Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 15, 1947)

THE PICK OF THE PICTURES — -~ — « © CANSDIEN MOTION PICTUSE INOUSTOY REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS Vol. 12, No. 8 The Thrill OF Brazil with Evelyn Keyes, Keenan Wynn, Ann Miller. Columbia 91 Mins. GAY, SPARKLING AND GIRLY. THIS ONE IS LIGHT, FUNNY AND EMINENTLY THE RIGHT TICKET FOR ENTERTAINMENT PLUS. S. Sylvan Simon has directed “The Thrill of Brazil” with a fine eye for visual appeal which is evident all the way in production numbers. Music, dancing and kindred angles are done with a fine, tasteful flair. There’s Ann Miller’s first-rate dancing. Music by Enric Madriguera and his orchestra. Singing by Tito Guizar. Comedy by Keenan Wynn and he is properly foiled, aided and abetted by Miss Keyes. It’s set in Rio de Janeiro in a nite spot where Wiynn produces the shows. These shows are good enough but Wynn is a perfectionist who also wants to get back with his not properly divorced and apparently still loving wife, Miss Keyes. She appears on the scene with Allyn Joslyn. Miss Keyes has a paper necessary for the divorce which Wynn must sign. At length he does and then it’s lost through some Wynn conniving. There’s a good deal of rigmarole ensuing before the light story is set to rights and in between these mock-serious doings one is regaled with number after number. CAST: Evelyn Keyes, Keenan Wynn, Ann Miller, Allyn Joslyn, Tito Guizar, Veloz and Yolanda, Felix Bressart, Sid Tomack, Eugene Borden. CREDITS: Producer, Sidney Budd Biddell; Director, S. Sylvan Simon; Screenplay, jAllen Rivkin, Harry Clark, Devery Freeman; Cameraman, Charles Lawton, Jr. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. (Continued from Previous Page) with the agreement between H. L. Mencken, Esq., and this company,” states Bryant Fryer, “Cinema (Canada) Pictures Limited will, during the next three months, be testing bathtubs and other devices common to the bathroom, for the title role in this proposed two-reeler. The company will also be announcing from time to time the usual protracted and optimisted negotiations concerning distribution, most of which, as is customary, will be grossly exaggerated.” Lovers of satirical humor are getting a kick out of the unique literary deadpanning and are looking forward to more of it. REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK Undercurrent with Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor MGM 116 Mins. SET OUT THE ROPES TO HOLD THE LINES THAT WILL FORM FOR THIS SPLENDID DRAMATIC OFFERING. All the superlatives and very probably a batch of new ones will be called upon to give praise to. “Undercurrent.” In a season that started in a whirl of lightness and color “Undercurrent” arrives to stir profoundly and provide an emotional impact seldom encountered. Katherine Hepburn has a role that lines her up for unquestioned leadership in her chosen line of endeavor and when the conclusion rolls past, the viewer will be limp, exhausted, stirred. “Undercurrent” for exhibitor and patron is one of those all too rare events. From the outset a scheme of suspense is created in the direction of Vincente Minelli that moves and builds to quite unbearable heights. As the story is the thing and as each new role enhances a player’s estimation and adds to stature of indicated potentialities so will this film set laurels for Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum and the supporting cast. Miss Hepburn is a young girl swept off her feet by a rapid marriage to Taylor, a rich, renowned manufacturer, and set down amid the glamor of capital society and the country life of aristocratic Virginia. She becomes aware of something not entirely right in her husband's action. His brother is relegated to chance remarks, abrupt dismissal. He speaks little of his family. There’s murder in the background of Taylor’s career and a subtle hatred in his business and social life. Miss Hepburn by following instinct and emotion takes up the trail of confusion and without being aware, falls in love with Taylor’s brother whom she has never wittingly seen. He’s Mitchum. At length Taylor is shown up and he attempts to kill Miss Hepburn. He fails, however, and is killed himself. Miss Hepburn, recovers and finds a new life with Mitchum. This is one of the best. CAST: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Marjorie Main, Jayne Meadows. CREDITS: Producer, Pandro S. Berman; Director, Vincente Minelli; Screenplay by Edward Chodorey from an original story by Thelma _ Strabel; Cameraman, Karl Freund. DIRECTION, Superb. PHY, Excellent. PHOTOGRA ‘but face-saving end. Temptation with Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin Universal 98 Mins. HICHENS’ CLINICAL STUDY OF AN UNSCRUPULOUS WOMAN IS SLOW-MOVING DRAMATIC PIECE. The exotic sphere of Robert Hichens’ novel, “Bella Donna,” and the peculiarities of his literary typings have been captured effectively in this Edward Small production. But withal it harks back to another time in the history of the film in terms of people, places, modes and manners. It is a clinical study of an unscrupulous woman for whom adultery is a diversion that in. the course of events leads her into crime and to an untimely What it lacks is fire, conviction and inability to perk up to emphasis on female wiles, male gullibility. Miss Oberon, whose performance is none too effective, connives to ensnare George Brent, an archeologist. This she does under the watchful observance of his very good friend, Paul Lukas, a doctor. They marry and go to Egypt. Brent pursues his. digging, Miss Oberon pursues Charles Korvin and falls to his scoundrelly fascination. He is a blackmailer who eventually persuades her to poison Brent. She feeds him slow poison. Lukas’ timely arrival saves him. About here she is stricken with remorse and pulls the Borgia act on Korvin who has indicated his need for money and how inextricably she has gotten herself involved in the lethal intrigue. As she is about to be taken by the police, who have the goods on her, a landslide at the excavation saves the Egyptian taxpayers the expense of her trial. Lukas concludes the tale as he tears up her final note, which was to be delivered to Brent next day. The cops agree to forget it too, because Brent is their friend. CAST: Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Lenore Ulric, Arnold Moss, Ludwig Stossel, Gavin Muir. CREDITS: Producer, Edward Small; Director, Irving Pichel; Screenplay by Robert Thoeren; Original novel, Robert Hichens; Cameraman, Lucien Ballard. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Average, ‘Out Of The Past' Ken Niles, radio announcer, has been cast in RKO’s “Out of the past,’ which stars Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer, Egyptian atmo- $2.00 Per Annum Sioux City Sue with Gene Autrey, Lynne Roberts Republic 69 Mine. CLASS “A” WESTERN FARE WITH FINE SONGS AND SMART PLOT PLUS PLENTY OF OUTDOOR ACTION. “The music in “Sioux City Sue” is easily the finest aspect . of the whole. Even the title is a song. As has been the previous case with Autry westerns in the matter of attention to production details, this one too, has been given like care and emerges a neatly finished off product. Autry is a rancher facing a foreclosure sale. Lynn Roberts, a talent scout from Hollywood invades Whispering Rock in search of a cowboy singer. She’s accompanied by Sterling Holloway. Autry is engaged. He does it to save his ranch. He goes to Hollywood to make endless recordings but no emoting before cameras. He calls attention to this. Richard Lane, a producer, has been using Autry for a cartoon called “Ding Dong Donkey.” If Autry knew it he would quit. So Lane stages a fake action sequence with Miss Roberts. Later the cartoon is previewed and Autry hears himself sing accompanied to a cartoon donkey. Feeling duped, he takes off at once for Whispering Rock. Miss Roberts feels responsible. -She follows. He takes her in and gives her an opportunity to prove herself by assigning her various chores. She does them well. Things look rosy. The faked action scene proves to be a screen test and other producers are interested, so back to Whispering Rock come Lane and Holloway. Autry suspects something amiss, dismisses La Roberts. Later Lane tangles with a bird Autry had fired, who still nurses a grudge. Lane gets drunk. He becomes aware of a plot to ruin Autry. A dam is to’ be blown wiping out Autry’s stock. It’s blown up but the cattle are saved largely through the efforts of Miss Roberts who tips off the deal. All’s well at the conclusion and the finale sees Autry a western singing star. CAST: Gene Autry, Lynne Roberts, Sterling Holloway, Richard Lane, Ralph Sanford, Ken Lundy, Helena Wallace. CREDITS: Producer, Armand Schaefer; Director, Frank McDonald; Screenplay by Olive Cooper; Cameraman, Reggie Lanning. DIRECTION, GRAPHY, Fine, Very good. PHOTO