Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 10, 1943)

a @ THE PICK OF THE PICTURES REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS February 10th, 1943 COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE Vol. 8, No. 7 ‘Star Spangled Rhythm Ace BUSHELS OF STARS OFFER VARIETY ON SUPER SCALE “Stand By For | Action’ Meaty “STAND BY FOR ACTION” REGAL-MGM (Running Time: 109 Minutes) The movies’ main majestic scene used to be that of wagon | trains or prairie schooners crawling through a valley or up a mountain road, convoyed by scouts and brassy music indicating a date with destiny. Now it’s a shot of a convoy ploughing through the deep. “Stand By For Action” rides on the latter theme. It has its sea battles and noble speeches, the whole thing providing, by comparison, a great boost to “In Which We Serve.” Not that “Stand By For Action” is untinctured by boxoffice iodine. It has enough devices of proved appeal to please the family trade well. But mainly it is a parade of personalities that pay and situations of known qualities. The talents and lure of Robert Taylor, Charles Laughton, Brian Donlevy, Walter Brennan, Douglas Dumbrille, Richard Quine and Henry O'Neil can’t be gainsaid. Their joint presentation should be sufficient to assure satisfactory attendance. Taylor is a snobbish officer who resents being switched from fhe brass hat category to serve on an over-age destroyer under Brian Donlevy, a plain guy from the ranks. They have their differences, which cause Taylor to favor prejudice over duty in several instances, endangering their mission. Eventually he sees the light, not having had to pay for his stupidity because of Donlevy’s kindness in keeping the matter quiet. Laughton as an American miral has a_ pre-revolutionary Yankee accent—English, that is. Doesn't fit the part any too well. Donlevy gives his usual quiet and grim characterization. Walter Brennan, as an old sailor who gets back into service, shows all of them a thing or two about acting ad But, then, that’s the fault of the script. There’s no boy-girl stuff here and it needs it. Brennan's work and that part of the film dealing with a group of baby survivors picked up at provides the heart appeal. sea “STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM” PARAMOUNT (Running Time: 99 Minutes) Spangled bushels. in their scale. BOB HOPE quantity. Listing the stars on the studio’s raw stock resources. Lake, Milland, Zorina, Tone, Paper is also rationed. But Paramount screenful of stars in “Star Rhythm,” in keeping with the current trend of offering them in The studio’s collection is a prize lot and its treasure hunters seem to have overlooked none domestic search for name value. sult is variety on a vast The entertainment is volcanic in quality and shows a The re BING CROSBY screen should put pressure on the There’s Crosby, Hope, Lamour, Ladd, Goddard we could go on and on. We'll have to stop now. The story is nothing more than a line on which to hang some high-class cinema washing. codger, a gateman on the Paramount lot, who tells sailor son Eddie Bracken that he’s a studio big shot. He used to be a cowboy star and hesitates to tell the lad of his come down. Betty Hutton, secre~tary of Walter Abel, a producer, talks Moore into posing as her boss. Bracken, in , : BETTY view of his father’s exalted position, invites his shipmates to visit the studios. Hutton and Moore are hard put to keep the deception from the sailors and the boss. The studio tour is, of course, the transmission belt on which the stars move into the picture. And, surprisingly, each gives the audience much more than a mere nod. Added to the numbers which they present or share, there are several new and novel night club acts. At times it’s a positive screamplay and the addition of a swell musical gives it an score ace SKY TROOPER (RKO—Running Time: §& Minutes) Donald Duck is a speedy spud-peeler in this one, urged on with the promise of a chance to fly, Donald's doings always tie in with the times and Disney's creatures never attract censorship, Victor Moore is the doddery old all-round rating This is one picture that will give the manager a laugh, since there's much inter-trade humor. The audience is offered the spectacle of the mighty DeMille being told one of his ideas stinks with just that word being used. eee There is a grand , Harlem production number featuring Rochester and a patriotic pageant in which Crosby sings the sentiment. One skit, that of Betty Hutton climbing a wall assisted by two bystanders, is tops in slapstick. Hope, too, hits some kind of a comedy high in a showerbath scene with William Bendix. The best way to describe “Star Spangled Rhythm” is to say that it’s a worthy successor to “Road to Morocco,”’ Perhaps even better fun. Certainly its drawing power should be greater than its hit predecessor. TIRE TROUBLE (RKO—Runaning Time: § Minutes) This sweetheart, fers a fighting trouble sia hemisphere’s ornery Donald Duck, sufblowout in his car, The fowl gets into more than the Nazis in RusIt will help many a citizen | laugh off his own tire trouble. o— ‘Silver Skates? Allee Opera “SILVER SKATES” MONOGRAM (Running Time: 76 Minutes) Score a loud clanging bull’s-eye for Monogram. That minor studio | has turned a major trick in its completed job of one of the most difficult types of films to record and photograph. “Silver Skates” is marked by technical excellence of sound and picturization. It is a richly flavored, heaping and appetizing dish of favorite winter fare. “Silver Skates” is full of grand tunes, lovely and luscious ladies floating about airily on music and | Skates—and against sets that seem to thumb their noses at fin| ancilal restrictions It is forthright enough to come right out | with iced entertainment as its big | bet, leaving the story to follow at | & respectful and satisfactory distance. Production and camera work is | Skillful and the best of the artist is brought out, never once leaving the eye behind Though Kenny Baker, Morison and Joyce the players whose mean something on the marquee, the work of the skating stars exceeds them and should cause consider| able hearsay boosting Patricia Compton are names One girl skater, Belita, is outstanding in all departments. Her acting is of a good quality and her skating is something to see. She’s not just pretty. Even in her | most difficult routines she retains her queenliness. Also heart-warming as well as | Sensational is 10-year-old Irene Dare, even at this considerable | distance a good bet for future Henie laurels. Frick an@t Frack offer a uniquely funny skating act There are other names that mean more to skating than the movie variety. Once in, however the movie fan will have no grets. Ted Fio Rita and his Orchesta provide the music The story is the one about the troupe in difficulties, with the financial and romantic troubles fading away because the work of a new star and the realization of an impressario. “Silver Skates” is | cocktail, fans re an Al iced