Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 4, 1945)

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© THE PICK OF THE PICTURES REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS Vcl. 10, No. 14 Lake Placid Serenade with Vera Hruba Ralston Republic 85 Mins. ICE SPECTACLE, SKATING WIZARDRY OF RALSTON AND MUSICAL CONTENT SHOULD PROVE THE MAKING OF THIS PICTURE. A musical cut skilfully to pattern, “Lake Placid Serenade’ is qualified to meet the entertainment requirements of persons not unduly critical. What the film lacks in story and finesse, it more than makes up in its physical attraction. Fashioned along popular lines, the eye-catching production constitutes a show of ample proportions that will score heavily with lovers of ice frolics. Frankly, it is the ice-skating scenes, especially those in which Vera Hruba Ralston, who used ta be Czechoslovakian figure-skatjing champ, displays her wizardry on the blades that primarily make the film, which was crisply produced by Harry Grey. Second to the ice maneuvers as a boxoffice lure is a score generously endowed with tuneful numbers. The participation of Ray Noble and his orchestra and Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians in the musical activities will offer an additional come-on to the younger generation. The * appearance of Roy Rogers in one guest number also should help. Miss Ralston’s own experiences suggested the story, which is about a girl who wins success in America after being crowned iceskating champion of Czechoslovakia and becomes romantically involved with Robert Livingston. Steve Sekely’s direction is commonplace. There are times when the players find the story too much for them. Miss Ralston is to be praised when she’s on her skates. CAST: Vera Hruba Ralston, Eugene Pallette, Vera Vague, Robert Livingston, Stephanie Bachelor, Walter Catlett, Lloyd Corrigan, Ruth Terry, William Fowley, John Litel, Ludwig Stossel, Andrew Tombes, Roy Rogers, Ray Nole and orchestra, Harry Owens and Royal Hawaiians, McGowan and Mack, Twinkle Watts, Merry Meisters. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Harry Grey; Director, Steve Sekely; Screenplay, Dick Irving Hyland, Doris Gilbert; Based on story by Frederick Kohner; Cameraman, John Alton; Musical Director, Walter Scharf; Film Editor, Arthur Roberts; Sound, Dick Tyler, Howard Wilson; Art Director, Russell Kimball; Set Decorator, Earl Wooden; Special Effects, Howard and Theodore Lydecker. DIRECTION, Routine. PHOTOGRA PHY, Fine, REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK House of Frankenstein with Boris Karloff Universal 71 Mins. THIS LAYS IT ON THICK FOR HORROR FANS; STORY TOLD WITH LOTS OF ACTION. In “House of Frankenstein” Universal spreads a lavish feast for horror lovers. The picture, produced without too much care by Paul Malvern and directed by Erle C. Kenton in slipshod manner, contains all the standbys ever relied upon by offerings of its genre to give the public the willies. Verily here is a scarer with a vengeance. The story, a silly thing that will draw laughs from those who don’t take readily to horror entertainment, has to do with the escape from prison of a disciple of the dead Dr. Frankenstein, his campaign of revenge against persons responsible for his incarceration and his attempt to carry on the work of the monster maker. He promises to cure a werewolf and give a new body to his distorted assistant. Neither experiment comes to anything, and the doc meets a tragic end. Boris Karloff is the doc; Lon Chaney, the werewolf; J. Carrol Naish, the assistant. The actors make the most of their exaggerated and thankless roles. CAST: Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, J. Carrol Naish, John Carradine, Anne Gwynne, Peter Coe, Lionel Atwill, George Zucco, Elena Verdugo, Sig Ruman, William Edmunds, Charles Miller, Philip Van Zandt, Julius Tannen, Hans Herbert, Dick Dickinson, George Lynn, Michael Mark, Olaf Hytten, Frank Reicher, Brandon Hurst, Glenn Strange. CREDITS: Producer, Paul Malvern; Director, Erle C. Kenton; Screenplay, Edward T. Lowe; Based on story by Curt Siodmak; Cameraman, George Robinson; Art Directors, John B. Goodman, Martin Obzina; Musical Score, H. J. Salter; Musical Director, H. J. Salter; Sound Director, Bernard B. Brown; Set Decorators, Russell A. Gausman, A. J. Gilmore; Film Editor, Philip Cahn; Special Effects, John P. Fulton. DIRECTION, Fair. Okay. Theatre Holding Set For Smith's Falls, Ont. Theatre Holding Corporation Limited, in partnership with B. H. Soper, M.P., have acquired a site on Main Street, Smith’s Falls, Ontario, for the erection of a new 1,000-seat theatre when building restrictions are lifted. The company operates. the Capitol in the same community under long term lease from Soper. PHOTOGRAPHY, Princess and the Pirate with Bob Hope RKO-Goldwyn 94 Mins. BOB HOPE FANS WILL FIND THIS COMEDY A HOWL; TECHNICOLOR PRODUCTION STUNNING. “The Princess and the Pirate” is a field day for the Bob Hope .fans. The comedian’s latest screen effort is a generous serving of rowdy nonsense presented in Samuel Goldwyn’s best manner— which means all-out lavishness accentuated by superb Technicolor. Hope has never been involved in more hectic doings. The film is primed with gags which the funny man fires so fast as to make one forget how many are old chestnuts. The direction of David Butler gives Hope free rein to indulge himself to the limit of his comic resources. As his medium Hope has an adventurous tale of pirates and a lady fair that is a burlesque on the business of buccaneering. The comedian is a cowardly actor who falls into the hands of Victor McLaglen, blood-thirsty pirate, along with Virginia Mayo, a lovely princess. Thereafter he spends his time trying to rescue Miss Mayo, who is running away from her pop, the king. Hope falls in love with the princess but loses her to Bing Crosby, who appears in the very final scene to provide the film with a surprise finish that is a howl. CAST: Bob Hope, Virginia Mayo, Walter Brennan, Walter Slezak, Victor McLaglen, Marc Lawrence, Hugo Haas, Maude Eburne, Adia Kuznetzoff, Brandon Hurst, Tom Kennedy, Stanley Andrews, Robert Warwick. CREDITS: Producer, Sam Goldwyn; Associate Producer, Don Hartman; Director, David Butler; Screenplay, Don Hartman, Melville Shavelson, Everett Freeman; Adaptation, Allen Boretz, Curtis Kenyon, suggested by story by Sy BartIett; Cameramen, Victor Milner, William Snyder; Musical Score, David Rose; Art Director, Ernst Fegte; Film Editor, Daniel Mandell; Set Decorator, Howard Bristol; Sound, Fred Lau; Special Effects, R. O. Binger, Clarence Slifer. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Swell. bs Starr Named as UA Exploitation Chief Martin Starr, formerly in charge of radio, has succeeded Rex Williams as exploitation director for United Artists, Barry Buchanan, UA ad and pub. chief, has announced. Williams resigned recently. $2.00 Per Annum This Man’s Navy with Wallace Beery ~ MGM 100 Mins. STORY ABOUT LIGHTER THAN AIR SERVICE IS COMEDY LOADED WITH SENTIMENT. “This Man’s Navy” is another of those comedies dripping sentiment which set so well with the admirers of Wallace Beery. The film lays on the human interest good and thick, not always with due regard for intelligence. The production is good routine entertainment ballyhooing the Navy’s lighter-than-air service. Its story has been related with a certain amount of drama and excitement. Beery is the one who constantly sings the praises of the lighter-than-air. He is an old-timer who sells Tom Drake on joining up, but the youth unfortunately is handicapped by lameness. Beery obtains the medical means to correct the condition, enabling the lad to attain his ambition, and promotes a romance between the boy and Jan Clayton. Most of the comedy stems from Beery’s insistence on passing Drake off as his son in a friendly feud between him and another veteran of the service, James Gleason. The two have a falling-out, with Drake transferring to the ferry command. A_ reconciliation results when chance reunites them in Burma, William A. Wellman’s direction keeps the story moving at a fast pace. The picture, filmed in part at the Navy air station at Lakehurst, N.J., was competently produced by Samuel Marx. CAST: Wallace Beery, Tom Drake, James Gleason, Jan Clayton, Selena Royle, Noah Beery, Sr., Henry O'Neill, Steve Brodie, George Chandler, Donald Curtis, Arthur Walsh, Will Fowler, Richard Crockett. CREDITS: Producer, Samuel Marx; Director, William A. Wellman; Screenplay, Borden Chase; Based on idea by Com. Herman E. Halland, USN (retired); Cameraman, Sidney Wagner; Musical Score, Nathaniel Shilkret; Recording Director, Douglas Shearer; Art Directors, Cedric Gibbons, Howard Campbell; Set Decorators, Edwin B. Willis, Glen Barner; Special Effects, A. Arnold Gillespie, Donald Jahrus; Film Editor, Irvine Warburton. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Burns Back at FPCC Kirby Burns, returned recently after two and a half years of service overseas aS a member of the Canadian Firefighters group, is back at his old job of booking at Famous Players head office.