The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR May 6, 1953 to erupt. MacMurray saves Ralston from lava, the mountain splits, and the island disappears, taking Douglas and crew. Later, MacMurray and Ralston, after rid¬ ing out a tidal wave, wed. X-Ray: This has action, a volcano erupting, and a huge tidal wave, which will afford angles for the selling, but otherwise it is a standard sea story that the action addicts will probably like best. The story by Garland Roark sticks to the familiar, and, whenever it starts to lag, someone starts fighting. The Trucolor is uneven. MacMurray’s name should help in the selling as should the presence of McLaglen, Buddy Baer, and others. There are several traditional songs heard. Ad Lines: “The Greatest Sea Action Romance Of Them All”; “Adventure, Spectacle, Savage Love”; “Garland Ro¬ ark’s Greatest Novel Of The Exotic, Mys¬ terious Lands Of The South Seas.” Comedy The Sun Shines Bright Drama 90m. (Ford-Cooper) Estimate: Picturization of “Judge Priest” stories should have best appeal for south and smaller towns. Cast: Charles Winninger, Arleen Whel¬ an, John Russell, Stepin Fetchit, Russell Simpson, Ludwig Stossel, Francis Ford, Paul Hurst, Mitchell Lewis, Grant Withers, Milburn Stone, Dorothy Jordan, Elzie Emanuel, Slim Pickens, Ernest Whitman, Eve March, Jane Darwell, Clar¬ ence Muse, Henry O’Neill, James Kirk¬ wood, Trevor Bardette, Hal Baylor, Ken Williams, Mae Marsh. Produced by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper; directed by John Ford. Story: In the early 1900’s, in a small Kentucky town, Charles “Judge Priest” Winninger is running for reelection, with his chances slim against state’s attorney Milburn Stone. Winninger has been kind to Eve March, who runs a disreputable house on the outskirts of town, and, as a Confederate veteran, his followers are outnumbered by Yankee sympathizers. Back to town comes wealthy John Rus¬ sell, whom Winninger hopes will marry Arleen Whelan, adopted daughter of county doctor Russell Simpson. Winninger further gets himself into political trouble when he stops a rough group from hang¬ ing Elzie Emanuel for an attack on a young girl, since Emanuel is innocent. Grant Withers, later revealed as the cul¬ prit, is killed trying to escape. Whelan is actually the granddaughter of James Kirkwood, who will have nothing to do with her since his son, Whelan’s father, died in a fight over her mother, Dorothy Jordan. The latter comes back to die at the home of March. On the day of the election, Jordan is buried, with only March and the women of her house in the funeral procession. Gradually, however, the people of the town join the procession, and attend the services. The election is a tie until the closing minutes when Priest casts a vote for himself. He wins, Whelan clinches with Russell, and everyone is happy. X-Ray: With the John Ford touches evident throughout, this is an interesting film that has for its basis three “Judge Priest” stories by Irvin S. Cobb. Its main strength will be in the south and the smaller situations, although even in other areas it should have interest. Ford’s ability to get the most out of his players is ap¬ parent, and the characterizations are al¬ ways interesting. Songs include “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Dixie,” “Marching Through Georgia,” and others. Ad Lines: “ ‘Judge Priest’ Is Back . . . In A Picture Made By John ‘The Quiet Man’ Ford”; “Meet ‘Judge Priest’ . . . He Wasn’t A Quiet Man When He Got Started”; “The Surprise Picture Of The Year” 20TH-FOX The Farmer Takes A Wife (307) Comedy Drama with Music 81m. (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Grable draw should help period piece. Cast: Betty Grable, Dale Robertson, Thelma Ritter, John Carroll, Eddie Foy, Jr., Charlotte Austin, Kathleen Crowley, Merry Anders, Donna Lee Hickey, Noreen Michaels, Ruth Hall, William Pullen, Juanita Evers, Mort Mills, Lee Turnbull, Howard Negley, Joanne Jordan, Gene Roth, Mel Pogue, Gwyneth Verdon, Fred Graham, Jack Stoney, John Butler, Gor¬ don Nelson. Produced by Frank P. Rosen¬ berg; directed by Henry Levin. Story: In 1850, 25 years after the open¬ ing of the Erie Canal, Betty Grable, cook for canal boat owner John Carroll, quits him as the boat is docked at Rome, N. Y., because he drinks and fights too much. When farmer Dale Robertson signs up as a driver for Carroll, Grable is attracted, and the two fall in love. Carroll is locked up for 90 days because of a fight with incoming railroad men, during which time Grable and Robertson earn money to refurbish a boat formerly owned by Grable’s deceased father, and the two plan to make enough to marry. However, when Robertson wants to settle on a farm, Grable rebels, and they split. Later, as the big boat race takes place, Carroll and Robertson, rivals, have it out, and Rob¬ ertson wins the race and Grable. The two wind up in each other’s arms. X-Ray: A lot of time and money was spent on this Technicolor show, but the result is far below what might have been. Grable, for the most part in costumes of the period, is restricted, and although she has some songs, her usual attractions are held down, which will probably affect the boxoffice adversely. Robertson, Carroll, Thelma Ritter, Eddie Foy, Jr., and others buck a script which, except for a few spots, doesn’t give them much oppor¬ tunity. However, this may have small town appeal, especially in the area covered in the story. Songs include “On The Erie Canal”, “We’re Doin’ It For The Natives In Jamaica”, “Can You Spell Schenect¬ ady”, “Somethin’ Real Special”, “With The Sun Warm On Me”, “We’re In Business”, and “Today, I Love Ev’rybody.” The story is based on- the play, “Rome Haul”, by Frank B. Elser and Marc Connelly. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “She Wanted To Live On A Boat Until The Farmer Came Along”; “Hijinks And Goings-On ... In The Year’s Gayest Musical”; “Betty Grable ... As A Canal Boat Gal . . . Who Knew Her Locks ... In ‘The Farmer Takes A Wife’.” UNITED ARTISTS The Assassin Mysteky Mh'oi>b^ (Rank) (English-made) Estimate: Interesting, suspenseful im¬ port. Cast: Richard Todd, Eva Bartok, John Gregson, George Coulouris, Walter Rilla, Margot Grahame, John Bailey, Sidney James, Martin Boddey, Miles Malleson, Eric Pohlmann, David Hurst, Raymond Young, Ferby Mayne, Jill Clifford, Eileen Way, Toni Lucarda, Janice Kane, Meirer Tzelniker, Michael Balfour, Sydney Tafler. Produced by Betty Box; directed by Ralph Thomas. Story: Private detective Richard Todd arrives in Venice to locate John Gregson, an Italian who helped rescue an American airman during the war. The trail leads Todd to a museum, where Eva Bartok is instructed by Count Walter Rilla to put Todd off the trail. She tells Todd that the man he is seeking lies buried in a small town on the outskirts of the city. A visit convinces Todd that his quarry is alive. He overhears Rilla make an appoint¬ ment, later learns a plot is under way to kill a prominent politician. Todd is dis¬ covered, and knocked unconscious, after which it is decided to frame Todd for the killing and then shoot him for allegedly trying to escape. The plan goes wrong, and Todd is alive when the police burst in. Todd escapes, determined to get the real murderer. The police catch him again, but he convinces them that the killer is a few feet away, and unmasks Gregson as the killer who was also posing as a police undercover agent. A chase ensues, and Gregson falls to his death while Rilla is taken into custody. Todd and Bartok comfort each other. X-Ray: With action, suspense, intrigue, and on the spot location shots of Venice, this is in the better melodrama class and the result should satisfy meller fans as well as art house devotees. The cast is efficient, and the direction and production good. The screen play is by Victor Can¬ ning based on his novel, “Venetian Bird.” While this is an import, it should hold interest in most situations. Tip On Bidding: Program price. Ad Lines: “Murder In Venice”; “The Canals Of Venice Hold A Mystery Tightly, And Almost Kill To Keep Their Secret”; “Action . . . Adventure . . . Mystery . . . Romance . . . Murder In Venice” Raiders Of The Melodrama Seven Seas 88m (Global) (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Usual type pirate yam will appeal best to smaller situations and neighborhoods. Cast: John Payne, Donna Reed, Gerald Mohr, Lon Chaney, Anthony Caruso, Henry Brandon, Skip Torgerson, Frank DeKova, William Tannen, Christopher Dark, Claire DuBrey, Howard Freeman, Anthony Warde. Produced and directed by Sidney Salkow. Story: Pirate John “Barbarossa” Payne escapes from a sultan, captures a ship, takes over some prisoners of Spain as his crew, and then embarks to Tortuga, where he captures Donna Reed, a countess who is to marry Spanish officer Gerald Mohr. Mohr agrees to pay a big ransom for Reed, but Payne then shows him up as a liar and coward. Reed escapes from Payne to Havana, with Payne and men follow¬ ing. When Mohr attempts to trick Payne, Reed manages to bring him the true in¬ formation, and, in the showdown, Payne is the victor. United with Reed, he sails to North America. X-Ray: In the usual pirate tradition, this sticks to the expected, with grosses likely to be better in the action spots or in the small towns and neighborhoods. The film is one of the many corsair pic¬ tures seen during the season, and doesn’t deviate from the norm. Performances, di¬ rection, and production are standard. The story is by John O’Dea and director Sidney Salkow. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “Barbarossa . . . Scourge Of The Seas”; “A Woman Alone With Blood¬ thirsty Pirates . . . With Only Her Love To Shield Her”; “A Woman To Be Loved . . . Even By A Pirate.” 3516