TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 246, 6 December 1940, Page 8

TALKIES

PAUL MUNI( BETTE DAVIS STARRED IN WARNER BROS.' INSPIRING NEW FILM

The local premiere! of Warner Bros.' magnificent historical drama, the long-awaited ''Juarez" (pronounced "War-ezz"), starring Paul Muni and Bctte Davis, will "be held on Saturday £i t the Regent Theatre. The spectacular production has already been hailed by the critics as the greatest picture of all time. In addition to being headed by the actor and actress who are generally acknowledged to be the foremost screen artists arc other film notables, such as Brian Ahcrne, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard, Gilbert Roland, Henry O'Neill, Harry Davenport, Montague Love and Monte Blue.

Conceived and executed on a scope never before attempted by Warner Bros., the picture tells a story that is at once powerful drama and authentic history, played against a rich panorama of background:?, ranging from imperial palaces to poor 1 peon huts. While it concerns events that were, on the surface, only of importance to the then fledging Mexican republic, the significance of these happenings was also important in the history of the United States. In the light of what is going on in the world to-day, this story has also a distinct topical interest. The screen play, which was written by John Huston, Aeneas MaeKenzie, and Wolfgang Reinhardt, was based largely on original historical as well as a stage play by Franz. Wcrfel and a historical noyelbj 7 Bortita Harding. It relates the attempt of Napoleon ILI of France to end the life of the Mexican republic by placing a puppet emperor on its throne, it tells of the tragic fate of Napoleon's hapless too], Maximilian von Habsburg, and his beautiful consort, Carlota, Avho has passed into history as "the mad empress," and it tells, inspiringly, of the brave and successful fight of the-Mexican president, Benito Pablo Juarez,-.born a humble Zapotecan Indian, to rescue his country from the hands of the imperialistic desj:>oilers. Muni portrays Juarez, Miss Davir. is Carlota, and Ahernei is Maximilian. MORTIMER SNERD DEAF TO INSULTS It's a fight to the finish, let the chips fall Avhere they may! Chips, sawdust and splinters flew at Universal Studios when Mortimer Snerd and Charlie McCarthy tangled in a battle of barbed wit during the production of "Charlie McCarthy, Detective." Mortimer says he lives on a farm where, by his own description, he is the "chief squirt"' in a dairy. Strictly bucolic in appearance and manner, Mortimer sports a mail-order suit, celluloid collar, brass collar button and a dickey. He has red hair, slightly crossed eyes, very buck teeth, a. receding chin .and a prominent Adam's applet He made his fn-st screen appearance in "Letter of Introduction," and repeated in ."You Can't Cheat an Honest Man," and has been heard over the airwaves." McCarthy hsa always resented Mortimer's intrusion into what he considers his exclusive -fields;, the screen and the radio. He snorts with indignation and disgust when Mortimer's name is mentioned, "What's this country coming to. Avhen a Snerd is allowed to work with us artists?" he demands to know.