Flight from Destiny (Warner Bros.) (1941)

PUBLICITY OPENING DAY ° PREPARED REVIEW ° FOLLOW-UPS (Opening Day) ‘Flight From Destiny’ Starts Today At Strand Today the Strand Theatre heralds a unique film called “Flight From Destiny.” The intriguing story deals with an age-old question that probes deeply into the human mind. The film features an impressive list of screen favorites in the starring roles—Geraldine Fitzgerald, Thomas Mitchell, Jeffrey Lynn and James Stephenson. A professor of philosophy, played by Thomas Mitchell, is told by his physician, the role played by James Stephenson, that he has only six months to live. He wonders what he can do in the remaining time to make his life mean something to the people he loves, and rid the world of someone who constitutes a menace. Such a person is Ketti, played by Mona Maris, an art gallery owner who hires a _ young artist, portrayed by Jeffrey Lynn, to paint copies of old masterpieces which she passes off as the real thing. He wants to call off the whole business but she refuses and threatens to expose him as a fraud if he attempts it. His trouble becomes evident in all his actions and his wife, played by Geraldine Fitzgerald, goes to the professor who is a treasured old friend, for his advice. When the professor learns of the trouble he goes to the woman and tells her that he has nothing to gain in this life and that if she doesn’t allow his friend to break away he will kill her. “Flight From Destiny” was written by Barry Trivers from a story by Anthony Berkeley. Vincent Sherman directed Warner Bros.’ latest film. Actress Finds Role She Always Wanted In New Film Geraldine Fitzgerald, who has a dramatic role in “Flight From Destiny,” which opens at the Strand Theatre on Friday, can be sweet — oh, very, very sweet — and she ean also, on occasion, be as stubborn as an Irish donze key. She was Mat 104—15< Stubborn about Geraldine Fitzgerald her new pic ture and the kind of a role she wanted to play. Her first picture for Warner Bros. was as Bette Davis’ best friend in “Dark Victory.” She got much public and private praise for her performance. Later she left for a vacation to Ireland. When she returned she was assigned to play the role of a sympathetic companion to Merle Oberon in “’Til We Meet Again.” Since then she has waited for the right role. It came along in the script of the picture, “Flight From Destiny.” Geraldine called the studio before she finished the script. “I want to play that role. I want a chance to show I can be something besides gentle and goodnatured on the screen. I want that role.” She got it. As reported above, Miss Fitzgerald is a very determined person. Other prominent players in the cast of “Flight From Destiny” are Thomas Mitchell, Jeffrey Lynn, James Stephenson and Mona Maris. (Prepared Review) ‘Flight From Destiny’ Scores Notable Hit At Strand Geraldine Fitzgerald, Thomas Mitchell, Jeffrey Lynn Head Fine Film Cast CAST: Betty Farroway .................Geraldine Fitzgerald Professor Henry Todhunter Thomas Mitchell sue Jeffrey Lynn Michael Farroway occ .James Stephenson Dr. Lawrence Stevens Ketti Moret ....... ..Mona Maris District Attorne onathan Hale Saunders .......... David Bruce Dean Somers . Thurston Hall Martha .............. vse. Mary Gordon Peterson... ww. J0hn Eldredge errers:()e en le Hardie Albright Prentiss . William Forrest Brooks .... Weldon Heyburn Travin .. ..DeWolf Hopper Conway -nrresssssnes: Alexander Lockwood Edvaard Kreindling «0.00... Frank Reicher BOOROR ctssas Stat ites shark een reeset Willie Best Moaidixsa:. 2sanat.. Gite noa...daen bibby,oLaylor PRODUCTION: Directed by Vincent Sherman; Screen Play by Barry Trivers; From a Story by Anthony Berkeley; Director of Photography, James Van Trees, A.S.C.; Art Director, Esdras Hartley; Sound by Charles Lang; Film Editor, Thomas Richards; Gowns by Damon Giffard; Music by Heinz Roefheld; Orchestral Arrangements by Ray Heindorf; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. Excitement and thrills ran high last night when Strand audiences saw the first local showing of the new Warner Bros. film, “Flight From Destiny.” The picture is so boldly conceived, so powerfully acted and told, and of such notable distinction’ that it brings renewed vitality to the screen. Geraldine Fitzgerald, the discovery of “Dark Victory,’ Thomas Mitchell, the Academy Award winner of “Gone With a Mat 114—15¢ JEFFREY LYNN and GERALDINE FITZGERALD The Wind,” Jeffrey Lynn, who scored so brilliantly in such hits “The Fighting 69th” and “All This and Heaven Too,” James Stephenson, the surprise star of “The Letter,” and a new comer, Mona Maris, are perfectly cast in the starring roles. Thomas Mitchell handles a sympathetic role realistically as a man who is told by his doctor (James Stephenson’s role) that he has but six months to live. He decides to do away with some™ one who is a definite menace yet whose crime is not punishable by law. He realizes, perhaps too late, that one cannot appoint oneself judge, jury and executioner without answering to one’s conscience. Geraldine Fitzgerald and Jeffrey Lynn play the part of a couple who are happily married until a ruthless art gallery owner, played by Mona Maris, hires Lynn to copy old paintings while she passes them off as authentic masterpieces, She threatens to expose him when he tells her he’s had enough of this underhand game. Mitchell learns of this and decides that he can spend his time most profitably in helping the young couple back to happiness. The developments of this situation are so startlingly novel and unique that it would be unfair to reveal them. Suffice to say that here is a motion picture which no one who appreciates fine screen entertainment. can afford to miss. Geraldine Fitzgerald, whe gave such fine performances in “Dark Victory” and “’Til We Meet Again” comes through again with a great characterization. Jeffrey Lynn adds another to his already overflowing list of grand portrayals in his latest role and Thomas Mitchell, Academy Award Winner, shows by his performance in “Flight From Destiny” that he intends to win it again. Vincent Sherman, who has directed many an adventure film handled the direction of “Flight From Destiny” and built up sequence after sequence to a thrilling climax. Barry Trivers wrote the exciting screen play from an original story by Anthony Berkeley. James Stephenson Does Brilliant Job In ‘Destiny’ Fresh from his performance in “The Letter,” which won him unanimous praise from the public and Academy Award predictions from the critics, James Stephenson now comes through in another fine portrayal—that of a physician in “Flight From Destiny,” now playing at the Strand Theatre. He finds that one of his patients, a professor of philosophy, played by Thomas Mitchell, has an incurable heart ailment and will not live longer than six months. Stephenson is reluctant to tell him about it but finally decides it is his duty to let him hear the fatal news. Mitchell’s reaction is unexpected and results in the year’s strangest drama. Stephenson likes to step from one role to another with out much rest. He can play villain and hero with equal ability. Cast with him in “Flight From Destiny” are the aforementioned Thomas Mitchell, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Jeffrey Lynn. Art For Art’s Sake In Strand Film In Warner Bros. “Flight From Destiny,” Jeffrey Lynn plays the part of an artist, and Geraldine Fitzgerald is his untalented wife In real life, Lynn admits he can’t draw a straight line with a ruler, while Geraldine is actually an accomplished painter, who studied at the Dublin Academy, before she turned to the theatre. Thomas Mitchell, James Stephenson and Mona Maris round out the cast of screen favorites in the film which was written by Barry Trivers from an orignal story by Anthony Berkeley. Ace director Vincent Sherman, brought out all the highlights of the exciting screen play. Advance reports from both coasts say that it is one of the most unusual stories ever to be shown on the screen. Thomas Mitchell Adds Fine New Role To Roster Most acting, including his own, bores Thomas Mitchell— not on the sound stage, but in the theatre. For that reason, the star of “Flight From Destiny” never goes to premieres if he can avoid them—and that includes his own pictures. No player takes the profession more seriously than Mitchell, however—and none is more modest about it. The key to his modesty may be found in one of his favorite dicta on the subject: “Great parts make great actors, to my way of thinking. A stereotyped role will keep any actor down to a mediocre level, just as a great part makes him surpass the best he thought he was capable of giving.” He has definite ideas about the values of scenes and what can be done with them. Although he’s directed many stage plays and knows motion picture direction as well as many directors, he never has been heard to argue with a director. Most remarkable thing about Mitchell is his power of concentration. He can study a partina car on the way to work or on a crowded set. His ability to “insulate” himself mentally is a hangover from his newspaper days—a trick he learned when he was a young reporter in Newark, New York and Washington. “Anyone who can concentrate where presses run, telegraph sounders click, typewriters bang, telephones jangle and copy boys carry on wrestling matches behind one’s chair has to learn to concentrate or get out of the business,” Mitchell says. He can quote you more Shake Mat 102—15¢ GERALDINE FITZGERALD Vincent Sherman Directs Unique Picture At Strand After the domestic comedy, “Saturday’s Children,” was released, Vincent Sherman was highly praised for his direction of the picture. He had brought out the proper sympathy for his characters without becoming maudlin. A director can be typed just as well as an actor and with just as dire results. Knowing this, Vincent set about to show that he could direct a drama with the same scope and understanding of character as a comedy. He has recently completed “Flight From Destiny,” which opens today at the Strand Theatre, and according to advance reviews he has proved that his forte is not bound by any one type of film. The story presented a unique problem in that the main character, and a sympathetic one, is a person who plans and carries out a cold-blooded murder. speare than any man in Hollywood, except perhaps Raoul Walsh. Both did years in Shakepearian repertoire when they were youngsters. Mitchel] worked with the famous Coburn Mat 103—1% THOMAS MITCHELL players and Walsh with Robert B. Mantell, “the last of the royal line of great tragedians.” It is this willingness to study, to learn, to know, which has enabled Mitchell to turn in some memorable performances. That method won him an Academy Award for his playing of the drunken doctor in “Stagecoach.” It enabled him to do_ the memorable sailor of ‘The Long Voage Home” and the drunken playwright of “Angels Over Broadway” and to bring Gerald O’Hara to vivid life in GWTW. It’s the secret of what may prove to be the top performance of his career as the kindly but eccentric professor of “Flight From Destiny,” the new Strand film. Mona Maris Plays Siren Role In New Strand Film Mona Maris, the tall Argentine girl of striking appearance who used to do villainous roles in Warner Baxter’s pictures, has done a wonderful comeback in “Flight From Destiny,” opening on Friday at the Strand. She’s been away for six years living in England and South America and for her comeback she’s been given a sinister role as the brains of an unusual sort of counterfeiting ring. In fact, she plays the woman whom Thomas Mitchell, the gentle but eccentric old college professor of the picture, aspires todo away with. Miss Maris, who is the daughter of a French-Spanish family which has been in the Argentine for several generations, first came to Hollywood in 1930. She was under contract to Fox for four years playing Latin type leads and second leads in such things as “Romance of the Rio Grande” and “The Arizona Kid.” She worked with Mary Pickford in “Secrets” and while abroad did some work for a season with UFA in Germany, playing in “Bondage” with Oscar Homolka, who since has fled that land. In England, Miss Maris did foreign news translations for Lord Beaverbrook during the Spanish Civil War. In South America, she made some personal appearance which established such a following for her that she was chosen for the adventuress role in “Flight From Destiny.” In addition to Thomas Mitchell, of Academy Award fame, the film stars Jeffrey Lynn, who starred in “All This And Heaven Too,” Geraldine Fitzgerald, who gave a splendid performance in “Dark Victory, and James Stephenson, fresh from his grand portrayal in “The Letter.” 1d