Escape in the Desert (Warner Bros.) (1945)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

Bill Kennedy Kisses While His Neck Burns “Bill,” said the director quite casually, “all you have to do in this scene is walk over to the girl, look into her eyes, take her into your arms and kiss her.” Bill gulped. That was just what he’d feared! Bill, whose other name is Kennedy, broke into a sweat. Now Bill is a fellow who has lived a perfectly normal life, not excepting a generous allotment of kisses from pretty girls. And he doesn’t recall particularly that there were any complaints in the matter. In the osculation department, he was all set. But when Director Edward Blatt told Bill that he was to take Jean Sullivan into his arms and kiss her for a scene in Warners’ “Escape In The Desert,” currently at the Strand, the Mat 109—15¢ situation was Helmut Dantine a trifle altered. Here’s the story. When Humphrey Bogart kissed Ingred Bergman in “Casablanca,” when Paul Henreid kissed Hedy Lamarr in “The Conspirators,” and even when Andy Hardy kissed some little blonde, the audience of grips, gaffers and other crewmen on the set took it all very nonchalantly. The principals, old hands at the kissing routine, felt pretty much the same way. To them, a kiss was just a kiss. But a kiss was not just a kiss to Bill Kennedy. Everybody on the set knew that and they were on hand to watch the fun. “Don’t smear my _ lipstick,” said Miss Sullivan. “Hold the kiss for thirty seconds,” said the director, “but make it very impassioned.” “Don’t screw your face all up when you kiss her,’ said the cameraman. “You'll look funny if you do.” “Why don’t you get your wife over to act as technical advisor?” wisecracked one of the carpenters. “What flavor kisses are you dishing out this week, chocolate or vanilla?” called somebody on the catwalk. “Raspberry,” answered. “You can practice on me, if you want to, young fellow,” someone else Emmy, the somewhat buxom wardrobe woman, laughingly said. Bill knew it would be just like that. Before somebody decided to give him a break as a leading man in movies, kissing a girl was fine. Bill would kiss her because he wanted to and she wanted to, and there weren’t eighteen guys around making the rules and ribbing you into hot and cold flashes, mostly cold. Kissing a girl on the screen is a production. Take it from Bill Kennedy. Besides Jean Sullivan, “Escape In The Desert’ also features Philip Dorn, Helmut Dantine, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds. Samuel S. Hinds Trades Law Books For Acting If old Ben Franklin were stili alive and flying kites today, Samuel S. Hinds, featured in Warners’ “Escape In The Desert” at the Strand, might have something to say to the kind, old gent. Sam is convinced that he could persuade Ben Franklin to alter his well known utterance that “there’s nothing certain in this world of ours but death and taxes.” In Sam’s own case, at least, he knows better. The veteran actor knows, for instance, that every morning when he opens his mail he’ll find at least one fan letter which says: “You make such a convincing lawyer on the screen Still 627-58 HELMUT DANTINE looks ready for action as, gun in hand, he awaits the law, in the above scene from Warners' "Escape In The Desert'' at the Strand. Philip Dorn, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds are also featured in the film. Mat 108—15c that you should take up law and open an office.” When he first began to get those letters it used to be amusing. As it continued, Hinds became accustomed to it. But now, having played seventy-three roles as a lawyer or judge, that sort of mail has ceased to be funny. The simple fact is that for more than twenty-five years before he found out that playing a lawyer paid more than being one, Hinds served in exactly that capacity. 1929, however, proved that the law was not for him. The actor awoke one summer’s day to find that the stock market crash had wiped out every dime he had. With that on the debt side of his ledger and a nice, expensive wardrobe constituting the credit entries, Hinds made up his mind that he would turn actor. He fully knew it was no easy prospect but neither was trying to start from scratch and building a new law practice. As a hobby, Hinds had been one of the founders of the Pasadena Community Playhouse and he had appeared in several parts. So Samuel S. Hinds, exlawyer, went on the stage. At first, he carried that all-important spear, but in time he worked his way up to speaking parts. With a few stage leads under his belt, Hinds let his eye stray to the motion picture studios. Eventually, he managed to wangle his first screen role. All the camera showed was the back of his head. He had fifteen words to say and the picture, slightly ironical as it was, was titled, “If I Had A Million.” Since then Hinds has built up an enviable law practice in front of the camera. He loves it; it’s the perfect combination of business and pleasure. “Escape In The Desert’ also features Philip Dorn, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, Helmut Dantine and Irene Manning. Helmut Dantine Wears His Nazi Uniform Again Helmut Dantine, currently to be seen in Warners’ “Escape In The Desert” at the Strand, is the latest film star to turn landowner. The Warner player has taken an option on a fifty-acre ranch in Ventura. “Escape In The Desert” also features Philip Dorn, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds. From One Extreme To Another Floors Warner Actor Bill Kennedy, young Warner Bros. player currently to be seen in “Escape In The Desert” at the Strand, has a cousin who is applying to the courts for a change of name. There’s nothing unusual about a change of name ordinarily. But the man’s name is Edward J. Sauer and he wants it changed to Edward J. Sweet for reasons too obvious to mention! “Escape In The Desert” features Philip Dorn, Helmut Dantine, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds. Alan Hale Pulls A Terrific Gag! Samuel S. Hinds, who invariably is cast as a suave, impeccable lawyer, plays the role of a nasal, bucolic old desert character in Warners’ latest drama, “Escape In The Desert,” currently at the Strand. In one scene in “Escape In The Desert,” he and Alan Hale, a bad dentist, have been brought together as the hostages of four desperate, escaped Nazi prisoners of war. One of the Nazis, Helmut Dantine, complains of a toothache, and he demands that Hale treat it. He does. Later on, when the danger is gone, Hinds tells Hale he was ashamed of him but the latter blusters his way out of it. Director Blatt orders the cameras to roll. In sharp tones, Hinds says, “Doctor, I’m ashamed of you for pulling that durned Nazi’s rotten tooth.” “What do you mean, rotten tooth?” roars Hale, “I just pulled three of his good ones.” Rays of Artificial Sunlight Flood Warner Film Set “Hit one fifty-four,” yells the gaffer and a piece of California desert constructed on Stage 21 at Warner Bros. is suddenly bathed in bright sunlight. One fifty-four turns out to be one of the huge are lamps that are stoutly placed in position around the top of motion picture sets. Each arc lamp is numbered and the electricians on their “cat-walks,” sixty feet above the set, know them by their numbers. “Hit one fifty-four” was a call that saved 3,600 gallons of precious gasoline. It would have required that amount of gasoline to take the company of Warners’ “Escape In The Desert,” currently at the Strand, to the real desert. It also saved wear and tear on more than one hundred tires which would have been used for that same transportation. Are lamps are used in motion pictures to simulate sunshine or moonlight. They flood a set with a white light, as contrasted to the slightly yellow light given by even the largest incandescent bulbs. Under them, a _ reconstructed section of desert seems to simmer in moistureless heat and the nearby rock formations, desert plants and even the far horizon, stand out in clear and sharp relief. The lamps required enough current to light a small city. They made the set of “Escape In The Desert,” in which Philip Dorn, Helmut Dantine, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, Irene Manning, and Samuel S. Hinds are featured, as dazzling to the eye of the camera as the real desert is to the human eye. The arc lamps even gave the players a wonderful coat of tan. Hollywood Pomp Frowned Upon By Jean Sullivan If Jean Sullivan is any example of the present-day sort of screen player being developed for the movies—and she definitely is — Hollywood is going to have to develop a brand new set of hallmarks. Expensive parties at night clubs, lots of dashing playboy escorts, a closetful of lavish gowns and a long, sleek limousine are getting faded and dated. As far as the young actress is concerned, they are definitely out. Jean, who was lifted from a university theatrical to the feminine lead in “Uncertain Glory,” is now being featured opposite Philip Dorn in Warners’ actionpacked drama, “Escape In The Desert,” which arrives Friday at the Strand. Also featured in the film are Helmut Dantine, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds. Lovely Jean has never been to a night club. Not even once. Not even for laughs. And so it goes, with every Hollywood luxury. Jeanne has a special beau, however, a soldier-boy who is stationed in England. That being the case, Jean doesn’t go out with other men. The only formal that she owns is the dress she wore for high school graduation four years ago. There never has been any Hostages ! Still 627-71 Mat 203—30c WANTED by the police as an escaped German prisoner of war, Helmut Dantine keeps an eye on his hostages, Alan Hale and Irene Manning, in the above scene from Warner Bros.’ latest adventure drama, “Escape In The ! Desert,"" at the Strand. Also featured in the film are Philip Dorn, Jean Sulli van and Samuel S. Hinds. Still 627-13 Mat 101—15c JEAN SULLIVAN, lovely Warner ac tress, plays her second important role in Warners’ thrilling adventure drama, "Escape In The Desert," currently at the Strand. Also featured in the film are Philip Dorn, Helmut Dantine, Alan Hale, Irene Manning and Samuel S. Hinds. other occasion during the war for which she wanted to dress formally. The car she drives is a disreputable looking affair that insists upon being a character at all times. Her buggy has more moods than Jack Benny’s Maxwell. Even the junkman sneers at it. “I suppose,” says Jean, “that people will think that I am the one who is determined to be a character in not observing at least a few of the traditional ‘musts’ of being a film player. “But somehow I can’t work myself into a_ fever over going to a night club. I can’t see having an escort pay a fistful of money for the privilege of sitting in very i “eo; mS fortable chairs and watching people whom we don’t particularly care about. Night clubs sound like a dull idea to me. “I'm: afraid... ’m: just not glamor-struck. I believe very much in temperament, but I believe that temperament should be put to use in the role one is playing. It should not be used to impress the people in the next booth at some dinner spot. “T suppose this is heresy to Hollywood, but Hollywood could use a little changing.” But just a little, please, we kind of like it the way it is. Mat 106—15c Philip Dorn