Rivers End 1940 (Warner Bros.) (1940)

PUBLICITY Mat 202—30c George Tobias and Steffi Duna will bring loads of laughs to Strand audiences next Friday as the funniest couple to be seen in quite some time, when Warner Bros. "River's End" starts its run. (Lead) “River’s End’’, Thrilling Film, Coming To Strand The Northwest Mounted’s most exciting man-hunt begins on Friday at the Strand Theatre when James Oliver Curwood’s ‘“River’s End” crosses the screen. Starring Dennis Morgan, George Tobias and Elizabeth Earl, the Warner Bros.’ thriller tells a dramatic tale of civilization’s last outpost and the _ scarletcoated Mounties who rule it! Sergeant Conniston didn’t know it, but he was starting out on the strangest case in the history of the Mounted, when he set out for River’s End, the Dodge City of the North. He was searching for John Keith, an escaped murderer, fighting his way through the silent snows to freedom. And waiting at the end of the trail was a girl fearfully awaiting the winner... her sweetheart or her brother. Dennis Morgan, whose most recent screen appearance was in “Flight Angels,” is given the best part in his career. He plays the dual role of Sergeant Conniston and John Keith, the man wanted for murder. Elizabeth Earl, beautiful, young English actress makes her motion picture debut as the girl who is torn between love for her brother and for her sweetheart. Advance reports credit her with turning in a scintillating performance that is certain to bring stardom at Warners to the gifted actress. George Tobias, noted character actor, is to be seen in the role of a FrenchCanadian who remains Sergeant Conniston’s devoted servant in spite of Steffi Duna’s attempts at marrying him. Other mem STORY SYNOPSIS (not for publication) John Keith (Dennis Morgan), convicted murderer, escapes from his guards and is pursued by Sergeant Conniston, of the Royal Mounted Police. After a two year hunt, Conniston almost dies of the cold and is rescued by Keith. He soon passes away though, but before he dies Keith tells him that he is really innocent of the crime for which he has been convicted. Conniston insists that Keith, who bears a striking resemblence to the Mountie, put on his uniform and pretend he is Sergeant Conniston. He goes back to River's End, and as Sergeant Conniston, with the help of Andy (George Tobias), a half-breed guide, catches the real murderer (Victor Jory). bers of the cast include Victor Jory and James Stephenson. Adapted from James Oliver Curwood’s greatest adventure story, ‘“River’s End” is certain to please movie-goers everywhere. Ray Enright directed the stirring film while the screen play was written by Barry Trivers and Bertram Millhauser. Dennis Morgan Stars In Strand Adventure Film For scenes in “River’s End,” Warner Bros.’ thriller, now at the Strand, Morgan, who stars in the film, was supposed to escape from his jailors — two stalwart North West Mounted Police — after hearing the death sentence pronounced over him. After fighting his way through the courtroom mob he jumped from the window and made good his escape. Director Ray Enright had him do it three times; then, to film the jump from outside, had him do it three more. The “police” rushed to the window and shot after him. One bit of dialogue that you won’t hear when you see the picture (it was cut from the sound track) is Morgan’s quip as the blanks exploded around him: ‘Don’t shoot, officer; Ill go quietly.” “River’s End” was adapted for the screen from the popular James Oliver Curwood novel, by Barry Trivers and Bertram Millhauser. Ray Enright directed. Extras Must Be Tough To Play ‘Mounties’ It isn’t always the most military looking man who makes the best trooper. A group of extras formed a single file rank for the inspection of Director Ray Enright who was to choose several to appear as North West Mounted policemen with Dennis Morgan in “River’s End,” Warner Bros.’ action-thriller now at _ the Strand. To create the best possible impression, the men stood very straight, threw their shoulders back and pulled in their stomachs; attempting to hold an unbroken, breathless pose. Enright pointed to the two who looked least likely to suffocate and said to Dick Mayberry, his assistant director, ‘Take these two men and turn the others loose before they faint.” Dennis Morgan Has Dual Role In New Strand Film It isn’t every man who goes on living after his death, nor yet can watch himself die. This violation of natural law and dualism of self now comes within the cinematic province of Dennis Morgan who, as both John Keith and Derry Conniston in Warner Bros.’ “River’s End,” coming to the Strand Friday, in many scenes finds himself face to face with himself. He will even watch himself die. As Keith he is a fugitive from justice. As Conniston he is a member of the Royal North West Mounted Police. When Conniston dies, Keith assumes his identity so that, as an officer of the law, he will have a better chance tc establish his (Keith’s) innocence. This metamorphosis, or transmigration, was accomplished, of course, by makeup and the magic lights and lens. Because of this constant shift between characters Morgan spent more than the usual amount of time changing clothes and make-up. Another feature is the matter of speech. Conniston speaks with a faint Scotch brogue. Keith does not. But when Keith pretends to be Conniston after the latter’s death, the brogue is put into effect again. In “River’s End,” Morgan finds both “himselves” in strange situations. In some scenes the two Morgans face each other across a table as they exchange dialogue. In others Morgan pursues himself across the great reaches of the Canadian North West. He holds himself in his arms as one of him dies. Then he stands at his grave and watches himself buried. “It makes me sad,” said Morgan, “just to think about it. On the other hand, it isn’t every actor who goes right on working after his death scene.” “River’s End” was written by the popular writer, James Oliver Curwood, and adapted to the screen by Barry Trivers and Bertram Millhauser. The film was directed by Ray Enright. Strand Headlines Action Movie Strand Theatre audiences are going to get a big helping of what they’ve been asking for when “River’s End” opens on Friday. Manager Carson reports that a general poll of his patrons has revealed that action pictures are just what the movie-goers in this neighborhood want. And Warner Bros.’ smash thriller, “‘River’s End,” starring Dennis Morgan and George Tobias supplies plenty of fast-moving action from the opening shot until the final reel. Adapted from James Oliver Curwood’s greatest adventure story, the picture brings to the screen the most gripping drama in the history of the Northwest Mounted Police. It is the tale of River’s End, the Dodge City of the North, where civilization ends and adventure begins. Dennis Morgan gives the most convincing performance of his career in his dual role of Sergeant Conniston and John Keith, escaped murderer. Elizabeth Earl makes her American screen debut as the girl who is torn between love for her sweetheart and devotion for her brother. Other action actors in the cast include Victor Jory and James Stephenson. The Curwood novel was adapted for the screen by Barry Trivers and Bertram Millhauser. Ray Enright directed the Warner Bros.-First National picture. [8] Mat 203—30c Dennis Morgan plays a dual role in the Warner Bros.’ stirring tale of the north, "River's End,'' opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. George Tobias Scores Hit In “‘River’s End”’ “The only difference between me and the average fan is: I got an inside track.” Thus spake George Tobias in describing himself as the “biggest motion picture fan in Hollywood.” The actor, now appearing at the Strand with Dennis tographs he would rather give. “Being on the inside,” he said, “T have a natural advantage. I get pictures of the stars and then corner them on a set or in the commissary and I ask them to sign. They don’t have a chance to get away. Only the other day I hagged Jimmy Cagney and Ann Sheridan.” Tobias, who came to Hollywood a short time ago after a series of successful appearances Mat 102—15c “River's End’’, Moving Story of Man-Hunt No sooner had he_ been straightened out on his dual role in “River’s End,” coming to the Strand Friday, in which he plays both a “Mountie” and a fugitive from justice, Dennis Morgan discovered that he would have to brush up on his North West history as well as to keep confusion at a minimum. “For instance,” said the WarBros.’ star, “did you know that in 18738 the force was known as the North West Mounted?” “Then,” he continued, reading from notes, “it became the Royal North West Mounted Police in 1904. That’s what we’re called in “River’s End” because the time is about 1908.” “Don’t tell me the name was changed again,” said James Stephenson who plays Morgan’s superior officer in the picture. “Right!” said Morgan. “In 1920 it became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In fact, the only thing that hasn’t changed is the motto.” “What’s that?” “Maintien le droit!’”’ said Morgan, saluting. on Broadway, would be difficult quarry for the fans on the “outside.” Not because he is a dodger but because he has appeared in so many guises on the screen that he would be hard to recognize off it. In “River’s End” he played a French Canadian. Simultaneously, Warner Bros. cast him as a tough pug in “The Man Who Talked Too Much,” and as a Greek restaurant owner in “They Drive By Night.” Before that, he was a South American bandit in “Torrid Zone” and a Bronxese clerk in “Saturday’s Children.” Three Times A Cop— Always Got His Man He’s worn the blue of a city patrolman, the brown of a state officer, and now he’s wearing the red of the North West Mounted. Dennis Morgan, being boosted to stardom by Warner Bros. in “River’s End,” which opens at the Strand Friday, is the most experienced law enforcer in Hollywood. In “State Cop” he was just that, except that unlike most officers, Morgan was permitted to demonstrate that he could sing. In “Three Cheers For the Irish,” in which he appeared with Priscilla Lane, he was a New York patrolman. Now, in “River’s End,” he appears as a member of the Royal North West Mounted Police. Mat 103—15c STEFFI| DUNA