The Exhibitor (1950)

May 10, 1950 EXHIBITOR O' Story: At the start of World War I, James Millican and Barbara Woodell operate a ballroom, and have as their orchestra leader, Spade Cooley, father of Bobby Hyatt. Millican and Cooley enlist, dying when their troopship is sunk. Hyatt is sent to live with his aunt in Texas while Woodell tries to keep the ballroom going. Her granddaughter, Ginny Jackson, comes from the east to live with Woodell, and falls in love with Hal Derwin, who works at a hamburger stand at a nearby pier. Things go from bad to worse for Woodell, and she is about to sell the ball¬ room and the pier when Dick Lane, a colonel, claims he will finance the ball¬ room. Lane contacts Spade Cooley, Jr., (Hyatt grown up) to appear as an opening attraction for the dance hall, but he re¬ fuses unless Lane can arrange a television show. Lane lines up everything, including a sponsor and a flock of creditors, but Cooley is still holding out until he learns Woodell is still involved in the project. He rounds up a flock of entertainers for the first TV show from the ballroom, and everything is a success. X-Ray: This is about as good as the average comedy musical with a television background, and is okeh for the duallers, but it has too much story in the earlier footage. Once the plot is superseded by the array of guest stars, outstanding vaudeville specialties, and the music, the picture picks up considerably, and may carry weight where Cooley and his band have a radio draw. Heard are “Oblivious,” “Rhumba Boogie,” “I Shook,” “Deep Freeze Dinah,” “Foolish Tears,” “You’ve Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “Wake Up Susan,” “Shame On You,” “Roomful Of Roses,” “Cowboy Camp Meet¬ ing,” and Tennessee Wagoner.” The original story is by Bob Nunes and Cooley. Ad Lines: -“Happiest, Peppiest Rhythm Riot Of Your Life”; “Gayety, Gladness, And Melody Madness”; “Everybody’s Singin’, Everybody’s Gay In ‘Everybody’s Dancin’.’ ” Rocketship XM Acrl0N Dk“a Estimate: Well-made exploitation entry is packed with selling angles. Cast: Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery, Jr., Hugh O’Brian, Morris Ankrum. Written, produced, and directed by Kurt Neumann. Story: A rocketship manned by Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery, Jr., and Hugh O’Brian takes off for the moon. It runs into difficulties, and eventually it is found that it is headed for Mars. There the group find that the people have been practically exterminated by Mars’ own atomic age. The scientists are attacked by the inhabitants living in caves. Emery and Beery are killed, and O’Brian wounded. However, the survivors manage to take off, and approach the earth. A shortage of fuel, however, prevents a safe landing, and the rocket crashes in Nova Scotia. However, before this, the findings and story are radioed to the ground sta¬ tion. The ground head of the expedition, Morris Ankrum, says the expedition has been a success because it has paved the way for interplanetary travel. X-Ray: Packed with exploitation angles, and loaded with merchandising opportuni¬ ties, this is a generally well-made, al¬ most believable, film that should provide plenty of talk. It offers one concept of the future, and the fact that it almost seems like a probability is a tribute to its writing and handling. The inside-the-rocket scenes, are aces, and although the film bogs down a bit, this does not prevent it from being a real exploitation opportunity. Photography, special effects, etc., are way above average, and the acting is adequate throughout. Ad Lines: “Here It Is . . . The World Of The Future ... In ‘Rocketship XM’ ”; “Bound For The Moon . . . They Landed On Mars”; ‘“Rocketship XM’ ... The Years’ Big Thrill.” West of the Brazos Western (4930) 59m. Estimate: Above par western. Cast: Jimmy Ellison, Russ Hayden, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight, Betty Adams, Tom Tyler, George Lewis, John Cason, Stanley Price, Stephen Carr, Dennis Moore, George Chesebro, Bud Osborne, Jimmy Martin, Gene Roth, Judy Webster. Produced by Ron Ormond; directed by Thomas Carr. Story: Jimmy Ellison, en route on a rare visit to his mother’s ranch, and pal, Russ Hayden, are trailed by U. S. Marshal Stanley Price, who thinks they are part of a gang headed by John Cason. Cason’s aides mistake Ellison for Price in an ambush attempt foiled by Price’s arrival, but Price is wounded. He recognizes old friends Ellison and Hayden, and deputizes the former before being taken to a sheep ranch. Meanwhile, Cason has discovered from stolen mail that Ellison’s ranch has valuable oil, and he is posing as Ellison. Ellison is informed of this by girl friend Betty Adams but is unable tfe prove his identity in court, having posed as the marshal upon his arrival. Ellison and Hayden flee the law to get Price’s confir¬ mation but Cason and aide arrive first. Price recognizes Cason, who is overcome by Ellison. Ellison and Adams clinch. X-Ray: Ellison and Hayden team nicely in this above par western, which moves at a good clip, and which has ample plot and action to maintain interest. Capable sup¬ port is lent by Cason and Price. The original screen play was written by Ron Ormond and Maurice Tombragel. Ad Lines: “Jimmy Ellison And Russ Hayden Battle Vicious Outlaws ‘West Of The Brazos’ ”; “He Had To Become An Impersonator To Catch A Bandit Imper¬ sonating Him”; “The Lucky Cowboys Star In ‘West Of The Brazos’.” MGM The Asphalt Jungle (29) Melod,rXa Estimate: Well-made melodrama. Cast: Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe, John Mclntire, Marc Lawrence, Barry Kelley, Anthony Caruso, Teresa Celli, Marilyn Monroe, William Davis, Dorothy Tree, Brad Dexter, John Maxwell. Pro¬ duced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.; directed by John Huston. Story: When Sterling Hayden is arrested as a robbery suspect, the police are forced to release him since the victim is too frightened to identify him. Police commis¬ sioner John Mclntire calls Lieutenant Barry Kelley on the carpet. In that district is the bookie establishment run by Marc Lawrence under the protection of Kelley, who receives bribes. To Lawrence comes ex-convict Sam Jaffe, a criminal master¬ mind, who has planned a half-million dollar robbery of a large jewelry store, with a request for $50,000 operating funds to be gotten from prominent criminal law¬ yer Louis Calhern. The latter tells Law¬ rence to advance the money, not letting on that he is broke. The organization com¬ mences, with Hayden made the strongarm man, James Whitmore to drive one of the cars, and Anthony Caruso to open the safe. Calhern, out of funds due to his high cost of living and paying for the friendship of Marilyn Monroe, unbe¬ knownst to his wife, an invalid, calls in Brad Dexter, a private detective, to help him doublecross Jaffe, and take all the loot. The robbery goes off but alarms are set off by the blast, and a watchman ap¬ pears, wounding Caruso badly. However they all escape. Caruso dies; Hayden and Jaffe show up at Calhern’s for the payoff. Hayden is wounded and Dexter killed. Calhern is spared, with the idea being that he go to the insurance company to offer to surrender the gems at a quarter of their value. Dexter’s death leads police to Calhern, and when his alibi doesn’t stand up, he kills himself. Meanwhile, the police surmise that Jaffe is the mastermind. Kelley forces a confession from Lawrence, and Whitmore is arrested. However, Hay¬ den and Jaffe, still on the loose, are hidden by Hayden’s girl friend, Jean Hagen. The two decide to separate, and Jaffe is arrested. Hayden heads for home with Hagen at his side. His wound causes com¬ plications, -but he lives long enough to reach the scene of his boyhood. X-Ray: There is an absorbing quality about this film. Suspense is on high throughout, and all concerned turn in a superb job. There is a goodly amount of action, topped by a pace-setting yam, able performances by everyone, especially Jaffe, Hayden, Hagen, and Lawrence, and good direction by Huston, who is at his best in an excellent production. While there is a lack of star lustre, the film should prove immensely interesting to adult audiences who like their entertainment rough, tough, and down-to-earth. It is based on a novel by W. R. Burnett. Tip On Bidding: Better than average program price. Ad Lines: “A Criminal Mastermind Challenges The Police. The Result Is A Suspense-filled Thriller”; “He Was Tough But He Had To Be To Survive In ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ ”; “A Crime Thriller To Be Classed With The Best Of Its Type.” MONOGRAM Lucky Losers (4914) Comedy Melodrama 70m. Estimate: Okeh series entry. Cast: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Hillary Brooke, Gabriel Dell, Lyle Talbot, Bernard Gorcey, William Benedict, Joseph Turkel, Harry Tyler, Buddy Gorman, David Gor¬ cey, Harry Cheshire, Frank Jenks, Douglas Evans, Wendy Waldron, Glen Vernon, Chester Clute, Selmer Jackson. Produced by Jan Grippo; directed by William Beaudine. Story: Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall work in the brokerage firm of Selmer Jackson, the father of Wendy Waldron, who is the fiance of Gabriel Dell, “Bowery Boys” member and TV newscaster. Gorcey is given a registered letter to mail, the address of which he remembers as that of Lyle Talbot, night club-gambling owner. Later Jackson is found an apparent suicide, but Gorcey finds a matchbook and pair of dice in Jackson’s office with the emblem of Talbot’s club. Gorcey and the “Bowery Boys” then have sidewalk gambling expert-spiel artist Harry Tyler teach them all the crooked tricks. Gorcey and Hall employ them at Talbot’s club, earning employment there. Dell then starts a gambling expose against Talbot, and is aided by City Council member Harry Cheshire. Gorcey discovers the incrimi¬ nating letter from Jackson in Talbot’s desk, and sees the accidental murder of drunken playboy loser Glen Vernon covered up by political pressure. Then assistant d.a. Douglas Evans aids the boys Servisection 3 2847