The Sea Wolf (Warner Bros.) (1941)

CURRENT PUBLICITY—“THE SEA WOLF” —————— eee Still SW 556; Mat 211—30c NEW ROMANTIC TEAM—John Gartield and Ida Lupino, as seen by our artist in one of their love scenes in “The Sea Wolf,” which is currently playing to capacity crowds at the Strand. (For Book Page) sea Wolf,’ Famous Novel, Now on Screen New Strand Film Presents Sea Tale Just as Jack London Wrote It When Jack London wrote the novel, “The Sea Wolf,” in 1903 he didn’t realize that he was writing about a strong man who would come to the fore decades later and become known as a “dictator.” London was writing about a sea captain—captain of a sealing ship. The captain was believed to be Alex McClean. McClean, or Wolf Larsen, or Edward G. Robinson in the Warner Bros. picture of. the London novel, was the epitome of all the fighting, killing, roistering, vicious men of the seal fleet. When London wrote “The Sea Wolf” in 1903 he was broke, despite the fact that he had written best-sellers such as “The Call of the Wild.” He had exactly $20.00 in the bank, was debt ridden, had contracted for a home for which he had no money, and was supporting his family and two or _ three hangers on. He started to write a sea story but found that sea stories as such were unsatisfactory. Captain McClean began to enter more and more into it until he became the story and “The Sea Wolf.” One thousand words a day were mapped out by London. In a month’s time he had half the novel written and the family was more in_ debt. London forgot all the pot boiler assignments he had and continued on his sea story. One day he called his family and friends to his Glen Allen home in San Francisco and asked them to listen to the new novel which was nearing completion. He read past midnight, into the early morning. Family and friends sat enthralled. Many who were there in that late July evening in 1903 remember that reading as one of the greatest experiences of their lives. London sent the first half of the novel to Century Magazine with little hope. The Century promptly offered him $4,000.00 for the magazine rights if “the remaining half of the novel would have nothing in it to offend sensitive readers.” “The Sea Wolf’ thundered into the market and in the first month reached the top of the 20 selling list. Many readers were insulted, others were offended. It was called “cruel,” “brutal” and “revolting.” Others called it “rare and original genius.” It was America’s coming of age as far as the novel was concerned, critics agree. Never before was an American novel marked with dread-suspense, death-appeal, combined with an intellectual tone. Warner Bros.’ powerful screen version of “The Sea Wolf” opens Friday in the city at the Strand Theatre. Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield are starred. Michael Curtiz directed, and Robert Rossen adapted the London novel for the screen. OLD SAN FRANCISCO SHORE LIFE SHOWN IN STRAND DRAMA It’s easier to get information on ancient Greek civilization than it is to get authentic records of old San Francisco, it was learned by the Warner Bros. research department when it attempted to find photos of former-day saloons and ferryboats for the filming of “The Sea Wolf,” the new Warner Bros. film starring Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield. Almost all records were lost in the San Francisco fire of 1906. It was only after an intensive search that plans and photos for both the ferryboat and the saloon were found — outside the area of the fire. The ferryboat in the film is a replica of the old Bay City, on which some of the action of the Jack London novel is supposed to have actually taken place. Research for “The Sea Wolf” saloon set brought to light a souvenir map of San Francisco before the fire. This map is surrounded by photographs of such notorious Barbary Coast resorts as Diana Hall, The Midway, The Bear, Spider Kelly’s and the Souffiere. E. G. ROBINSON HAS STRONG ACTION ROLE IN THE SEA WOLF Edward G. Robinson moved his beard from his chin to his chest in his current opus, Jack London’s “The Sea Wolf,” which opens Friday at the Strand. Ida Lupino and John Garfield are co-starred. It was a return to his native element, it was suggested to him. “No,” he replied, wiping brine from his coat. “It’s a compromise. Wolf Larsen, the gent I play in the picture, is as strong an emotional part as it is physical? Statistics on the number of times Robinson’s hair has been on his chin as against the number of times it’s been on his chest, reveal that the chest wins hands down. However, and this point must not be overlooked by the social historian, Robinson is definitely moving up to the beard category. This despite the fact that Wolf Larsen is strictly “chest.” Robinson points out kiddingly that if he gets another beard role, such as Dr. Ehrlich or Reuter, he will be entitled to play the part of Paul Muni, if that great actor’s life ever becomes a movie. For a man who has an affinity towards beards, Robinson has played singularly few such parts. His hair was on his chest in the first pictures such as “The Widow from Chicago,” “Little Caesar,” “Smart Money,” SMivex etal binaly obi eer Shark,” “Barbary Coast,” “Bullets and Ballots.” Once in a while he varied the tough guy roles as, for instance, in “The Hatchet Man.” In that one he wore pigtails. Wolf Larsen, as written by Jack London and copied by Warner Bros., is a seemingly complicated person on the surface, but actually he is a simple soul with two basic urges. He wants to rule physically and he wants to rule mentally. To demonstrate such a personality takes acting ability of the highest caliber, experts agree. Robinson agrees with the experts. “If the scenes are emotionally tense, I go home whipped more than if the scenes had been played with me fighting twenty guys,” Robinson admits. His comparisons are based on facts he can collect personally every day. There are 47 fights — physical — in this picture and he participates in 40 of them. ‘Sea Wolf’ Held Over For 2nd Week at Strand The Strand’s current picture, “The Sea Wolf,” will be held over for an extended engagement, according to an announcement from the management of that theatre. The film, which stars Edward G. Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield, has attracted such a wide audience response that there has been standing room only at each performance. The film tells the story of a brutal sea captain to whom mercy was a sign of weakness. “The Sea Wolf,” based on the world-famous novel by Jack London, was adapted for the screen by Robert Rossen, and directed by Michael Curtiz, whose previous successes include such all-time hits as “The Charge Of The Light Brigade,” “Santa Fe Trail” and “The Sea Hawk.” Featured in the cast, besides the three stars, are Gene Lockhart, Barry Fitzgerald, Alexander Knox, Stanley Ridges, Francis McDonald and David Bruce. Mat 201—30c IDA LUPINO—(Left) The glamorously lovely star who is fast becoming Hollywood's top dramatic star. (Right) As the drab castaway in “The Sea Wolf.” Ida sacrifices glamor for drama. BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES Mat 106—15c EDWARD G. ROBINSON ... played four different roles in his first Broadway play . . » played in amateur shows on New York's Lower East Side . . . had vaudeville act . . . his role in stage play, “The Racket” brought him to Hollywood... after film, “Little Caesar,” his fame spread wide and far .. . always avoided being typed . . . speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian and _ Roumanian ... collecting paintings and loves music ... Plays role of the brutal Cap tain Wolf Larsen in Warner Bros.’ picturization of Jack London's famous novel, “The Sea Wolf.” IDA LUPINO .. . fought long battle to prove that she could play heavy dramatic roles . . . won the battle with her performance in “The Light That Failed” . »» Since then has been hailed as one of screen's topnotch stars for her performances in “They Drive By Night” and “High Sierra”... Is a native of England .. . fourth generation of famous theatrical family . .. happily married to screen star, Louis Hayward ... has feminine lead in Warner Bros.’ famous saga of the sea, “The Sea Wolf.” Mat 104—15c Mat 105—15c My Destiny... JOHN GARFIELD ... is a native New Yorker . . . scored hit on New York stage in “Having Wonderful Time” . . . came to Hollywood and was instant success as result of portrayal in “Four Daughters”... won't let Hollywood luxury interfere with his perspective . . . had many odd jobs but first became interested in dramatics in Angelo Patri’s school... his ideal playwright is Clifford Odets ... other film hits he has appeared in are “They Made Me A Criminal,” “Jaurez” and “Dust Be now has powerful role in dramatic film of the sea, “The Sea Wolf.” DIRECTOR MICHAEL CURTIZ... has made a tradition of tinkering with the English language . . . directed films in Europe . .. most famous of his films were made at Warners’ Burbank studio... some of them being “Charge Of The Light Brigade,” “Adventures Of Robin Hood,” “Santa Fe Trail,” etc. ... was actor, strongman and juggler ... is an expert fencer .. . has intense likes and loyalties ... has the same production crew on each picture ... Has just completed War Mat 108—15c ner Bros.’ gripping film of the sea, “The Sea Wolf.”