Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 21, 1945)

Pe te ¢ THE PICK OF THE PICTURES — a VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE INDUSTAY REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS Vol 10, No. 47 REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK $2.00 Per Annum The Spanish Main with Paul Henreld, Maureen O'Hara RKO 100 Mins. COSTUME PICTURE IS ROUSING ADVENTURE TALE WITH STRONG BOXOFFICE POTENTIALITIES. An adventure tale done with sweeping strokes, ‘The Spanish Main” is the old one about the pirate bold and the maiden fair treated in its present version with all the color, excitement and appurtenances that could possibly be brought to such a story. The picture packed with situations dear to the hearts of rabid filmgoers, is especially bigleague stuff for the children. Never wanting for action, the picture doesn’t miss a trick in relating the feud between Paul Henreid, a Dutch navigator driven to piracy, and Walter Slezak, Spanish governor of New Granada. As one means of getting revenge on the cruel and tyrannical Slezak our hero seizes Maureen O’Hara, daughter of the viceroy of Mexico, while she is on the way to be married to the villain sight-unseen and brow: beats her into becoming his wife. Eventually Henreid finds himself in love with the gal and fights to the death to prevent Slezak from claiming her for his own. Death is Slezak’s fate at the finale. Executive Producer Robert Fellows and Associate Producer Stephen Ames have turned out the film handsomely and lavishly, employing Technicolor to give the story added allure. They have been fortunate in the direction of Frank Borzage, who had at his command a rousing screenplay ‘zr George Worthing Yates and Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture has been vigorously performed, with Slezak giving the most effective portrayal. CAST: Paul Henreid, Maureen O’Hara, Walter Slezak, Binnie Barnes, John Emery, Barton MacLane, J. M. Kerrigan, Fritz Leiber, Nancy Gates, Jack LaRue, Mike Mazurki, Ian Keith, Victor Kilian, Curt Bois, Antoneo Moreno. CREDITS: Executive Producer, Robert Fellows; Associate Producer, Stephen Amos; Director, Frank Borzage. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good, : WANTED Ex-serviceman desires position. Five years theatre experience, studied bookkeeping. Splendid references. Advertiser has open work permit. APPLY: BOX NO. 10, CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Shady Lady with Charles Coburn, Robert Paige, Ginny Simms Universal 34 Mins, EXTREMELY DIVERTING FILM WILL PLEASE MOST PATRONS; COBURN CARRIES FILM. Thanks primarily to the fine trouping of the veteran Charles Coburn, “Shady Lady” emerges as good light entertainment that brings chuckles and smiles in profusion.. Also helping a great deal in giving the film boxoffice merit is the presence of Ginny Simms, who in enacting the principal feminine role is called upon to sing three numbers, among them the ever-popular “Cuddle Up a Little Closer.” The picture is enriched with night-club atmosphere that contributes a touch of glamor and expands the interest. Given a handsome production by George Wagener and directed by him with smartness and a good sense of pace, “Shady Lady” mixes a pleasant dose of romance with the humor. The film is most entertaining when it focusses its attention on Coburn, a jolly bounder who uses his talents as a professional card manipulator to bring happpiness to the lives of all concerned except the villains, of course. How he outwits Alan Curtis, night club owner with his hand in a number of rackets, supplies some of the best moments of the film. The performers are deserving of much praise. Coburn is a constant delight as the card sharp. Robert Paige, as a state’s attorney determined to hook Curtis, capably shares the romantic burden with Miss Simms, Coburn’s niece who sings in Curtis’ bistro. Martha O’Driscoll is properly distraught as Paige’s sister who has had an unhappy experience with Curtis which the guy is using to keep her brother off his neck. CAST: Charles Coburn, Robert Paige, Ginny Simms, Alan Curtis, Martha O’Driscoll, Kathleen Howard, James Burke, John Gallaudet, Joe Frisco, Thomas Jackson, Billy Wayne, William Hall, Bill Hunt, Ermo Verebes, George Lynn, Bert Moorehouse, Stuart Holmes, Billy Green, Emmitt Smith, Chuck Hamilton, CREDITS: Executive Producer, Joe Gershenson; Producer, George Waggner. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. State Fair with Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine 20th-Fox 100 RODGERS HAMMERSTEIN MUSI CAL IS CERTAIN OF VAST POPULARITY; PLENTY OF LOVE. The musical version of Phil Stong’s novel sings out for romance without inhibition. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II have turned out another joyOus collaboration of words and music that makes “State Fair” & Supremely tuneful show offering one delight after ancther to those seeking to escap2 from the every-day. The production, ag lavish a Technicolor musical as ever created by 20th-Fox, gives every indication of proving a tremendous popular attraction. The picture, unlimited in vividness and movement, exploits the tender passion for all it is worth. It seems everybody is in love with somebody. The story itself is nothing to shout about, the emphasis having been placed on the music. The story merely relates how four young people find love at a state fair. The pairings are Jeanne Craine-Dana Andrews and Vivian Blaine-Dick Haymes. The couples meet when the parents of Miss Crain and Haymes go to the fair to compete for a number of prizes, including that for the best hog. The romances are quite ordinary though charming, and they are worked out in a way that goes straight to the hearts of the women. William Perlberg has produced this richly melodic film in grand fashion. The direction of Walter Lang creates a strong sense of action and makes the most of the comedy possibilities. CAST: Jeznne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Charles Winninger, Fay Bainter, Donald Meek, Frank McHugh, Percy Kilbride, Henry Morgan, Jane Nigh, Willizm Marshall, Phil Brown, Paul Burns, Tom Fadden, William Frambes, Steve Olson, Josephine Wittell, Paul Harvey, John Dehner, Harlan Briggs, Will Wright, Alice Fleming, Walter Baldwin, Ralph Sanford. CREDITS: Producer, Willlam Perlberg; Director, Walter Lang; Screenplay, Oscar Hammerstein II. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Swell. Vela ezekoly, Vol. 10, No. 47 Nov. 21, 1945 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada Ltd., 25 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Phone ADelaide 4317. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter. Printed by Eveready Printers Limited, 78 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario Geo. White's Scandals with Joan Davis, Jack Haley RKO % Mins. GENEROUSLY PRODUCED MUSICAL OFFERS DIVERSION OF STRONG PCPULAR FLAVOR. George White has lent his name as a producer to a scatterbrained antic that stacks up as diversion of strong popular flavor. Those whose tastes are not too demanding will derive considerable fun from what goes on in this film in the production of which George White has been more than open-handed. Peppered with tongs and production numbers that will capture the fancy of the man in the street, the film offers Joan Davis and Jack Haley as a pair of daffy performers in a George White stage show who are in love. The plot has to do chiefly with the attempt of Miss Davis and Haley to keep the latter’s spinster sister (Margaret Hamilton) from breaking up the romance. The film moves at a headlong pace under the direction of Felix E. Feist, who has worked from a script by Hugh Wedlock, Howard Snyder, Parke Levy and Howard Green which uses familiar yet tested material with journeyman skill. : Miss Davis and Haley perform with vigor. Phillip Terry, as dance director for White’s show, is teamed romantically with Martha Holliday, who gets a job in the line through a fluke. Miss Holliday stands out in a couple of dance solos. Miss Davis as a child is played amusingly by her own daughter, Beverly Wills. The presence of Gene Krupa and his band is a sop to the bobbysock trade. CAST: Joan Davis, Jack Haley, Phillip Terry, Martha Holliday, Ethel Smith, Margaret Hamilton, Glenn Tryon, Bettejane Greer, Audrey Young, Rese Murphy, Fritz Feld, Beverly Wills, Gene Krupa and band. CREDITS: Execut’ve Preducers, Jack J. Gross, Nat Holt; Producer, George White; Director, Felix E. Feist; Screenplay, Hugh Wedlock, Howard Snyder, Park Levy, Howard Green. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Seven Stars Cast in 20th-Fox Musical “Three Little Girls in Blue,” 20th Century-Fox’ forthcoming Technicolor musical romance will have seven feature players in its cast. They include Vivian Blaine, June Haver, John Payne, Martha Stewart, Celeste Holm, Vera Elden and Gil Lamb.