moviegoers. And William Lundigan is capable as Garfield’s adopted brother. These characters are thrown together in the story of Mama Raviola, big-hearted, voluble and Italian, whose restaurant is a center of Little Italy’s life. It’s no easy job for her to raise her adopts, Nickie, in the tough neighborhood. Nickie overcomes obstacles and graduates from an engineering school cum laude, while Joie spends a few years at San Quentin. With his hardened girl friend, Laurie, Joie returns for Nickie’s graduation. Mama takes Laurie to her heart, accepting her as Joie’s fiancee. But soon the wastrel is in another scrape and has to skip town. This time Laurie refuses to join him, claims she’s through with that sort of life. After Joie has left, the girl and Nickie fall in love. But at the engagement party, Joie shows up again, threatening to expose her past to Mama and Nickie if she doesn’t go away with him again. Mama gets in on the set-up and takes things in her own hands, disowning Joie while she slaps him around the room. The boy is remorseful and determines to square things—a difficult accomplishment while a mob of gangsters are holding Laurie and are out to get him. But he holds them off till Nickie and Laurie are safely married. The well-timed drama was written by Fred Niblo Jr. from a John Fante and Ross. Wills original story. Alfred E. Green Highlight of Strand Film George Tobias plays the hungry headwaiter in “East of the River,” the Warner Bros. film starring John Garfield, Brenda Marshall and Marjorie Rambeau, which opens at the Strand Theatre today. In “Torrid Zone” he was a bandit, and hungry. In “They Drive by Night” he was a Greek. In “Saturday’s Children” he was a New York goof. In “River’s End” he was a Canuck. In ‘“Calling All Husbands”’ he was a bum. In all of these pictures, he’s been hungry. Tobias is always hungry — on Mat 101—15c George Tobias screen and off. He’s known to have the largest appetite in Hollywood. So when he first walked on the “East of the River” set his nose went up and his hands twitched, for the fragrance of ravioli and roast beef, gravy, apple pie and hot rolls, pervaded Stage 22. He went into the scene, began slapping heaping gobs of potatoes on plates. He sliced great hunks of rosta bif. “Hey, this is a restaurant,” yelled Director Al Green. “That isn’t for you.” George looked doleful, surreptitiously popped a bite of beef into his mouth. The scene required a full day’s shooting. George tended the gas stove, heaped the plates, dealt in gravies and potatoes, sauces and pies. He acted with enormous gusto, but he looked very sad between scenes. Marjorie Rambeau Seen In Exciting Strand Film Marjorie Rambeau, who recreated Tughboat Annie for Warner Bros., has been starred in Warners’ ‘‘East of the River” with John Garfield and Brenda Marshall, which opens at the Strand Theatre today. Miss Rambeau recently turned down an offer to return to Broadway in a revival of USt Salk. hea padoa ssa§ Broadway play. She said she was flattered, said she loved the stag‘e —but thought she liked Hollywood better. Lets. yey pays to go back,” said Miss Rambeau. I had eighteen years of Broadway, in the days when New York really was New York. It wouldn’t be the same now—and I Mat 107—15c Marjorie Rambeau wouldn’t be the same, either,” the actress said. “T don’t think much of one farewell appearance after another. So — I had my day on Broadway and it was wonderful and everybody was grand to me. Let some of the younger ones have their day now.” Another reason for Miss Rambeau’s enthusiasm for Hollywood is her new part in “East of the River.” She plays Mama Raviola, which was the original name of the play, and the part is vastly to her liking. It is a full-blown character role, a throuoghly American Italian mother, accent and all, who has considerable trouble rearing two boys. The boys are John Garfield and William Lundigan. With “Tugboat Annie Sails Again” already marked as a hit before release date, it looks as though Marjorie Rambeau will have plenty to occupy her in Hollywood, whether she yearns for Broadway or not.