Uncertain Glory (Warner Bros.) (1944)

Uncertain Glory At Strand Friday (Advance Theatre Reader) A French criminal, and the Surete Inspector who holds him prisoner, pit their combined wits against their common Nazi enemy in the new Warner Bros.’ film, “Uncertain Glory,” which opens Friday at the Strand, starring Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas. As in their recent “Passage To Marseille,” the Warner Bros. here again tackle the absorbing theme of man’s courage and dignity which is sometimes to be found in most incongruous surroundings, this time in a strange tale about two men, psychologically at pole’s ends, who find themselves bound together in an issue far bigger than either of them. Errol Flynn, last seen as a gallant Royal Canadian Mountie in “Northern Pursuit,” sheds the garb of more obvious heroics and in “Uncertain Glory” plays the part of Jean Picard, an unregenerate criminal who almost loses his only chance to redeem himself as a human being. Paul Lukas, Academy Award winner for his outstanding performance in “Watch On The Rhine,” plays Pythias to Mr. Flynn’s Damon, as Inspector Bonet of the French Surete, the pursuer who at last bags his quarry only to admit to an empty victory. Others who plav top roles in “Uncertain Glory” are Lucile Watson, remembered for her sterling performance as_ the mother in “Watch On The Rhine,” who again plays a mother, though of a different hue. This time Miss Watson is a simple Frenchwoman, devoted to her country and contemptuous of the Nazi conquerors. Warner Bros. also chose this film in which to introduce a new screen personality, lovely young Jean Sullivan, who is seen in the role of Marianne, an innocent little peasant giri who falls in love with Picard and shows him the way to certain glory. An excellent supporting cast includes Faye Emerson, last seen as the wife of the submarine commander (Cary Grant) in “Destination Tokyo,” Douglas Dumbrille, Dennis Hoey, Sheldon Leonard, Odette Myrtil, Francis Pierlot and Ivan Triesault. Based on an original story by Joe May and Laszlo Vadnay, the screenplay was authored by Laszlo Vadnay and Max Brand, and was directed for Producer Robert Buckner by Raoul Walsh, the director who was responsible for such memorable films as “They Died With Their Boots On,” “Desperate Journey” and “Gentleman Jim.” Leo Forbstein directed the film’s music. Still U.G.-17—Mat 105—lSc Paul Lukas, Academy Award Winner of 1943, as he appears in Warner Bros.’ “Uncertain Glory,” now playing at the Strand Theatre. 2 A Jo. CAST f° AOGR PICGr io ee ed Errol Flynn : Marcel Bones. ee Paul Lukas WECICIN TIO ee i a hee Jean Sullivan Mines Tiree ea Lucile Watson — Louise 33 i Faye Emerson : Captain Mobile Guard 000.0000. James Flavin Police Commissioner .................. Douglas Dumbrille Father be Clore. se Dennis Hoey Ment Deval oa Sheldon Leonard Wine. Bonet. 2 a Odette Myrtil Prison Priest cnc Ae Francis Pierlot MOge Oe ee a Wallis Clark TOUR ee ee ea Victor Kilian BOROIGUT ke eee Ivan Triesault MUGC se he s Van Antwerp WOIME® G0 ei ee Art Smith Innkeeper ks ee Carl Harbaugh Drover a Wile se Mary Servoss Restaurant Keeper ...........0.0..0000... Charles La Torre EMCCUHONGE 20 chcack ee Podro de Cordoba Pieme Bonet: hoo Pe Bobby Walberg Drover. ee ees Erskine Sanford Gemnan Oincer 022 ee Felix Basch Vetermary 03.0 5 a eee ee Joel Friedkin PRODUCTION Produced by Robert Buckner. Directed by Raoul Walsh. Screen Play by Laszlo Vadnay and Max Brand. From an Original Story by Joe May and Laszlo Vadnay. Director of Photography: Sid Hickox, A.S.C.; Art Director: Robert Haas: Film Editor: George Amy; Sound by Oliver S. Garret~ son; Dialogue Director: James Vincent; Set Decorations by Walter Tilford; Special Effects by Roy Davidson; Technical Advisor: Paul Coze; Makeup Artist: Perc Westmore; Music by Adolph Deutsch; Orchestral Arrangements by Jerome Moross; Musical Director: Leo F. Forbstein; Unit Manager: Frank Mattison; Assistant Director: Jim McMahon; Unit Publicist: Bob Fender. SYNOPSIS In occupied Paris in 1943, Jean Picard (Errol Flynn), inveterate French criminal, is brought to justice by Marcel Bonet (Paul Lukas), Surete detective. En route to Paris, Picard and Bonet hear that a saboteur has blown up a local bridge, for which the Nazis hold 100 Frenchmen as hostages. Picard makes a strange proposal to Bonet — to deliver him as saboteur to the Nazis. Bonet accepts. While constructing letter-perfect story for Nazis, _ Picard enjoys a few days’ grace and Marianne (Jean Sullivan), a young village girl, falls in love with him. Her employer, Mme. Maret (Lucile Watson), not wishing the 100 local village hostages to die, tries to fasten guilt on Bonet and Picard. Picard under false pretense secures his “temporary’ release from Bonet and flees the village with Marianne. But a hidden facet to his character is suddenly brought to light by his real love for the simple young girl. He leaves Marianne, gives himself up to Bonet who, as agreed, turns him over to the Gestapo. When Bonet sees Marianne next day and tells her Picard will never return, he also pays the criminal-turned-hero a brief tribute. In answer to Marianne’s question: “What was he really like?” Bonet answers, simply: “He was a Frenchman.”’ Running Time: 102 Minutes. Flynn, Lukas In New Strand Film Tonight (Opening Day Reader) War, like politics, can make _ strange bedfellows. In “Uncertain Glory,” opening tonight at the Strand, starring Errol Flynn and Paul Lukas, the Warner Bros. explore this theory with an unusual tale of two men—a prisoner and his jailor — who combine their several talents, both legal and illegal, to outwit their common enemy. Against a background of France in defeat and humiliation under Nazi occupation, “Uncertain Glory” pursues in detail five days in the lives of a French criminal and the Police Inspector who has hounded him for fifteen years and _ finally captured him. Errol Flynn plays Jean Picard, the criminal who, ironically and against his will, becomes one of the heroes of his country about which he had never thought twice. Paul Lukas, Academy Award winner for his unforgettable performance in “Watch On The Rhine,” as Inspector Bonet of the French Surete finally captures his elusive quarry only to taste an empty victory. Both together, under any other circumstances an impossible combination, as Frenchmen united against their enemy find a way to release one hundred innocent hostages held by the Nazis for an unsolved act of sabotage. Also in top roles in the new film are Lucile Watson, veteran stage and screen actress, last seen in the role of Bette Davis’ lovable mother in “Watch On The Rhine”; and lovely young Jean Sullivan whom the Warner Bros. are introducing as a brand new bidder for stardom in her first film role. She plays the feminine lead opposite Errol Flynn: Others in an excellent supporting cast include Faye Emerson, last seen as the oniy -_feminine nrenber-of the-cast—of “Destination Tokyo”; Douglas Dumbrille, Dennis Hoey, Sheldon Leonard, Odette Myrtil, Francis Pierlot, Victor Kilian and Ivan Triesault. Raoul Walsh, well known for his excellent direction of former Errol Flynn pictures (including “They Died With Their Boots On,” “Gentleman Jim,” ‘“Desperate Journey” and others), directed “Uncertain Glory” for Producer Robert Buckner. The music, which was written by Adolph Deutsch, was arranged for orchestra by Jerome Moross while the entire musical direction was accomplished under the guidance of Leo F. Forbstein. Adapted from an original story by Joe May and Laszlo Vadnay, the screen play was prepared by Laszlo Vadnay and Max Brand. Still E.F.-433—Mat 103—I5c Errol Flynn, who portrays a brand new type of role in “Uncertain Glory,” a new Warner Bros.’ film coming to the Strand on Friday. Country of origin U.S.A. Copyright 1944 Vitagraph, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright is waived to magazines and newspapers.