Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 7, 1956)

Page 6 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY November 7, 1956 Review TOWARD The UNKNOWN (From The Film Daily, NY) with William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, Virginia Leith. Warner Bros. (WarnerColor) 115 Mins. EXPLOSIVELY PACED DRAMA _ OF LOVE COMPLICATIONS AND JET-PROPELLED AIRCRAFT. A BOXOFFICE WINNER IN MOST SITUATIONS. A romantic triangle is dramatized against the background of Air Force experiments with jet and rocket-propelled aircraft in Toward the Unknown. The picture has been put together in a sturdy commercial frame, churning up action, excitement and romantic complications. William Holden heads the cast along with Lloyd Nolan and Virginia Leith. Produced and directed by Mervyn Le-Roy, it was made on fairly extravagant lines. Topical as tomorrow’s newspaper, the screenplay by Beirne Lay, Jr. (also associate producer) presents Holden as a major who returns to the USA after being brainwashed in Korea into a confession of germ warfare. Highlight after highlight of excitement is reached in this Toluca Production as jets zoom and thunder, and credit is well earned by photography director Hal Rosson. Swiftly-paced, the picture aims successfully at popular appeal rather than subtlety that would appeal to the discriminating filmgoer. It is strong entertainment for the general audience and they will appreciate it lustily. CAST: William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, Virginia Leith, Charles McGraw, Murray Hamilton, Paul Fix, James Garner, L. Q. Jones, Karen Steele. CREDITS: Producer and director, Mervyn LeRoy; Written by Beirne Lay Jr., also associate producer; Director of photography, Hal Rosson. DIRECTION: Commendable. PHOTOGRAPHY: Outstanding. Mrs. H. Sutherland, St. Mary's, Passes Mrs. Herbert Sutherland, who with her husband operated a circuit of Ontario theatres from St. Mary’s, passed on recently. The Sutherlands, with their son-in-law, George Thompson, controlled theatres in Clinton, Goderich, Mitchell, Seaforth and St. Mary’s. One Sutherland house, in Cobourg, is under lease to Premier Operating. Two NFB Films For Japanese Emperor Two Canadian-made films, the National Film Board’s Land of the Long Day and World in a Marsh, have been formally presented to the Emperor of Japan by the Right Honorable C. D. Howe, Minister of Trade and Commerce, during his current goodwill visit to that country. The two color films were selected for presentation because of the Emperor’s interest in films, especially those on scientific subjects. Cecil B. DeMille Honored by Torontonians Leading citizens, among them many important in religion and education, honored Cecil B. DeMille, producer of The Ten Commandments, at a luncheon in the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, during his recent visit. The top photo shows Mr, DeMille speaking and seated, left to right, are Dr. E. A. Sowby, principal of Upper Canada College; Mayor Nathan A. Phillips, who presented Mr. DeMille with a set of cufflinks bearing the civic crest in behalf of the municipal corporation; and John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, president of Famous Players, who acted as chairman. A few of the guests are shown in the bottom photo. MGM Acquires 'Sheep Man' MGM has purchased James Edward Grant’s Sheep Man as a starring vehicle for Howard Keel. 20th-Fox' 'Three Brave Men' Ray Milland, Ernest Borgnine and Nina Foch will star in 20thFox’ Three Brave Men. Exhibitors Boost Sale of Israel Bonds This photo shows some of the Maritime theatre people of Jewish lineage who were active in the recent State of Israel Bond Conference in Halifax, which was chaired by another, Peter Herschorn, secretary-treasurer of the Franklin & Herschorn Theatre Company, Saint John, NB. From left to right we see Mitchell Franklin, vice-president of Franklin & Herschorn; J. M. Franklin, president of F & H and honorary chairman of the drive, who was just named The Maritime Pioneer of the Year by the Maritime branch of the Canadian Picture Pioneers; and Mitchell Bernstein, partner in the Bernstein & Lieberman circuit. Franklin was presented with an engraved plate for his work and illuminated scrolls went to Herschorn and Lieberman. Other exhibitors present were Sam Babb of F & H and Mort Bernstein of B & L. Guest speaker at the Conference was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr, Review TEA AND SYMPATHY (From The Film Daily, NY) with Deborah Kerr, John Kerr, Leif Erickson. (CinemaScope-Metrocolor) MGM 122 Mins. EXCEPTIONALLY FINE DRAMA OF LOVE AND ALIENATION, BASED ON THE TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL PLAY, IT SHOULD ENJOY CORRESPONDINGLY SUCCESSFUL RESULTS AT THE MOTION PICTURE BOXOFFICE. The motion picture screen proves itself again a sensitive and eloquent medium for the telling of a poignant love story. The film translation of the hit Broadway play, Tea and Sympathy, is an unusually fine job, discerning in insights and stamped with imagination and originality. In general the picture should be received with enormous popularity, although the unusual theme might suggest careful exhibitor consideration in some situations. A performance of uncommon skill and conviction is turned in by Deborah Kerr and it rates Academy Award attention. Sharing the lead with her and also contributing a notable performance is John Kerr who had the same role in the Broadway play opposite Miss Kerr. As a team, Vincente Minnelli who directed, Pandro S. Berman who produced and Robert Anderson who did the screenplay from his play, all deserve a round of applause for the fine film, and for bringing te the screen a story that departs from the routine. An outstanding vignette is turned in by Norma Crane, as the town’s “popular” girl to whom Kerr tries feverishly to make love in order to quiet rumors about his manliness. Edward Andrews, as young Kerr’s hard-driving father, offers a noteworthy performance. John Alton, director of photography and Adolph Deutsch who provided the music also contribute notably to the excellence of the picture. CAST: Deborah Kerr, John Kerr, Leif Erickson, Edward Andrews, Darryl Hickman, Norma Crane, Dean Jones. CREDITS: Produced by Pandro_ S. Berman; Directed by Vincente Minnelli; Screenplay by Robert Anderson, bused on the play by Anderson; Music by Adolph Deutsch; Director of pPhotography, John Alton, DIRECTION: Outstanding. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. Be Certain YOU ARE THERE! The Industry's BIGGEST EVENT Annual Award Dinner and Dance CANADIAN PICTURE PIONEERS NOV. 22nd King Edward Hotel TORONTO f ——— i ee