Watch on the Rhine (Warner Bros.) (1943)

ADVANCE AND CURRENT THEATRE ANNOUNCEMENTS (Advance Theatre Story) ‘Watch on the Rhine’ Opens Friday At Strand Theatre Bette Davis and Paul Lukas in the Hit Play By Lillian Hellman The ‘magic touch’ team of Lillian Hellman as author and Herman Shumlin as producer-director, responsible for the stage successes, “Children’s Hour,” “The Little Foxes’ and “Watch on the Rhine,’ was brought to Hollywood by Warner Bros. for the screen production of Miss Hellman’s greatest play, “Watch on the Rhine,” slated to open at the Strand Theatre on Friday. “Watch on the Rhine” arrived in Hollywood wearing medals, figuratively speaking. The New York Drama Critics Circle gave it its award as the best play of the season. President Roosevelt designated it for the annual “command performance” in Washington. Its star, Paul Lukas had won the award of the New York Drama League for the best performance of the season. So Warner Bros. could do no less than add the luster of its own two-time winner of the Motion Picture Academy Award, Miss Bette Davis, to co-star with Mr. Lukas in the film. Stars, story and production are a triple guarantee of a superlative screen story in this intensely dramatic narrative of a family united in defiance of a ruthless, relentless enemy. Bette Davis, as the American wife of Kurt Muller (Paul Lukas), a German who has made the fight against Fascism his life work, adds another vivid and distinctive portrayal to the varied dramatic roles which have distinguished her career. She plays the role of a devoted, courageous wife, in complete sympathy with the ideals of her husband and therefore prepared to accept with him the risks of a dangerous profession. A top-flight supporting cast is headed by Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lucile Watson, Beulah Bondi and George Coulouris. Miss Watson and Mr. Coulouris re-enact their original Broadway roles. Dashiell Hammett wrote the script, with additional scenes and dialogue by Lillian Hellman. (Holdover Story) ‘Watch on the Rhine’ Continues at Strand Due to the intense interest in “Watch on the Rhine,’ which has been playing to capacity audiences at the Strand Theatre, the film will be held over for an indefinite engagement. ; The new Warner Bros. film stars Bette Davis, one of the screen’s most versatile actresses, and Paul Lukas, who is in the role he enacted in the Broadway hit of the:same name and for which he won the award of the New York Drama League for the outstanding portrayal of the season. “Watch on the Rhine,’ based upon Lillian Hellman’s famous play, was prepared for the screen by Dashiell Hammett, with additional scenes and dialogue by Lillian Hellman. Herman Shumlin, who was responsible for the Broadway success, directed the film. 4 7R 563; Mat 301—45c Bette Davis, prize-winning actress, is co-starred with Paul Lukas in “Watch on the Rhine,” Lillian Hellman’s prize-winning play, which has been transferred to the screen by Warner Bros. The picture opens Friday at the Strand Theatre. (Advance Theatre Story) Bette Davis and Paul Lukas Star In ‘Watch on the Rhine at Strand Warner Bros.’ Filmization of Lillian Hellman’s Prize-Winning Play, Directed by Herman Shumlin, Features Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lucile Watson, Beulah Bondi and George Coulouris in the Cast “Watch on the Rhine,’’ Warner Bros.’ film version of Lillian Hellman’s famous prize-winning play is the Strand Theatre’s new offering on Friday. The picture, directed by that eminent showman, Herman Shumlin, who numbers among his Broadway hits “Grand Hotel,” “Children’s Hour,’ ‘The Little: Poxes,”?.-and = ~The= Corn Is Green,’ has an impressive cast headed by Bette Davis and Paul Lukas. Featured players include Geraldine Fitzgerald, brilliant young actress of “Dark Victory” and “The Gay Sisters,’ Lucile Watson of Broadway fame, Beulah Bondi and George Coulouris, that jet-black villain of radio, stage and screen. Dramatic Story In this intensely dramatic story of human beings and their courageous fight for freedom, Bette Davis, Hollywood’s top dramatic actress is cast as Sara Muller, American wife of Kurt Muller, a German antiFascist. Action is laid in the luxurious Washington home of Fanny Farrelly, wealthy widow and mother of Sara, and begins with the visit of Sara, Kurt and their three children. Mother and daughter have not seen one another for 18 years, and the reunion is tender and moving. As the story progresses, the mystery of the weary and sick Kurt Muller begins to emerge. The children, delighted with this unaccustomed luxury, inadvertently reveal that they are more accustomed to being in hiding; Count Teck de Brancovis, a house guest of dubious character, acts too curious regarding Kurt and his affairs. Fanny Farrelly, at first oblivious to undertones hinting impending tragedy, is gradually brought to an understanding of her son-in-law’s true profession, and with it comes a more realistic appraisal of the world as it is today. The terrific climax of the story is in the showdown between Kurt and the pro-Nazi Count, whose attempted blackmailing Kurt answers with the kind of heroism to be found only in one who fights for something more important than himself. Warners, in casting Paul Lukas as Kurt Muller, brings that fine actor to the screen in the role he enacted on the stage for 15 months and for which he won the award of the New York Drama League for the outstanding portrayal of the season. Dashiell Hammett, author of “The Thin Man,” wrote a script that promises plenty of suspenseful action. Lillian Hellman added scenes and dialogue. Broadway Was Shifted to Hollywood For Filming of ‘Watch on the Rhine’ Broadway, especially that portion of it which made “Watch on the Rhine,” the stage play, a success, moved to Hollywood for Warner Bros.’ filmization of the show now at the Strand Theatre. Part and parcel of the transfer were: Herman Shumlin, producer-director of the stage play, who directed the motion picture; Lillian Hellman, authoress of the play, who did addi tional scenes for the film; Paul Lukas, winner of the award of the New York Drama League for his stage performance, playing the same role before the camera; George Coulouris, cast as the villain Count de Brancovis in both versions; Lucile Watson, also seen in both the Broadway and Hollywood productions; Eric Roberts, ditto; Donald Buka, also. (Current Theatre Story) Bette Davis and Paul Lukas Star In New Strand Film “Watch on the Rhine,’ Based on Prize Play, Opens Run Here Today Herman Shumlin has been a long time coming to Hollywood, though not for lack of invitations. As Broadway’s most consistently successful producer and director over more than a decade, he sponsored such hits as “The Last Mile,” “Grand Hotel,” “The Children’s Hour’ and “The Little Foxes,” all of which came on to fame in Hollywood. After piloting “Watch on the Rhine’ for a run of 15 months, he took the play right into Hollywood and put it on film for Warner Bros. The picture, starring Bette Davis and Paul Lukas, opens today at the Strand Theatre. Shumlin, in his first try at movie-making, had the comfort of working with familiar faces in their familiar and accustomed roles. Lillian Hellman, who wrote the play also added scenes and dialogue for the screen play by Dashiell Hammett. Paul Lukas starred in the stage production, and was certainly at home before the camera. Lucile Watson, George Coulouris, Frank Wilson and Eric Roberts re-create the key roles they played for over a year on the stage. Hollywood’s contribution to the film cast leads off brilliantly with Bette Davis, who, as twice winner of the Academy Award, is anybody’s bright particular star. Geraldine Fitzgerald, Beulah Bondi, Donald Woods and Henry Daniell, all seasoned and tested players, add to an impressive supporting cast. “Watch on the Rhine” (as a play) was marked by the New York critics as Herman Shumlin’s best production, after they had already learned to expect any Herman Shumlin production to be superbly cast and mounted. It appears that neither Warner Bros. nor Shumlin are leaving anything to chance in preserving, for the screen version, the values of a play that received the New York Drama Critics’ Circle award for 1940-1941. (Current Theatre Reader) Strand Theatre Has ‘Watch on the Rhine’ “Watch on the Rhine,’ Warner Bros.’ new film based upon Lillian Hellman’s famous play of the Same name, begins an extended engagement at the Strand Theatre today. Directed by Herman Shumlin, who both produced and directed the successful Broadway production, the picture tells of the selfless heroism of human beings in their fight against the forces of evil. Starred in the film are Bette Davis, one of Hollywood’s foremost dramatic actresses, and Paul Lukas, who scored in the Broadway hit which ran for over a year. A talented supporting cast features Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lucile Watson, Beulah Bondi and George Coulouris. Others in the cast include Donald Woods, Henry Daniell, Frank Wilson, Eric Roberts, Donald Buka and Janis Wil son.