The Sea Wolf (Warner Bros.) (1941)

ADVANCE PUBLICITY — ‘THE SEA WOLF’ Edward G. Robinson Master ofMany Roles Now He’s Starring in Jack London’s Most Famous Story, ‘The Sea Wolf’ : Still SW 5; Mat 203—30c ACTION AT STRAND—John Garfield proves quick at pulling a knife in this scene from “The Sea Wolf”, a rousing screen drama based on Jack London’s famous novel. Opens Friday. it's ActionAll theWay With Mike Curtiz! ‘Sea Wolf,’ Coming to Strand, Is His Latest Directorial Hit According to Michael Curtiz, the most difficult picture he ever directed is “The Sea Wolf,” the film co-starring Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield, and opening Friday at the Strand. In most pictures, he explains, there are a certain number of trying scenes, but these are relieved by ordinary ones where characters simply move about and speak lines. “The Sea Wolf” he says, “had not one easy scene. There were collisions, fights, storms and special effects from start to finish. “Nearly the entire picture was on the water, where we needed fog, spray and wind. Much of it was actually in water. I mean the camera was in water, the actors, the workers and I myself. “Whenever characters met, they either fought or staged a dramatic conflict of personalities. Even then, a mast had to fall at the right moment or somebody had to fall from the rigging or maybe lightning would strike. This didn’t make things any too easy for the actors, either. “As soon as Eddie Robinson came aboard the ship, he knocked down a man, dodged a belaying pin and threw another man across the deck. Later, he was thrown into the sea, climbed back aboard and fought a dozen men in a narrow bunk room. His last week on the picture was spent knee deep in water from morning until night. He’s a mighty tired fellow. “John Garfield had so many fights, I can’t remember them all. I know there are 47 fights in the picture, and Johnny had more than his share. “Tda Lupino, the only woman in our cast, had her share of action, too. She was knocked into the sea when a schooner collides with a ferry boat. She was dragged to safety by her hair, and pulled aboard the schooner. Before she was through, she was slapped and thrown into a dory, where a rough sea nearly drowned her. “I have always said that I love action in pictures and fin ally I found my ideal picture; one that is all action. “T am very, very happy but a weary fellow.” Writer Plays Writer Alexander Knox, who plays the part of a writer in “The Sea Wolf” and is a writer in real life in addition to being an actor, is planning a Hollywood production for his play “Old Master.” Originally the play was scheduled for a New York opening simultaneous with its production last season in the Malverm Theatre in England. War delays prevented the New York opening, however. The play is being published in book form by Constable & Co. Ltd., London. Responsible Citizen Emanuel, a young son of Edward G. Robinson was on the set of “The Sea Wolf,” which his father was completing on the Warner Bros. lots. An electrician asked the youngster why he wasn’t going East with his father. “I can’t go. I’m in 2a,” the youngster replied. “I’ve got responsibilities now.” Lupino Life in Book Ida Lupino, who wrote a first draft of the story of her father’s life on the “Sea Wolf” set, is assured of its publication. The Warner star has already received two bids from publishers who want the book about Stanley Lupino, noted British comedian of stage and screen. The “Sea Wolf” opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. Has Fitting Demise At the end of “The Sea Wolf,” Edward G. Robinson does not fade out. He sinks out. He stays with his ship and the water finally rises above his head. THE SEA WOLF SHOWS DICTATOR METHODS AFLOAT According to Ida Lupino, if Jack London’s famous story “The Sea Wolf,” had been set on land instead of on the ocean, it would pass as current history. “The Sea Wolf” opens Friday at the Strand. “Edward G. Robinson,” she explained, “would have been called The Dictator instead of Wolf Larsen. Just as he rules his ship with an iron hand, he could rule a kingdom. That kingdom would be his schooner, The Ghost. “Those who come under his domination would be the ‘have nots.’ That includes John Garfield and myself. We are slaves to conditions we cannot fight. “Alexander Knox plays the idealist, Van Weyden, whom the dictator cannot understand. Knox represents the democracies. “Francis McDonald, first mate, who carries out Larsen’s orders, is a perfect minister of foreign affairs. “*The Sea Wolf’ is the story of a man who believes only in Still SW 554; Mat 101—15c IDA LUPINO and JOHN GARFIELD brute force. He is so firm in beliefs in his own ideas that he despises all who disagree with him. He preaches the doctrine of intolerance. He flaunts the notion that decency is anything but weakness. “IT hope my comparison with history holds to the end. “Wolf Larsen sinks with his ship.” Drama Has Watery Setting in ‘Sea Wolf’ Edward G. Robinson sat in the Captain’s cabin, aboard his schooner, The Ghost. He was playing a scene with Alexander Knox, in “The Sea Wolf,” the picture coming to the Strand. The gun in Robinson’s hand is trained on Knox, who wants to get away before the boat sinks. Suddenly the boat lists to starboard. With a great roar, water pours into the cabin through a hole in the ceiling made by a fallen mast. For eight minutes, knee deep in water, the dialogue continues. Slowly the water creeps higher and higher. It is the first dramatic scene in any picture in which the star works in three feet of water. Says the director, Michael Curtiz, “Never before a star plays so deep in water. That Robinson is a damp good sport.” Co-starred with Robinson in “The Sea Wolf” are Ida Lupino and John Garfield. Robert Rossen wrote the screenplay based on Jack London’s novel of a cruely merciless sea captain. After growing orchids in a monastery, curing the incurable and establishing the world’s first news distributing agency, Edward G. Robinson is on his way to the Japanese Coast to kill a few people. At least, that seems to be his mission in the new Warner Bros. picture. Robinson admits that he never expected to do any more tough characters but no actor could resist the role of Wolf Larsen in “The Sea Wolf.” “In my time,” said the star, “I suppose I have done upwards of a hundred roles. I’ve read many times this number. Never have I seen such a consistent character in fact or fiction as Larsen. “You can’t think of him as a killer, because killing is only incidental. He is really a philosopher who believes that sentiment is a sign of weakness and only the heartless can survive. There is no such thing as right and wrong. If a man does exactly as he pleases, his very strength makes him always right.” “The Sea Wolf” is Jack London’t best known story, adapted for the screen by Robert Rosson. John Garfield plays Leach, a young sailor who runs afoul of the law and seeks refuge in the crew of The Ghost, of which Wolf Larsen is Captain. Alexander Knox plays the role of the young writer who is picked up in San Francisco harbor after a collision with a ferry boat. With him is a girl, victim of the same wreck, played by Ida Liipino. Stanley Ridges plays Johnson, the old salt who befriends Leach. Francis McDonald is the cruel First Mate, a worthy lieutenant for the soulless Captain. Michael Curtiz, who directed such epic films as “Captain Blood,” “Robin Hood” and “The Sea Hawk,” handled the directorial reins for “The Sea Wolf” and claims that it has more action than any film he has ever been connected with. All in all there are forty-seven fights in the picture. Add to that some storms, falling masts, gun-play and wrecked ships, and you have plenty of action. During the voyage aboard The Ghost, each of these characters comes under the dominance of Wolf Larsen, and stark drama is woven of the threads of his influence. Robinson considers this role better suited to his preference and talents than any he has ever done. “It’s a bit dangerous,” he remarked to a visitor on the set while the film was still in production, “for an actor to admit it in advance that a role suits him in every way.” Robinson, Garfield Go Into Action Ever since John Garfield joined the Warner Bros. ranks a couple of years ago there has been a great deal of speculation as to when the young veteran of the Group Theatre would join up with Edward G. Robinson, veteran of the Theatre Guild. “When these two fine actors, graduates of the two great acting schools of America, come together Hollywood will witness acting at its best, ran the report about town. The two have finally come together in Jack London’s “The Sea Wolf,” which opens Friday at the Strand. And although they are giving the best performances of their life as actors both fear they will be remembered as fighters. There are 47 fights in the picture and Robinson and Garfield participate in all but seven of them. Barry Fitzgerald In ‘Sea Wolf’ Role The little man with the Irish smile and a comical fringe of reddish hair about an otherwise bald head shivered and shook himself. Water was trickling down his face. His clothes were wringing wet. He had just been pulled from the sea on Stage rails at Warner Bros. studio. There are larger seas, but no wetter ones. The little man was Barry Fitzgerald, late of the Abbey Players in Dublin, the New York, London and Continental stages. In the role of Cooky in “The Sea Wolf” he was having his first experience at being drowned for Art’s sake, and then being roughly hauled aboard on a rope. “Are you all right?” asked Director Michael Curtiz. “I think,” replied the famous character actor of stage and screen ruefully, “that my dignity is slightly dislocated.” i Still SW Pub J; Mat 209—30c BOTH AT THE HELM—Edward G. Robinson captains the hell-ship in “The Sea Wolf”, and Director Michael Curtiz (right) captained “The Sea Wolf” through months of production at Warner Bros. Film opens on Friday at the Strand Theatre.