Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 15, 1949 The Box-Oiiice Slant Current and Forthcoming Feature Product Reviewed from the Theotremon's Standpoint San Antone Ambush Republic Western 60 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Another good action western in the Monte Hale series for the usual fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Combination of ingredients makes this one of the best in this series. Cast: Monte Hale, Bette Daniels, Paul Hurst, Roy Barcroft, James Cardwell, Trevor Bardette, Lane Bradford, Frajicis Ford, Tommy Coats, Tom London, Edmund Cobb. Credits: Directed by Philip Ford. Written by Norman S. Hall. Photography, John MacBurnie. Associate Producer, Melville Tucker. Plot: The Federal Commissioner of West Texas has an organized gang of crooks to aid him in riding roughshod over the people under his authority. But when he frames an Army lieutenant, he meets his equal and pays for his crimes when the lieutenant uncovers his activities. Comment: A good sound story, written by Norman S. Hall, about an Army lieutenant who tries to clear his name of a federal crime, makes this latest Monte Hale western one of the best in the series. Hale, as the lieutenant, is up to his old tricks of foiling the villains by fast gunplay and fistic encounters and Paul Hurst pitches in by giving him intelligent assistance. All the popular ingredients have been well combined to give the film plenty of action, murder, crooked dealings and stagecoach holdups the followers need to keep them entertained. Good performances are turned in by Trevor Bardette, Roy Barcroft and James Cardwell, the first two the leaders of the gang who try to run the town. Direction was by Philip Ford. Love Happy United Artists Comedy 82 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) This Marx Brothers film in which the brothers use the same characterizations that made them famous may prove amusing to their fans. Otherwise, it is a mediocre offering and has little entertainment for the average individual. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Popularity of the Groucho Marx radio show should be a good selling point in luring the customers to the ticket window, for this is Groucho's first film in several years. Cast: Harpo Marx. Chico Mar.x, Ilona Massey, Vera-EUen, Marion Hutton, Raymond Burr, Melville Cooper, Paul Valentine, Leon Belasco, Eric Blore, Bruce Gordon, Marilyn Monroe and Groucho Marx. Credits: Directed by David Miller. Screenplay by Frank Tashlin and Mac Benoff. Based on a story by Harpo Marx. Photography, William C. Mellor. Mary Pickford's Presentation of A Lester Cowan Production. Plot: Much ado about a necklace that a beautiful jewel thief is trying to find. Being part of the rich Russian Romanoff collection, it has been sent into this country in a sardine can, and Harpo is the one who keeps it from getting into the hands of the thieves. Comment: Unless one finds the Marx Brothers amusing, there is little entertainment in this film that heralds their return to the screen after an absence of several years. Mediocre script, plus a cast who turn in rather indifTerent performances, doesn't add much to a picture that highlights the individ National Reviewing Committees' Audience Classifications THE RED DANUBE (MGM) MATURE— National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 1 — National Legion of Decency MY FRIEND IRMA (Para.) FAMILY — National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 2 — National Legion of Decency THE OUTLAW (RKO) MATURE— National Board of Review CLASS B — National Legion of Decency Objection: Morally Objectionable in Part for All Note: This film has been removed from the '"Class C or condemned" category and given the new rating following revisions. ual characterizations of Groucho, Harpo and Chico. Most of the footage is devoted to Harpo's antics and these end in a rather long and not too exciting chase. Chico comes in for several piano stints and one particular comic sequence in which he tries to interpret Harpo's sign language. Opening of the picture has Groucho narrating, with sly remarks, just what the story is about, and then he enters the plot for only two other scenes. VeraEllen and Paul Valentine get little chance to show their fine dancing ability and Marion Hutton sings one song number. Popularity of the Groucho Marx radio show should be a good selling point in luring customers. Under the Sun of Rome (Italian Dialog — English Titles) United Artists Drama 100 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Teen agers of Rome. Individual sequences good. The whole has authenticity but is much too long and rambling. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Has no names, but should be able to capitalize in the foreign and art market on the postwar Italian successes. Cast: Oscar Blando, Liliana Mancini, Francesco Golisano, Enno Fabeni, Gisella Monaldi. Credits: Producer, Sandro Ghenzi. Director, Renato Castellani. From a story by Renato Castellani and Fausto Tozzi. Plot: The various irresponsible exploits of a teen-age Roman boy and his pals lead eventually to the sobering deaths of his parents. Comment: This story of teen-agers in Rome is commendable in its individual sequences, but as a whole it is much too long and rambling. To counterbalance this and its lack of names, it should, with its subject matter and touch of authenticity, be able to capitalize on the success of other postwar Italian films. The colorful non-professional « cast is capably handled and the photography, with its Roman background, is interesting. Among the exploits of ringleader Oscar Blando, with or without his gang, are swimming in a forbidden pool, losing his only shoes, stealing another pair, taking part in a grudge boxing match, posing as an Englishman and being captured by the Gestapo (which leads indirectly to his mother's death), carrying on a flirtation with a silly older woman and then trying to blackmail her, and participating in a hold-up in which his father (a watchman) is killed. Even more than this list indicates, the war element is not strong. Blando is also involved in a battle of the sexes with a girl much his superior in common sense. She triumphs. The Fighting Redhead (Cinecolor) Eagle Lion Western 55 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) The third in the new Red Ryder series has the familiar characters and the quota of hand-to-hand fighting to satisfy the youngsters. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Seems to be aimed very much at the juvenile market. Cast: Jim Bannon, Little Brown Jug, Emmett Lynn, Marin Sais, Peggy Stewart, John Hart, Lane Bradford, Forrest Taylor, Lee Roberts, Bob Duncan, Sandy Sanders, Bill Hammond, "Spooky" Reynolds. Credits: An Equity Pictures presentation. Producer, Jerry Thomas. Director, Lewis D. Collins. Original screenplay, Paul Franklin and Jerry Thomas. Based on the McNaught comic. Red Ryder, as drawn by Fred Harman, by special arrangement with Stephen Slesinger. Photography, Gilbert Warrenton. Plot: A homesteader calls on Red Ryder for help against a rustler. Before the redhead gets things cleaned up, the villain kills the homesteader and one of his own henchmen and implicates the homesteader's spitfire daughter in the latter killing. Comment: This is the third portrayal of Red Ryder by Jim Bannon in the Cinecolor series based on the famous comic strip co^vboy, and like its predecessors it's a western that seems to be aimed very much at the juvenile market. In addition to Red Ryder and the color photography, it has fights and Red's well-known pals — Buckskin, the rambunctious little old comic played by Emmett Lynn; Little Beaver, the juvenile representation played by Little Brown Jug, and "the Duchess," the ranch woman played by Marin Sais. In the hand-to-hand conflicts Red conquers thug Lane Bradford, a famihar tough face doing well in a larger role than usual, and, in the inevitable finale, handsome villain John Hart. That about sums up the merits of the film. They should be enough for the youngsters. Fighting Man of the Plains (Cinecolor) 20th Century-Fox Western Drama 94 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Exciting, thrilling outdoor film that presents a colorful era in American history. Has all the entertainment necessary to satisfy all classes of audiences. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: When word gets around that this is a swell action drama, the customers should start coming in thick and fast. Intensive exploitation should result in good business everywhere. Cast: Randolph Scott, Bill Williams, Victor Jory, Jane Nigh, Douglas Kennedy, Joan Taylor, Berry Kroeger, Rhys Williams, Barry Kelley, James Todd, Paul Fix, James Millican, Burk Symon, Dale Robertson, Herbert Ravvlinson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Harry Cheshire and others. Credits: Directed by Edwin L. Marin. Screenplay and original story by Frank Gruber. Photography, Fred Jackman, Jr. Associate Producer, Harry Howard. Producer, Nat Holt. Plot: Badman Scott, a composite of many historical peace officers, brings law and justice to the brawling frontier town of Lanyard, Kansas. He has his moments of being recognized as a wanted outlaw, but most of the time he is assisted in his disguise by two people who are his closest friends, Victor