In This Our Life (Warner Bros.) (1942)

Still TL 75*; Mat 202—30c UNHAPPY LOVE. Olivia de Havilland and George Brent play the roles of two people who are brought together by their mutual unhappiness. Scene is from Warner Bros.’ stark film, "In This Our Life," currently at the Strand Theatre. Charles Coburn Claims It’s Good To Be Bad Actors are just plain contrary. That’s Charles Coburn’s theory, anyway. Have them playing villains, and they’ll yearn for romantic leads. Put them to saving the heroine from the clutches of the heavy, and they'll talk dreamily about the joys of playing villains. And, what’s more, Charles Coburn, a distinguished actor of stage and screen, says he’s no whit different from the rest. He’s perverse too. The only difference is that he isn’t complaining. He had hardly begun to grow tired of kindly old gentlemen when a career of screen villainy presented itself to him. Coburn’s change of type is currently being viewed at the Strand Theatre, where he appears in “In This Our Life,” with Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, George Brent and Dennis Morgan. Said Coburn, “I had the time of my life playing villains. That’s because it’s such a change. But one of these days my perverse actor’s nature will again come to the fore and I'll want to be the kindly father again. Don’t be surprised.” Coburn plays the role of Bette’s uncle, a garrulous man, who pretends to be gay, but in reality is a sorrowful figure. It’s a part that calls for very fine acting. Stull TL 20*; Mat 104—15c Dennis Morgan and Olivia de Havilland FINE STUDENT When Dennis Morgan was called upon to smack Bette Davis in the face for a scene of “In This Our Life,” he confessed that he was flustered, explaining: “I’ve never struck a woman, even in a picture.” Because he was_ nervous Dennis made the slap somewhat more realistic than was necessary for camera purposes. “For a fellow who’s never struck a woman before, you certainly do it well,” Bette quipped. Billie Burke In New Role And Loves It Billie Burke has given up hostessing in pictures — she hopes for good. In her new film, Warner Bros.’ “In This Our Life,” with Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, and George Brent, Billie doesn’t preside over a dinner table, or do any honors as a hostess. In fact, she doesn’t flutter about, drop an idea in mid-air, or just find things too-too confusing. She’s being an actress. She plays the mother of Bette and Olivia. As such she is a soft-spoken, bed-ridden hypochondriac; a pathetic figure. “T love it,” says Miss Burke. “T hope I don’t have to go back to the other lady, although she has been kind to my pocketbook. I don’t want to be a hostess again. I want to be an actress.” Olivia Gets The Kisses But Bette Gets The Men In Warner Bros.’ “In This Our Life,” Bette Davis gets her men, but doesn’t get kissed once. Olivia de Havilland takes a double-jilting, but she gets kissed and kissed. As the vixen, heartless sister, Bette runs off with Olivia’s husband, Dennis Morgan. But there’s not even one clinch. between Bette and Dennis. After she leaves Dennis, Bette returns and temporarily breaks up a romance between George Brent and Olivia. But she still rates no kisses. Olivia, on the other hand, although twice left in the lurch, is on the receiving end in two romantic scenes with Dennis and George. (Review) Bette Davis Splendid As Vixen Of “In This Our Life’ At Strand There’s a memorable experience in store for you at the Strand Theatre, where Bette Davis is at her superb best in the starring role of Warner Bros.’ dramatic film, “In This Our Life.” The film is adapted from one of last season’s leading best-sellers by Ellen Glasgow. The dramatic essence of the book is immeasurably heightened by the brilliant performances of Miss Davis, Olivia de Havilland, George Brent and Dennis Morgan, who are aided by an outstandingly fine supporting cast. The story of “In This Our Life” is the tale of a selfish, inconsiderate woman who wouldn’t stop at murder if she thought it would benefit her. The woman is. Stanley Timberlake, played by Bette Davis, youngest daughter in the once powerful Timberlake family. Her selfishness and thoughtlessness brings misery to her friends, family and finally to herself. One might call her ruthless, if she were inclined to plan or meditate, but it is her impromptu actions that bring about all the unhappiness. She lives only for the present without a thought to the future or to the consequences her behavior may have on others. The person whose life is most changed by Stanley’s behaviour is her sister Roy’s, played by Olivia de Havilland, who is married to Peter, a promising young surgeon, portrayed by Dennis Morgan. Stanley manages to have Peter divorce Roy and marry her despite the fact that she is engaged to Craig, a keen lawyer (George Brent’s role). It isn’t long before Peter realizes the mistake he’s made. He becomes so embittered by his own weak behavior and Stanley’s frivolous outlook that he commits suicide. Stanley grieves his loss for a very short time and then returns to her family, not in the least regretful for the havoc she has caused. In the interim Roy and Craig, who have been brought together because of their mutual sorrow, have fallen in love. The role of Stanley is not a sympathetic one and only a great actress like Bette Davis can do it full justice. Miss Davis has surpassed anything she has done before in a brilliantly sensitive performance with deeply tragic undertones. In the other roles, the performances of Olivia de Havilland, George Brent and Dennis Morgan shine out lustrously. The members of the Timberlake family as played by Charles Coburn, Frank Craven and Billie Burke, are so unaffectedly natural that they add enormously to the complete reality of the story. Howard Koch has woven Miss Glasgow’s book into a screenplay that never falters in interest for so much as a second and John Huston has directed it with rare taste and finesse. PARTING 1S NOT SUCH SWEET SORROW FOR DENNIS MORGAN The hardest thing about going away, according to Dennis Morgan, is packing your clothes. Even in pictures it’s that way. Dennis had a particularly # touching farewell scene to ia de Havilland in Warner Ls Og ee R31 This Our Life,” the film cur t= wase a scene that called for both players to give all they knew in the line of pathos in a delicate way. One false note could wreck the whole scene. Dennis, when the scene opens, is packing his grip, preparatory to running away from wife Olivia without telling her. She comes into the room, is frightened because she suspects something, and then is reassured that her fears are groundless. Meanwhile Dennis keeps on packing. The scene played beautifully till the end. Only, even as your suitcase and mine, the bag wouldn’t shut without some special urging, and the scene had to be shot again and again. “T hate packing clothes!” Dennis shouted. ‘Even in pictures. There must be an easier way to make a living.” Bette Builds Up To A Terrific Let-Down While Bette Davis had been playing the most dramatic scene of her career in her current Warner Bros.’ picture, “In This Our Life,” now at the Strand Theatre, Charles Coburn, who played the scene with her, had been resting comfortably. Supposed to be ailing, Coburn was bundled up tidily in a big chair as Bette played the dramatic sequence. He only had one line of four words in the whole scene. “T feel just like the cymbal player in a symphony orchestra,” Coburn said, “who has to wait and wait till he gets his chance to make a noise.” “Think how I feel,’ Bette countered,“Like the whole orchestra.” Mat 101—15c Dennis Morgan play with Oliv. Fashion Fame Comes To Bette For Sportswear STILL SERVICE! ... Stills available on most of the scene cuts on the publicity pages in this Campaign Plan. Price: 10¢ each. Order by still number indicated under each cut, from Campaign Plan Editor. If still number is not given, photo is not available because the cut was made from a special retouch or a composite. (*Asterisk denotes still is available at local Vitagraph Exchanges. ) Davis And Morgan Find New Way To Make Friends Bette Davis and Dennis Morgan, who had only a nodding acquaintance with each other, started off their first day’s work in their first picture together with an embrace. The picture, which is Warner Bros.’ “In This Our Life,” opens with an elopement and a heavy clinch. “Tf we were old friends, Dennie,” said Bette to her fellow player, “they’d have us fighting.” Bette Davis star of Warner’s “In This Our Life” at the Strand is the only girl in the world who doesn’t crave the title of bestdressed screen star, but she can’t escape a slice of fashion fame for the soul-satisfying sports clothes she’s been wearing. Bette makes good use of the lumber jacket mode by wearing two versions of it. One is of soft natural doeskin, only slightly bloused, closed with a gold zipper and neatly detailed with a mannish collar and handquilted initials on the breast pocket. The other jacket is black cherry velveteen with tight sweater band at waist and cuffs. This fastens with frogs twisted into the shape of her first initial, “B,” Suede, which Bette counts as the perfect medium for sports wear, goes into a full circular skirt. Her choice is poudre blue and she couples it with a longsleeved blouse of heavy white silk. Cuff-links, belt and lowheeled shoes of brown alligator are accessories worth noting. For active sports wear Bette Davis has a pinstriped aqua wool dress. Still TL 68*; Mat 203—30c TENSE MOMENT. The Timberlakes, once-powerful family, gather to decide what to do about the careless behavior of its most troublesome member— Stanley, played by Bette Davis. Others in Warner Bros.’ "In This Our Life" are George Brent, Olivia de Havilland, Frank Craven and Billie Burke. dD