The Exhibitor (Nov 1944-May 1945)

Technicolor”; “Hooves Thunder Across the Screen as the White Stallions Battle to the Death”; ‘Thunderhead, Son of Flicka,’ Gal¬ lops Across the Screen.” Roughly Speaking Comedy Drama (Warners) Estimate: Entertaining program. Cast: Rosalind Rusell, Jack Carson, Ann Doran, Alan Hale, Jean Sullivan, Robert Hutton, Donald Woods, Craig Stevens, John Alvin, Mary Servoss, John Qualen, Ray Col¬ lins, Kathleen' Lockhart, Cora Sue Collins, Ann Todd, Andy Clyde, Arthur Shields, Helene Thimig, Greta Granstedt, Hobart Cavanaugh, Eily Malyon, John Alvin, George Carleton, Francis Pierlot, Manart Kippen, George Meader, Frank Puglia, Chester Clute, Irving Bacon, Barbara Brown, Sig Arno, Ann Lawrence, Mona Freeman, Andrew King, Mickey Kuhn, Johnny Truel, John Calkins, Richard Wimer, John Sheridan, Jo Ann Marlowe, Patsy Lee Parsons, Gregory Muradian, John Sheffield, Robert Arthur. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Story: Rosalind Russell, whose father tells her it is better to be ‘on the inside looking out then on the outside looking in,’ takes up a secretarial career when the family is left penniless after his death. She lands in New Haven at the turn of the century, Yale socialite Donald Woods rushes her, and they marry. They have four children. One of the children gets infantile paralysis, but re¬ covers, but another blow falls when Woods loses his job, and he and Russell decide to he divorced. Russell keeps the children. Not long after, she meets Jack Carson, a ne’er do well son of a wealthy family. They wed. Another son is horn. Russell and Carson embark on a greenhouse proposition, but when things look swell, their fortunes turn bad, and they lose everything. Then they back a new type of plane. This is about to turn into a gold mine when the stock market crashes. However, despite all their adverse fortunes, they manage to keep their chins up, the sons go to Yale, and they never lose their sense of humor. The World’s Fair opens in New York, and they all get some sort of job. Then comes Pearl Harbor, and three sons go off to war; while once again Russell and Carson carry on. confident that no matter what lies ahead, they will make a go of it. X-Ray: A picturization of Louise Randall Pierson’s best seller. “Roughly Speaking.” in which this courageous woman told the story of her fight against fortune, this should prove a fair entry at the box office. The Rus¬ sell and Carson names, plus the pulling power of Robert Hutton, one of the sons: Alan Hale. Donald Woods, and others who have brief bits, should help. The picture is over long, an attempt having been made to crowd too much of the book into the pic¬ ture. While it is apparent that many of the incidents in the book probably read better than they play, the net result is a show somewhat inspirational in spirit, and par¬ ticularly appropriate in times like these. There is some incidental music. Ad Lines: “Nothing Could Lick Them . . . For They Had Faith In Each Other”; “The Courageous Story Of A Woman Who Could Not Take No For An Answer”; “Think Things Are Tough? . . . Wait Until You See ‘Roughly Speaking.’” Western Approaches ““"“To™. (Paramount) (Technicolor) (British -Made) Estimate: High rating documentary. Cast: Officers arid seamen of the merchant fleets of the United Nations. Story: A life hoat full of survivors from a torpedoed merchant ship is adrift in mid¬ THE EXHIBITOR February 7, 1945 ocean. With limited supplies of food and water, the men are more than 1000 miles from Ireland. The captain maps out plans to conserve strength and food, and, by dead reckoning, hopes to make land. One man, the radio operator, keeps sending SOS sig¬ nals from time to time with a small home¬ made transmitter. Simultaneously, a large convoy is assembling in New York harbor. The captains are briefed before sailing for England. During the voyage, one ship is forced to pull out of line, and run ahead of the convoy. Shifting cargo makes it im¬ possible to hold her place in a very rough sea. This ship picks up the faint SOS and starts for the point of broadcast. Mean¬ time. a U-boat has also picked up the signal, spots the small boat, and, knowing that the SOS will bring a rescue ship, the U-boat stands by. However, the survivors of the little craft spot the U-boat, and although they know their signal has been picked up, the captain, after an argument with the crew, decides to sacrifice the chance of rescue by changing course from the signalled position. However, the men are spotted by the rescue ship, but they manage to warn the rescuer of the U-boat. A battle ensues, the big ship is torpedoed but not sunk, the sub is de¬ stroyed and the survivors rescued. X-Ray: This is a high rating documentary, filled with many suspenseful moments, and it should attract plenty of attention. The men are not actors, but they give convinc¬ ing portrayals, and the whole thing shapes up as well worthy of playing time. Made in Britain, this is being distributed on this side by Paramount. Ad Lines: “The Greatest Documentary of the War . . . ‘Western Approaches’” . . . “They Risked Their Lives to Save the Con¬ voy” . . . “A Melodrama That Will Live Forever.” What a-Hlonde (RKO) Estimate: For the lower half. Comedy 71m. Cast: Leon Errol, Richard Lane, Michael St. Angel. Elaine Riley, Veda Ann Borg, Lydia Bilbrock. Clarence Kolb. Ann Schoemaker. Chef Milani. Emory Parnell, Larry Wheat, Dorothy Vaughn, Jason Robards. Directed by Leslie Goodwin. Story: Leon Errol, henpecked ladies un¬ derwear manufacturer, is overjoyed when his wife, Lydia Bilbrock, leaves town — so he can concentrate on the problem of get¬ ting gasoline. In his New York office, Elaine Riley, his secretary, aids boy friend Michael St. Angel, in obtaining an interview with Errol. St. Angel has a process for making artificial silk, but Errol, worried about his gasoline, doesn’t pay heed. Going to the board. Errol learns that the only way he can obtain the much sought for gas is to get two people to share his car each morn¬ ing. Meanwhile, at the Errol mansion, but¬ ler Richard Lane is descended upon by a young show-girl friend, Veda Borg, with four other lovelies, who are looking for a place to sleep. Lane sees in Borg a rider for Errol’s car. Errol brings St. Angel home as another rider, and is shocked to find his home occupied by the girls. Then, Clarence Kolb, pious man, from whom Errol is try¬ ing to obtain the silk he needs to stay in business, arrives with his wife. The night that follows is one of much panic, what with Bilbrock returning home. Finally, St. Angel manages to tell Errol about his process, and Errol can tell Kolb to leave. Then Errol learns the synthetic material cannot be made until after the war. X-Ray: This effort for the lower half will hold its chief appeal for youthful fans and slapstick lovers. Errol is his usual mugging self, producing a few laughs, but, on the whole, managing to make the entire situa¬ tion appear slightly ridiculous. Ad Lines: “Leon Errol Is Back ... To Rock You With Laughter” . . . “What Hap¬ pens When A Middle-Aged Wolf Finds His House Full Of Shapely Show-Girls” . . . “’What A Blonde!’ . . . That’s What Leon Errol Says When He Finds A Shapely Young Show-Girl In His House.” T. Mystery Comedy there Goes Kelly With Music 61m. (Monogram) Estimate: Minor entry. Cast: Jackie Moran, Wanda McKay, Sid¬ ney Miller, Ralph Sanford, Dewey Robinson, Jan Wiley, Anthony Warde, Harry Depp, George Eldredge, Edward Emerson, John Gilbreath, Pat Gleason, Don Kerr, Charlie Jordon, Terry Frost, Ralph Linn, Gladys Blake. Directed by Phil Karlstein; produced by William Strohbach. Story: Jackie Moran and Sidney Miller are two ambitious page boys at a broadcast¬ ing studio in Hollywood, where Wanda Mc¬ Kay is a newly-hired receptionist and the possessor of a good voice. During a re¬ hearsal. Jan Wiley, star vocalist of the show, is. murdered. Everyone is under suspicion, especially John Gilbreath, cowboy singer, who is murdered before he can be questioned about the gun used on Wiley, which be¬ longed to him. McKay is auditioned for the dead vocalist’s spot on the program, and is given a contract. Ralph Sanford, police detective, gathers all the suspects together in the studio, and. with the help of Moran, finds that Edward Emerson, announcer, is the murderer, having had relations with Wiley before her arrival in Hollywood. He is overpowered when he pulls a gun, and the new show goes on the air, a success. Moran and Miller are still page boys. X-Ray: This is for the lower half, with only fair material and performances. McKay provides some refreshing moments with some tunes, among which are: “We’re Walkin’ The Chalk Line For You”, “Since You Came Along”, “Where Were You When I Dreamed About You Last Night,” etc. Ad Lines: “Murder In A Broadcasting Studio” . . . “Comedy . . . Mystery . . . Music As A Murderer Stalks Through A Broadcasting Studio” . . . “It’s Murder . . . On The Air.” The Kid Sister (PRC) Estimate: Minor programmer. Comedy 55m. Cast: Judy Clark, Roger Pryor, Constance Worth, Frank Jenks, Tommy Dugan, Rich¬ ard Byron, Minerva Urecal, Ruth Robinson, Peggy Wynne. Produced by Sigmund Neufeld; directed by Sam Newfield. Story: Judy Clark, scatterbrained daughter of Ruth Robinson, wealthy socialite, is very anxious to meet Roger Pryor, grand prize in the local matrimonial sweepstake. Her <Rder sister, Constance Worth, forbids Clark to attend a dinner tendered in Pryor’s honor. Clark, however, posing as a maid, meets Pryor, hut when her mother discovers this, the trouble maker sneaks out of the house, and accepts a lift from a strange man in a car, and discovers that he is Frank Jenks, a local burglar. The car is wrecked and Clark makes for the nearest house, which turns out to be Pryor’s. He lectures to her. Jenks, looking for his partner in crime, enters Pry¬ or’s home with the police on his heels. Fin¬ ally, Clark confesses that she isn’t a house maid, and Pryor, in a fit of rage, sends her home. Later, there is an affair at Clark’s home, and Pryor, aware that he loves her, sneaks off with her. When Clark returns home, Jenks is waiting for her, and tells her to lead him to the family safe. The girl, however, picks up a bottle of nitro, and, threatening to blow the place up, backs 1662 Servisection 4