The Exhibitor (1951)

COLUMBIA Hills of Utah Western Musical (356) 70m. Estimate: Good Autry. Cast: Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Elaine Riley, Donna Martell, Onslow Stevens, Denver Pyle, William Fawcett, Harry Lauter, Keene Duncan, Harry Harvey, Sandy Sanders, Tom London. Produced by Armand Schaefer; directed by John English. Story: Gene Autry, as a doctor, returns to the town where his father had been killed in a feud between cattlemen and miners. When Elaine Riley, daughter of mine owner Onslow Stevens, sends for Autry to tend her sick brother, he goes despite the warning of rancher Denver Pyle. Autry saves the youngster, and, with the aid of friend Pat Buttram, attempts to establish a much needed hospital, but the cattlemen . block this move. When Steven’s son suddenly dies, he goes gun¬ ning for Autry, who is saved through the aid of Pyle. When Autry refuses to let Pyle kill Stevens, Pyle goes off in a rage. Pyle’s half-breed wife, Donna Martell, secretly gives Autry the money to supply a hospital. Pyle learns of this, and, when a wagon full of supplies comes in, sends his men to destroy it. One of the ranch hands is killed, and the ranchers, led by Pyle, march on the miners. Autry learns that it was Pyle who had killed his father, and kept the feud going. Autry gets to the mine to warn Stevens and his men. One of the miners, William Fawcett, is mort¬ ally wounded, but, before he dies, admits that he accidentally caused the death of Steven’s son. Pyle is killed, and the feud ends. X-Ray: Once again Autry is the hard riding, fast shooting cowboy. There is plenty of fast action, and Buttram is on hand to supply a few laughs. The sepia is pleasing to the eye., and this constitutes a good Autry that will please his fans. The screen play is by Gerald Geraght. Songs heard are: “Peter Cottontail” and “Utah.” Tip On Bidding: Usual series price. Ad Lines: “What Was The Secret Force Behind The Deadliest Feud In The West?”; “Gene Autry As A Doctor Who Could Use A Gun As Well As A Scalpel”; “Gene Autry Finds Thrills And Adventure.” MGM Across The Wide Outdoor Melodrama Missouri (208) 78m. (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Name draw should be potent factor in the .selling. Cast: Clark Gable, Ricardo Montalban, John Hodiak, Adolphe Menjou, Maria Elena Marques, J. Carrol Naish, Jack Holt, Alan Napier, George Chandler, Richard Anderson, Henri Letondal, Douglas Fowley, Louis Nicoletti, Ben Watson, Russell Simpson, Frankie Darro. Produced by Robert Sisk; directed by William A. Well¬ man. Story: Over a century ago, the mountain men hunted and lived in the northwestern area of the country. One of them, Clark Gable, marries Indian girl Maria Elena Marques, goes with her and the mountain men to the beaver country where Jack Holt is chief and Indian Ricardo Montal¬ ban rebels against the white man’s coming. Since Marques is Holt’s granddaughter, peace reigns. Gable and the others hunt. Finally a baby is born to Gable and Mar¬ ques. Later, a mountain man whose brother was killed by Montalban, murders Holt, and Montalban takes over as chief. In the spring, on the way back to the Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc., Publishing office: 246-48 North Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York office: 1600 Broadway, New York 19. West Coast representative: Paul Manning, 9628 Cresta Drive, Beverlywood, Los Angeles, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; P. J. Greenhalgh, general manager; Herbert M. Miller, editor; Max Cades, business manager; G. F. Nonamaker, Mel Konecoff, associate editors. SECTION TWO Vol. 46, No. 21 SEPTEMBER 26, 1951 white man’s country, Montalban kills Marques, and attempts -to murder the baby jput Gable disposes of him as the other mountain men take care of the Indians. Gable and his son spend happy days to¬ gether before the son goes east for school¬ ing, and Gable continues to help the ad¬ vance of civilization. X-Ray: With the aid of a commentator, who provides a thread, this is an interest¬ ing outdoor show, backed by names, which never really gets going. Despite the fact that the scenery and Technicolor are often awe-inspiring, the film never reaches the heights that must ’have been intended. While there will be femme interest in the romance between Gable and Marques, this is a tough tale of outdoor life, with the mountain men fighting Indians and the elements. Performances are okeh, although John Hodiak, as a Scot turned Indian; James Whitemore, and other players are more or less wasted. However, with the Gable draw plus the action, this offers plenty for the merchandising. The story is by Talbot Jennings and Frank Cavett. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “The Rugged Story Of The Brave Mountain Men”; “She Was A Prin¬ cess. He Was A Mountain Man . . . But Love Conquered”; “Clark Gable As You Best Love Him.” Bannerline (206) UK£8“ Estimate: For the duallers. Cast: Keefe Brasselle, Sally Forrest, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, J. Carrol Naish, Larry Keating, Spring Byington, Warner Anderson, Elisabeth Risdon, Michael Ansara, John Morgan. Produced by Henry Berman; directed by Don Weis. Story: College grad reporter Keefe Brasselle, working on a newspaper owned by Larry Keating, yearns for his big chance, egged on by'old time newspaper¬ man Lewis Stone. Brasselle sells Keating the idea of making over the front page of the daily to please dying Lionel Barry¬ more, a beloved school teacher who has been fighting vice in the town for years, hoping Barrymore will be happy. Brasselle and Stone then arrange matters so that the front page goes out on the whole edition instead of on a few copies. The town isn’t stirred up but when Brasselle is beaten up by henchmen of racketeer J. Carrol Naish, the Grand Jury swings into action, and Naish flees. Barrymore dies happy, and the town finally comes into its own with Brasselle as a hero. X-Ray: A moderate programmer for the duallers, this could stand editing. Aside from the windup, not much happens. Al¬ though the players are competent, the script is against them. Brasselle, Barry¬ more, Stone, Keating, and Naish are okeh, with Forrest having little to do. The story was written by Samson Raphaelson. Tip On Bidding: Low bracket. Ad Lines: “Fighting Mad ... A Re¬ porter Cleans Up A Town”; “Racketeers On The Run . . . When A Newspaper And A School Teacher Clean Up A City”; “See How Crime Doesn’t Pay . . . When A Fighting Reporter Gets Into Action.” Texas Carnival Comedy With Music (205) 77m. (Color By Technicolor) Estimate: Name draw should help pleas¬ ing musical. Cast: Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Paula Ray¬ mond, Keenan Wynn, Tom Tully, Glenn Strange, Dick Wessel, Donald MacBride, Marjorie Wood, Hans Conreid, Thurston Hall, Duke Johnson, Wilson Wood, Foy Willing and orchestra, Red Norvo Trio, Michael Dugan. Produced by Jack Cum¬ mings; directed by Charles Walters. Story: Ex-water ballet chorine Esther Williams is teamed with barker Red Skel¬ ton at a carnival when wealthy Texan Keenan Wynn shows up, intoxicated, takes a liking to the latter, gives him his car, and tells him to meet him later at a swank desert resort. Williams and Skelton go there, don’t find Wynn, and are mistaken for him and his sister. Skelton gets into one jam after another, with Williams wanting to leave the place. Wynn’s ranch foreman, Howard Keel, falls for Williams, and Ann Miller, daughter of sheriff Tom Tully, for Skelton. The masquerade con¬ tinues until Wynn returns sobered up, and at first doesn’t recognize Skelton. Finally, to square his debts, which include $17,000 lost in gambling, Skelton, accompanied by Williams, drives in a chuck wagon race, and wins, thereby washing out the debts and other troubles. Skelton clinches with Miller and Keel with Williams. X-Ray: The name draw, plus songs, dances, and Technicolor are the principal assets here, with the story deficient. Skel¬ ton fans may relish seeing some of his familiar routines but William’s perform¬ ance suffers because she isn’t in the water very much. However, the production numbers and singing come along rather fast, the running time isn’t extended, and there seems to be enough entertainment to satisfy most people. Paula Raymond is wasted in a brief role. The story is by George Wells and Dorothy Kingsley. Songs include: “Texas Routine”, “Young Folks Should Get Married”, “Whoa Emma”, “It’s Dynamite”, and “Cornie’s Pitch”. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “He Was Corny But Funny . . . Red Skelton With Esther Williams In ‘Texas Carnival’ “It’s All For Fun . . . You’ll Howl”; “Songs, Dances, Stars.” 3161