Variety (Apr 1949)

FILM REVIEWS The Fan ZOth-Fox release of Otto Premincer pro- duetlon. Stars Jeanne Grain. Madeleine Carroll, George Sanders. Rldiard Greene. Directed by Otto Prcminger. Screenplay^ Walter Reisch, Dorothy PavUcr. Ross Evans, based on Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's' Fan''; camera, Joseph ; La Sliellc; editor. Louis Locftlcr; special photographic effects. Fred Sorsen. Trade- shown in N. y.. M^rch 24. '*I9. Running time. 79 MINS. ■ , , • Lady Windermere Jeanne Grain Mrs; Erlynne . Madeleine Carroll Lord Darlington......., . . George Sanders Lord Windermere ..... .Richard Greene Duchess of Berwick ........ JUartita Hunt Cecil Graham . .lolm Sutton Lord Augustus.... i .. .. .Hugh Dempster Mr. Hopper............ Richard Ney Lady Agatha..Virginia McDowall Dawson . .Hugh Murray The Jeweler ............... Frank Elliott Hasl<ins lohn Burton Auctioneer Trevor Ward American Oirl.v..... ■ . .Patricia Wallter UrideJWdod.. . . ... • Eric Noonan 'Maid.. ,..^..i<.... Winifred Harris FfalUppc... . ..i...... .i.Alphonse Martell HosaUe Felippa Rock .■Tailor' .. I... Colin Campbell Messenger Terry Kilburn Mrs. Rudge Tempe Plgott With Oscar Wilde'.s "Lady Win- dermere's Fan" for the story, and Madeleine Carroll, George San- ders, Jeanne Grain and Riciiard Greene for marquee lure, "The Fan" shapes up as a boxoffice win- ner. Properly merchandised and with ballyhoo accenting that it is a^ tight version of the stage orig- inal. "The Fan" should prove solid. Screen adaptation "is refreshing and ; rieatly uses the flashback technique in telling the 19th cen- tury narrative. Two films on the Wilde story already have been pro- duced, in both instances under the tag of "Lady Windermere's Fan." Yarn of the attractive mother • Who moves In English society so as to.be near her married daughter is deftly told. It shows her trying to prevent the daughter.from mailing the. same elopement mistake that . she Jfierself made only to become one of the most notorious women in 'Surope. •Otto Preminger has invested the* picture with strong production val- <ues, and as the director he hasn't overlooked story, and dramatic values for .handsome background- ing. He has kept the Walter' Reisch-Dorqthy Parker-Ross Evans script moving at a swift gait, un- usual for what is really a drawing- room narrative; Part of the pro-: ducer-director's ability to do this stems from judicious use of un- usual camera shots. Miss Carroll makes of the young, attractive mother a vivid person- ality, a woman sought by wealth , and nobility in nearly every Euro- pean capital. Only when. pictured as an elderly woman (in postwar London) does she seem a bit un- convincing. Sanders, as her ardent lover, contributes a believable, characterization. Miss Grain, as Lady Windermere, achieves further acting laurels in what is perhaps her best screen role to date.: .Greene does an adroit interpreta- tion of Lord Windermere. ■ Martita Hunt makes the gossipy Duchess pf Berwick a worthy addi-? , tion to a fine: supporting'east. Vir- ginia McDowall, as her ever-obe- dient daughter; Richard Ney, her suitor; Hugh Dempster, the stuffy Lord Augustus, and John : Sutton, fhe bosom friend of the Winder- mere. family, all help make the • story unfold: smoothly. Joseph La Shelle has turned in a neat camera job. while Louis Loef- fller's editing has kept the running time down nicely. • ■ , Weor* Flamingo Road Warner Bros, release of Jerry Wald pvotluction; Stars Joan Crawford, Zach- ary Scott, Sydney. Greenstreet. David Brian; features Gladys George. Directed by Michael Curtlz^ : Screenplay, Robert Wilder: /additional dialog, Edmund H. , North; based on play by Robert and Sally Wilder; camera,Ted McCord; editor, Fol- m.'ir Blangsted; .score, Max Steiner; musi- cal direction. Ray Ucindorf. Tradeshown N. Y., April 1, '49. Running time, »4 SUNS: Lane Bellamy . ,.. . . ... ,. .loan Crawford : FicUllng Carlisle...... , Zaohary .Scott Tiiiis Semple....... Sydney Greenstreet D.i n Reynolds . David Brian Lute-Mae Sanders . Gladys George ..Anuabelle Weldon....... Virginia Huston ' Doc Waterson .i: . .. ... Fired Clark Millie.., . ... .Gertrude Mtchael Oracle..:,.. . Alice White Bo.-vtright Sam McDaniel Pete Ladas;...;...... .... .Tito VuOlo ■ "Flamingo Road" is a class ve- liicle for Joan Crawford that'll show plenty of pulling power in all ■ situations. Loaded with such mer- Cbandi.sable ingredients as heart- break romance and stinging vio- lence, film is hooped together by a smart, well-meshed screenplay and :reenforced by a strong cast and sound direction. Plush-lined pro- ' cluction values, including some ul- tra-swank garb to .set Miss Craw- ford off to' best advantage, com- plete the payoff ensemble. Backgrounding the dominant tJv .rae of a carnival dancer's rise to the social summits is a sordid pif'fure of American local politics Wliieh may create some contro- vprsy. This portion of the pic exag- gerates the political corruption for . fhe obvious ' requirements of the plot. There's an attempt, however. to scent the odious flavor with a mild pitch for wider nolitical par- ticipation by the public. Yarn swivels around a deadly antagonism between Miss Craw- ford : and Sydney Greenstreet, a Sinister small-town sheriff with a ruthless appetite for power. Film rapidly gathers momehtura after Miss Crawford, stranded by a bankrupt sideshow company, falls in love with Zachary Scott, the sheriff's protege. Nixing the affair because it interferes with his polit- ical ambition to make Scott gov- ernor of the state, Greenstreet marries him off to a high society gal and then frames Miss Crawford on a street-walking rap. Coming out of the clink, she starts her climb to the: top. Via a series of well - contrived coinci- dences, she meets and finally mar- ries the state's chief political boss, David: Brian. Brian, who's an elec- tion Bxer with the soul of a re- former, joins battle with Green- I street for control of the machine. I Scott, meanwhile, has degenerated ' into a rubber-stamp state senator 1 and commits suicide when he be- comes involved in a frameup . of Brian. Greenstreet, on the verge of. victory, finally is accidentally' killed in a gun fight with MisS Crawford, permitting herself and: Brian to begin a new life. Miss Crawford's portrayal of a demanding, many-sided part is handled with her usual resourceful, technique. She imparts convincing personality shadings ranging from strength to tenderness with a con- tinuous and convincing style. As I the heavy, Greenstreet delivers a suavely powerful performance that I surmounts his overdrawn role;: I Scott does well as the weak-spined character, while- Brian, one of Warners' up-and-coming players; registers positively as a-virile, per- sonable romantic lead. Rest of the cast is uniformly good. Max Steiner's full-bodied back- ground score, expert lensing and smooth editing give solid backing, Herm. ■ '■ Mr. Belvedere Goes to College Hollywood, April 1. 20lh-Fox release of Samuel G. Engel production. Stars Clifton Webb. Shirley Temple; features Tom Drake, Alart Young. Jessie Hoycc Landis, Kathleen Hughes. Taylor Holmes. Alvin Greenman. Paul Harvey. Barry KeUey. Bob Patten. I Directed by Elliott Nugent. Written by I Richard Sale.: Mary Loos. Mary McCaU, I Jr.! based on character created by GWen I Davenport; camera, Lloyd AhSrn: music; I Alfred Newman; editor, Harmon Jones. 1 JJ«?*shown March 31, '49. Runnmg tiitae. ' Lynn Belvedere Clifton Webb Ellen Baker Shirley Temple Bill Chase Tom Drake Avery Brubaker .........::.. Alan Young Mrs. Chase........ ....Jessie Hoyce Landis Kay Nelson ....'..... Kathleen Hughes Dr. Gibbs Taylor Holmes Corny Whittaker.........Alvin Greenman Dr. Keating, , ....>.:. Paul Harvey Griggs ...Barry Kelley Joe Fisher Bob Patten Hiokey Lee MaeGregor Marian Helen Westcotf Pratt Jeff Chandler McCarthy.......... .Clancy Cooper Sally Eevlynn Eaton , Barbara.. .ludy Brubaker Babe ................, .Kathleen Freeman Ma™ LoUe Stein Jean Auchincloss Peggy Call Nancy, Ruth Tobcy' feegy, Elaine 'Ryan Isabelle... ...... ..,. .pattee Chapman Kluty Joyce Otis n*"?'; Lonnle Thomas Prof. Ives . Recinald SheRield Miss Cadwaller.......... .Ifatherine Lang Mrs. Myrtle ,. . Isabel Withers Instructor,.... ..... Arthur Space Beanie ... Gil Stratton, Jr. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" gives 20th-Fox a rather solid fol- lowup to its isocko success of last year, "Sitting Pretty." It's a slick comedy that would do well on its own, and the return possibilities are heightened because of the re- peat of "Pretty's" star laugh char- acter, that self-styled genius, Lynn Belvedere. Comparisons will he made and "Pretty" will come out a shade ahead without taking anything away from "Mr. Belvedere." The first screen venture had the ele- ment of surprise in the preisenta- tion. of the character and a story that was a bit more real. However "Pretty" made repetitious use of the character in the latter part of the footage and didn't spot his story antics quite as advantageously las "Mr. Belvedere" does. Humor in the second venture is more so- I phisticated, but appeal will be I broad. •■. I It would be hard to find anyone ; more suited to play Belvedere than I Clifton Webb, and he wraps up the I role with a surness that makes ] every line and situation pay off. I The dialog by Richard Sale, Mary ,Loos and Mary McCall, Jr, is I socko and he knows what to do with it under the fast, glib direc- torial pace Elliott Nugent uses in presenting the material. I Plot takes Belvedere to college I for a degree so he can qualify for a literary award. He proposes to parn the four-year degree in one year and never doubts his ability J!.ntrance exams, usually a matter of hours, take him minutes, and , the pace carries him just as swiftly i*"^ "t'^^'' laugh setups that fill the script. It's Belvedere's picture but there ■are sufficient story tangents fo- Miniatnre Reviews "The Fan?' <20th). Nicely paced version of "Lady Win-, dermere's Fan;" strong biz. "Flamingo B a a d" (WB). Classy vehicle for Joan Craw-: ford with strong cast; solid b.o. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to Co)' lege" (20th). Clifton Webb back with the Belvedere char- acter. Nifty b.o. outlook. "Massacre Elver" (Mono). Emphasis on outdoor romance rather than cowboys and In-. dians. "Thunder In The Pines" (SG). Smooth, : amusing pror grammer fitr supporting book- ings. VThe Lawton Story" (Songs) (Color) (Hallmark). ^Story of the Easter pageant at Lawton, Okla. For special bookings. "Cardboard Cavalier" (GFD). Light British frolic. American b.o. depends on Sid Field and Margaret Lockwood. : "Fear No Evil" (Italian) (Indie). Very mild story about §t. Benedict and Monte Cas- sino monastery. Vednegday^ April 6, I949 cused on other characters to keep it from being altogether a one-man show. Shirley Temple and Tom Drake team nicely as the romantic interest, while Alan Young, shapes up well as a sophomore who foils for Belvedere's stinging wit. Jes- sie Royce Landis is excellent as the sorority house mother, while Taylor Holmes, Alvin Greenman, Paul Harvey, and others fill all de- mands. Standard campus'tunes are usedl in the Alfred Newman score to fit the mood, and Samuel G. Engel's production supervision gives the story the proper physical values to show it off best. Same expertness is reflected in lensing, editing and other technical credits. Brog. Massacre River Hollywood, April 5. Monogram release of Julian Lesser- Frank Melford (Allied Artists) production, stars Guy Madison. Rory Calhoun: fea- tures Carole Mathews. Cathy Downs. Johnny Sands, Steve Brodie. Art Baker. Directed by John Rawlins. Original screenplay. Louis Stevens: camera, .lack MacKenzie; score. Lucien Moraweckr John Leipold: editors. Richard CahooH, W. J. Murphy. Previewed March 28, '49. Run- ning time, T3 MIMS. Larry Knight. Guy Madison Phil Acton,. , Rory Calhoun Laura Jordan........... .Carole Mathews Kitty Reid.. Cathy Do'irna Randy Reid ........... Johhny Sands Burke Klmber^ ■........... Steve Bfodle: Col, James Reid. ............. .Art Baker Chief Yellowstone........Iron Eyes Cody Sergeant Johanssen....... Eqiory Parneil! Mrs. Johanssen..... ...... :Queenie Smith Joe Eddie Waller Eddie i. i....,. s... James Bush Roberta ,„ ,....... ^........ John Holland Simnts . i .Douglas Fowley Piano Player............... Harry Brown Scout...:.. . .............. .•.Kermit Maynard * rank .................,... . Gregg Barton "Massacre River" has a good title to attract in the action mar- ket, but sells the handle short by emphasizing romance rather than cowboy- and -Indian adventuring. However, there's a fair amount of slambang movement to partially soothe the action fans that the title will lure. Romantic triangle in v the Louis Stevens plot grabs most of the footage and keeps John Rawlins' direction moving at a canter/ More actionful moments concern an earlyrwest Army post and soldiers' efforts to keep the Indians in line, providing a number of excellent clashes.to placate those ticket buy- ers who like solid rough stuff. The outdoor locales have been: vividly photographed by Jack MacKenzie in sepia tones. Guy Madison and Rory Calhoun are the co-stars of the pieces por- traying Army officers at the West- ern outpost. Both love the colonel's daughter, Cathy Downs, but she fa- vors Madison. Triangle aspects enter when Madison falls for a gambling hall mistress, Carole Mathews, and friends try to patch up his romance with Miss Downs. Script tosses in a lot of tragedy and nobleness in developing ro- mance angles that would have shown up better had the younger players been more experienced. Calhoun has the edge on Madi- son in getting across the portrayals and two featured femVnes answer script demands. Art Baker gives a quiet performance as the colonel, Johnny Sands does an eager sol- dier and Steve Brodie supplies some menace as a gambler. Others are adequate. Co-producers Julian Lesser and Frank Melford have framed the Stevens original script with lop- notch scenic values but missed in playing up romance rather than more forthright action. There's a good score by Lucien Moraweck and John Leipold, ably batoned by Lud Gluskin. Editing is not smooth. firo0. Thunder in tlie Pines Hollywood, March 31, Screen Guild release of Robert LIppeirt (Wm. Stephens) jproducUon. Stars George Heeves, Ralph Byrd; features Greg Mo- Clure, Michael Whalen, Denise Darcel. Directed by Robert Edwards. Original story. Jo Pagano; screenplay, Maurice Tombragel; camera. Carl Berger: editor, Norman Cerf: score, Lucien CailUet: music director, David Chudnow, At Para- mount. L. A., March SI. '49. Running time, 61 SUNN. Jeff Collins .George Reeves Boomer. Benson... ......... .Ralph Byrd Hammerhead Hoga'n...... Greg McCIure Pete ....................Michael Whalen Yvette. Denise Darcel Pearl......................Marian Martin Nick Lyle Talbot Bernard..... .;.';'... ; .Vince Harnett Whiskers ...'.....,....... .... .Roscoe : Ates Station. Master.. ......Tom Kennedy In this one the old Quirt and Flagg relationship between two pals does good service to help the comedy and action push "Thunder in the Pine's" a cut or so above the usual low-budget programmer. Pals fall out for a fickle French dame and'are reunited in the end when she goes for a richer guy. Story is laid against a logging camp background and the production is larded with process shots, most of 'em good, of tree-felling and the hardy river work of the loggers. George Reeves and Ralph Byrd are the pals who, unknown: to each other, send passage to, the crafty Gallic looker, Denise Darcel. When she. arrives in America she agrees to wed the one who cuts down the :most trees and wins the bonus: offered : by Lyle Talbot,. proprietor of the town saloon and owner of .most of the logging land. Whllfcthey battle it out; she goes for Talbot. Marian Martin, Tal- bot's cast-off girl -friend, exposes him as a card cheat and swindler and the two pals win his saloon and other property from him in an hon- est poker game. Curtain falls with pals reunited and on the prowl for other dames Jtfter a slam- bang barroom brawl. Miss Darcel takes the: acting honors with a really excellent in-- terpretation of the calculating French babe. She has looks (on the buxom side), a throaty speak- ing and singing voices and definite sex appeal to fetch far better roles on the strength of this one. Reeves and Byrd do okay as the pals. Tal- bot makes the heavy a pleasantly human . connlver. , Miss Martin, Greg McClure,' Michael .Whalen, Vince Barnett, Tom Kennedy and Roscoe Ates provide able support. Robert Edwards' direction is smooth in most scenes and William Stephens does a capable job on the production end. Story by Jo Pagano and screenplay by Maurice Tombragel has a flavor which com- pensates for lack of originality In the plot. Dag, The Lawton Story (SONGS-COLOR) Hollywood, March 29. Hallmark (Indie) release of Kroger Babb, J. S.' .lossey. Neil E. Bogan pro- duction. Stars Ginger Prince; features Forrest Taylor, Millard Coody, Gwyn Shipman, Darlenc Bridges, Ferris Taylor, Maude Eburne. Lee "Lasses" White. Del Fisher. Hazel Lea Becker. Willa Pearl Curtis. Directed by William Betudin* and Harold Daniels. Screen story. Scott Darling; treatment, Milton Ralson; orig- inal. Mildred A. Horn; original pageant story. Rev; A. Mark Wallock: narration, DeVallon Scott; camera (Cinecoloi), Henry Sharp: editor, Dick Currier: special songs. Lee "Lasses" White, Steven Edwards and Andy> Page. Vachel Lindsey. Previewed March 29. :*9. Running time, 101 M1N8. Ginger.................... Ginger Prince Uncle Mark. .Forrest Taylor Himself and as Jesus Millard COody Uncle: Jonathan .Ferris Taylor Henrietta Maude Eburne Jane .. . .. .., ,. ,Gwyn Shipman Herself and as Virgin Mary., .„..„ _ . Darlene Bridges Willa Pearl. .Wllla Pearl Curtis Sr. Martin ......., i . .Ray Larg'ay imself and as Simon ... ... A. S; Fisher Herself and as Mary Magdalene ,. Hazel Lee Becker Plus a pageant cast of thousands as- sembled from 32 southwestern: U. S. towns. The annual "Prince of Peace" Easter pageant, at Lawton, Okla., "Prince of Peace" Easter pageant, has been put on film by Hallmark Productions for theatre distribu- tion. It would have been a finer pictu re had not producers seen fit to , drag in a crass, commercial showcasing of a: precocious mop- pet, apparently In an attempt to strike a broader popular market. Hallmark's heads, Kroger Babb and J. S. Jossey, achieved consid- erable^ monetary success with hy- poed distribution of their sex ex- ploitation film, "Mom and Dad." Since a religious subject can't be sold as strongly in the general market, "The Lawton Story" will find it harder to pull down big grosses. However, if picture's tal- ent showcasing in the first half is drastically trimmed, there are plenty of dignified exploitation angles in the latter half's inspira- tional message to help its chances in specialized engagements. , The annual pageant, staged on Wichita Mountain outside Lawton, was conceived and first presented 24 years ago by the late Rev. A. Mark Wallock. The untutored sim- plicity with which the cast • of townspeople go about their renew- al of faith has a stirring emotional quality, the prime essential of all rtiijfious appeal. The story of Christ's birth, His teachings, the crudflxation and resurrection now play annually to thousands of visl. tors, the pageant having lone aeii outranked the Oberammergau in annual draw. The Christ Storv op. ciipies final 50 minutes of the foot- age and was directed by HamM Daniels from Rev. Wallock's oris, mal script, with an excellent narra. tion by Knox Manning. * Film serves as an introduction for Ginger Prince, six-year-old and around her precociousness has been fashioned a banal yarn, full of hn kum and schmaltz, that permit* the youngster to display her abi - ity to read lines, act cute and sing Her debut would have been more effective if she had not been call ed upon to carry the entire stwy load m this fictional framework The expected results from the hnl kum are achieved by William Beau- dine's direction. Most-of the film's cast is made up of Lawtonians, playing them, selves and their pageant roles. For the fictional portions, roles are en. acted by Forrest Taylor, Ginger Prince, Ferris Taylor, Gwyn Shin, man, Willa Pearl Curtis, Ray La?I gay and Maude Eburne with iuit adequate results. Pageantry of the Easter service has been effectively lensed in co or by Henry Sharp and the hues add value to the production, Brog Cardboard Cavalier , London, March SO ' GFD release of J. Arthur b nit * Cities (Walter Forde) producHon dKi"? by Forde. Star. Sid field?Maraar^'ill* wood Ser«npla7 by- N«l'&«yV "iSt or, Alan L. Jagw; mGriS: Lambert Wul llamson. At Ojeon. London, Ma«h 2i '49. Hunnlng time, n MINS. *" Sidcup Butterfield cj^ NeU 5wynn. Margaret LockwSS Lovelace.....;,,,.;..,, j.rrv ni.cm^!!K Uriah Croup... . . J^kVcNa^M! Murdercaaket............. A1«J n«S Tom Pride Brian wJS* vnarlea n. ..,..... .Anthony Hulme- M.7gi^"";-. Mu1?i Sylvester Clutterbuck... Claude Hulbeii Brother Barebonea Michael Brennsn Mosspott. Peter BuU Lord Doverhouie Vincent Holman ="1"* John Salew Unrestrained slapstick in a pe. riod setting of political and mill, tary intrigue provides the back- ground for Sid Field's second ex- cursion into British films. Without doubt "Cardboard Cavalier" is go- ing to be a substantial money, maker for native exhibitors, but iti success in America will: depend mainly on popularity of Field and Margaret Lockwood. Much of the credit for this light- hearted frolic should go to scripter Noel Langley, who has blended comedy, bathos and sheer slapstick with skill and ingenuity. Around a slender plot Langley has de. veloped a fitting vehicle for typical Fi.eld buffoonery, also allowing ad- mirable: scope for Mi.ss Lockwood as the principal partner in crim» and Intrigue. Pic is set in mid-17th. century when England was ^ under tht Cromwellian heel and the Loyalists were plotting to restore the mon- archy. In this grim setting Sidcup Butterfield (Fields), tT.yirig to earn an honest penny selling vegetables in a street market. Is brought in by a Loyalist leader as a stooge to de- liver Important secret documents which contain plans for the over* throw of Cromwell and the return of Charles IL Other than Field, who rompi through his part, credit must go to Miss Lockwood playing an off-the* beaten-track role with great gustoi Although the scrlpter's conception of Nell Gwynne does not call for high quality thesping, she handlei the part with verve .and vivacity, and takes on custard pic on the chin in good old-fashioned manner. Competent rendering of the Royal- ist chief comes from Jrrry Des- monde, and a well-picked support- ing cast enters Into the spirit of the show. Myro, Fear Xo Kvii (ITALIAN) Harris-Wolper release of Minerva Filnj production. Stars Fo.sc6 r.lachctti. Nino Pavese. Directed bv Gulscppe M. Scoteif. Screenplay. Diego F,ibbi'i. Giovanni ■» Sonla, Gulseppe M. Scbte.se. Arnadlo <>«: noino, Giorgio Laatricato, Maiio Mpne- celli: editor, Nat HoffbcrtT-Engli.'ih-titlMi .A. W. Van. At Fifth Avenue l'layhoiii»> N. Y. Running time, »H MiNS. ,, St. Benedict Fosio Giacbettl Governor Zalla...:;. Nlao Paveje Marco Alfredo VareUl Sabina Liliahne !.»•»• NIcandro Manoel Hoero Faustinas.,-...T......... Adrians Benef" Tereniio..., VlrgiHo TomaMl"} Llvla \ A. Maria Pado»» (In Italian; English Titles) Based on life of St. Benedict, founder of Benedictine Monaster}; at Monte Cassino, "Fear No Ev» misses its mark because ot ,m<^^J amateurish execution. Result IS ■ modest grosser for forelgn-ia"'. guage spots. , It will be recalled that tM Monte Cassino monastery was tne target of Allied bombers during the war because Nazi Runners na" gained a foothold there. The (Continued on pajge 22)