The Last Ride (Warner Bros.) (1944)

EXHIBITOR'S PRESS SHEET ‘The Last Ride’ To Open Friday At Strand Theatre Undercover salesmen of whiskey, gin and beer of prohibition days have modern counterparts in the “black market” operators. And just as their forebears provided stories and characters for motion pictures, the new outlaws are furnishing the screen with material. The bootlegging era served as a background for such outstanding films as “Little Ceasar,” “Public Enemy,” “Scarface,” and the like. They shot Jimmy Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, George Bancroft and others into film fame. Quick to follow new trends, as always, the Warner Bros. Mat 101 — 15c Richard Travis and _ Eleanor Parker are seen in “The Last Ride,”’ Warner Bros. film now playing at the Strand Theatre. studio has produced an expose of the black market in “The Last Ride,” opening Friday at BILLING WARNER BROS. Pictures, Inc. Presents 5%, ‘THE LAST RIDE’. with RICHARD CHARLES TRAVIS — LANG 30% ELEANOR — PARKER Directed by D. Ross Lederman 30% ap * * * Original Screen Play by 3% Raymond L. Schrock ° * * * A Warner Bros.-First 5° National Picture ° PRODUCTION Directed by D. ROSS LEDERMAN Original screen play by Raymond L. Schrock: Director of Photography, James Van Trees, A.S.C.; Film Director, Harold McLernon; Art Director, Leo E. Kuter; Dialogue Director, Jack Lucas; Sound by Francis J. Scheid; Set Decorations by Walter F. Tilford: Gowns by Milo Anderson; Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore. 50% SIX-SHEET .. Other Posters and Accessories on Back Page PUBLICITY . the Strand Theatre. It relates the story of the illegal gangs which sell tires to citizens who themselves violate the law through their purchases. Like the earlier gangster pictures, “The Last Ride” is a fast action drama with a touch of romance. Richard Travis and Eleanor Parker provide the love interest in “The Last Ride.” Also seen in the cast are Charles Lang, Jack LaRue, Cy Kendall, Wade Boteler and Michael Ames. D. Ross Lederman directed. New Strand Film An action story dealing with the black market in tires is told in Warner Bros.’ topical film, “The Last Ride,’ which opens today at the Strand Theatre. Richard Travis, . Charles Lang and Eleanor Parker are featured. CAST Pat Harrigan Richard Travis Mike Harrigan ... Charles Lang Kitty Kelly Eleanor Parker Joe Genna Jack LaRue Capt. Butler Cy Kendall Delaney Wade Boteler Mrs. Kelly Mary Gordon Harry Bronson Harry Lewis Fritz Hummel Michael Ames Hazel Dale Virginia Patton Joe Taylor Ross Ford Shannon Jack Mower Walters Frank Mayo Stuart Holmes Leah Baird SYNOPSIS (Not For Publication) Pat Harrigan (Richard Travis), young police detective, motivated by a number of accidental automobile deaths caused by bootleg tires, sets out to discover the gang of racketeers responsible. In order to trap the culprits, he and the police captain (Wade Boteler) formulate a plan to have Pat discredited with the police force, so that he might become a member of the gang. When a gangster discovers the plot and sets out to kill Pat, his brother, (Mike Harrigan (Charles Lang) risks his own life to save Pat, who gets away in time to expose the criminals and bring them to justice. Running Time: 56 minutes (Prepared Review) Black Market Expose Comes to Strand Theatre “The Last Ride,’ Warner Bros.’ exciting new film about the black market in tires, had its initial showing at the Strand Theatre last night. The picture has a hard-hitting, capable cast, headed by Richard Travis, Charles Lang and Eleanor Parker. Richard Travis, talented young actor who played opposite Bette Davis in “The Man Who Came To Dinner,” is: cast'‘as Pat Harrigan, intrepid young police detective, whose daring exploits are responsible for the round-up of a group of dangerous tire-racketeers. Alarmed at the increasing rate of automobile deaths caused by defective tires, Pat Harrigan sets out to expose the gangsters responsible for their illicit sale. But the gangsters are a clever lot, and Pat fails to make much headway until he and the captain of police formulate a plan to have him discredited by the police force. Since Pat’s brother, Mike (Charles Lang) is mixed up with the tire racket, Pat uses “The Last Ride’ At Strand Friday An exciting search for the illegal gangs which sell tires to citizens who themselves violate the law through their purchases, is the theme of the new Warner Bros. film, ‘‘The Last Ride,” which opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. Richard Travis is cast as a young police detective who sets out to break a powerful gang of tire racketeers who were responsible for several auto deaths caused by defective tires. Eleanor Parker, Charles Lang and Dolores Moran are also seen in the picture. D. Ross Lederman, responsible for many action films, directed from an original screen play by Raymond L. Schrock. his relationship as a means of getting into the gang. The mobsters fall for the ruse, but just as Pat learns the real identity of the gang leader, one of his henchmen finds out about the plan and tips him off. The leader takes Pat “for a ride,” but Mike arrives just in time, and in the ensuing battle both the leader and Mike are killed. Pat escapes in time to round up the gang and bring it to justice. Charles Lang, gives a realistic performance as the gangster brother, while Eleanor Parker provides the love interest. D. Ross Lederman, who directed “The Last Ride” paced his sequences well, getting the utmost in suspense from each scene. The original screen play was written by Raymond L. Schrock. A capable supporting cast, including Jack LaRue, Cy Kendall, Wade Boteler and Michael Ames, keeps the film moving swiftly. from WARNER BROS. Tires Don’t Blow Out Anymore — Even In Hollywood Films There’s a scene in Warner Bros.’ “The Last Ride,” coming to the Strand Theatre on Friday, in which an automobile tire blows out, wrecks a car and kills two persons. But don’t worry about the tire. It didn’t really blow out. What with priorities, tire rationing, the OPA and all, neither Warner Bros. nor any other studio these days is destroying rubber any more than they’re killing actors. That tire was an invention of the property department and it was made out of canvas. Its mileage possibilities compared favorably with some of the “black market” rubber sold by the kind of tire bootleggers depicted in “The Last Ride.” At an optimistic estimate, the property department’s’ phony tire was good for three miles. Actually, it ran only an eighth of a mile before giving way at all seams. By the same token, when Ross Ford and Dolores Moran are shown as victims of a bomb under an automobile, audiences are advised not to fret. They know the players are all right, but they might shudder at seeing good automobiles destroyed. Well — it’s a trick automobile, known in the trade as a “breakaway car.” It comes apart at a touch. It has come apart scores of times in scores of pictures, and fits back together again with less effort than it takes to reassemble a jig-saw puzzle. Players who take part in the exciting scenes of “The Last Ride” include Richard Travis, Eleanor Parker, Charles Lang, Jack LaRue, Cy Kendall and Wade Boteler. They conserve gas and rubber like everyone else. Remember: when they destroy essential commodities on the screen, it’s only make-believe. ‘Last Ride’ at Strand “The Last Ride,” a topical adventure story of the black market dealing in tires, is the Strand Theatre’s next attraction. Opening Friday, the Warner Bros. film features Richard Travis, Charles Lang and Eleanor Parker. D. Ross Lederman directed. Mat 201 — 30c Michael Ames, Richard Travis, Harry Lewis and Eleanor Parker are shown in a scene from “The Last Ride,” Warner Bros.’ film expose of the black market in automobile tires. The picture opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. Country of origin U.S.A. Copyright 1943 Vitagraph, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright is waived to magazines and newspapers.