The Exhibitor (1952)

June 4, 1952 EX H I B i ro it U-International Just Across The Street Comedy (223) 79m Estimate: Amusing comedy. Cast: Ann Sheridan, John Lund, Robert Keith, Cecil Kellaway, Harvey Lembeck, Natalie Schafer, Alan Mowbray, George Eldredge, Bert Mustin, Billie Bird. Pro¬ duced by Leonard Goldstein; directed by Joseph Pevney. Story: Ann Sheridan, unemployed sec¬ retary, lives with her retired father, Cecil Kellaway, who is always seeking means to buy whiskey. While out on an inter¬ view at the home of Robert Keith and Natalie Schafer, Sheridan meets plumber John Lund. He mistakes her for Keith’s daughter, and lectures her on the virtues of working hard for a living. Sheridan later applies to Lund for a job when his girl quits. He thinks she is a wealthy playgirl who has decided to mend her ways, and work for a living. He insists on driving her home each night, picking her up each morning in front of Keith’s home. She hides in Keith’s shrubbery until Lund drives away and she can take a bus home. Schaeffer sees her hiding one evening, and suspects that Keith is involved while later Keith spots Lund with flowers looking for Sheridan, and thinks that Schafer is straying again. This almost leads to divorce between the pair. Keith sees Lund. They doubletalk each other, still unaware of the real status of things, and they become friends. Kellaway straightens out Sheridan’s identity with Lund, Keith and Schaeffer are reunited, and Sheridan and Lund are in love. X-Ray: This is a pleasing program comedy. A sneak preview audience seemed to enjoy itself thoroughly, with the laughs coming loud and often. The mis¬ taken identity theme is used to good ad¬ vantage, and the story is interesting and amusing with a lively pace in evidence. The cast turns in good jobs, and direction and production are in the better class. The story was written by Roswell Rogers and Joel Malone. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “She Was Only A Plumber’s Helper But What Fun”; “A Fun Fest For All”; “Want Some Fun? Want To Relax With Laughter? Don’t Miss This Tale Of A Plumber And His Gal.” Scarlet Angel (222) Melodr“a (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Okeh programmer. Cast: Yvonne De Carlo, Rock Hudson, Richard Denning, Whitfield Connor, Bodil Miller, Amanda Blake, Henry O’Neill, Maude Wallace, Dan Riss, Henry Bran¬ don, Tol Avery. Produced by Leonard Goldstein; directed by Sidney Salkow. Story: When merchant marine captain Rock Hudson delivers his cargo in postcivil war New Orleans, he seeks excite¬ ment in a saloon run by Henry Brandon, who sends Yvonne De Carlo over to free him from his roll. When the sheriff shows up to arrest De Carlo, Hudson starts a fight, and escapes with her. They discover that Bodil Miller, a war widow, and infant son need help. De Carlo offers to stay with her, but, when Hudson goes to sleep, she takes his money, and bundles the pair off to the house Miller has rented. There De Carlo learns of Miller’s back¬ ground and of her husband. When she dies, De Carlo assumes her identity to get away from the law. A lawyer shows up, and transports De Carlo and baby to San Francisco, where Henry O’Neill and Maude Wallace bid her welcome. Cousins Amanda Blake and Richard Denning are suspic¬ ious, and fear losing their inheritance. Hudson shows up seeking his money, and Blake tries to pry into their past but is rebuffed. Hudson goes off on a cruise, and returns to find De Carlo still single and ready to admit that she is in love with him. Brandon turns up with a private detective to blackmail her, and threat¬ ens to rob the child of his inheritance. She then agrees to marry Denning to pro¬ tect the boy. When Hudson hears of this, he gets drunk. At the last moment, a birthmark protects the youngster. De Carlo is able to walk out to rejoin Hudson. X-Ray: Despite the Technicolor and the De Carlo and Hudson names, this is just a fair programmer. The story carries some interest, but performances, direction, and production are standard. The story and screen play are by Oscar Brodney. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “From A Saloon Gal To A Rich Heiress In A Few Months”; “She Had To Claim A Child In Order To Get On The Road To Riches”; “Should She Choose Wealth Or Romance And Adventure?” WARNERS 3 For Bedroom C Comedy (124) „ 74m (Natural Color) Estimate: Fair comedy for the duallers. Cast: Gloria Swanson, James Warren, Fred Clark, Hans Conreid, Steve Brodie, Janine Perreau, Ernest Anderson, Mar¬ garet Dumont. Associate producer Ed¬ ward L. Alperson, Jr.; written and directed by Milton H. Bren. Story: Screen star Gloria Swanson, in a hurry to get to California, takes over a bedroom on a coast-to-coast train. Fam¬ ous scientist-Harvard professor James Warren claims the bedroom, but is talked out of his accommodations by Swanson and her adopted daughter, Janine Per¬ reau. Although not recognizing her as a movie star, he is struck by her beauty, they seem to fall in love, and Warren moves into the men’s lounge. Fred Clark, Swanson’s agent, catches up with her at Kansas City, and tries to prevent her fighting with her studio. To calm her, he tries to arrange a dinner and perhaps a future picture with rising young stage star Steve Brodie. When Warren sees them together, he misunderstands, and thinks that Swanson was merely flirting with him. Before the train reaches its destination, he tries writing Swanson an explanatory note. She answers him when they get off the train, and they are reunited. X-Ray: Although this tries to be funny, and succeeds in a few spots, on the whole this falls short of the intended mark. The story is moderately interesting, and the acting, direction, and production are average. Practically all the story takes place on the quietest train in creation. The Swanson name may be of some draw value, and there may be some curiosity as to the title. The color may help in the selling. The story is based on the novel by Goddard Lieberson. Tip On Bidding: Program price. Ad Lines: “Things Get Kind Of Crowded When A Professor, A Movie Star, And Her Daughter All Try To Use Bedroom ‘C’”; “She Wanted To Go To California Fast; He Had A Train Bed¬ room . . . Don’t Miss The Result.” The Winning Team Biographical Drama \ 1 98m. Estimate: Name values should assist baseball show. Cast: Doris Day, Ronald Reagan, Frank Lovejoy, Eve Miller, James Millican, Rusty Tamblyn, Gordon Jones, Hugh Sanders, Frank Ferguson, Walter Baldwin, Dorothy Adams and big league players Bob Lemon, Jerry Priddy, Peanuts Lowrey, George Metkovich, Irving Noren, Hank Sauer, A1 Zarilla, Gene Mauch. Produced by Byron Foy; directed by Lewis Seiler. Story: At the turn of the century, tele¬ phone lineman Ronald “Grover Cleveland Alexander” Reagan wants to marry Doris Day and play baseball. He helps his local team beat a professional nine managed by Gordon Jones who offers him a job. During a game, he is beaned, and this leaves him with double vision. His career in baseball is seemingly ended, and he and Day settle down on their farm. One day, he finds his vision normal, and is able to resume with Philadelphia. He wins 28 games, and makes a friend in Frank Rogers Hornsby” Lovejoy by letting him get a hit. During World War I, he is an artillery sergeant. After the war, Reagan reports to the Chicago Cubs. After playmg, he collapses, and a doctor advises him to retire. He pledges the doctor to secrecy, and carries on. After several more seiz¬ ures and drinking, he starts down the road, and even Day leaves him. Fired by the Cubs, Reagan drifts from job to job. The doctor finally explains everything to Day who goes to Lovejoy, managing the bt. Louis Cards, and asks him to take Reagan back. With Reagan’s help, the Cards win the 1926 pennant, and go into the World Series against the Yankees. Reagan helps win the pennant with the inspiration of Day in the stands. X-Ray: Baseball fans should be the big¬ gest rooters for this film dealing with the career of Grover Cleveland Alexander The presence of Day, Reagan, and Love¬ joy should help things along as well as the dramatic touches to be found in a yam of average interest. The cast does a good job with the assignments, and the direction and production are suitable Music includes: “01’ Saint Nicholas” and “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” The screen play by Ted Sherdeman, Seeleg Lester, and Merwin Gerard is based on a story by Lester and Gerard. Seen in bits are big leaguers Bob Lemon, Jerry Priddy, “Peanuts” Lowrey, George Met¬ kovich, Irving Noren, Hank Sauder, A1 Zarilla, and Gene Mauch. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “The Heartwarming Story Of One Of Baseball’s Greatest Pitchers”; “Take Me Out To The Ball Game, And Have Some Fun”; “Get A Load Of The Winning Team With Your Favorite Stars, Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, and Frank Lovejoy.” FOREIGN Young Wives/ Tale Comedy 74m. (Stratford) (English-made) Estimate: Mild import for the art and class spots. Cast: Joan Greenwood, Nigel Patrick, Derek Farr, Guy Middleton, Athene Seyler, Helen Cherry, Audrey Hepburn, Fabia Drake, Anthony Deamer, Carol James, Irene Handl, Joan Sanderson, Selma Vaz Dias, Jack McNaughton, Brian Oulton. Produced by Victor Skutezy; directed by Henry Cass. Serviseciion 5 3309