BRUCE BENNETT NOW STAR RATED

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1947, Page 6

BRUCE BENNETT NOW STAR RATED

Bruce Bennett was born Herman Brix. thirty-six years ago m Tacoma, Washington. Bruce went to primary and high schools^ a Tacoma and holds a Bacheloi oi Arts degree from the University of Washington. It was at the University that he was active in dramatics. He came into motion picture work ut the instance of Douglas Fairbanks Senr. His first role was that of Tarzan in an lll-fatcd picture that was produced m Guatemala. The picture was moderateiy successful in some countries, and during its filimng Bennett contracted a recurrmg tropical fever which subsequently barred him from service with the forces.

Prior to this modest start as a professional actor, he had been successively a logger, a sawmiii hand cnd had worked on vanous types of oil well equipment and for a while was an insurance salesman. He had been successful in the ventures and had no intention of allowing motion pictures to beat, him; so he stayed in them. Bennett finally went to Columbia Pictures where he played leads and finally the hard-boiled companion of Humphrey Bogart in "Sahara. It was the latter appearance that gave him his first real break and brought him to the attention of producers. In "Mildred Pierce," Bruce plaved the husband of Joan Crawford and turned' in what Director Michael Curtiz called "a fine performance." Another splcndid part was given him in "A Stolen Life -.pposite Bette Davis, and agam he was at home in.distinguished comoany. Today, with the completion of his first picture for the Burbank -tudio, he has been given star rating.