Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

PAIN DAYS CAN BE PLAY DAYS RELIEVES FUNCTIONAL PERIODIC PAIN CRAMPS-HMDACHl -"BLUES" "What a difference Midol makes" The Red Danube: Soviet dancer Janet Leigh hates Russia. Peter Lawford, British officer in Vienna, doesn't want her to be sent bock. THE RED DANUBE Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Ethel Barrymore. Peter Lawford, Angela Lansbury. Janet Leigh, Louis Calhern. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer The movies certainly aren't treating the Russians diplomatically anymore. Here we have MGM joining enthusiastically in the "cold war" with the Soviets. Story takes place in the British sector of Vienna, after the war. Forcible repatriation of Russian nationals is in full swing, and British cooperation has been asked. A whole lot of Russians don't want to go home. Janet Leigh is one of them. Once a prima ballerina in Russia, she's now a political refugee. British officer Walter Pidgeon turns her over to the Russian authorities; he's a soldier, and knows his duty. Other British officer Peter Lawford hates him for it; he (Peter) loves little Janet. The Mother Superior ( Ethel Barrymore) of the convent where Pidgeon and Lawford are billeted discusses the godlessness of Communists at great length. Janet escapes from the Russians; by this time Pidgeon's convinced that repatriation is wicked, and he helps ;he Mother Superior and Lawfcrd hide Janet out. The repatriation question is coming up before the UN in a few days; maybe the entire matter will be settled in favor of the refugees. Which is, of course, what happens, only Janet has leaped out of a window before then. There are many things wrong with this picture. Janet Leigh's accent is neither consistent enough nor good enough to warrant using it at all, and the same applies to her ballet dancing. And while the picture's indignation is justifiable (that forcible repatriation was pretty horrible), some of the cracks at Russia are as childish as the pokes the Russians take at us — and we're supposed to be more civilized than that. At one point, for instance, Ethel Barrymore says Merry Christmas to a Russian soldier, and then smiles wryly. "Oh, I forgot," she says. "You Communists don't believe in Christmas." Since the Russians, whatever else their faults, celebrate Christmas for three days running, this remark is gratuitous and absurd. Louis Calhern does a remarkable job of acting as Colonel Piniev, the Russian officer, and the picture has more stars than you could shake a sturgeon at. also showing . capsule criticism of films previously reviewed THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (RKO) — This wonderful Walt Disney cartoon consists of two separate stories — Ichabod, based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,"* and Mr. Toad. based on Kenneth Grahame's classic. "The "Wind in the Willows.-' Bing Crosby narrates for Ichabod, Basil Rathbone for Mr. Toad. Ichabod is a good, sound job: Mr. Toad is a pure, sparkling masterpiece. COME TO THE STABLE ( 20th-Fox )— Loretta Young and Celeste Holm as French nuns who come to New England to establish a children*s hospital and. sweeping all problems before them with faith and charm, do so. Some may find this one a mile sticky, but it does have its engaging moments With Hugh Marlowe. Elsa Lan<-hester and Thomas Gomez. THE HEIRESS (Para.) — As an abashed young heiress lacking in social grace, Olivia de Havil'and gets rugged treatment from fortune-hunter Montgomery Clift and her sternly disapproving father. Ralph Richardson, before she has her bitter triumph. A magnificent drama, brilliantly performed — except perhaps by Montgomery Clift. about whose comparative showing in such fast company yon may have doubts. With Miriam Hopkins. I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE (20th-Foxl— French Army captain Cary Grant and American Wac Ann Sheridan battle each other through assorted hilarities in postwar Germany before they wed and try to get to the Stales together through a web of red tape. Finally. Cary impersonates a Wac. complete with a horsetail wig. It's not subtle, but who cares? You'll laugh yourself silly. IT'S A GREAT FEELING (Warners)— Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson, playing a pair of Warners actors named Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson, in a movie concerned with their baffled efforts to make a serious movie. Doris Day. singing like a lark, is involved in the proceedings as a waitress they try to "discover." It's all bright and gay. JOLSON SINGS AGAIN ( Col. )— Further Technicolored adventures of Al Jolson, resuming from the point at which we left our hero in The Jolson Story. Larry Parks again plays Al. and very well, too, while Al sings all the wonderful songs offscreen. Barbara Hale is excellent as Al's wife. Great entertainment. LOVE HAPPY (U. A.)— The Marx Brothers having their usual field day, assisted by Ilona Massey. who doesn't sing here. Marion Hutton, who does, and Vera-Ellen. who dances with A'ast skill. A fine and dandy show. MADAME BOVARY (MGM) — Jennifer Jones is highly effective as the unhappy heroine of Flaubert's classic novel, restlessly seeking the impossible romance of her youthful daydreams. \ an Heflin and Louis Jourdan. the main men in her life, are superb. James Mason does well as novelist Flaubert in a prologue and an epilogue. All in all, a beautiful job. MY FRIEND IRMA (Para.) — Marie Wilson plays the nitwit character of her celebrated radio program in a very funny movie. John Lund is her beau. Diana Lynn her roommate. Don DeFore her boss. Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, the well-known night-club and radio team, make a successful film debut in this.