Invisible Stripes (Warner Bros.) (1939)

@ Raft Lead Story George Raft In ‘Invisible Stripes’ Coming to Strand Starring George Raft, Jane Bryan, and William Holden, ‘‘Invisible Stripes,” will open at the Strand Theatre on Friday. The story is of a man just released from Sing Sing who is determined to lead an honest life, but the obstacles he encounters as a parolee make it next to impossible. George Raft, who reneged on his announcement that he would never play a gangster again, plays the title role, but explained his action by saying, “the unusual aspects of such a role convinced me that this was just not another gangster part but one in which there is justification.” The suave actor, who won fame years ago in “Scarface,” has come a long way since that auspicious film debut. Born in New York’s famed Hell’s Kitchen, Raft stepped rapidly through such careers as electrician’s helper, boxer, professional baseball player, and dancer. It was as a dancer that Raft found fame. When the Charleston gave him the reputation as “the kid with the fastest feet in New York,” he was off on his career, which soon brought him to the attention of Hollywood. A few minor roles and then the part as the killer in “Scarface.” Since that role George Raft has been one of Hollywood’s top “menaces.” Recently he rebelled and refused to play any more gangsters, but retracted his intention to play in “Invisible Stripes,” because of the nature of the role. CAST Cliff Taylor GEORGE RAFT Peggy JANE BRYAN Tim Taylor .... WILLIAM HOLDEN Chuck Martin....Hdumphrey Bogart Mrs. Taylor Flora Robson Paul Kelly Lee Patrick Parole Officer Masters Henry O'Neill Frankie Thomas Moroni Olsen Margot Stevenson Mare Lawrence Joseph Downing Leo Gorcey William Haade Tully Marshall PRODUCTION Directed by LLOYD BACON Screen Play by Warren Duff; From a Story by Jonathan Finn; Based on the book by Lewis E. Lawes; Director of Photography, Ernie Haller, A. S.C.; Art Director, Max Parker; Dialogue Director, Irving Rapper; Film Editor, James Gibbon; Gowns by Milo Anderson; Sound by Dolph Thomas; Make-up Artist, Perc Westmore; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein; Special Effects by Byron Haskin, A.S.C. Circle may be mortised and used as separate 2-col.; Heads of men may be used separately as shallow 3-col. Mat 302—45c THE STRONG DRAMA OF ‘INVISIBLE STRIPES' draws these people together in a web of human circumstances. Above left to right are William Holden, who rose to fame as “Golden Boy,’ George Raft and Humphrey Bogart. Jane Bryan (inset) plays the lead feminine role in ‘Invisible Stripes,’ the Warner Bros. drama coming Friday to the Strand Theatre. @ Lead Story George Raft, Jane Bryan, Wm. Holden In ‘Invisible Stripes’ at Strand Friday Humphrey Bogart and Flora Robson Also Featured in Drama of After-Prison Life @ Bryan and Holden Lead Two New Stars In ‘Invisible Stripes’ Coming Friday Two of the screen’s newest stars make up, with George Raft, the starring trio of “Invisible Stripes,” the powerful drama of after-prison life, based on a book by Lewis E. Lawes, which will be the next feature attraction at the Strand. Jane B: yan and William Holden are the two new stars. For each of them “Invisible Stripes” marks an important step in their careers. For Jane Bryan, 21-year-old, and Hollywood born, it marks her first star part, after a succession of lesser roles, culminating in “The Old Maid,” in which she made her small featured role so outstanding that the Warner Bros.’ studio rewarded her by placing her on their star roster. For William Holden, his role in “Golden Boy” was the stepping-off place toward a career that promises to be brilliant. Unlike Miss Bryan, he had had no screen experience before he became a star. He was playing in a small stock company when a talent scout discovered in him just the type his studio was seeking for the “Golden Boy” role. adapted from the original story by Jonathan Finn, based on the Lewis E. Lawes book. Besides the stars, the cast includes Humphrey Bogart, Flora Robson, Paul Kelly, and others. ...... “Invisible Stripes” was directed by Lloyd Bacon from the screen play by Warren Duff. STORY (Not for publication): “Invis “Invisible Stripes”, a drama of after-prison life, based on a book by Lewis E. Lawes, will be the next feature presentation at the Strand Theatre, starting Friday. George Raft, Jane Bryan and William Holden are starred, with Humphrey Bogart, Paul Kelly, Lee Patrick and Henry O’Neill heading the supporting cast. Lewis E. Lawes has always championed the rights of onetime losers to return to good citizenship after learning their lesson behind prison walls, and it is this theme which underlies the stirring dramatic story of “Invisible Stripes”. It is the story of two convicts who are released from prison on the same day—one a hardened criminal, the other a first offender anxious to return to an honest and useful life. The former makes no attempt to mend his ways. He knows that he will end up back in the big house, but until that happens he intends to enjoy life. The latter tries to find honest work, but the prison stigma causes him to lose his jobs as fast as he gets them. His girl turns against him, refuses to marry a branded man. His younger brother, discouraged by his own inability to make enough money to marry on, is ripe for a life of crime and easy money. Realizing the futility of trying to go straight himself, the exconvict goes back to his old gang and joins them in a robbery, so that he can give his brother enough money to go into business for himself. George Raft plays the role of the convict trying to go straight and Bogart is the criminal who realizes that there is no hope for the man who wears invisible stripes. William Holden, the star discovery of “Golden Boy” plays the young brother, and Jane Bryan, who received such wide acclaim for her featured role with Bette Davis in “The Old Maid.” Plays the boy’s sweetheart, later his wife. Flora Robson, prominent English star of stage and screen, plays the work-worn mother of the two boys. Lee Patrick is the hardboiled sweetheart of Bogart, and Margot Stevenson is the girl who loves Raft but refuses to marry him because he is an ex-convict. The story is played against the drama-packed background of New York’s teeming tenement districts, for the most part, after the early prison scenes. Unlike most film stories of the action calibre, this one centers on the home life of the characters, thus giving a more fully-rounded picture of the essential tragedy. Preview critics have heaped praise upon the film as robust entertainment, carrying with at eloquent plea for a better deal for those unfortunates who await an honest chance to rid themselves of their invisible stripes. Lloyd Bacon directed from the script by Warren Duff, from an original story by Jonathan Finn based on the book by Lewis E. Lawes. ‘Invisible Stripes’ Next Strand Presentation George Raft, William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey Bogart head the cast of ‘“Invisible Stripes’, the next offering at the Strand Theatre, starting Friday. Based on the book by Lewis E. Lawes, Warren Duff wrote the screen play from an original story by Jonathan Finn and Lloyd Bacon directed. The impelling message of the story is the dilemma of a_ parolee, branded by invisible stripes. ible Stripes" tells of the stigma following criminals even after they have "paid their debt to society." Leaving Sing Sing are two such men—Cliff Taylor (George Raft), intent on going straight, and Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart), already planning new rackets. Tim Taylor (William Holden) finds a job for his brother, and Cliff is determined to warrant his mother's (Flora Robson) confidence. But tragedy soon sets in. Cliff's girl (Margot Stevenson) explains she cannot see him, a parolee, again. Tim's girl Peggy (Jane Bryan) is afraid for the young boy. They are madly in love and Peggy wants to get married. Tim will not allow her to suffer poverty. Cliff, unable to hold a job after his various bosses learn he's a parolee, watches his kid brother with growing apprehension as he recognizes the symptoms that had led to his great mistake. When Cliff learns he has rolled a drunk, he beats the boy, but there is no submission. Cliff solves the problem the only way he knows how—he contacts Chuck and gets in on a series of bank robberies. When he is able to buy a garage for Tim and the boy marries Peggy, he quits the gang. Chuck then gets into a scrape and involves Tim. To clear the boy, Cliff has him turn State's evidence, then himself pays for his digressions in a fatal gang war. Complete Publicity Exploitation Follows Pages 18 through 21; Accessories, 22—24 Prepare Campaign Begins on This Page through 17 Pubhen ~