The Exhibitor (Jun-Nov 1944)

THE EXHIBITOR October 4 , 1944 Strike It Rich With Laughs Ln Lum ’n' Abner’s Richest Comedy Hit"; “City Slick¬ ers Meet Their Match In the Proprietors Of the Pine Ridge Country Store Down In Arkansas.” The Master Race (502) Melodrama 97m. Estimate: Sock meller deserves best at¬ tention. Cast: George Coulouris, Stanley Ridges, Osa Massen, Carl Esmond, Nancy Gates, Morris Carnovsky, Lloyd Bridges, Eric Feldary, Helen Beverly, Gavin Muir, Paul Guilfoyle, Richard Nugent, Louis Donath, Herbert Rudley, Jason Robards, Merrill Roden, Ghislaine Porreau. Directed by Herbert J. Biberman. Produced by Edward Golden. Story: As the German armies are collapsing dur¬ ing the second World War, Nazi Colonel George Coulouris addresses a meeting of officers and in¬ structs them to separate, and adopt inconspicuous roles in various communities throughout Europe, and to sow hatred and discord in the occupied areas. Thus, it is hoped that the stage will be set whereby Germany can once again attempt to en¬ slave the world. Coulouris disguises himself as a Belgian patriot, and has himself shipped to a Nazi concentration camp in a small village in Belgium, in the path of the advancing Allied armies. Head¬ ing the town's Allied Occupational Forces is Major Stanley Ridges, and he frees all the camp's prison¬ ers and replaces them with some captured Nazi soldiers. Coulouris compels Helen Beverly, widow of a former collaborationist, to accept him as her brother-in-law, whom no one in the town has seen. Paul Guilfoyle, the only surviving member of the town council, is appointed civilian aide to Ridges, while Carl Esmond, Russian army doctor, is made town medic in the absence of an Army doctor. Others v/ho make up the drama of a Belgian town undergoing liberation are Lloyd Bridges, a young patriot, who returns to find his sweetheart scorned by the townspeople because her mother is the collaborationist, Beverly, and his sister, Osa Massen, whose husband has also been away fighting the Nazis, and who was forced to submit to the German occupation forces, and bear an illegitimate child. Guilfoyle, dissatisfied, becomes an easy dupe for Coulouris in the stirring up of the populace. He is also used to blow up the jail, which is supposed to be blamed on the Allied troops, but which is traced to Coulouris. Beverly is killed because she threatens to expose him. Shortly, thereafter, he is taken into custody, and is identified as a Nazi by #ne of the Nazi soldiers who is disgusted with the whole rotten mess. Coulouris is shot by a firing squad as a spy. Bridges and his sweetheart are re¬ united, and Massen's child is accepted by the townspeople as a Belgian offspring. The family's happiness is complete when her husband returns from the wars. The town and its people stand reunited for a future of peace. X-Ray: Timely, well-produced, and filled with exploitation opportunities, “The Master Race” is one of the most signifi¬ cant pictures in many a day. It ought to register in the peak grossing class, with proper handling. Producer Edward Golden has come forward with a film that antici¬ pates international developments, and which poses post-war problems, but, at the same time, he hasn’t lost sight of the mer¬ chandising possibilities. This has a huge, ready-made audience waiting for it. Act¬ ing, direction, production, etc., are first rate, with Coulouris, Ridges, Massen, Es¬ mond, and the others contributing fine performances. Ad Lines: “What Happens To ‘The Mas¬ ter Race’ After the War?”; “Preparations For World War Three Revealed For the First Time”; “Will the Nazis Ever Really Be Defeated? . . . ‘The Master Race’ Pro¬ vides the Answer.” My Pal Wolf (505) Melodrama 75m. Estimate: Pleasing human interest entry for the duallers. Cast: Sharyn MofFett, Jill Esmond, Una O'Connor, George Cleveland, Charles Amt, Claire Carleton, Leona Maricle, Bruce Edwards, Edward Fielding, Olga Fabian, Larry Olsen, Jerry Michelsen, Bobby Larson, Marc Cramer, Grey Shadow. Produced by Adrian Scott. Directed by Alfred Werker. Story: Because Leona Maricle and Bruce Edwards are too engrossed with their business affairs in Washington, they hire Jill Esmond as governess for their daughter, Sharyn Moffett. Esmond is shocked at the free and easy ways of the household, and when Moffett tells her of finding a "wolf dog," Grey Shadow, in a cave, Esmond rebukes her for lying. During the night, however, MofFett slips away to feed the animal, a big police-dog, which has keen trapped at the bottom of an old dry well, and is trapper herself when the rope she has been using gives away. Moffett helps Grey Shadow to escape. and the dog brings Charles Arnt and Olga Fabian, neighbors, to her rescue. Although Esmond objects to Moffett's keeping the dog, her father finally gives consent. Esmond, however, investigates, and finds that the dog belongs to a nearby Army training camp. The authorities take him away. Grey Shadow, anxious to get back to his mistress, escapes from the camp, and Moffett and a group of neighboring children go to see the Secretary of War to buy the animal from him. The Secretary explains to her that the Army must have dogs to save the lives of soldiers, and also summons Moffett's parents who, learning their lesson, discharge Esmond, and resolve to spend more time with their daughter. Moffett is later overjoyed when the Secretary sends her a police-dog puppy to keep her company while Grey Shadow is serving his country. X-Ray: This is a pleasing number that has a lot of entertainment for the family and twin bill trade. It lacks feature names, but once the customers are in, they should be pleased. Little Miss Moffett turns in an excellent performance, with the cast capable. The story moves at a good pace. Ad Lines: “ ‘My Pal Wolf ... The En¬ grossing Story Of a Little Girl and a Dog Who Even the War Could Not Separate”; “An Unwanted Child and An Unwanted Dog Thrown Together By the Hand Of Fate”; “A Story Tingling With ‘HeartAppeal’.” Tall In the Saddle (503) Wes™£ Estimate: Popular type western should find favor. Cast: John Wayne, Ella Raines, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Don Douglas, Emory Parnell, Ward Bond, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Paul Fix, Russell Wade, Raymond Hatton, Harry Woods, Wheaton Chambers, Frank Puglia, Bob McKenzie. Directed by Edwin L. Marin. Produced by Robert Fellows. Story: John Wayne, roving cowhand, arrives in the west to take a job which he had secured by letter. On his arrival, he finds his boss-to-be has been murdered and that a group of unknown killers have held sway, in league with corrupt sheriff Emory Parnell. Wayne incites the enmity of Ella Raines, who owns a ranch with her brother, Russell Wade, and Don Douglas, their stepfather. Douglas apparently is against the lawless elements, and also hates judge Ward Bond. Wayne is hired by Raines after he humiliates her, and she falls for him. Following a series of developments, Wayne is revealed as the rightfull owner of a ranch which Bond, Douglas, and others are coveting, with Doug¬ las revealed as the killer, and Bond as another leader of the gang. Wayne clinches with Raines. X-Ray: This is a typical western, but the added attractions, Wayne, Raines, okay production, etc., will lift it into the better grosses. The plot is practically the same as those seen in the run-of-the-mill west¬ erns, but this is the type of picture which turns in a good gross every once in a while. Wayne has a solid pull, and there is the usual assortment of gunplay, fights, etc., seen in the outdoor type of picture. Ad Lines: “ ‘Tall In the Saddle’ ... He Sought the Mysterious Killer”; “She Sought To Kill Him . . . And Then She Knew She Loved Him”; “Thrill With the Western Heroes of Yesterday In the Sea¬ son’s Fastest Outdoor Show.” REPUBLIC Cheyenne Wildcat Western (3314) 57m. Estimate: Okay ‘Red Ryder’ entry. Cast: Bill Elliott, Bobby Blake, Alice Fleming, Francis McDonald, Tom Chatterton, Tom London, Peggy Stewart, Roy Barcroft, Jack Kirk, Bud Geary, Kenne Duncan, Sam Burton. Directed by Lesley Selander. Story: In Cheyenne, bank cashier Tom London is caught by president Tom Chatterton at a bit of skulduggery. He threatens to have the cashier ar¬ rested, but London comes back with the fact that many years before Francis McDonald was sent to the pen for that very same crime because of testi¬ mony of Chatterton, and that McDonald is coming back gunning for his ex-partner, the bank prexy. It seems that easterner Roy Barcroft is head of the crooked deal whereby counterfeit bonds are sub¬ stituted for the real thing. Barcroft and London connive to have Chatterton murdered, throw the blame on the returned McDonald, and start a run on the bank to cover their nefarious deeds and loot the bank, but Bill 'Red Ryder' Elliott, Bobby 'Little Beaver' Blake, and Alice 'The Duchess' Flem¬ ing, with the help of Peggy Stewart, daughter of the wronged banker, by some mighty high finance, checkmate the dastards, and put them behind the bars. X-Ray: Another ‘Red Ryder’ episode based on the strip of the same name comes to the screen in as fast a moving episode as the western fans could wish. This one meaures up to a high standard of format. Ad Lines: “The Wolves Of the Plains . . . Thwarted By Bill Elliott, Bobby Blake, and Alice Fleming”; “A Mighty Epic Of Skulduggery Thwarted By the Daring Deeds Of Red Ryder . . . Little Beaver . . . and the Duchess”; “The Year’s Fastest Western.” Git Along Little Dogie (3307) Musical Western 65m. (Re-release) Estimate: Okay Autry re-release. Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Judith Allen, Weldon Heyburn, William Farnum, Willie Fung, Carleton Young, Maple City Four, Will and Gladys Ahern, Cabin Kids, Champion. Directed by Joseph Kane; associate producer, Armand Schaefer. Story: Autry opposes a company drilling an oil well in the vicinity of his ranch, believing that the oil will pollute the streams, and prevent the cattle from drinking. Judith Allen, owner of a radio sta¬ tion, is trying to sell the ranchers stock in the well through daily broadcasts. Autry, learning that the railroad will put a branch line into the town if the well comes in, becomes friendly with Allen and helps her put over the stock. Getting ranchers to¬ gether, he talks them into buying, finally blowing the well in, himself, to thwart the crook behind the well drilling company. X-Ray: When first reviewed in 1937 it was said: “Nicely made, this Autry picture can be classed as one of the best in the series. Interspersed throughout the picture are nice musical interludes by Autiy, the Maple City Four, the Cabin Kids, and Smiley Burnette.” Songs heard are “Git Along Little Dogies,” “Chinatown,” “If You Want To Be a Cowboy,” “Wait For the Wagon,” “Red River Valley,” “Cornin’ Round the Mountain,” “Long, Long Ago,” “Oh, Susanna,” “Goodnight Ladies,” “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” “After You’ve Gone,” “In the Valley Where the Sun Goes Down,” “Happy Days Are Here Again,” and “Honey Bringing Honey To You.” Ad Lines: “Your Favorite Western Sing¬ ing Star In One Of His Greatest Successes”; “Action, Comedy, Song In One Of Autry’s Best Brought Back For Your Enjoyment”; “A Cast Of Western Favorites Headed By Gene Autry In a Modern Western.” My Buddy Estimate Drama 69m. Fair meller for the duallers. Cast: Donald Barry, Ruth Terry, Lynne Roberts, Alexander Granach, Emma Dunn, John Litel, George E. Stone, Jonathan Hale, Ray Walker, Joe Devlin, Matt McHugh. Directed by Steve Sekely. Associate producer, Eddy White. Story: John Litel, a Chicago priest, appears before a post war planning committee in Washington, and tells the story of Donald Barry, who fought in World War I. Barry returned home in 1918, but couldn't get a job. He wanted to marry, but didn't have the dough, and his mother had to work as a menial. Finally, when the outlook seemed hopeless, he went to work for Alexander Granach, a racket¬ eer, running illegal liquor. When the police get him, he receives a five year term, and vows ven¬ geance on Granach. At the end of his sentence, he enters the field with his own gang. Some of Barry's men are slain, and Barry kills Granach. When the police close in, Barry is shot, but not before he has taken his ill-gotten gains, bnd has given them to Litel, an old friend, for distribution to the rightful owners. Litel tells the committee that this is the sort of thing which must be avoided when World War II ends. They agree. X-Ray: This starts off as a picture de¬ voted to the post-war problem, but it quickly lapses into a typical gangster show, even though there is a message. Barry shows up well, gets some assistance from Ruth Terry, as a night club singer who makes a play for him, and then exposes him. Lynne Roberts is the girl he wants to marry. The pace is fast. As an action show it will fit into the duallers. Songs, sung by Terry, include: “Whodunit?” and “Wait¬ ing For the Evening Mail.” “My Buddy” also is sung a couple of times. 1592 Servisection 2