Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 8, 1944)

geet Ut = '2) BS U ft Vol. 9, No. 10 ‘Here Comes. Elmer’ with Al Pearce, Dale Evans, Frank Albertson, Gloria Stuart Republic 74 Mins. MUSICAL COMEDY PACKED WITH RADIO NAMES RATES AS GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR FAMILY TRADE. Again Republic makes a successful bid for family patronage. ‘Here Comes Elmer” is a bundle of simple, wholesome entertainment that will divert no end audiences for whom this type of film is fabricated. The film is heavily primed with song and laughter. To be sure, the comedy for the most part is on the corny side, but this shouldn’t make it any the less funny. Those who will be delighted above all others are the radio addicts. The picture is loaded with radio talent, led by Al Pearce, who proves very much of a hit with his comic antics, playing himself and Elmer Blurt, the character which he has made so successful on the air. With him are several members of his air troupe, Arlene Harris, Artie Auerbach and William Comstock, all of whom prove of great assistance in dealing out the fun. Other performers who have made names for themselves in radio are “Pinky” ‘Tomlin, Wendell Niles, the Sportsmen, the King Cole Trio and Jan Garber and his band, the last-named being a special treat for the young folk. The story is familiar but more than serviceable for the purposes of entertainment such as this. Pearce is the head of a radio troupe that finds itself stranded in the Middle West when it is dropped by its sponsor. Anxious to get back to his sweetheart, Dale Evans, in New York, Frank Albertson cooks up a yarn to the effect that the troupe is wanted by a big broadcasting company. When the performers arrive in New York and discover the truth, they have to resort to trickery to land a juicy engagement on the air. With Pearce playing a dual role it is only natural that mistaken identity should have an important place. CAST: Al Pearce, Dale Evans, Frank Albertson, Gloria Stuart, Wally Vernon, Nick Cochrane, Will Wright, Thurston Hall, Ben Welden, Chester Clute, Luis Alberni, Tom Kennedy, Artie Auerbach, Arlene Harris, William Comstock, “Pinky” Tomlin, Wendell Niles, The Sportsmen, King Cole Trio, Jan Garber and band. DIRECTION Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK ‘The Uninvited’ with Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey Paramount 98 Mins. FILM DEALING WITH THE SUPERNATURAL IS RICH IN DRAMA AND SUSPENSE; OOZES QUALITY. Here is an oddity indeed—a film dealing with the supernatural that bids successfully for the patronage of the intelligent and the adult. The reason for this is that infinite pains have been taken with the film treatment of the Dorothy Macardle novel. This is no cheap, obvious shocker. It is a film possessing class and distinction. No better criticism can be made of the picture than to say that one can be a non-believer in ghosts and still be impressed strongly by the film and be held spellbound by it. The Dodie Smith-Frank Partos screenplay as directed by Lewis Allen makes superb use of suspense in maintaining the interest to the very end. Drama has an important place in the unfolding of the story. Powerful and gripping scenes are strewn lavishly through the footage. The bulk of the action transpires in a haunted house perched on a bleak Devonshire cliff. The house, long vacant, is bought from Donald Crisp, retired man of the sea, by Ray Milland, a composer, and his sister, Ruth Hussey. Weird occurrences set them to investigating. Bit by bit they piece together the story that explains the mystery that hangs over the old mansion. The ghost turns out to be that of Gail Russell’s mother. Miss Russell, Crisp’s granddaughter, is almost driven to destruction by the strange power that infests the house. Milland, who has fallen in love with Miss Russell, must exorcise the ghost in order to win happiness for the girl. This mission he accomplishes with exciting effect, bringing to a happy end a brooding film lightened by some charming moments inspired by the relationship between Milland and Miss Russell. Produced effectively by Charles Brackett, “The Uninvited” has the benefit of superb acting up and down the line. Milland and Miss Hussey are at their finest. Little criticism is to be found with the acting of Crisp, Cornelia Otis Skinner and Alan Napier. CAST: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Denald Crisv, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Dorothy Stickney, Barbara Everest, Alan Napler, Gail Russell, Jessica Newcombe, Jehn Kieran, Rita Page. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. ‘The North Star’ with Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston RKO-Goldwyn 105 Mins. HIGHLY DRAMATIC TALE OF RUSSIAN RESISTANCE TO THE NAZIS SHOULD PROVE A HEAVY GROSSER. It has taken Sam Goldwyn to crash through with the first film from the Hollywood studios to treat of the impact of the war on the Soviet civilian population. The producer, aided by William Cameron Menzies, associate producer, has dealt handsomely and effectively with the subject, which he has spread on a broad canvas of life and death and love and hate. Under his supervision ‘The North Star” emerges as a throbbing, vital, searing document of Nazi villainy and Russian heroism not often matched on the screen. Here indeed is drama, vivid and uncompromising, drama that will move audiences deeply and stir them to renewed abhorrence of the ways of Hitler. Lillian Hellman has devised a strong and eloquent screenplay in her attempt to show how a Russian border village meets the challenge of Nazi brute force. The village is the first to feel the fury of the Nazi temper. As the invaders approach, the inhabitants set fire to the village, the menfolk taking to the fields and the hills, from there launching guerrilla warfare against the enemy. In defense of their land they show themselves as pitiless and as determined as the foe, making up in heart what they lack in arms. The film’s one noticeable fault is that it takes too long setting the stage. Much of the early footage, which establishes a mood of idyllic peace and happiness to show off the Nazi deeds that follow in a harsher light, could be deeply cut to the film’s benefit. The production is loaded with fine performances. The Misses Baxter and Withers, Andrews and Granger give their best. Others whose work stands out ere Walter Huston as the local medico, Dean Jagger as the guerrilla. chief, Ann Harding as his wife, Walter Brennan as an old villager, and Erich von Stroheim REVIEWS |! | IMFORMATION Ff RATINGS 1 $2.00 Per Annum ‘Get Going’ witk Grace McDonald, Robert Palge, Vera Vague Universal 66 Mins. LIGHT PROGRAMMER WITH ENOUGH AMUSING MOMENTS TO GET BY. With some amusing moments scattered throughout the footage of what otherwise is a routine effort, “Get Going” should entertain folks in the neighborhoods. Story, such as it is, light and definitely not mentally taxing. Grace McDonald plays the part of a Vermont girl who goes to Washington in order to get away from her jealous boy friend. She runs into the housing shortage but manages to team up with three girls who take her in on a2 clothes and room sharing arrangement. Finding work, she makes her detective boss suspect her of espionage in order to get dates with him. Eventually the boss gets wise but Grace redeems herself by discovering a real spy ring and helping to expose it. A more-than-usually subdued Vera Vague plays one of the roomers, managing to add a number of laughs to the proceedings. Acting generally is routine with none of the players given much opportunity for histrionics. Several song numbers are interspersed. CAST: Grace McDonald, Robert Paige, Vera Vague, Walter Catlett, Maureen Cannon, Lois Collier, Milburn Stone, Frank Faylen, Jennifer Holt, Nana Bryant, Claire Whitney, Wally Vernon. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Geod, Cinema Flophouse A policeman patrolling the beat on Sunday morning was surprised to see a man in the Rex Theatre, Vancouver. He proved to be a sailor who had fallen asleep during the Saturday night performance, snoozed right through and found himself locked in. as a Nazi surgeon whom Huston kills, Lewis Milestone’s direction creates suspense and excitement. CAST: Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston, Walter Brennan, Ann Harding, Jane Withers, Farley Granger, Erich von Stroheim, Dean Jagger, Eric Roberts, Carl Benton Reld, Ann Carter, Esther Dale, Ruth Nelson, Paul Guilfoyle, Martin Kosleck, Tonio Selwart, Peter Pohlenz, Robert Lowery, Geno O"Dennell, Frank Wilcox, Loudie Claar, Lynn Winthrop, Charles Bates. DIRECTION, Good, PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine.