The Sea Wolf (Warner Bros.) (1941)

Still SW 542; Mat 207—30c STARK DRAMA ON THE HIGH SEAS is what Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield meet in their starring roles in Warner Bros. “Sea Wolf.” The powerful picturization of the famous Jack London novel opens today at the Strand Theatre. ‘The Sea Wolf Strong Drama Opens Today Edw. G. Robinson Starred As Ruthless Ruler Of The Sea Today’s new picture at the Strand Theatre is “The Sea Wolf,” Warner Bros. screen version of the famous novel by Jack London, starring Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield, with a supporting cast headed by Gene Lockhart, Barry Fitzgerald, Alexander Knox, Stanley Ridges and Francis McDonald. “The Sea Wolf” is a powerful story of life aboard the hellship “Ghost,” where Wolf Lar Still IL 56; Mat 107—15c IDA LUPINO sen ruled the lives (and often the deaths) of the men in his shanghaied crews. Into this milieu comes a frightened young girl who is fleeing from prison Stogies On Stage Delight Robinson Edward G. Robinson, star of “The Sea Wolf,” has _ finally achieved the Nirvana of cigar smokers—a place where he can flick the heavy ashes without fear of hurting a rug or burning furniture. Robinson is awash in the latter part of the film when “The Ghost” sinks. He is seated in the cabin of the ship, water is rising to his ankles, his knees. Between “takes” Robinson’s inevitable cigar is in his mouth. He flicks it where he will, assured that he can’t hurt the water. “This is heaven,” exclaims Robinson, a man who is _ not allowed to smoke cigars in his own living room unless there are at least three ash trays near him at all times. and a sensitive young author, picked up from the wreck of a San Francisco ferry. The impact of this pair upon the oddly assorted crew of “The Ghost,” makes a dramatic and memorable story, which finds its perfect medium in film. A tender and highly unusual love story is woven through the powerful action, with Ida Lupino and John Garfield as the sweethearts. Robinson, of course, portrays Larsen. Alexander Knox, a very promising screen newcomer, plays the role of the young author, and Barry Fitzgerald, one of the screen’s most brilliant character actors, plays “Cookie,” a sniveling, slimy coward who fawningly reports to Larsen everything that goes on among the other members of the crew. Michael Curtiz directed “The Sea Wolf,” from the script by Robert Rossen, based on Jack London’s stirring novel. John Garfield, Star Of ives Broadway bo-By John Garfield is positively not going back on the Broadway stage. Stories about his reading plays were circulating about “The Sea Wolf” set. The film in which Garfield is co-starred with Edward G. Robinson and Ida Lupino, comes to the Strand Friday. Garfield has been reading plays only with an eye to their possibilities as future movies, he claims. Garfield’s contract with Warner Bros. permits him to return to the stage three more times before his five years with the Burbank Studio is finished. To emphasize his reluctance to go back to the Broadway stage, he points out that he is buying a home in California, something he never dreamed he would do when he first came here about two and a half years ago. Furthermore, Garfield adds that the best playwrights are now writing for the movies. “The best playwrights will do a play for Broadway only for the prestige involved,” he says. “It’s as much of a luxury for them to write a play for Broadway as it is for the actor to act in it. Of course, there are a few spectacular successes. But they are the exception, not the rule. “The important plays are now ‘sea Wolf’ Gripping Story Of Savage Sea Captain Edw. G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield Star In Dynamic Film Showing at Strand Cast: “Wolf” Larsen Edward G. Robinson Ruth Brewster..... Ida Lupino George Leach....John Garfield Humphrey Van Weyden Alexander Knox Dr. Prescott....Gene Lockhart Cookvar sa Barry Fitzgerald JONNSONG<3.. sic Stanley Ridges Young Sailor..... David Bruce Svenson ....Francis McDonald Harrison ....Howard da Silva Smoke 503 22682 Frank Lackteen Production Directed by Michael Curtiz; Screen Play by Robert Rossen; From the Novel by Jack London; Director of Photography, Sol Polito, A.S.C.; Art Director, Anton Grot; Dialogue Director, Jo Graham; Film _ Editor, George Amy; Sound by Oliver S. Garretson; Special Effects by Byron Haskin, A.S.C., and H. F. Koenekamp, A.S.C.; Makeup Artist, Perec Westmore. The power and fury of the raging sea surged from Jack London’s pen as he wrote his most famous novel “The Sea Wolf,” and the new screen version of the story which had its first showing last night at the Strand, has translated that power and fury into the most dramatic and thrilling screen entertainment of the year. One thought kept every hateridden man in the crew of “The Ghost” alive—it was to see Wolf Larsen dead. A merciless tyrant, he ruled his shanghaied crews with methods that remind us of today’s totalitarian dictators. Yet he is the possessor of a keen mind and an indomitable will. Through the genius of Edward G. Robinson’s brilliant portrayal, Larsen comes to the screen a real-life character. Ida Lupino, who is fast proving herself one of the most accomplished dramatic stars in films today, manages to make the drab little (Review) castaway one of the most memorable feminine screen characters of the year. In the role of a rebellious crew member who dares to try for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in defiance of Larsen, John Garfield does what is without doubt the finest acting job of his career. Headed by these three dynamic stars, and directed by Michael Curtiz, who has proved again and again that he is master of the action film, “The Sea Wolf” emerges as the epitome of dramatic entertainment. A ferryboat sinks in San Francisco harbor and two of the passengers —a frightened girl fleeing from jail, and a sensitive young author — are picked up by Larsen’s sailing vessel, “The Ghost.” Prepared to thank the captain and be put ashore, they learn that, instead, they are virtual prisoners. The man, Van Weyden, is pressed into service as a cabin boy, and Leach, the regular cabin boy is told that he will henceforth be boat-puller. Leach protests, and the Captain beats him up unmercifully. Ruth, the girl, becomes desperately ill, is treated indifferently by the drunken ship’s doctor. During her illness, Leach takes pity on her, and the two become first friends, then sweethearts. Van Weyden’s job alongside “Cookie” is far from pleasant, for “Cookie” is a low, slimy coward who reports everything he sees and hears to Larsen. When he finds several sheets of manuscript that Van Weyden has written about Larsen’s brutality, he takes them to the Captain. From this incident, Van Weyden learns a new side of Larsen’s character. Far from being angry about what Van Weyden has written, he is pleased to be the subject of analysis. Van Weylen_ also learns Larsen’s carefully guarded secret—that he is subject to periodic headaches which are The Sea Wolf For Hollywood being written for the movies. “The movies are no longer afraid to say what the stage has fearlessly stated in the past. And now the movies are the logical voice of the people. They can reach more of them at a lower price.” These statements are from a Garfield who, when he first came here, tugged relentlessly against the Hollywood mores’ and claimed that the stage was his spiritual home. Hollywood was only an experiment with him. The Group Theatre — the theatre with a message — was the only place for him. He sacrificed a great deal of money to stay with this group. When Warner Bros. brought him to the Coast, he made an instantaneous hit with his portrayal of the unhappy, socially unadjusted Mickey Borden in “Four Daughters.” He manages to give “social import” to every role he’s played since. Garfield was completely won to the motion picture medium because it has permitted “Leach,” a character of unimpeachable integrity, to remain throughout the entire picture, whereas a stage play following slavishly the dictates of novelist’s adaptation would have sacrificed him — on the ground that it wasn’t in the original book. followed by partial temporary blindness. Mutineers on the ship make ay unsuccessful attempt to murder Larsen, and after that life aboard “The Ghost” becomes even more unbearable for Van Weyden, Ruth and Leach. They escape from the ship on a lifeboat, and drift helplessly about the ocean. When their supplies are exhausted they sight a ship. It is “The Ghost,” and it’s sinking. Leach slips aboard, in a desperate attempt to get some water for Ruth. When he doesn’t come back, Van Weyden and Ruth follow him aboard. Van Weyden goes to the captain’s cabin, finds him having one of his attacks of semi-blindness. Van Weyden finds out that Leach has been locked up in the galley. Larsen draws a gun on Van Weyden as he starts to leave. Then, with the boat sinking more and more rapidly, Van Weyden drives a bargain with him, the sort of bargain that is completely in keeping with Larsen’s unusual character. Fraught with drama, suspense and full-blooded action, ‘The Sea Wolf” is one sea story you'll never forget. Ballet Coach Lauds Lupino As Dancer Mme. Martine Clement, famous London Ballet coach, stated in Hollywood recently that her most promising pupil had become a dramatic actress. The pupil is Ida Lupino, now in Warner Bros.’ “The Sea Wolf,” at the Strand. “Ida was a natural dancer, and there are very few of them,” said Mme. Clement. “There is no doubt in my mind she could have become a ballet star of the first water. Incidentally, she has prettier legs than any dancer I ever saw.” Still SW Pub A18; Mat 208—30c IDA LUPINO, who won raves for performances in “They Drive By Night” and “High Sierra,” once again delights critics and public alike. She plays a brilliant dramatic role in Warner Bros.’ “The Sea Wolf,” now showing at the Strand Theatre. 19