Highway West (Warner Bros.) (1941)

PUBLICITY HIGH SPEED DRAMA Mat 201 — 30c “HIGHWAY WEST” is the thrilling new Warner Bros. crime-drama starring Brenda Marshall, Arthur Kennedy and Olympe Bradna, which opens at the Strand Theatre next Friday. (Opening Day Story) Daring Crime Drama Hits Strand Today A crime drama with new twists and a fresh treatment is Warner Bros.’ “Highway West,” starring Brenda Marshall and Arthur Kennedy, which opens at the Strand Theatre today. The fast-paced film’s stars are comparatively newcomers to Holly wood. Both Kennedy and Miss Marshall are from Broadway, and have had remarkable success in their recent work in films. And heading the important supporting cast are lovely Olympe Bradna, William Lundigan and Slim Summerville. Miss Marshall’s role is that of a young bride who is shocked to discover that her husband, played by Kennedy, is a bank robber. He 1s apprehended while doing a big job and sent to the penitentiary. Brenda, not letting anyone know of her marriage, Opens an auto court with her young sister, played by Olympe Bradna. William Lundigan falls in love with Brenda and all is cheerful until Kennedy appears, having broken out of jail. Forced to harbor Kennedy until he is safe because of his threats to divulge their association, Brenda puts up with him. But when she finds cause to fear the relationship between her sister and Kennedy, she simulates returning love for her husband. He then wants to take her away. To facilitate this he stages his last holdup. It’s an exciting episode, and Lundigan comes to the fore to straighten everything out. William McGann directed the screenplay, which was written by Charles Kenyon, Allen Rivkin and Kenneth Gamet, from a play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. UMLULULULOLOLOLULOLUCUEUALAUALACOUOLUUUUHLUEAEALOUOUOUOUULUC TOUT SYNOPSIS (Not for publication) Six months after Claire Foster (Brenda Marshall) marries George (Arthur Kennedy), she starts to suspect his frequent trips and strange behavior. On one of these frenzied trips she switches on the radio to discover George Foster is wanted by the police for bank robbery. In an exciting battle she sees George shoot two policemen. He is sent to the penitentiary. Three years later Claire is operating an automobile court with her sister Myra (Olympe Bradna). No one knows of Claire’s marriage, even her young admirer Dave Warren (William Lundigan). George breaks from the penitentiary, finds Claire, and soon is making love to Myra. To save the girl, Claire simulates returning love for her husband. George then stages another hold-up. Dave captures him. HIGHWAY WEST’ EXCITING TRAIL LEADS TO STRAND Action thrown into high gear will race through “Highway West” when that dynamic crime drama starts its local run at the Strand Theatre on Friday. The fast-paced cirme-drama_ has been tellingly filmed with an unusually talented cast featuring two Broadway recruits, Arthur Kennedy, a comparative screen newcomer, has another fine opportunity to display his talent and acting ability, and lovely Brenda Marshall shares stellar honors. In addition, the piquant French girl Olympe Bradna, William Lundigan and Slim Summerville round out the cast. Kennedy’s role is that of a hardened criminal who maries Miss Marshall, the girl knowing nothing of his past. It isn’t until a daring episode on Highway West that she learns of his record. When he is apprehended, the girl starts life anew. In an auto: camp she opens with her sister, everything runs smoothly until Kennedy breaks out of the penitentiary. Lundigan, a very much interested friend of Miss Marshall’s, then steps into the scene to straighten things out. UTLULELULILILLELILULULILLELULLLLLILLGLELELULIL Ce GLULIL CoOL CAST Claire Foster BRENDA MARSHALL George Foster ARTHUR KENNEDY Myra Abbott Olympe Bradna Dave Warren William Lundigan “Gramps” Slim Summerville Wellington Willie Best Maroh x Frank Wilcox Blew oc Ge ay John Ridgely Wella i a Dorothy Tree Seiya: it a Noel Madison Readies. cee... Pat Flaherty Tales: 08 Victor Zimmerman ACTION-THRILLER WITH STAR CAST NOW AT STRAND “Highway West,” a new actionpacked Warner Bros. film of high romance and danger is now being shown at the Strand Theatre. Lovely Brenda Marshall, the screen’s newest star appears opposite: Arthur Kennedy, the young actor who received wide acclaim for his per mmance as James Cagney’s kid orother in “City For Conquest.” Miss Marshall is seen as the innocent wife of a ruthless killer. After he is penalized she begins a new life, but her unhappy past continues to haunt her. Her worst fears are realized when her husband, now an escaped convict, returns to haunt her. He forces her to hide him, terrorizes the household, and tries to make love to his young sister-in-law. In desperation, the wife feigns a renewed interest in him, and after his eventual capture returns to the peace and security she deserves. The important supporting cast includes Olympe Bradna, William Lundigan and Slim Summerville. William McGann directed the screenplay, by Charles Kenyon, Allen Rivkin and Kenneth Gamet, from a play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. In Thrill-Film Mat 103 — 15c BRENDA MARSHALL and ARTHUR KENNEDY star in Warners’ exciting “Highway West,” at the Strand Friday. Longest Film Chase The entire company of “Highway West,” including principals Brenda Marshall, Arthur Kennedy, Olympe Bradna and William Lundigan, traveled to Southern California's Big Tujunga Dam for four days’ shooting during the Warner film's production. Here, one of the longest film chases ever recorded was made. The hair pin turns of the vicinity were villains of the piece, which will be shown at the Strand starting its local run this coming Friday. UUUUITLULLILIIL ULLAL ULC AL GLU UL LOLOL G OCU PRODUCTION Directed by William McGann Screen Play by Allen Rivkin, Charles Kenyon and Kenneth Gamet; From a Play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott; Director of Photography, Ted McCord, A.S.C.; Art Director, Esdras Hartley; Dialogue Director, Hugh MacMullan; Film Editor, Jack Killifer; Sound by Stanley Jones; Gowns by Damon Giffard; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore; Special Effects by Robert Burks, A.S.C. Running Time ...63 Minutes (Review) ‘Highway West’ Packs Plenty of Power at Strand Last night’s Strand audience thrilled to “Highway West,” a spinetingling adventure story, brilliantly acted, thrillingly told, and capably directed. For sheer excitement, the new Warner Bros. film ranks as one of the best of its type this season. The film tells the love story of a young couple on Highway West for their second honeymoon. The lovely and trusting wife, played by Brenda Marshall, realizes too late that her husband, protrayed by Arthur Kennedy, is a notorious bandit. After his apprehension by police, the disillusioned girl opens an auto court on the Highway. But her new-found happiness is shortlived. The husband that betrayed her returns to haunt and threaten her security. He has escaped from prison and forces her to hide him out from the police. In addition he makes a play for her younger sister, portrayed by Olympe Bradna, discourages a new suitor, and plans a daring hold-up. Only in the thrilling climax is this menace eliminated, leaving his wife, her sister, and the suitor to begin their lives all over again. Brenda Marshall handles the leading role with poise and assurance. Arthur Kennedy gives power and credence to the unsympathetic yet dynamic role of the criminalhusband. Olympe Bradna lends her dainty Gallic beauty as the infatuated younger sister, while William Lundigan is personable and_likeable as the earnest suitor. Action-packed “Highway West” was directed by William McGann from a screenplay by Charles Kenyon, Allen Rivkin and Kenneth Gamet, adapted from a play. by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. STRANDS NEXT IS THRILLING CRIME-DRAMA “Highway West,” a_ thrilling new adventure film, comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday. Brenda Marshall, lovely brunette heroine of “The Sea Hawk’ and “Footsteps In The Dark” appears opposite Arthur Kennedy, popular new leading man. Echoing the screeching brakes and whirlwind pace of the cars that swarm Highway West itself, the new film is calculated to thrill the most hardened action fan. The story deals with a hardened criminal who conceals his past from his wife. After a series of daring hold-ups he is sentenced to prison for life. He escapes and returns to terrorize his wife. In a spine-tingling climax he is eliminated, leaving the girl and her sweetheart to begin new lives together. The talented supporting cast includes Olympe Bradna, William Lundigan and Slim Summerville. William McGann _ directed and Charles Kenyon, Allen Rivkin and Kenneth Gamet wrote the screenplay, from a play by Leon Abrams and George Abbott. FINE ACTRESS RATES TOP ROLE IN STRAND FILM Brenda Marshall stars in “Highway West,” the new Warner Bros. film coming to the Strand Theatre on Friday. ‘The lovely brunette who leaped from the comparative — obscurity of small roles with the Fievdeein-a al TPheatre-= to leading parts opposite Errol 3 3 | Flynn, — essays i the stellar role of a woman Mit IDA a bey caine wiseavers Brenda Marshall ; that=. ‘she: 1s married to a dangerous criminal. She keeps this knowledge to herself and when her husband, played by Arthur Kennedy, is sent to prison, she decides to start life anew. To her. dismay, she discovers that the past has a way of intruding onthe present and he returns “just when she hopes that he and everything connected with him has gone forever. Olympe Bradna, William Lundigan and Slim Summerville head an impressive list of players. TROUPE FILMING STRAND DRAMA 1S STYMIED Almost everything that could happen to a location crew happened to a company which went to Big Tujunga Canyon to film scenes for Warner Bros.’ “Highway West,” opening at the Strand Friday, according to the report turned in by Assistant Director Elmer Decker. Item No. 1 reads: “Cowbells in vicinity ruining sound track. Sent four men to round up all belled cows and drive to other grazings.” {tem No. 2: “Bee ranch in vicinity. Bees sound like Stuka Bombers. H. Fenry, beeman, arrived and cleared area for shooting.” Item No. g: “Local speed artists driving into camera focus will kill themselves unless extra policemen are set up to re-route them, L. A. police contributed two retired police; put on our payroll for duration.” A grand climax and conclusion was reached with Item No. 4: “Shooting on location discontinued at 11:15 A.M. because of rain of cloudburst proportions. Believed advisable by Director McGann because location is on site where big flood of few years ago occurred.” VERSATILE STAR IN EXCITING STRAND FILM Arthur Kennedy made his Warner Bros. debut as a dreamy-eyed, piano-playing young brother cf James Cagney in “City For Conquest.” Today, in six stages of easy transition, he has become a whiskeydrinking, bank robbing, guard killing young heel in “Highway nec aas i. Westy the a — 15¢ Bede é Arthur Kennedy hie sb fie opening Fri day at the Strand. After his role with Cagney, Arthur was given his hardening around, the edges in “Knockout,” in which he played a prize fighter who fell for the wrong girl and left his*good wife. Picture number three found him tasting blood in “Strange Alibi.” In “High Sierra” Kennedy was well on his way to ‘his ultimate success as an assistant bad guy to Humphrey Bogart. In “Bad Men of Missouri” he turned “bad” nobly. Now, he’s just plain bad. 4