MUNI AND BETTE DAVIS

Evening Star, Issue 23691, 26 September 1940, Page 6

MUNI AND BETTE DAVIS

AWARD WINNERS IN 'JUAREZ' ‘Juarez,’ Warner Brothers’ brilliant new production starring Paul Muni and Bette Dans, will have its local premiere at the Regent to-morrow. Supporting Mr Muni and Miss Davis are Brian Aherne, John Garfield, Claude Rains, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard, and a host of others. From an historical standpoint ‘ Juarez ’ is extremely important, for it depicts the only widespread efforts on the part of a European government to infringe upon the Monroe Doctrine. Napoleon 111. of France sets up a puppet empire in Mexico, with Maximilian and Carlotta as innocent and hapless pawns, in order to collect the debts owed to France, but cancelled by Juarez, President of the Mexican Republic.

It is a drama of an ideal of government. told through the persons of two

idealists—the ill-fated Maximilian and Benito Juarez, Mexico’s Republican President, an " ugly little Indian in a black frocjc coat.” The role of Maximilian is played with penetrating, perception by Brian Aherne and that of Juarez by Paul Muni, who shows in his portrayal all his usual power and his unexampled genius of personalisation in placing before us this man of the people, the peon, slow, quiet, though passionate at times and adamant in his purpose to rid Mexico of the foreign element. Bette Davis is crowned again with the triumph of her interpretation of Charlotte or Carlotta, wife and Empress of Maximilian. Claude Rains gives a fine portrayal of the weak and mischievous Napoleon 111. John Garfield is forceful and impressive as Porfirio Diaz, lieutenant of Juarez. In the role of Juarez Paul Muni is said to be superb.. He is given an opportunity to display new facets of the brilliant art which has already established him as the foremost actor on the screen. Muni so thoroughly identifies himself with the man he is playing that one forgets he is just acting. .