Knute Rockne All American (Warner Bros.) (1940)

Batata ‘Knute Rockne—All American’ Coming to Strand on Friday Pat O'Brien Stars in Film Which Tells Thrill ing Life Story of Notre Dame’s Football Wizard and Molder of American Men One of the most unusual screen stories in recent times will make its local debut at the Strand Theatre Friday when Warner Bros.’ new film, “Knute Rockne—All American,” opens. It is a film life story of one of America’s greatest and wisest heroes—Knute Rockne. The picture traces Rockne’s life from his early childhood in Norway to his tragic death in 1931. His life was full of excitement, despair, love and triumph. The film, with Pat O’Brien cast as the Notre Dame football wizard, faithfully portrays those elements and keeps alive the true ‘spirit of Rockne.’ His vigor, his astute philosophy, the great teams he built, the developing of the famous ‘Four Horsemen’ are all told with a skillful blending of power and subtlety in “Knute Rockne—All American.” O’Brien is said to have given such a realistic portrayal of the real “Rock” that Knute’s_ closest friends were amazed at the startling likeness in even the smallest gesture. The brilliant supporting cast consists of Gale Page as Bonnie, Knute’s wife; Donald Crisp as Father Callahan, President of Notre Dame, and Ronald Reagan in the greatest role of his career, that of the renowned George Gipp. The players that portray the roles of the “Four Horsemen” have all seen action on the gridiron. They are, Kane Richmond, as Elmer Layden; Bob Byrne as James Crowley; Nick Lukats as Harry Stuhldreher and William Marshall as Don Miller. Lloyd Bacon, whose forte is action films, has kept his record unmarred in the direction of this greatest of film biographies. Robert Buckner wrote the original screen play based upon the private papers and reports of Rockne’s intimate associates and friends. “Knute Rockne — All American” is more than just a great life story, it is a guide to something we should never forget— the true spirit of America. STRAND HAS Bb ADVANCE SALE FOR ROCKNE’ PREMIERE Manager Frank Nelson has had a special ticket booth constructed in the lobby of the Strand Theatre in order to take care of the advance demand for tickets to see the new Warner Bros.’ film, “Knute Rockne— All American,” which opens there next Friday. That it was a wise move is shown by the long lines of patrons that have stretched round the block since the advance sale of seats was first announced. Pat O’Brien plays the role of the great football coach and from advance reports we hear that it is one of his greatest acting achievements. Gale Page is cast as Knute’s wife, the woman who encouraged him at times when he was most in need of encouragement. George Gipp runs across the nation’s gridirons once again with Ronald Reagan playing the role of the immortal All-American football hero. Donald Crisp plays the role of President of Notre Dame. The thrills of the football field, the wise philosophy of Knute, the teams he built, the admiration everyone felt for him, are all told in this most exciting of screen biographies, “Knute Rockne—All American.” The picture is authentic for Robert Buckner based his original screen play on the private papers of Mrs. Rockne and the reports of Knute’s intimate friends and associates. Lloyd Bacon directed the production and saw to it that the film was as exciting as Rockne’s life and that means “Knute Rockne — All American” has plenty of thrills and excitement. PAT O'BRIEN STARS AS NOTRE DAME’S KNUTE ROCKNE Those invigorating, crisp football days are here again and everyone is in the mood for a good, fast action movie. That being the case, the management of the Strand Theatre has booked A Warner Bros. picture that has all the thrills and excitement of a football film but in addition tells the story of a great man. It is the story of “Knute Rockne —AIll American,” and will make its local bow next week. Preview audiences and press reviews from both coasts hail it as one of the most powerful screen biographies of all times and as a result there has been a great advance demand for seats. The first week’s run has already been sold out so those who intend to see it during its extended engagement (and from all signs they are many) would be wise to hie themselves down to the Strand boxoffice as soon as they can. Pat O’Brien is starred as the Notre Dame sage and his performance is one that will never be forgotten. Lovely Gale Page plays the role of Bonnie, his wife. One of the many great All American football players developed by Rockne—the immortal George Gipp is played by Ronald Reagan. The wise priestly President of Notre Dame is played by Donald Crisp. All the power and excitement of Knute’s life is brought vividly to the screen in the film. Robert Buckner wrote the original screen play and used the private papers of Mrs. Rockne and the reports of Knute’s_ intimate friends and associates for his story. Lloyd Bacon directed. PAT O'BRIEN AS THE GREAT 'ROCK' Mat 211—30c Knute Rockne, All-American Hero Lives Again on the Screen—Strand Pat O'Brien Wins Praise From Mrs. Rockne for His Faithful Portrait in Warners’ Film Which Opens Friday at the Strand Not many people who knew Knute Rockne in life would think that Pat O’Brien could look like him, talk like him, be like him. But Mrs. Rockne, on the set at Warner Bros. studios, where the film was made, said she half expected Pat to start making love to her, so completely realistic was he. “Knute Rockne—All American,” the film biography of the great man, opens Friday at the Strand. Pat is taller than Knute Rockne was. The great coach _ was slightly fuller in the chest, his hair was more blond and less easily controlled than Pat’s, he had a broken nose that was never completely repaired and his manner of speaking was almost the exact opposite of the O’Brien way. Makeup played only a supporting role in this remarkable deception. In addition to the hours Pat spent in the makeup chair, he put hours, days and weeks of hard work into the role before the picture went before the cameras. The similarity Rockne’s widow found so startling is traceable to both elements, Pere Westmore, Warners’ makeup chief, would be the first to say that this is so. He worked, he says, only with the eyes, the nose, the hair and the lower jaw line. While these things were important in creating a physical likeness to Rockne, Pat’s own work, his detailed study of mannerisms, voice and characteristic gestures, was even more important. Weeks before the picture was scheduled to start and while Pat himself was still wearing the tropical cottons of “Torrid Zone,” he started serious train ing for the part. Under the guidance of ‘Mushy’ Callahan, former welter-weight champion, Pat took his weight down from 184 to 169 pounds stripped. Meanwhile the studio took recordings of Rockne’s voice from the series of football shorts he made before his death and turned them over to Pat for study. Every inflection, every voice modulation, every speech habit was rehearsed again and again by Pat. The actor’s own speech is fast and sharp. Rockne’s speech, as recorded, was deliberate, slightly nasal, with hesitations between sentences. It gave the impression that the speaker had thought out every word. The pictures showed, too, that Rockne held his head low and looked out from under his brows, rolling his head slowly about to face his men when he talked to them. Pat naturally holds his head high with his chin out. He had to change his habits of speech and posture entirely to make them conform to those of the famous Norwegian football wizard. Not even the Father Duffy role he played in “The Fighting 69th” created so much enthusiasm on O’Brien’s part. The Rockne role is even more of a departure for Pat but he is used to departures now. Rockne is a great hero to the American small boy—and to that small boy’s dad as well. Pat wants to please all of these but he hopes most of all to please Mrs. Rockne. She visited the set each day during filming to watch the process by which a fast-talking Irish movie star took on the more deliberate dignity of manner and strength of purpose for which her husband was famous. STRAND WILL SHOW POWERFUL NEW FILM OF ROCKNE’S LIFE Great National Hero Is Played in Film by Pat O’Brien Once again Warner Bros. have come through with a powerful picturization of the life of a great man. It was Warners who brought the dramatic life of Emile Zola to the screen. It was they who told the startling story of Louis Pasteur and then followed it with the daring tale of Dr. Ehrlich and his ‘Magic Bullet.” Now, with the initial showing of “Knute Rockne—All American,” at the Strand Theatre this Friday, Warner Bros. bring you the life story of a man whose contribution cannot be reckoned in any concrete terms. For Knute Rockne’s influence on the youth of America is incalculable. His popularity traveled far beyond the limits of football, at which he was a master. It was his sense of sportsmanship rather than the sport itself that fired the imagination of people in every stratum of life. Pat O’Brien’s portrayal of Rockne is said to be the most authentic imagery ever to flash across the screen. His performance makes the audience forget that they are watching a movie. Instead they are completely enraptured by the interesting and exciting adventure of his life. Gale Page lends a touch of tender romance to the film with her portrayal of Knute’s wife, Bonnie. George Gipp comes to life again, as played by Ronald Reagan in his best performance to date. Donald Crisp is splendid in the role of Father Callahan, President of Notre Dame. Old thrills are revived as the famous “Four Horsemen” again gallop across the gridiron to pile up touchdown after touchdown, with Bob Byrne as James Crowley; Kane Richmond as Elmer Layden; Nick Lukats as Harry Stuhldreher and William Marshall as Don Miller. Action film director Lloyd Bacon put plenty of zip into the pacing of the story and did a swell job of blending the powerful with the emotional. Robert Buckner wrote the original screen play based upon the private papers of Mrs. Rockne, and the reports of Rockne’s intimate associates and friends. 1940 Notre Dame Varsity Appear in Rockne Film Together with Head Coach Elmer Layden, Notre Dame’s 1940 football squad will be seen in Warner Bros.’ “Knute Rockne —All American,” which opens at the Strand Friday. Advance ticket sale for the picture is being taken care of by a speciallyerected booth in the lobby. Layden has dual: representation in the picture, which stars Pat O’Brien as Rockne. As a player, one of the famed “Four Horsemen,” he will be portrayed by actor Kane Richmond. In the final sequence, with the present Notre Dame’s varsity, he portrays himself. The passage of years, it is said, accounts plausibly enough for the difference of appearance. Also, in the “Four Horsemen” sequences, the movie Layden is seen only in football uniform and headgear. On this Page... Announcing the Coming of the Great Event