Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

was born in a town that had a watery death.) Well, Alan having a legal paper, he sets his lips and starts chopping. Lyle, having a vengeful mind, he sets dynamite on the one road open to the loggers, and then he lights the wick. Alan gets another legal paper giving him access to Jeanne's road. Lyle gets some woodchoppers of his own and has some trees cut to fall on and block Jeanne's road. Meanwhile Alan and Jeanne, who have just fallen in love, start hating each other. If it weren't for likeable Frankie Avalon the problem in this movie could never be resolved. — Technicolor, Warners. HOME FROM THE HILL Robert Mitchum OTi the edge of manhood Eleanor Parker George Hamilton George Peppard Luana Patten ■ In a little Southern town Robert Mitchum is big man. He owns everything; he gets anything he wants, except his wife's love. She (Eleanor Parker) turned cold after the honeymoon when she discovered that Mitchum had an illegitimate (and unacknowledged) son. Their own son (George Hamilton) has been her exclusive property. But now Mitchum takes over to make a man of him. With the help of George Peppard, Hamilton becomes a first-rate hunter and also gets his first date (with Luana Patten). He loses his 'sheltered child' ideas in a couple of hard blows. When he discovers that Peppard is his half brother, Hamilton wants him to be treated like a son instead of a hired hand and to share the family fortune. Mitchum won't budge — so Hamilton leaves home, only to come back when his mother has a 'heart attack.' His parents' problems are so disturbing to him that Hamilton can't handle any of his own. He isn't even told when his girl (Luana) discovers she's pregnant. Never mind, the ever-faithful Peppard is there to make up for the family's mistakes. This film has the elements of soap opera but it rises above them. — Cinemascope, MGM. THE GALLANT HOURS James Cagney Dennis Weaver .7 , j • , Ward Costello tribute to an admiral Richard Jaeckel Vaughn Taylor ■ War movies usually can't help mixing glamour with gore, giving the stay-at-homes a very distorted picture. This movie's different. It's a kind of dramatized documentary (much of it narrated by Robert Montgomery) ; it has the solidity of truth behind it. Based on only a few weeks of Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.'s long career it's a tribute to him and also a stirring account of war from the 'top.' Halsey (beautifully played by James Cagney) took over command of the South Pacific area on a day in 1942 and proceeded to save Guadalcanal from the hands of the Japanese. Weighted down by responsibility, Cagney as the admiral is always decisive, daring — and usually right. That's why his staff (among them Dennis Weaver, Les Tremayne, Walter Sande, Karl Swenson) revere him. He and the Japanese admiral (who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor) study each other's moves like crafty poker players, always aware of the incredibly high stakes. When Cagney takes over, the Japanese are already planning to accept our surrender terms. Our side obviously lacks the men, the arms, the morale to hang on to Guadalcanal. Cagney's coming changes everything because he is a leader in the real sense of the word. What makes a leader? Nothing phony or arrogant. Mostly ALL THIS FURNITURE, ALL THESE APPLIANCES, AND A MODERN, TWO BEDROOM HOME. FOR LESS THAN $6,500. It's no problem at all to live a whole lot better . . . for so much less . . . when you own a spacious, distinctively styled New Moon home. The down payment is surprisingly low, and monthly payments easily fit the tightest budget. Best of all, your New Moon home is completely furnished throughout, ready right now for you to move in. your nearest New Moon dealer or write for free literature. ■7 NEW MOON h OMES. INC. STATE and the best buy for better living. brains, experience, inexhaustible energy and the courage to stick out one's neck. Go see this one! — United Artists. THE RISE AND FALL OF Ray Danton Karen Steele Elaine Stewart Jesse White Robert Lowery LEGS DIAMOND when crime paid ■ They used to say that if you had enough ambition you could get anywhere. Legs Diamond wanted to get to the top of the underworld (he had a sick brother, Warren Oates, who needed medicine). This was in the 1920's and 30's when there was a lot of room for expansion. As Legs Diamond (he was a good dancer) Ray Danton gives an electric performance. He starts off as a very clever, even amusing thief. To meet reigning czar Arnold Rothstein (Robert Lowery) Legs flies down to Miami, buys $5,000 worth of personal apparel and charges it to Rothstein. Rothstein appreciates his nerve, hires him as a 'collector' (Rothstein sells 'protection') and eventually makes him a rich man. When Legs is rich enough he jilts Rothstein's girl (Elaine Stewart) and arranges to have Rothstein murdered. Then Legs becomes czar. Of course it isn't that easy. There are all these famous racketeers he has to convince, and all the racketeers have bodyguards (from Chicago). But there isn't a better man with a gun than Legs ; he shoots two guns at a time, sometimes hitting three men. The only one who loves him is his wife (Karen Steele) and he married her to keep her from testifying against him. This movie really zips along. It's fast, violent, gruesomely comical. You certainly won't be bored. — Warners. (Continued on page 8)