The Exhibitor (1951)

April 11, 1951 EXHIBITOR Nurse Jayne Meadows appeals to private detective J. Scott Smart. In California, Smart learns that the plate belonged to Rock Hudson, and Smart traces him to John Russell, who tells Smart that Hud¬ son had just left his home. Getting the cooperation of police lieutenant Jerome Cowan, Smart learns that Russell and an associate, Harry Lewis, are crooks, that Hudson was married to entertainer Julie London, that Hudson was in on a $500,000 armored car robbery, for which he was sent to jail, and that in prison he roomed with Emmett Kelly, circus clown. Meadows stumbles on the identity of the killer, and is murdered. Smart discovers than an un¬ identified, badly burned body is that of Hudson, and that Kelly had blackmailed Hudson’s confederates in the robbery, Rus¬ sell and Lewis, for $50,000, and had then killed Hudson. The dentist was then killed to prevent identification of the burned body via dental work. Smart and police battle it out with Russell, Lewis, and Kelly, and the latter two are killed. X-Ray: With practically no marquee lure starwise, this has the radio ballyhoo to assist in the merchandising, and it should fit into the duallers. While there are several action scenes, emphasis is on plot development. The screen play is by Harry Essex and Leonard Lee, from a story by Lee. Tip On Bidding: Program price. Ad Lines: “ ‘The Fat Man’ Comes To The Screen After Many Years”; “Murder Stalks ‘The Fat Man’ “When ‘The Fat Man’ Appears On The Scene Of A Murder, The Underworld Had Better Look Out.” WARNERS Goodbye, My Fancy Drama (024) 107m Estimate: Overlong romantic drama has names to sell. Cast: Joan Crawford, Robert Young, Frank Lovejoy, Eve Arden, Janice Rule, Lurene Tuttle, Howard St. John, Viola Roache, Ellen Corby, Morgan Farley, Vir¬ ginia Gibson, John Qualen. Produced by Henry Blanke; directed by Vincent Sher¬ man. Story: Congresswoman Joan Crawford accepts an invitation to return for an hon¬ orary degree from the school from which she was once expelled for staying out all night with Robert Young, present presi¬ dent. Life magazine photographer Frank Lovejoy reminds her of a romance they once had, and he takes on the assignment of photographing her weekend. Crawford arrives with her secretary, Eve Arden, and is also greeted by her old roommate, Lurene Tuttle, wife of Howard St. John, head of the board of trustees, which dom¬ inates Young’s actions. Lovejoy tries to break up the romance that gets . under way between Young and Crawford, and Crawford is a little ashamed of Young when she sees how he bows to St. John’s every whim. Young regains some of his old spirit, and fights back, keeping a teacher that is going to be fired for his unorthodox teaching methods, and show¬ ing a film compiled by Crawford, despite St. John’s protests. Crawford sees that she is still in love with Lovejoy, and she agrees that they both belong together, leaving Young to his school. X-Ray: There is plenty of conversation here and a minimum of action or plot but the names will prove of assistance at the boxoffice as will the fact that the film was based on a fairly successful stage play by Fay Kanin. However, the entry, which is overlong, will need plenty of selling. The screen play is by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “Joan Crawford As A Fiery Congresswoman Is A New Experience”; “A Life Photographer Covers A Weekend With A Congresswoman, And The Result Is Romance”; “Congresswoman Joan Crawford Returns To Her Alma Mater For Romance On The Campus.” FOREIGN God Needs Men Drama 95m. (AFE) (French-made) (English titles) Estimate: Topnotch import for art and class houses. Cast: Pierre Fresnay, Madeleine Robin¬ son, Daniel Gelin, Andree Clement, Jean Brochard. Produced by Paul Graetz; di¬ rected by Jean Delannoy. Story: The inhabitants of a tiny island off Brittany try to supplement their meagre existence by causing ships to wreck on their shores. The only priest on the island leaves, and the simple people persuade church sexton Pierre Fresnay to take over some of the duties of the priest. After being forced to listen to the confession of a woman, Fresnay goes to the mainland, and begs Abbe Jean Delannoy to send a real priest, but his plea is refused. Re¬ turning, Fresnay is visited by Daniel Gelin, who tells him that he killed his insane mother, and that he wants Fresnay to give him absolution. After receiving what he thinks is a good omen, Fresnay tells the people that he will perform the mass. As he is about to start, Abbe Delannoy arrives with soldiers, who have come to investi¬ gate crimes. When one of the soldiers is sent to Gelin’s house to be billeted, Gelin becomes frightened, and hangs himself. Fresnay tells the soldiers that Gelin killed his mother, and was behind all the other crimes. When the new priest refuses to bury Gelin, the islanders, led by Fresnay, go out in their fishing boats, and bury him at sea. Fresnay then tells the natives to return, and go to mass. X-Ray: One of the better French pro¬ ductions, this is a strong art house attrac¬ tion. Fresnay ’s powerful performance is supported by a fine cast. The screen play is by Pierre Bost and Jean Aurenche. Ad Lines: “One Of The Most Compelling Dramas Ever Filmed”; “Pierre Fresnay In A Powerful And Searching Story”; “A Moving Drama Of A Simple People’s Quest For God.” Dramatic Musical 76m. (Arthur Davis Associates) (German-made) (English titles) Estimate: Okeh import for the art houses. Cast: Joseph Schmidt, Viktor de Kowa, Charlotte Ander, Fritz Kampers. Produced by Richard Oswald; directed by Richard Oswald. Story: Joseph Schmidt, short and ugly, is a singing sensation on radio and records. Schmidt falls in love with Charlotte An¬ der, who is fascinated by his voice, but she and Schmidt’s best friend, Viktor de Kowa, fall in love. Schmidt is preparing to make his first appearance when he sees de Kowa and Ander kissing, and runs off. The show opens, and eventually Schmidt comes down the aisle singing, and is a tremend¬ ous success. After the show he forgives Ander and de Kowa. X-Ray: Despite the poor quality of the print and the sound track, the lyric beauty of Schmidt’s voice predominates. Story and the acting are adequate and the amount of music heard tends to limit its appeal. Many operatic and popular folk melodies are included. The screen play is by Richard Oswald and Ernest Neuback. The Joseph Schmidt Story Ad Lines: “Thrill To One Of The Great¬ est Voices Of All Time”; “A Story Of A Man Who Could Find Love In A Song”; “See The Film That Hitler Ordered De¬ stroyed.” The Last Illusion 89m. (Films International) (German-made) (English titles) Estimate: Art house offering has limited appeal. Cast: Fritz Kortner, Johanna Hofer, Rosemary Murphy, Lina Carstens, Ernst Schroder, Paul Hoffmann, Hans Fritz, Harold Mannl, Friedrich Domin. Directed by Josef von Baky. Story: After spending 15 years teach¬ ing at a university in California, Professor Fritz Kortner goes back to Germany to teach at his old university despite a warn¬ ing that as a Jew he is not wanted in Germany. From his ex-wife, Johanna Hofer, he learns that their son does not know he is half Jewish. His first lecture is met with hostile silence by the students. Led by a professor jealous of Kortner’s position, some demand Kortner’s resigna¬ tion. One of the student leaders, Ernst Schroder, Kortner’s son, falls in love with Rosemary Murphy, who came from Amer¬ ica as Kortner’s assistant. At a reception to honor Kortner, the hatred and anti-Sem¬ itism come to the fore, and Kortner has a stroke. Hofer comes to him, and Schroder, still unaware of Kortner’s ident¬ ity, apologizes. Before Kortner dies, he learns that Schroder is his son. X-Ray: Using English and German this rather wordy import attempts to present a picture of German youth and while it is a noble idea, it doesn’t quite come off. Kortner gives a moving performance as the professor. Dealing primarily with antiSemitism, this might go in some neighbor¬ hoods interested in the problem. The screen play is by Kortner. Ad Lines: “Why Did He Give Up A Secure Home In America To Return To Still Hostile Germany?”; “A Searching Study Of German Youth”; “He Returned To Germany To Discover That As A Jew He Was Still Not Wanted.” The Secret Brigade DR78m (Artkino) (Russian-made) (English titles) Estimate: Standard Russian entry. Cast: Vladimir Druzhnikov, A. Khvilya, G. Glebov, V. Dorofeyev, G. Michurin, V. Solovyov, A. Fenin, Z. Stomma, V. Bala¬ shov, V. Maryev, I. Kondratyeva. Directed by A. Feinsimmer and V. Korsh-Sablin. Story: Partisan leader Vladimir Druzh¬ nikov returns to a vital rail center, and tells the Nazis that he wishes to work for them. Only revealing his true identity to local Partisan leaders, Druzhnikov con¬ vinces the rest of the Russian workers that he has turned traitor, and perfects a small bomb. The Germans discover the plan to bomb many houses, and kill some of the Russians. Druzhnikov orders the bombings to be stopped, and, with the aid of old patriot G. Glebov, works out a plan to freeze the water supply, and thus cripple the entire depot. The Germans kill Glebov, and arrest Druzhnikov. As the Germans are about to kill him, Russian bombers put the depot out of commission. Druzhni¬ kov escapes to lead Russian units. X-Ray: This offers the routine Russian version of stupid Nazis and the heroism of the Soviet people. The action is repeat¬ edly halted to allow for patriotic speeches. The screen play is by A. Movzon. Ad Lines: “A True Story Of Russian Guerrillas In Action”; “Stirring Saga Of Russian Heroism”; “Russian Partisans Battle The Nazi Hordes.” Servisectlon 3