Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 3, 1954)

THE PICK O£ THE PICTURES a VOICE of the CANADIA N MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY REVIEWS INFORMATION RATINGS Vol. 19, No. 42 USA AND UK REVIEWS Page 7 YOU KNOW WHAT SAILORS ARE (From To-Day’s Cinema, London) JARO (Technicolor) 90 Mins. British “U’, Stars: Akim Tamiroff, Donald Sinden, Sarah Lawson, Ken Annakin. Comedy extravaganza. Hilarious story of awful consequences when young naval officer, following much splicing of the mainbrace, instals pawnbroker’s sign on Ruritanian destroyer’s deck, where it is hailed as Britain’s latest secret weapon. Opening sequences score freely on their alcoholic gaiety, carefree narration settling down to provide glorious skits on backroom boys and their secret inventions, engaging byplay being emphasized by delicious portraiture and pungent dialogue. Main spectacular frolic staged at Agrarian port in Mediterranean, where President’s bevy of daughters make piquant play in their eye-catching decollete, and dancing girls engage in sinuous romp at mammoth party. Fast-paced development assures delightful entertainment for the idle hour, in expertly fashioned blend of satirical humor, sex piquancies, and spectacular romantic and musical revel. Polished direction, gaily patterned portraiture, natural Technicolor, ornate backgrounds of Agrarian palace. Delightful light entertainment for the populace. Production: This spectacular Pinewood production pokes glorious fun at backroom boys and the secret weapons they turn out. As the result of an alcoholic spree, a foreign destroyer finds itself adorned with a pawnbroker’s sign of three brass balls and an ancient pram. This is hailed by the British Navy as “998,” a new radar device — it’s that kind of goofy story! — and young Lieutenant Sylvester is posted to the foreign destroyer to instruct the crew in radar. Acting: Donald Sinden is a gaily nonchalant figure of fun as the harassed lieutenant, and is pertly abetted by Sarah Lawson as his would-be girl-friend. But many may allot the honors to Akim Tamiroff for his hilarious portrait of the President, a really ingratiating performance which again asserts this fine artist’s versatility. The twittering Dora Bryan scores in her own brand of characterization. Boxoffice Appeal: Provocative title; hilarious tale of a practical joke; delightful skit on secret weapons and their inventors; chaste sex piquancies; natural Technicolor. ROGUE COP (From The Film Daily, NY) with Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, George Raft, Steve Forrest 92 Mins. ROUGH, SERIOUS POLICE STORY. HAS SOUND ACTION PATTERN. STANDS TO GIVE SUBSTANTIAL SATISFACTION. GOOD NAME VALUES. Rough and fairly unrelieved drama circulating around the activities of the character of the title — effectively enough played by Robert Taylor—is generated in this Nicholas Nayfack production that was ably delineated by Roy Rowland. Sydney Boehm’s screenplay stems from a novel by William P. McGivern. In the light of current and accepted crime literature McGivern’s book leaves but little to the imagination. Strong names are in evidence to assist in attracting an audience. General production details register well with John Seitz’ photography rating notice. ; Involved with underworld elements and not averse to taking a payoff, Robert Taylor plays a detective, brother to Steve Forrest. Janet Leigh is a nitery singer, Steve’s girl, whose past is brought into light by Taylor when he gets nasty. Anne Francis has a solid role as George Raft’s moll who likes her likker too much. A beat cop, Forrest tags a dope pusher-murderer. He and Taylor make the arrest. Later it comes up that Raft and company don't want an identification since it would lead up the line to their previous nefarious activity. The story runs a full and somewhat exciting course of development giving the viewer plenty inside details of police work. It is when Forrest is killed that Taylor and a _ colleague settle the Raft hash and all the inter-connected hoods. Picture stands up ably for general program purposes. CAST: Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, George Raft, Steve Forrest, Anne Francis, Robert Ellenstein, Robert F. Simon, Anthony Ross, CREDITS: Producer, Nicholas Nayfack; Director, Roy Rowland; Screenplay, Sydney Bochm; From a novel by William P. McGivern; Photography, John Seitz. DIRECTION: Effective. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. WB's ‘Jump Into Hell’ Norman Dupont will portray Lt. Andre Maupin, a youthful defender of Dien Bien Phu, in the Warner Bros.’ feature, Jump Into Hell. The story, now before the cameras, stars Jacques Sernas. M-G-M PUSHOVER (From The Film Daily, NY) with Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Phil Carey, Dorothy Malone Columbia 88 Mins. INTERESTING OFF BEAT POLICE DRAMA. GETS BEHIND THE SCENE IN A MANHUNT, SHOULD FIND A FAIR AUDIENCE AND RENDER SATISFACTION. A police drama with a somewhat unusual treatment that stems from dramatic glimpses of behind the scenes activity in the course of a manhunt. Taut and strongly dramatic, the Roy Huggins screenplay is based on stories by Thomas Walsh and William S. Ballinger. Jules Schermer contributed a well rounded off production with a striking task of direction turned in by Richard Quine. Story has an offbeat aspect that builds and sustains imaginative attention. Fred MacMurray and Phil Carey as a detective team give sound impersonations. Kim Novak, a newcomer, is properly effective as a moll. Dorothy Malone rings in convincingly. Subsidiary roles are ably displayed. Following a robbery and murder, MacMurray @nd.Carey are assigned to stake out Miss Novak’s apartment. Method is to use another apartment across the court, tap her phone and other routine gimmicks. Kim’s every move is observed. MacMurray uses romance to try and get evidence and there are explanations forthcoming that Carey fails to register. Dorothy Malone plays a pretty young nurse, neighbor to Kim. Carey takes a shine to her. There are many and varied complications as the time approaches for an arrest to be made but MacMurray makes other plans for himself and Kim. His movements and actions have been such that soon a web forms and begins to close in on him. Caught up with MacMurray tries a dash for liberty and is shot down by Carey. Lester H. White photographed. CAST: Fred MacMurray, Kim Novak, Phil Carey, Dorothy Malone, E. G. Marshall, Allen Nourse. CREDITS: Producer, Jules Schermer; Director, Richard Quine; Screenplay, Roy Huggins; Based on stories by Thomas Walsh, William S. Ballinger; Photography, Lester H. White. DIRECTION: Effective, PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. New Taylor Starrer Elizabeth Taylor will ride an MGM starring vehicle based on the little known story of an aristocratic French girl who became the Sultana of Turkey in the 18th Century. Sam Zimbalist will produce. WOMAN'S WORLD (From The Film Daily, NY) with Clifton Webb, June Allyson, Yan Heflin, Lauren Bacall, Fred MacMurray, Arlene Dahl, Cornel Wilde Twentieth-Fox 94 Mins. (CinemaScope, Technicolor) TOP-FLIGHT FASHION PARADE SET IN CINEMASCOPE. SLICK PRODUCTION, FIRST-RATE DIRECTION, ENGAGING SCREENPLAY, POINT TO A NATURAL FOR THE DISTAFF SIDE. WILL DELIVER IMPRESSIVELY. If you like lines, dialogue or female curves, or both, you'll like this one, for it has plenty of both. Claude Binyon, Mary Loos and Richard Sale did the engaging screenplay from an original by Mona Williams, with additional laughs being supplied by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The plot is a simple one, the problem of a business tycoon, portrayed by Clifton Webb, in tii best Webbean manner, trying to pick a successor from among three of his young executives for 1:3 top sales position. The aspiring men are played by Van Heflin, Fred MacMurray and Cornel Wilde, all of whom turn in attractive performances. It remains for their wives, however, to give the picture its intrigue as they fight it out to become Mrs. Sales Manager. The wives have been categorized as three distinct types; the “anything you want is fine by me” wife, played by June Allyson; the “your job means more to you than I do” wife, played by Lauren Bacall; and the “don’t worry, darling, V’ll get the job for you” wife, played by Arlene Dahl. All three “types” are engaging in their roles. Each has turned in a nifty performance and should be congratulated; Miss Allyson for her very warm humor, Miss Bacall for her brittle sophistication and Miss Dahl for her unqualified allure. A good deal of credit for what has been accomplished goes to director Jean Negulesco and producer Charles Brackett who not only brought together the players and the script but provided lush sets and costumes. The excellent photographic job of this production is credited to Joe MacDonald. CAST: Clifton Webb, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Lauren Bacall, Fred Mac Murray, Arlene Dahl, Cornel Wilde, Elliott Reid, Margalo Gillmore,. CREDITS: Producer, Charles Brackett; Director, Jean Negulesco; Screenplay, Claude Binyon, Mary Loos, Richard Sale; Story, Mona Williams; Additional eh Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse; usic, Cyril J. Mockridge; Photograph Joe MacDonald. . ~~ DIRECTION: First-rate. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. meee a