The Film Daily (1948)

Tuesday, March 9, V: f ILffl DfllLV REVIEWS Of fiElU FEATURES i "I Remember Mama" with Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka, Philip Dorn RKO 137 Mins. THIS BOX OFFICE HONEY RATES BOWS ALL THE WAY ROUND FOR THOSE CONCERNED WITH THIS PRODUCTION: ITS APPEAL IS TO THE ENTIRE FILM AUDIENCE. Everybody connected with this picture should be made to take a bow. It's a family picture which audiences will take to their hearts and remember for many years to come. Irene Dunne surpasses anything she's done previously, knitting together a story brimming over with laughter and tears. George Stevens has taken a good book, a hil show, mixed them with his own ingredients and come up with the piece de resistance — an Academy Award contender. Made with an infinite amount of quality and feeling it spreads a warmth that leads right to the heart. Katrin Hanson (Barbara Bel Geddes) has just sold her first story to a magazine. It begins: "I remember the house on Baker Street where we all lived; Mama, Papa, Nels, the eldest and the only boy, Christine, and the littlest one, Dagmar. I remember how on Saturday night we would all gather while Mama counted the money in the 'little bank'— but most of all, I remember Mama." With this in mind she reminisces through her childhood, her schooling, and finally her coming of age, all the while centering her story around Mama (Irene Dunne). Mama and Papa (Philip Dorn) having come from Norway to join other members of their family, settled in San Francisco where Papa earns his livelihood as a carpenter. Mama is not only the center of activity for her immediate family, but keeps an eye as well on her three sisters. The only one she can't boss is lame Uncle Chris (Oscar Homolka) who terrorizes the rest, but who is just the oldest member of the family to her. The picture recalls many of the trying incidents which Mama handled patiently, with the comforting assurance that if worse came to worse there was always the "bank account." There was the time shy Aunt Trina (Ellen Corby) wanted to marry Mr. Thorkelson, (Edgar Bergen) the undertaker. Her sisters scoffed, but Mama, by threatening to expose some of their misdeeds to Uncle Chris, forced their acquiescence, and the marriage was duly celebrated. There was the time Dagmar was taken to the hospital for a mastoid operation and Mama was refused permission to see her. By posing as a scrubwoman she outwitted the Doctor (Rudy Vallee) and comforted the child in her illness. There was the time her boarder, a conceited ex-actor named Hyde (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) walked out on her leaving a worthless check. Mama believed, however, that his nightly literature readings had more than paid his bill to the fascinated family. Then there was the time Katrin was going to give up writing till Mama intervened, took some of her stories to a famous lady novelist, received some good advice and a letter to the novelist's agent, which resulted in her selling her first story. With the letter Katrin has received from Ihe literary agent accepting the story and forwarding a $500 check, Mama feels it is possible to tell them her guilty secret, that she invented the "bank account" story to give the family a feeling of security in time of stress. These are but a few of the many inci "Lost Happiness" with Leonardo Cortese, Dina Sassoli Saturnia 75 Mins. ROUTINE ITALIAN VERSION OF THE TRIANGLE THEME; HAS GOOD MUSIC CENTENT. With a musical score including works by Chaminade, Chopin and Bach, among others, this Italian film has as story basis a reworking of the triangle theme wherein a violinist loses his wife to his accompanist. A victim of the distress that geniuses frequently cause among their intimates, she gave herself to the other man one night when her husband was off on one of his amours with a lanky blonde. Immediately she tries to break off the liaison but Franco won't have her do so and threatens her with exposure. The scenario unfolds via flashback. In 1944 a group of Italians, civilians, are being taken to Germany in boxcars to perform forced labor. Some escape. George among them. They join the Partisans. George is wounded. As he recuperates he tells the commandant of his unhappiness and the man who caused it. An accomplished musician, he married Anna and went on tour. He is highly successful but has an eye for the girls. Franco is frustrated and tells Anna of his suppressed desire for her affection. She gives in. Later she becomes pregnant. While she is preparing for the baby's arrival, George thinks it's his, Franco sends a couple of letters to both of them. He erred in placing the right missives in the individually addressed envelopes. George gets Anna's. He goes after Franco who disappears. George is arrested, serves 10 years. With the war over, George a lonely, disillusioned man within whom the flame of revenge still burns, spots Franco on a Roman street. He kills him. English titles. CAST: Leonardo Cortese, Dina Sossoli, Manual Re-ero, Giuseppe Porelli, Aroldo Toeri, Adriana De Roberto. CREDITS: Produced by I.C.I.; Director, F. M. Ratti. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fairly Good. Sees Pix Future Bright After 6 Months Crisis (Continued from Page 1) Republic president, said here in an address to all studio contract producers and directors. Pointing out that foreign developments have made the industry virtually a domestic enterprise, Yates emphasized the dire need for pictures based on the pattern of today's market, with costs pared to a minimum. Yates said that there was no waste in production at Republic inasmuch as pictures were being carefully planned from script to sound stage. dents which will endear Mama to audiences far and wide. They'll remember her, too — they couldn't help it! CAST: Irene Dunne, Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka, Philip Dorn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Edgar Bergen, Rudy Vallee, Barbara O'Neill, Peggy Mclntyre, June Hedin, Steve Brown, Ellen Corby, Hope Landin, Edith Evanson, Tommy Ivo. CREDITS: Director-producer, George Stevens; Producer, Harriet Parsons; Based upon the play by John Van Druten; Screenplay, DeWitt Bodeen; Photography, Nicholas Masuraca, A.S.C.; Art directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Carroll Clark; Special effects, Russell A. Cully, A.S.C., Kenneth Peach; Set decorations, Darrell Silvera, Emile Kuri; Music, Roy Webb; Musical director, C. Bakaleinikoff; Film editor, Robert Swink; Associate editor, Tholen Gladden; Sound, Richard Van Hessen, Clem Portman; Assistant director, John H. Morse. DIRECTION, Splendid. Photography, Great. "The Sainted Sisters" with Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald Paramount 89 Mins. FAIR COMEDY DRAMA HAS NAMES TO ASSIST; STORY IDEA SUSTAINS INTEREST. Plodding staunchly and digging hard and cieep for laughs this one manages to get itself over the hurdle, become a fair sort cf light entertainment. The names of the leads will assist in luring trade. Story has different twist. Production details are simple. Yarn, with humorous sallies, has human interest, compassionate deeds and understanding as it depicts the unwilling charity of two females who are made to part with their illgotten, albeit hard-earned money. As a pair of confidence women, Veronica Lake and Joan Caulfield, sisters, are making for the Canadian border after taking a victim for $25,000. They are forced to stay overnight in a small Maine hamlet. Time of this escapade is about the turn of the century. The girls move in with Barry Fitzgerald. He's a tombstone carver. He learns of their loot. Next day they prepare to scram but Fitzgerald comes into possession of information which compels them to stay and play it his way. He is a kindly old guy, given to helping the unfortunate. Also, he knows the law wants the girls. Fitzgerald gets control of their money, in short order the prayers of the town's unfortunates are answered and Fitzgerald does not hesitate to tell the recipients of good fortune who is responsible. The townspeople look upon the girls as sa;nrs. Everything is sweet with the warmth of human kindness. The girls even fall in iove with George Reeves, local tinker. An electric power scheme is planned for the town. Beulah Bondi will match any amount the town can put up. The balance of the girls' loot is offered by Fitzgerald. Miss Lake, the brains of the pair, plans to make off with all the dough. At the last moment, however, she reforms, hands it over to Fitzgerald. They go to jail, are later released and return to Grove Falls to be married. Good deal of comedy derives from the place of concealment of the girls' money — in Miss Lake's bustle. William D. Russell directed. CAST: Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald, William Demarest, George Reeves, Beulah Bondi, Chill Wills, Darryl Hickman, Jimmy Hunt, Kathryn Card, Ray Walker, Harold Vermilyea. CREDITS: Producer, Richard Maibaum; Director, William D. Russell; Screenplay, Harry Clork, N. Richard Nash; Adapted by Mindret Lord; Based on a story by Elisa Blaik and a play by Elisa Blaik and Alden Nash; Photography, Lionel Lindon; Art direction, Hans Dreier, Henry Bumstead; Sets, Sam Comer, Grace Gregory; Music, Van Cleave; Editor, Everett Douglas; Sound, Philip Wisdom, Gene Garvin. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Average. Donohue to Transfer Headquarters to Chi. (Continued from Page 1) ing effected in order to more efficiently operate from a base in the center of the area he supervises. Antone Berggren Dead Omaha — Antone Berggren, 71, Midwest Popcorn Co. president, died as a result of a heart attack. Lee Coffee, Midwest Popcorn vice-president, died several weeks ago. "The Raven" with Pierre Fresnay, Pierre Larquey Westport Int'l 90 M ADULT FRENCH FARE HAS GOOD P FORMANCE, NOVEL PLOT El rMEf SHOULD CLICK. Dope on this one has it that it was p duced in France during the occupation subsequently banned by the Governm when the Wehrmacht pulled out. Rea given for its banning is that it does show provincial folk in a good light lays pointed emphasis on enemy-presur decadence in French life. However, considering its themes, sue film as this could only have been m; and it is very well made, too, in Frar In many vivid panels, Director He Georges Clouzot has projected naro addiction, adultery, blackmail, mass hyst which leads to a near lynching, uneth conduct by a doctor, murder, suicide, pc ical attempt to frame a medico via an at tion, and perhaps a few other plot det which do not readily come to mind. But basically, the story grows in its u ness when poison pen letters flood a si town called St. Robin. They are vie missives which plant seeds of hatred an< short order cultivate sorrow, jealousy pain. Suspense prevails as the town vents feeling on an innocent, drives her from place. After she departs the letters apt again. In the title role Pierre Fresnay p a Paris doctor who lost his wife in cl birth. He has a post in the local hosp and has been clandestinely meeting young wife of an elderly psychiatrist. T he is seduced by a patient, Ginette Led blackmailed by her adolescent sister. In the meanwhile the letter writer been applying himself/herself. The mind is tricked into revealing itself and end is a vengeful death for him/her. it is something of a guessing competit Who wrote it? Dialogue, which for the most part is i quately translated, will give more to spectator who has a smattering of the guage than is translated in the English titles. It is adult fare. CAST: Pierre Fresnay, Pierre Larquiy, Roquevert, Antoine Balpetre, Jean Broch, Louis Seigner, Robert Clermont, Palau, Mt Delaitre, Ginette Leclarc, Micheline Frati Helena Manion, Sylvie, Liliane Maigne. CREDITS: Produced by Continental Fi Adaptation, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Louis < vance; Scenario, Louis Chavance; Music, Aubain; Director, Henri-Georges Clouzot; Pho raphy, Nicolas Hayer; Titles, Herman G. \* berg. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fin.. Funeral Services Today For David Rosengarten David Rosengarten, 65, indus pioneer, will be laid to rest at Hebron Cemetery, Long Island, day. Rosengarten died of a he attack Friday afternoon at his v ter home in Miami Beach. For more than 25 years he was tive in film distribution. He 1 been chairman of the Film Board Trade, chairman of the Board Arbitration, resident sales mana for Fox Film, and later of M-G-1V Surviving him are: his wife, IV Anna Rosengarten; two sons, Alf Rosengarten and Leonard Roseng ten; two sisters, Mrs. Clara Ne teter and Mrs. Hannah Koenig, . a grandson. I