The February 17, 1948 premiere of “Adventures of Casanova” at the Bruin Theater in Westwood attracted a huge crowd of movie fans, which is surprising because it wasn’t released by a major studio, nor did it boast any big stars. I guess the producers hired a very good publicity person. Or maybe those moviegoers thought the lead was played by Errol Flynn.
** UPDATE ** – Christopher S says: “Arturo de Cordova was a major star in the Spanish speaking world. A large percentage of LA’s population would have known who he was.”
I was also told that Lucille Bremer, who was the female lead in that movie, was the mistress of big-time movie producer, Arthur Freed, so he might have had a hand in coordinating the publicity and launch of this movie. ** UPDATE ** – See Vernon F.’s comments posted below.
The Bruin Theater is still around, as is its neighbor the Fox Westwood Village Theater with its striking tower. This image is from November 2021.
Lucille Bremmer was the mistress of producer Arthur Freed. I suspect he gave the movie a big premiere to showcase her.
Ah, well, in that case, the mystery is solved. Thanks, Kevin!
Not true. By the time filming had begun in 1947/48, Lucille Bremer had already been loaned out by MGM to Eagle Lion Studios to make this film. It is on this film that she met her future husband, Abelardo Rodriguez. Arthur Freed lost interest in Lucille Bremer after she lost interest in him (he was a married man). Noreen Nash who starred with Lucille in this picture told me that MGM loaned out Lucille Bremer for four Eagle Lion Productions to finish out her MGM contract. Lucille decided to marry and retire from movies. The rumors of Lucille and Arthur Freed were rampant during her time at MGM. While Arthur Freed took Lucille under his wing to get her great parts at MGM, her Mother (whom she lived with) would not allow her to get involved with a married man. These rumors caused Lucille great pain because people assumed she was having an affair with Arthur Freed because of his influence in advancing her career.