Canadian Film Weekly (Oct 18, 1944)

~ an Vol, 9, No. 42 Secrets of Seotland Yard with Edgar Barrier, Stephanie Bachelor Republic 68 Mins. INTERESTING SPY MELLER WITH SUSTAINING SUSPENSE; CAPABLY DIRECTED; GOOD CAST. Shaping up with suspenseladen direction by George Blair, and sincerely played by a good cast, this emerges as a better than average mystery with appeal to the class as well as the action audiences. The story, which was adapted from a novel by Denison Clift, “Room 40, O. B.,” pictures Germany’s determination to fight a second World War at the close of the last, and the ground work she planned in overcoming any mistakes she made previously. One of the reasons for her defeat in 1918 was blamed on the efficiency of Room 40 in the old building of the British Admiralty ——a room in which German wireless messages were intercepted and decoded. During the period leading to the start of World War II a German agent is groomed to handle a job in Room 40. England enters the war and Edgar Barrier, a member of the decoding staff, is found murdered just as he is about to translate intercepted message to C. Aubrey Smith, head of this important dept. Smith engages Barrier’s twin brother, a Scotland Yard detective, played by Barrier, to help find the murderer. Everyone affiliated with Room 40 including Stephanie Bachelor, the victim's fiancee, is under suspi~ cion. Barrier, impersonating his dead brother, carries on and helps to decipher an important message which concerns the safety of six high-ranking officers on a plane trip to Warsaw. About to receive the same fate as his brother, Barrier discovers and kills the Nazi agent. A fine musical background is played effectively to underscore the action. CAST: Edgar Barrier, Stephanie Bachelor, C. Aubrey Smith, Lionel Atwill, Henry Stephenson, John Abbott, Walter Kingsford, Martin Kosleck, Forrester Harvey, Frederick Worlock, Matthew Boulton, Bobby Cooper. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Plaza's Tenth Anni Plaza, Tilbury, Ontario, founded by Harland Rankin and Joe Beno, is celebrating its tenth year of operation. Rankin is sole boss now and Vannie Chauvin manages, REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK The Great Mr. Handel with Wilfrid Lawson, Elizabeth Allan Empire-Universal 89 Mins. (Canadian Film Weekly Review) BRITISH FILM, HAS SETTINGS, COLOR AND MUSICAL CONTENT, Only those with a serious approach to films will respond more than half-heartedly to what “The Great Mr. Handel” places on display. The film is the sort of thing on which arty theaters thrive. The story of Handel should have inspired a finer effort than this. While the picture is set down as a biography of the great composer, it actually covers only a few years in the man’s life. It picks up Handel in England when his fortunes were at a low ebb because of his having lost favor with court and public. In slow, deliberate and heavy~handed manner the picture depicts the composer’s battle with his enemies and his subsequent return to grace following the composition of his oratorio, ‘‘The Messiah,” a stirring rendition of which brings the film to a close. The picture, based on a screenplay by L. Du Garde Peach, is peculiarly undramatic, while the reasons for the bitter animosity toward Handel aren’t made any too convincing. Technicolor was never put to finer use than in “The Great Mr. Handel.” It has made the film a visual delight. Atmospherically, too, the film excels. Working from 18th-Century prints, Sidney Gaudsen has supplied settings impressive in their authenticity, The film should prove a treat for lovers of fine music, being crowded with Handel compositions played superbly by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Novelty is provided by a group of 18thCentury London street songs. Ernest Irving’s musical direction is a distinct achievement. Wilfrid Lawson plays Handel in somewhat stodgy manner and very much in one key. Second in billing is Elizabeth Allan, who Is quite decorative as an actress friend of Handel's. Hay Petrie lends a touch of comedy to the film as Handel's servant. Norman Walker’s direction is Static. CAST: Wilfrid Lawson, Elizabeth Allan, Malcolm Keen, Michael Shepley, Max Kirby, Hay Petrie, Morris Harvey, A. E. Matthews, Frederick Cooper. DIRECTION, Fair, PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Bride By Mistake with Alan Marshal, Laraine Day, Marsha Hunt RKO 81 Mins. SMART ROMANTIC COMEDY RATED AS GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AUDIENCES; ACTING OUTSTANDING. Here is a smartly turned out comedy that will set well with every type of audience. Many bright and delightful touches have been applied to the screenplay of Phoebe and Henry Ephron, who had at their disposal an original by Norman Krasna. The seript is filled with lines and situations that will create considerable amusement. All in all the film represents crisp entertainment smoothly directed by Richard Wallace. As marquee bait the production offers Alan Marshal, Laraine Day and Marsha Hunt. Each performs skillfully in a romantic tale that never allows the attention to sag. Marshal plays with sureness the role of an Air Force officer who falls in love with Laraine Day, a daughter of wealth, never being aware who she is until the closing moments. He doesn’t realize he loves Miss Day until he has made a play for Marsha Hunt, her secretary-companion, In the mistaken belief that the latter is the one who has the dough. The error is easily explained by the fact that Miss Day, averse to publicity and fortune hunters, lets Miss Hunt appear in her place in public. The plot revolves about a bit of strategy to make certain that Marshal is in love with the girl and not the money. Humorous situations galore result from this premise. Marshal and the Misses Day and Hunt have the support of a fine group of players. Allyn Joslyn stands out as the husband of Miss Hunt who has to stand by while his wife, pretending’ she is Miss Day, allows Marshal to make a play for her. He contributes some of the finest comedy moments. Also commendable is Edgar Buchanan as Miss Day’s guardian. Slim Summerville is effective in the brief role of a butler in the Day menage. Producer Bert Granet gave the film a satiny production. CAST: Alan Marshal, Laraine Day, Marsha Hunt, Allyn Joslyn, Edgar Buchanan, Michael St. Angel, Mare Cramer, William Pest, Jr., Bruce Edwards, Nancy Gates, Slim Summerville, John Miljan, Rebert Anderson, DIRECTION, Goed. PHOTOGRAPHY, REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS $2.00 Per Annum Janie with Joyce Reynolds. Robert Hutton Edward Arnold, Ann Harding arner 1066 Mins. ADAPTATION OF BROADWAY PLAY IS SPECIAL TREAT FOR ADOLESCENTS; JOYCE REYNOLDS SCORES. Dealing with the growing pains of adolescent youth, the film version of the Josephine BenthamHerschel V. Williams, Jr., comedy which was presented on Broadway by Brock Pemberton is generally satisfactory entertainment with a special appeal to young filmgoers. “Janie” is a dizzy show that gives young blood a chance to shoot the works, attaining in Several instances a pace that is sheer madness. As a study of today’s young people blowing off steam “Janie” is more than ordinarily successful, not to say amusing. The behavior of the young people in the film is creative of plenty of hilarity. Janie is typical of today’s 16year-old, doing all the silly things that cause those of an older generation to throw up their hands in despair. What she does is all in good fun. Her youthful didoes drive her publisher father crazy. When the Army establishes a camp near the small town where she lives, she turns her interest from her gawk of a boy friend te a slick soldier lad who is the son of her ma’s best pal. She is the cause of a bitter rivalry between the two young men that often produces some highly humorous situations. A servicemen’s party staged at Janie’s home during her parents’ absence supplies a furious climax, At the end the Army moves out only to have the Marines move in. Michael Curtiz’ direction keeps the action in constant ferment. Joyce Reynolds, a newcomer, plays Janie uncommonly well, capturing the spirit of the role with complete success. Robert Hutton as the soldier and Dick Erdman as his rival appear to good effect. Clare Foley makes a vivid impression as Janie's kid sister who is on the brat side. CAST: Joyce Reynolds, Robert Hutton, Edward Arnold, Ann Harding, Robert Benchley, Alan Hale, Clare Foley, Barbara Brown, Hattie McDaniel, Dick Erdman, Jackie Moran, Ann Gillis, Ruth Tobey, Virginia Patton, Colleen Town~ send, William Frambes, Georgia Lee Settle, Peter Stackpole, Michael Harrison, Russell Hicks. DIRECTION, Good, PHOTOGRAPHY, Goed.