The Exhibitor (1953)

January 13, 1954 EXHIBITOR White Fire (5317) (English-made) Estimate: Sharply paced import has names to help. Cast: Scott Brady, Mary Castle, John Blythe, Gabrielle Brime, Colin Tapley, Lloyd Lamble, Julian Somers, Ferdy Mayne, Ballard Berkeley, Roan O’Casey, John Schofield, Paul Erickson. Produced by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman; directed by John Gilling. Story: When Scott Brady, officer on an American merchant ship, comes to Eigland, he finds his brother, Paul Erickson, has been missing. Through the latter’s lawyer, Colin Tapley, he learns that Erick¬ son had been involved with a smuggling ring, centered aroxmd a night club. Night club singer Mary Castle tips off Brady that Erickson has been sentenced to die for a crime committed in the club. This leads to events which eventually prove that Tapley is the real head of the smugglers and that Erickson had been framed. Erickson is freed. When Brady’s ship sails, Castle is on it with him. X-Ray: Rating with the better imports, this will fit into the duallers. It keeps moving all the time, and the presence of two American names should be a factor in the booking. There is a minimum of the dialogue usually foimd in English films and the main concentration is on action. The story was written by Erickson. Ad Lines: “His Brother Faced Death . . . But He Saved His Life”; “One Man Against A Smuggling Ring”; “Watch Scott Brady Outwit A Gang Of Smugglers.” MGM The Long, Long Trailer comedy (416) 96m. (Ansco Color) (Print by Technicolor) Estimate: Highly amusing comedy should be aided by stars’ TV draw. Cast: Lucille Ball, Desi Amaz, Marjorie Main, Kerman Wynn, Gladys Hurlbut, Moroni Olsen, Bert Freed, Madge Blake, Walter Baldwin, Oliver Blake, Perry Shee¬ han. Produced by Pandro S. Berman; directed by Vincente Minnelli. Story: As Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are about to get married, she is bitten by the trailer bug and talks him into buying a huge 40-foot deluxe rig. He must also buy a heavier car to pull it as well as special equipment. After the wedding, they head towards Colorado and his new job and run into all sorts of situations as well as some beautiful scenery. Finally, they reach a point at which he can no longer stand the trailer. They have a serious quarrel which results in a tempor¬ ary separation. She comes near selling the trailer, but they are reunited, proving that love is bigger than the trailer. X-Ray: Laughs and amusing situations are to be foimd here, with the highly popular TV pair. Ball and Amaz, playing strictly for comedy, the straight man be¬ ing a 40-foot deluxe trailer that gets into all kinds of situations. Color accentuates the beautiful countryside, and the story, although lightweight, is entertaining, with even a few moments of suspense thrown in. Cast, direction, and production are good. The screen play is by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich, based on the novel by Clinton Twiss. The theme melody is “Breezin’ Along With The Breeze.” Tip On Bidding: Better price. Ad Lines: “See The Covmtry From A Trailer With Lucille Ball And Dezi Amaz And Have A Wonderful Time”; “Fun For All”; “The Year’s Biggest I^ugh.” Saadia (415) Melodrama 81m. (Made in French Morocco) (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Name values should be factor in the selling. Cast: Cornel Wilde, Mel Ferrer, Rita Gam, Michel Simon, Cyril Cusack, Wanda Roth, Marcel Poncin, Anthony Marlowe, Helene Vallier, Mahjoub Ben Brahim, Jacques Dufilho, Bernard Farrel, Richard Johnson, Peter Copley, Mame Maitland, Edward Leslie, Harold Hasket, Peter Bull, Abdallah Mennehbi. Produced and directed by Albert Lewin. Story: In Northern Africa, doctor Mel Ferrer, a member of the Colonial Medical Service, has as his good friend. Cornel Wilde, a progressive native chief. Upon the urging of her father, ill native girl Rita Gam, whom everyone says is xmder a witch’s spell, is visited by Ferrer, who finds she needs an appendectomy. He saves her life, which infuriates witch Wanda Roth, who starts casting evil spells. Ferrer and Wilde both fall for Gam. When a plague comes, necessary supplies are captured from a wrecked plane by mountain bandits. Gam risks her life to murder the bandit chieftain and bring back the drugs. The plague is con¬ quered, but the bandits, out to get Gam, ambush her, Ferrer, Wilde, and small party, and they wound Wilde. In his de¬ lirium, Wilde indicates his love for Gam, which makes Ferrer, who loves her too, imderstand the situation. The French troops arrive to save the day and Wilde eventually marries Gam. Ferrer is happy, too, in that he has finally found himself. He decides to stay in the area to help those who need him. X-Ray: 'This has the backgroxmd of northern Africa, names for the marquee, and a different type of story, but the result is a film that will probably find slow going. Considerable effort has been expended, and there are scenes of real beauty, but the nature of the tale hmiS it for most situations. On the other hand, the exotic nature of the piece, the witch¬ craft, and the splendor of the Technicolor are assets that should be valuable in many areas. Performances are standard, with use of native players adding to the inter¬ est. The story is by Francis D’Autheville. Tip On Bidding: Fair program price. Ad Lines: “Was She A Witch Or A Woman?”; “Meet ‘Saadia’ . . . Child Of The Desert”; “Two Men Sought Her Love . . . But To One She Meant Almost Death.” RKO The French Line “"iX" (3-D and 2-D) (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Exploitation angles should be an important factor in the selling. Cast: Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland, Arthur Hunnicutt, Mary McCarty, Joyce MacKenzie, Paula Corday, Scott Elliott, Craig Stevens, Laura Elliott, Steven Geray, John Wengraf, Michael St. Angel, Barbara Darrow, Barbara Dobbins. A Howard Hughes production; produced by Edmimd Grainger; directed by Lloyd Bacon. Story; Jane Russell, Texas oil million airess, is having trouble finding a husband who will love her in spite of her money. Two near misses at the altar leave her dejected, and Arthur Hunnicutt, life-long friend and business manager, persuades effort to find love. In New York, Russell visits old Texas gal pal Mary McCarty, now a top fashion designer, also Paris botmd via "The French Line.’ In the hotel, Russell stumbles upon a bon voyage party being given for French stage star Gilbert Roland. He falls for her, not knowing who she is. However, some tax troubles with the government threaten to prevent his sailing. Russell decides to leave Hunni¬ cutt behind, figuring his highly publicized personality will betray her true identity. A newly married model of McCarty’s gowns aboard is hired to assume Russell’s identity. Hunnicutt, learning of the power Roland has over women, decides to pro¬ tect Russell from shipboard fortune hunt¬ ing males, squares Roland’s tax bill, and tells him to keep an eye on her. Roland, not knowmg that the model is a phoney, merely hires a steward to keep an eye on her goings and comings while he busies himself pusuing Russell. A hectic cross¬ ing with merry doings ensue, but all ends well, with Roland and Russell find¬ ing true love when they reach gay Paree. X-Ray; Launched with an avalanche of headlines emanating from the fact that it did not have the MPAA Production Code seal of approval, this is a familiar type of musical that is boimd to benefit in many areas from the attendant pub¬ licity. It is a standard kind of musical, loaded with songs and production num¬ bers, but its principal points are the con¬ troversial gowns and a dance which imdoubtedly wiU cause comment. The screen play is by Mary Loos and Richard Sale, based on a story by Matty Kemp and Isabel Dawn. Songs by Josef Myrow, Ralph Blane, and Robert Wells, include “Looking For Trouble,” “Any Gal From Texas,” “By Madame Firelle,” “Well, I’ll Be Switched,” “What Is This That I Feel?” “With A Kiss,” “Comment Allex Vous,” “Wait ’Til You See Paris,” and “Poor Andre.” A featured fashion parade hns added appeal for the ladies. Tip On Bidding: Better price. Ad Lines: “An Eye-Pleasing Riot Of Fun, Music, And Fashion All In That New 3-D Dimension”; “Your Polaroid Will Pop When You See Jane Russell Look¬ ing For Trouble In ‘The French Line’”; “A 3'-D Riot Of Feminine Charm, Song, Dance, And Fim.” UNITED ARTISTS Heidi 98m. (Wechsler) (European-made) (Dubbed J^gHsh dialogue) Estimate; High rating children’s show. Cast: Elsbeth Sigmund, Heinrich Gretler, Thomas Klameth, i^ie Attenhofer, Mmgrit Rainer, Fred Tanner, Isa Gim^er, Willy Birgel, Anita Mey, ICarl Wery, Theo Lingen. Produced by Lazar Wechs¬ ler; directed by Luigi Comencini. Story: Living in the Swiss Alps (Els¬ beth (Heidi) Sigmund has a happy child¬ hood in her grandfather’s little hut and with her playmate, Thomas Klamet. In the fall, she must go to school in the village. Grandfather Heinrich Gretler is ready to end his long feud with the vil¬ lagers so his granddaughter might get an education, but events take a turn when For the BEST , . . • PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE • PICTORIAL COVERAGE • SPECIALIZING MANUFACTURERS • RELIABLE SERVICES Read PHYSICAL THEATRE S«rvlsGcflon S 3679