The Exhibitor (1952)

COLUMBIA Walk East On Beacon Documentary , An,r\ Melodrama (426) 98m. Estimate: Well-made espionage meller. Cast: George Murphy, Finlay Currie, Virginia Gilmore, Karel Stepanek, Louisa Horton, Peter Capell, Bruno Wick, Rev. Robert Dunn, Karl Weber, Jack Maiming, Vilma Kurer, Michael Garrett, Robert Carroll, Ernest Graves. Produced by Louis deRochemont; directed by Alfred Werker. Story: When Ernest Graves, Americanborn head of a Soviet espionage unit in this country, fails to report on a newsecret scientific project, Karel Stepanek, master Soviet spy, sent to replace him, contacts florist Bruno Wick and Peter Capell and Virginia Gilmore, who oper¬ ate a photography store as a blind. Step¬ anek also summons Louisa Horton, a member of the Washington espionage group, and instructs her and her husband, a scientist, to get more information. Step¬ anek then tells Gilmore to blackmail pro¬ fessor Finlay Currie, a renowned refugee and leading scientist, to reveal the theories dealing with time and space, using Cur¬ rie’s son, who is being held in the eastern zone of Berlin, as the instrument. The FBI has had Graves under surveillance on an anonymous tip, and, with the advent of Stepanek, it senses something big. In¬ spector George Murphy is assigned the case. When Currie goes to the FBI, and reveals the threats, Murphy asks him to play along with the spies. The spies are trailed. Meanwhile, in Washington, Hor¬ ton and her husband secure the needed information but are picked up when they try to pass it to Gilmore. Stepanek, seeing the need for decisive action, has Currie kidnapped, and attempts to put him aboard a Soviet sub, but the FBI, aided by the coast guard, rescues him, and breaks up the whole conspiracy. Currie is told that his son has been rescued, and is Americabound. X-Ray: An exciting, well-made, and thoroughly interesting espionage melo¬ drama, this deals with methods used by the FBI to combat foreign spying here. Suspense is well-maintained throughout, and the cast, direction, and production are in the better class. However, this lacks marquee strength, which means that it will need exploitation to make up the difference. The detail has a tendency to slow down the piece a bit, and there is no romantic angle, but in interest, suspense, etc., this holds up well. The screen play is by Leo Rosten, added to by Virginia Shaler, Leonard Heideman, and Emmett Murphy, and suggested by “The Crime Of The Century”, by J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “Walk Lightly . . . Talk Quietly . . . You Never Know Who’s Listening”; “Espionage . . . Thrills . . . Chills . . . How The FBI Covered A Routine Assignment”; “What Was The Secret They Were After?” MONOGRAM Desert Pursuit Outdoor Drama (5209) 72m. Estimate: Outdoor drama has the angles. Cast: Wayne Morris, Virginia Grey, Anthony Caruso, George Tobias, John Doucette, Emmett Lynn, Bill Wilkerson, Bob Rice, Gloria Talbot, Frank Lackteen. Produced by Lindsley Parsons; directed by George Blair. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc. Publishing office: 246-248 North Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York office: 1600 Broadway, New York 19. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 428 South Mansfield, Los Angeles 36, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhalgh, general manager; Her¬ bert M. Miller, editor; Max Cades, business manager; George Nonamaker and Mel Konecoff, associate editors. The original Vink Section evaluation of features, short subjects. SECTION TWO Vol. 48, No. 1 MAY 7, 1952 Story: Wayne Morris, his money belt weighted down with gold, is about to set out from Nevada for California via Death Valley, but is warned by his pal, Emmett Lynn, that three Arabs, Anthony Caruso, George Tobias, and John Doucette, mounted on camels, plan to rob him. Vir¬ ginia Grey, fired as a blackjack dealer, rides into Morris’ camp, headed for Cali¬ fornia. He falls for her. As soon as they start out across the desert, they are stalked by the Arabs. Morris and Grey finally reach an Indian settlement during a Christmas eve ceremony. When the trail¬ ing Arabs arrive on their camels, they are mistaken by the Indians as the “three wise men”. The Arabs take advantage of the situation, and try to force Morris to hand over his gold as a “gift” offering to the Indians, planning to steal it later. Morris makes friends of the Indians, and gives them a token gift of gold, and, in gratitude, they provide a body guard for Morris and Grey. The Arabs close in, but are killed. X-Ray: This slow-moving desert opus, although a bit implausible what with the Arabs and camels chasing cowboy Morris and Grey all over the American desert, can still boast of some suspenseful moments and okeh performances by Mor¬ ris and Grey as well as by Lynn. Pro¬ duced entirely outdoors, much of the desert and Indian settlement scenes are impressive. The main trouble seems to be the story by Kenneth Perkins and screen play by W. Scott Darling. However, this should fit into the duallers okeh. Ad Lines: “A Different Type Of West¬ ern Thriller”; “Love And Drama On The Great American Desert”; “A Strange Story Of The Desert Wastes.” Kansas Territory Western (5225) 64m Estimate: Okeh western. Cast: Wild Bill Elliott, Peggy Stewart, Lane Bradford, Marshall Reed, Stan Jol¬ ley, House Peters, Jr., Lyle Talbot, Terry Frost, John Hart, William Fawcett. Pro¬ duced by Vincent M. Fennelly; directed by Lewis Collins. Story: When word reaches Wild Bill Elliott that his brother is killed in Kansas, he takes off to avenge his death even though he is wanted in the territory on old outlaw charges stemming from the Civil War. Elliott is almost killed in an ambush but saved by Peggy Stewart and her rifle. From Stewart, her father, Lyle Talbot, and others, Elliott learns that his brother had changed into a killer. Elliott is offered the job of sheriff but turns it down, hoping to avenge the killing on his own. Meanwhile, the U. S. Marshal, an old friend of Elliott, on his way to see him with a pardon from the governor, is killed by Marshall Reed. House Peters, Jr., attorney, appointed sheriff, kills Reed. Peters also reports that Reed told him be¬ fore dying that Stan Jolley, his broth¬ er’s partner, killed Elliott’s brother so that he could take over the whole saloon. It is revealed Peters is the real killer. Reed’s brother, Lane Bradford, kills him in a gun duel. Elliott decides to start anew with Stewart at his side. X-Ray: With some good action se¬ quences and an element of mystery, this should satisfy the outdoor fans with a fairly interesting yam, adequate perform¬ ances, and suitable direction and produc¬ tion. The screen play is by Dan Ullman. Ad Lines: “Wild Bill Elliott Rides Out To Get A Killer”; “Which Man In Town Was Guilty Of Murder?”; “An ActionPacked Western With Wild Bill Elliott” Wild Stallion Outdoor Drama (5205) 71m. (Cinecolor) Estimate: Okeh horse entry has the angles. Cast: Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan, Martha Hyer, Hayden Rorke, Hugh Beau¬ mont, Orley Lindgren, Don Haggerty, Susan Odin, I. Stanford Jolley, Barbara Woodell, John Halloran. Produced by Walter Mirisch; directed by Lewis Collins. WERE FLATTERED • • • because we receive so few TRADE-AD QUOTES! That's the best proof that these are HONEST REVIEWS written for Service to our Theatre Readers . . , and with the courage and muscle to call 'em as we see 'em. PONT TAKE OUR WORD FOR THIS. CHECK 'EM AGAINST YOUR PtAYOFF!