Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

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26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, December 3, 1949 The Box'OHice Slant Current and Forthcoming Feature Product Reviewed from the Theotremon's Standpoint Tight Little Island Univ.-Int'l. Comedy 81 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Hilarious byplay on simple plot about a whiskeystarved Scottish village. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Addition to a genre: sly little British comedy. Little star value but exploitable comic situation. Cast: Basil Radford, Catherine Lacey, Bruce Seton, Joan Greenwood, Wylie Watson, Gabrielle Blunt, Gordon Jackson, Jean Cadell, James Robertson Justice, Morland Graham and others. Credits: A J. Arthur Rank Presentation. A Michael Balcon Production. Director, Alexander Mackendrick. Screenplay, Compton Mackenzie and Angus Macphail. From the novel "Whiskey Galore" by Mackenzie. Photography, Gerald Gibbs. Plot: A little Hebridean island that thrives on whiskey finds itself during the war suddenly without a dram. When a ship carrying 50,000 cases of the precious stuf? founders on the rocks nearby and is abandoned, a fussy Englisman in charge of the Home Guard takes it upon himself to confiscte the cargo. The islanders beat him to it and win the ensuing chase and game of hide-the-bottles. Comment: This is the sly little British comedy at just about its best. Those who like the genre, with the exception of those to whom the light and preponderant concern with alcohol is disturbing, will find the byplay on the simple plot hilarious. Further, if whiskey is anathema to some it is a theme to attract many who would not take a chance on tawney pipits, Irish priests and Welsh dames. In accordance with past style, this model has many delightful characterizations, no real stars; it is set in the scenic outcountry; and it enjoys touches of provincial dialect, dance and music. A couple of romances receive just the right amount of attention, one of them involving Joan Greenwood. Basil Radford leads the show as the unfortunate Englishman. Black Midnight Monogram Outdoor Drama 65 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: This home-spun little yarn of a boy and his horse hits all the proper chords for good entertainment. There's also a love story that patrons will find enjoyable. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: As a good average program picture, this should satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of its market. There is enough action to please the western fans, and it will have the natural appeal of a film about a horse. Cast: Roddy McDowall, Lyn Tliomas, Rand Brooks, Damian O'Flynn, Kirby Grant, Gordon Jones, Fay Baker. Credits: Producer, Lindsley Parsons. Director, Oscar Boetticher. Photogi'aphy by William Sickner. Screenplay by Clint Johnston and Erna Lazarus from an original story by Clint Johnston. Plot: A rancher and his young nephew are struggling to run the family ranch with the added burden of work left to them when the rancher's son ran away. When the son returns with a black stallion which he can't handle, the nephew buys the horse, tames him, and also successfully resists the efforts of the older and more dashing boy to take his girl. Comment: This home-spun little story of a boy and his horse and his girl hits all the National Reviewing Committees' Audience Classifications IT HAPPENED IN EUROPE (Lopert) MATURE— National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 2— National Legion of Decency STORY OF SEABISCUIT (Warner Bros.) FAMILY — National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 1— National Legion of Decency FREE FOR ALL (U-I) FAMILY — National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 1 — National Legion of Decency proper chords for good entertainment. Roddy McDowall is good as the boy who, although he hasn't outgrown the awkwardness of youth, takes a man's responsibilities. When the son intends to murder to cover up his past, McDowall, out of concern for his uncle, attempts to reason with the older boy and is severely beaten. Roddy puts the story across believably. Rand Brooks does well as the swashbuckling son. Damian O'Flynn is satisfactory as the rancher whose blindness to the faults of his son give the film a measure of suspense. The supporting cast delivers well and the direction is good. Undertow Univ-.Int'l Drama 70 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) A good action melodrama that should have an easy time pleasing audiences in those situations where this type of film is best liked. Suspense and excitement. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Most exhibitors will find this a good weekend action offering or better-than-average support for a top feature. Cast: Scott Brady, John Russell, Dorothy Hart, Peggy Dow, Bruce Bennett, Gregg Martell, Robert Anderson, Daniel Ferniel, Roc Hudson, Charles Sherlock, Ann Pearce, Robert Easton. Credits : Produced by Ralph Dietrich. Directed by William Castle. Screenplay by Arthur T. Horman and Lee Loeb. Story by Arthur T. Horman. Photography, Irving Glassberg. Special photography, David S. Horsley. Plot: Former racketeer Scott Brady returns from the army determined to make a cleant start. In Chicago to marry his old sweetheart, Dorothy Hart, he is framed. While hiding out, he is befriended by Peggy Dow, whom he had met on the plane bound for the Windy City. It eventually develops that his framers are John Russell, a former racket associate, and Miss Hart, who plan to marry. Brady is cleared. Comment: A good action melodrama that should have an easy time pleasing audiences in those situations where this type of film is best liked. The performances of Scott Brady, John Russell, Dorothy Hart and Peggy Dow are not exactly of hall-of-fame quality (IBiruce Bennett as a police detective is the most natural and sincere), but they're sufficiently satisfactory to make believable the suspense and excitement that fills much of the 70-minute running time. Most exhibitors will find "Undertow" a good weekend action of¥ering or better-than-average support for a top feature. Much of the action takes place in Chicago, and background scenes look like the real thing, which they probably are. Credit Ralph Dietrich for excellent production values and William Castle for fast-paced direction. Mafia (Italian Dialog— English Titles) Lux Film Drama 100 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) A powerful portrait of the bleak, backward south of Italy and its bloody private law. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Excellent for discriminating patrons, nice on a double feature for general audiences. Cast: Massimo Girotti, Jone Salinas, Camillo Mastrocinque, Peppino Spadaro, Saro Urzi, Ignazio Balsamo, Manda De Santis. Credits: Producer, Luigi Rovere. Director, Pietro Germi. Scenario, Federico Fellini and Giuseppe Mangioni. Photography, Leonida Barboni. English subtitles, Clare Catalano. Plot: A young magistrate, lone representative of the law in a Sicilian village, finds himself up against the bloody private law of the Klan-like Mafia and the tradition of passivity in the people. He is about to admit defeat and leave until one of his friends is killed. His bravery and sincerity finally convert the leader of the Mafia. The magistrate's decision to stay, incidentally, destroys his hope of taking away the unhappy wife of the crooked local baron. Comment: A powerful portrait of the bleak, backward south of Italy, the sort of milieu in which a Mafia can exist, is etched in the best recent film from that country and one that departs from the postwar theme of its previous artistic successes. The lead characterizations, the well photographed background of the stark land and the hard, resigned faces of its peasants bear out the honesty and intensity of the script. If the ending, which may after all be construed as more hopeful than final, seems contrived, plot is not of greatest importance here. The portrait has been drawn, making "Mafia" an excellent offering for discriminating patrons and a nice one on double feature for general audiences. Massimo Girotti received the "Best Actor" award from Italy's Board of Review for his role as the judge. The Lady Takes a Sailor Warner Bros. Comedy 100 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) As frothy as the bubbles in Jane Wyman's bathtub scene, this airy comedy will probably rank as one of the funniest of the year. The gags are sharp and fast-breaking, and slapstick piles bellylaughs on the chuckles. It will leave them laughing. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Academy Award Winner Jane Wyman should draw in any situation, and the Dennis Morgan name will do its share. This package of name and fun should play to good grosses generally. Cast: Jane Wyman, Dennis Morgan, Eve Arden, Robert Douglas, Allyn Joslyn, Tom Tully, Lina Romay, Fred Clark, William Frawley. Charles Meredith, Craig Stevens, Stanley Prager, Kenneth Britton. Credits: Produced by Harry Kurnitz. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Screenplay by Everett Freeman from a story by Jerry Gruskin. Photograhy by Ted McCord. Plot: After passing a critical character test and receiving an endowment for her Buyer's Research Institute, a young woman tries to explain where she spent the night when she was lost in a storm on Long Island Sound .'\ttempting to save the endowment for the