We Are Not Alone (Warner Bros.) (1939)

Still JB 461; Mat 204—30c SCREEN'S LOVELIEST NEW STAR — Jane Bryan whose brilliant performance in "The Old Maid" won her immediate acclaim and the feminine lead opposite Paul Muni in "We Are Not Alone," which opens at the Strand Friday. @ Advance Feature on Jane Bryan Jane Bryan Cast Opposite Muni in‘WeAre NotAlone’ When Jane Bryan first wrinkled her pretty, freckled nose at a Warner Bros. camera some three years ago all members of the cast and crew of “Marked Woman,’ knew that the studio had really made a find. Before that Jane O’Brien, a native daughter of Hollywood, had played roles on the stage in Jean Muir’s “Theater Workshop,” after finishing University High School. A favorite younger sister to Bette Davis in several picures, and her daughter in “The Old Maid,” Jane believes Miss Davis has been the most helpful person she has met in her brief career. They are close personal friends as well. When “The Old Maid” was released, audiences everywhere began to rave about Jane’s brilliant performance. Among these audiences was James Hilton, world-renowned author of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” who had come to Hollywood to adapt his novel “We Are Not Alone” for the screen. He was so impressed with Jane that he suggested her for the feminine lead opposite Paul Muni in the film, and his suggestion was immediately taken. Frank, cheerful and determined, Jane has been on all lists of young players who seem to be destined for eventual stardom in pictures. And now that prediction has become a reality for she was awarded a starring contract by Warner Bros. directly after she finished playing in “We Are Not Alone,” which opens at the Strand Theatre Friday. Until a few months ago Jane had never been east of the California border. Since then she has made one trip to New York and one of her many burning ambitions — all of Jane’s ambitions are burning ones —is to go back there to try a stage role. But the studio has plans for her which will keep her busy in Hollywood for a long time. So far, romance has figured only slightly in Jane’s busy life. As it is now, she just gets “crushes”? which are as fleeting as an April breeze. Strictly an outdoor girl, Jane gets sunburned and freckled and has to report to the studio make-up department a half hour earlier than players who keep their faces under cover. But she can be elegant, too, when need be, and hide her tomboy tendencies behind a_ really unique gentility. She learned to cook for her three brothers before fame came her way but she hasn’t spent much time over the stove in recent months. She spends much of her salary on books, is a rapid and tireless reader, has no superstitions and many hobbies. “It’s the way she wrinkles her nose that gets ’em,” explains one of the cameramen who has photographed her several times. “It’s saucy and cute and pratcically’ irresistible.” While Bette Davis has been most closely associated with Jane in her picture work, the Irish group at Warners, which includes Jimmy Cagney, Pat O’Brien, Frank McHugh, George Brent, Errol Flynn and others, has taken a great interest. in her progress. ®@ Advance Short Muni Film at Strand Friday The Strand Theatre’s next feature attraction starting Friday will be “We Are Not Alone,” starring Paul Muni. Based on the novel by James Hilton, author of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” it marks Muni’s first modern, romantic role in several years. Jane Bryan, Flora Robson, Raymond Severn, Una O’Connor and a score of others appear in support of the star. Edmund Goulding directed and Max Steiner wrote the superb musical score which accompanies the film production. [5] CAST Dr David Newcome... PAUL MUNI ON oe ee Re a Jane Bryan POSSICW 0 ee ae Flora Robson Serdid Raymond Severn Seed ee Una O'Connor DOWol oo ee Henry Daniell Major Millman: S60 On Montagu Love Sir William Clintock 203.05. James Stephenson oir Guy Eockhead 8s Stanley Logan SUGGe oe ee Cecil Kellaway Mrchdeacon 2-6 Re Alan Napier Arendeacons Wile 5 ae Ely Malyon GMO, BOKOR a hed ey a oe Douglas Scott Opi Statey ois i ree oe sche SB Crauford Kent Wire, Peterson kt May Beatty ME PONGS ie Sle ia, niall ae! Rela Billy Bevan Palee iispeciOr Holmes Herbert Raney se teed ates a eS John Powers OO ee a ee oe Colin Kenny gh Scie Betas ei es: Ethel Griffies PRODUCTION Directed by EDMUND GOULDING Screen Play by James Hilton and Milton Krims; From the novel by James Hilton; Director of Photography, Tony Gaudio, A.S.C.; Art Director, Carl Jules Weyl; Technical Advisor, Dr. Leo Schulman; Film Editor, Warren Low; Sound by C. A. Riggs; Make-up Artist, Pere Westmore; Gowns by Milo Anderson; Orchestral Arrangements by Hugo Friedhofer; Special Effects by Byron Haskin, A.S.C. and H. F. Koenekamp, A.S.C.; Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein; Music by Max Steiner. STORY (Not For Publication) James Hilton, world-renowned author of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," was brought from England to write the screen play based on his novel "We Are Not Alone.'' Working in close cooperation with him was Paul Muni, who plays the starring role, his first modern portrayal in five years. Jane Bryan, whose superb surprise performance in "The Old Maid" has made her 1940's big new star, plays the romantic lead opposite Muni. Directed by Edmund Goulding who did "Dark Victory" and "The Old Maid," "We Are Not Alone" comes to a glowing life on the screen. Dr. Newcome (Paul Muni) lives with his wife Jessica (Flora Robson) and son Gerald (Raymond Severn) in the little English town of Calderbury. Jessica, conventional and stupid, is unable to understand the sensitive little boy and her stern, unsympathetic discipline aggravates the child's nervousness. A solution seems to be found when the doctor is called to care for Leni (Jane Bryan), a little Austrian dancer stranded in England, who has tried to commit suicide. With Jessica's consent, he hires her as a governess for the boy. The doctor and Leni are strangely drawn to one another, but their relationship is one of simple friendship. Then Jessica learns the true story of Leni's background. She insists on dismissing her, and the doctor, unable to change her mind, arranges to put Leni in a music school. Meanwhile Gerald, who has been sent to stay with his uncle, slips back to the surgery to retrieve a toy his mother has confiscated. In getting it he knocks over and breaks a bottle of pills. He stuffs these into a bottle with some others to hide the evidence of his misdeed. Jessica, returning home shortly after, goes to the surgery to get some tablets for her headache. A little later the maid finds her dead. Unaware of the innocently brewed tragedy, Leni and the Doctor are saying farewell, when they hear the news of the outbreak of the World War. Realizing that Leni, because of her nationality, will be in danger if she remains in England, he offers to take her on his bicycle to a nearby town where she can get a train to start back to her homeland. They are arrested and tried for Jessica's murder. The appearance of flight is against them, and Gerald, the only person who could have proved their innocence, has been told nothing of what has happened, at the doctor's request. Sentenced to be hanged, the two are allowed one meeting the night before the execution. He kisses her for the first and only time and tells her "We are not alone in suffering injustice." (Running Time—112 Min.) Mrs. Raymond