Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 8, 1948)

THE PICK OF THE PICTURES | ~ REVIEWS INFORMATION | RATINGS | | Vol. 18, No. 34 The Walls of Jericho with Cornel Wilde,-Linda Darnell, Anne Baxter, Kirk Douglas, Ann Dvorak, 20th-Fox 106 Mins, EXCELLENT CAST INTERPRETS STORY OF JEALOUSY, INTRIGUE AND FRUSTRATED LOVE IN A KANSAS TOWN A GENERATION AGO. WOMEN WILL GIVE THIS A TERRIFIC WORD-OF-MOUTH PLUG. Every now and then along comes an adult love story that is more than a mere recital of the romantic problems of homo sapiens. “The Walls of Jericho” is such a story. Kirk Douglas, plain, straightforward publisher of a _ small town newspaper, is an unwitting lump of clay in the hands of his beautiful bride, Linda Darnell Few suspect that underneath that lovely exterior beats a heart that is ambitious, ruthless and selfish. Her honeymoon is hardly over before she discovers that Cornel Wilde, her husband’s lifelong friend, is a very attractive fellow besides being Kansas’ most popular County Attorney. Linda makes subliminal advances to Wilde who with equal subtlety lets her know that though he isn’t exactly happy with his whisky-besotted spouse, Ann Dvorak, he still would not betray his best friend. With the traditional fury of a woman given the ha-ha, Linda contrives to have husband Douglas ditch Wilde. She also influences the publisher to run for Congress himself. Two years later when Congressman Douglas announces his Intent to run for the Senate, Wilde decides to run against him. In the midst of the campaign, Wilde assumes the defense of Colleen Townsend who is charged with the murder of Barton MacLane, bootlegger and town bully. Miss Darnell, fearful that the trial will increase Wilde’s popularity, influences his wife to file divorce proceedings, naming Miss Baxter as correspondent. Wilde is shot by his estranged wife when he demands an explanation for her actions. Miss Baxter, as associate defense counsel, carries on and wins the case. CAST: Cornell Wilde, Linda Darnell, Anne Baxter, Kirk Douglas, Ann Dvorak, Marjorie Rambeau, Henry Hull, Colleen Townsend. CREDITS: Directed by John M. Stahl; Produced by Lamar Trotti; Screen play by Lamar Trotti; Based on the novel by Paul Wellman, DIRECTION: Expert, PHY: Masterful. PHOTOGRA REVIEWS FROM FILM DAILY, NEW YORK Tap Roots with Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff (Technicolor) Empire-Universal 109 Mins. TOLD WITH SWEEP AND VIGOR, THIS IS A POWERFUL DRAMA OF A CIVIL WAR EVENT THAT SHOULD ATTRACT A LARGE AUDIENCE: TOP PERFORMANCES, FINE PRODUCTION ASSIST, A lusty, full blown dramatic slice of life centering around a plantation in Mississippi just before the advent of the Civil War has been projected in fine terms in this Walter Wanger Production. It is grand scale stuff in fine Technicolor that pulsates with action, frankly examines motives and characters. The dramatic tone is strong. The plot is a profound, intelligent delineation of a situation that had a long established family seceding from secession—when the war broke out the “Dabney” family took the stand that they would remain in their own rich holdings. There was no slavery in Lebanon Valley. The causus belli of the war had little or no significance. On this foundation of James Street’s novel has been woven @ compelling tale of passion. A Dabney, Susan Hayward is about to be married to Whitfield Connor. Then the family patriarch dies and Van Heflin, who carries the onus of illegitimacy, prints a tribute in his newspaper that is misunderstood by the Dabneys. In order to set things right, Heflin visits the Dabney plantation and becomes enamored of Miss Hayward. Later she is injured and partially paralyzed. Her lover, Connors, stands by her and Boris Karloff, a Choctaw Indian family retainer, applies his native methods for her cure. With war looming the Dabneys prepare to make a stand against the Confederate Army. Miss Hayward’s sister runs off with Connor, an officer. Eventually Miss Hayward is cured. Violently in love with Heflin, Ward Bond won’t see her marry him and while the preparations are made to resist the oncoming military—Bond has recruited the valley to defend his stand—Heflin and Miss Hayward see more and more of each other. = The invasion comes. It is a full scale operation. Connor’s knowledge of the valley gets him the cmpaign assignment and it is soon known to Bond and family, including Heflin, that he is at the head of the mission. Death strikes variously at this point and the moment is ominous for the valley’s defenders. Miss Hayward, learning of Connor’s plan, goes to him one night and stays with him till morning. Their love is rekindled but chills with dawn. Miss Hayward, thinking she has thwarted Connor, tells him off. He had previously made plans so that during the night his troops would move into position and her Mata Hari scheme was unavailing. She returns to her side of the lines to find Bond and his force taking the brunt of the attack. Her father disowns her thinking she had sold him out. Connor launches his attack. This is a broad military operation skillfully developed and replete with vivid action. His artillery smashes the first line of defense. Bond and troops fall back, are constantly pounded and decimated. They make stand after stand in a swamp but finally Connor sends in his cavalry, putting them in full rout. Just about every Dabney is wiped out. Heflin, who has been planning to kill Connor, gets a shot at him and accomplished this end. Lastly Heflin and Miss Hayward stand amid the ruins of the Dabney holdings and the significance of the title is brought out. George Marshall’s direction has sweep, movement and fine handling . of many powerful human elements. It is an understanding job he has turned in that could bear more than fair comparison with “GWTW.” Story is adult fare. CAST: Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff, Julie London, Whitfield Con nor, Ward Bond, Richard Lang, Arthur Shields, Griff Barnett, Sandra Rodgers, Ruby Dandridge, Russell Simpson, CREDITS: Produced by Walter Wanger; A George Marshall Production; Director, George Marshall; Screenplay, Alan LeMay; From the novel by James Street; Photography, Lionel Lindon, Winton C. Hoch; Art, Frank A. Richards; Editor, Milton Carruth; Sets, Russell A. Gausman, Ruby R. Levitt; Sound, Leslie I, Carey, Glenn E. Anderson; Orchestrations, David Tamkin; Music, Frank Skinner. DIRECTION, Excellent. Photography, Tops. Alexis Smith Cast Alexis Smith has been cast opposite Errol Flynn in Warners’ “Montana.” WB's 'Homicide' “Homicide” is the release title for Warner Brothers’ production filmed as “Night Beat.” $2.00 Per Annum A Date With Judy (Technicolor) with Wallace Beery, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Carmen Miranda, Xavier Cugat, Scotty Beckett, Robert Stack. MGM 113 Mins. TOP GRADE GENERAL AUDIENCE ENTERTAINMENT. SMARTLY CONTRIVED; HAS CLICK MUSICAL QUALITY. Light, snappy musical entertainment is served up in this Joe Pasternak production of a top quality to satisfy the general audience’s apetite for light romantic stuff embroidered with clever panels of humor. Wallace Beery owns a prosperous fish cannery, and his family consists of Jane Powell, Master Jerry Hunter and Selena Royle, his wife. Another family is that of Leon Ames, Elizabeth Taylor, daughter, and Scotty Beckett, son. Beery, a home man, loves his family. Ames owns the local radio station and also controls other enterprises, fails to realize his children’s craving for paternal companionship. Scotty, leader of the school orchestra, is in love with Miss Powell, the school’s sparkling soloist. Miss Taylor, uppish, selfish, wants to be in the limelight and as a meany tries to steal any glory that Miss Powell may rate in a forthcoming affair. Robert Stack comes on the scene and Jane talks him into taking her. Miss Taylor makes a play for him and is told off. Everything is eventually straightened out. Unknown to his entire family, Beery, as a surprise to his wife on their forthcoming 20th wedding anniversary, has Carmen Miranda secretly give him rhumba lessons in his office. Jane, visiting her father, spies a dress being pulled into a closet. Realizes even her father can't be trusted. Night of the wedding anniversary takes place at a hotel where Xavier Cugat and band plays and features Carmen Miranda. Beery’s great surrpise is at hand. He asks his wife, to the amusement of all, to do the rhumba. CAST: Wallace Beery, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Carm:n Miranda, Xavier Cugat, Robert Stack, Scotty Beckett, Selena Royle, CREDITS: Producer, Joo Pasternak; Director, Richard Thorpe; Screenplay, Dorothy Cooper, Dorothy Kingsley, based on characters created by Aleen Leslie. DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine,