The Big Shot (Warner Bros.) (1942)

Humphrey Bogart Cast As Big Shot’ Bad Guy Humphrey Bogart is up to his old tricks again. On the side of law and order in “The Maltese Falcon” and “All Through the Night,” he now returns to his underworld haunts as a full-fledged gangster in Warner Bros.’ thrilling new film, “The Big Shot.” The picture will make its local bow at the Strand Theatre on Friday. BLAZING STORY OF RACKETEER NOW AT STRAND Starting next Friday the Strand Theatre will show Warner Bros.’ newest action-packed film, “The Big Shot,” starring Humphrey Bogart. It is a swiftpaced story of a one-time underworld big shot who has to take taunts from the mugs to whom he once gave orders. Bogart plays the role of the has-been gangster who makes one last desperate bid for the power he had before his third stretch up the river. It is a role to which only Humphrey Bogart could do full justice. Appearing opposite him is lovely, blonde Irene Manning, who makes her film debut in “The Big Shot.” She is cast as Bogart’s sweetheart who because of financial difficulties had to marry a wealthy lawyer when Humphrey was sent to prison for the third time. Lewis Seiler directed the original screen play which was written by Bertram Millhauser, Abem Finkel and Daniel Fuchs. ‘Duke’ to ‘Duke’ Tells Bogart Success Story Five years ago Warner Bros. brought Humphrey Bogart to the screen in the smash melodrama, “The Petrified Forest.’ Bogart’s tee, a hard, unkempt killer who, before the fadeout, gave evidence of more moral stamina than some of his con freres. Bogart is now in a new Warner Bros. film, “The Big Shot,” in which he essays much the same type of character as that which gave him his initial success. As “Duke” Berne, Bogart is a third-time loser, anxious to go straight, but hard put to do so because of a past which always bobs up to confront him. Fresh from two memorable pictures, “The Maltese Falcon” and “All Through the Night,” Bogart stands today as one of Hollywood’s most popular stars. He can play “good guy” roles —remember “The Maltese Falcon”?; he can play “bad guy” parts—remember . almost any picture! He can be dramatic—remember “The Black Legion”?; he can be comic— remember “It All Came True’? All that’s left is Shakespeare— but can you picture Macbeth with a gat? Irene Manning, who makes her film debut in “The Big Shot,” has the feminine lead while the talented supporting cast is made up of Richard Travis, Susan Peters, Stanley Ridges and many more. Tough is a meek word to describe the type of role played by Bogart in this film. He’s cast as a three-time loser who can’t go straight because of his record and Still EC 29* ; Mat 201—30c Humphrey Bogart and Irene Manning, shown above with Joseph Downing, are starred in Warner Bros.’ new film, “The Big Shot,” opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. who is afraid to do anything % tries to give equal attention to crooked because next time it’s | his former cohorts, but the efup the river for keeps. He ducks | fort is useless. He finally allows the police like a plague and | some of his former pals to persuade (or rather goad) him into acting as the “brains” in an armored car stickup. Newcomer in Lead In the feminine lead is a newcomer to the screen — lovely, blonde Irene Manning, a girl whose dramatic ability coupled with her fine voice (although she doesn’t sing in this film) is a sure ticket to screen success. She is cast as a girl who was in love with Bogart just before he was sent to prison a third time. Irene prevents Bogart, at the point of a gun from going through with the stickup, but nevertheless, he is identified as one of the criminals by a panicky witness. In the meantime, character was “‘Duke” Man o7 : “STAR, STORY COMBINE TO MAKE ‘BIG SHOT BIG ENTERTAINMENT “The Big Shot,” Warner Bros.’ new film which opens at the Strand Theatre today, has a story and star combination that makes for sure-fire screen entertainment. It has an action-packed story which stars Humphrey Bogart as a one-time big shot gangster who is caught between two fires. He can’t go straight because no honest person wants to bother with a guy who has been up the river three times. And he can’t get into any more trouble because the next time it’s life! Hounded by his past, taunted ¢ by fellow gangsters as a hasbeen, Bogart is driven to distraction. Finally (after all, a guy has to do something to make some dough) he consents to act as the “brains” for an armored car stickup. And anyhow, the boys convinced him that nothing could go wrong because one of the underworld’s cleverest mouthpieces (a role played by Stanley Ridges) was backing them. But plenty could go wrong, especially if the lawyer’s wife happened to be your former sweetheart before you did your third stretch. Newcomer Has Top Role Irene Manning, an alluring newcomer to the screen, plays the top feminine role and advance opinion says that she is headed for a successful screen career. As Ridges’ wife, she explains to Bogart, that she had to marry because she was financially desperate, but now that he is back everything will be all right, if he would only promise not to return to his career of crime. On the night of the stickup, Irene prevents Bogart from going through with the job by keeping him in his room at the point of a gun. Despite this, a befuddled witness identifies him as the person who used her as a shield in making his getaway from the pursuing police after the holdup. Has Exciting Climax Someone tips off Ridges as to what’s been going on between his wife and Bogart and as a result he lets Humphrey take a lifetime rap for a crime he never committed. But Bogart plans a revenge that makes an exciting climax. “The Big Shot” has a fine supporting cast made up of Richard Travis, Susan Peters, Chick Chandler, Howard da Silva and many more. The original screen play was written by Bertram Millhauser, Abem Finkel and Daniel Fuchs. The production was directed by Lewis Seiler. THE CAST Duke Berne......:..:.%>=° Lorna Fleming... .... .45.+. George Ainderson......... Ruth Carter 237 Pee ee Wierttin Fiemme fe Werden Booth ores, Dancer Judge Sarto acetate Humphrey Bogart a ee Irene Manning Saree Nake Richard Travis Re SNORE Ra baste oe Susan Peters .......Stanley Ridges PP ARE Digs PFE Minor Watson STAIR Chick Chandler Be te am 7 Joseph Downing Eis earites Howard da Silva ERE Ors LIN 5 Murray Alper ice eget NEI Roland Drew Piling e: cea John Ridgely Re sarki, Shhh Joseph King qth pk ee John Hamilton a eee Virginia Brissac ORE age, William Edmunds PE ck eee Virginia Sale Re a a AS Ken Christy CETL Pee ok Wallace Scott «LOHS DIG AHL,—-NDIVdNVO ALIOIT&Nd Still EC 527; Mat 104—15c Humphrey Bogart plays the role of a three-time loser who makes a last attempt to regain his lost power in Warner Bros.’ new film, ‘““‘The Big Shot.” Thriller at Strand “The Big Shot’ will have its first local showing at the Strand Theatre this Friday. Humphrey Bogart stars in the film as a gangster who is forced to be over-cautious because his next ® crime, no matter how trivial, means life imprisonment. In the feminine lead is Irene Manning who makes her screen debut in the picture. Lewis Seiler directed the Warner Bros. production. one of the crooks who hates Bogart, tips off Stanley Ridges, gang mouthpiece, of the relationship between Bogart and his wife, Irene, who was forced to marry him. Ridges lets Bogart get a lifetime rap. How Bogart plans and executes his revenge makes “The Big Shot” a thrilling crime film. The supporting roles are made up of such brilliant performers as Richard Travers, Susan Peters, Chick Chandler, Howard da Silva and many others. Lewis Seiler directed the exciting screen play which was written by Bertram Millhauser, Abem Finkel and Daniel Fuchs. Vivid Gang Film At Strand A film that has both a brilliant characterization and an unusual, rapid-paced plot, will make its local bow at the Strand Theatre on Friday. Warner Bros.’ “The Big Shot” stars Humphrey Bogart in a role that has everything in the way of action from bloody gun fights to a daring prison escape. Irene Manning, a lovely newcomer to the screen, is the feminine lead. SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) Released from prison after serving time for his third conviction, Duke Berne (Humphrey Bogart) now has to be over-cautious because another conviction means jail for life. Unable to get a job and goaded by his former cohorts, Duke agrees to be the brains of a stick-up. Duke learns that Lorna (Irene Manning), his former sweetheart, is now married to Martin Fleming (Stanley Ridges), mouthpiece for the gang. Explaining she had to marry Fleming but that she loves Duke, Lorna stops him from going through with the stick-up. He is identified by a panicky witness and Fleming, now learning about Duke and Loma, allows Duke to go to jail for life. He escapes but in the break a guard is killed and George (Richard Anderson) is blamed and sentenced to die. In their hideout, Duke and Lorna learn of this and Duke decides to clear George. The police, tipped off by Fleming, then arrive and in the ensuing chase, Lorna is killed. Duke gets away and kills Fleming but is fatally wounded. He phones the warden in time to free George. (Running Time: 82 minutes) PRODUCTION STAFF Directed by LEWIS SEILER; Original Screen Play by Bertram Millhauser, Abem Finkel and Daniel Fuchs; Director of Photography: Sid Hickox, A.S.C.; Film Editor: Jack Killifer; Art Director: John Hughes; Dialogue Director: Harold Winston; Sound by Stanley Jones; Gowns by Milo Anderson; Make-up Artist: Perc Westmore; Music by Adolph Deutsch; Musical Director: Leo F. Forbstein. re &