The Exhibitor (1953)

ALLIID ARTISTS Published. weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc. Publishing office: 246-248 North Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York: 229 West 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 9628 Cresta Drive, Los Angeles 35, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhaigh, general manager, Herbert M. Miller, editor; Max Cades, business manager; George Nonamaker and Mel Konecoff, associate editors. The original Pink Section evaluation of features, short subjects. Border City Rustlers Western (5438) 54m. Estimate: Routine series entry for the lower half. Cast: Guy Madison, Andy Devine, Isa¬ bel Randolph, Gloria Talbot, George Eldridge, George Lewis, Murray AJper. Pro¬ duced by Wesley E. Barry; directed by Frank McDonald. Story: Guy “Wild Bill Hickok” Madison and Andy Devine, federal marshals, in¬ vestigating the death of the town mayor with the help of the new mayor, old maid Isabel Randolph, pin the crime on the town’s judge, George Eldridge. Randolph and her women crusaders take over the local gambling hall and nm it for charity. Madison and Devine then solve the mur¬ der of A Mexican cattle baron, aided by Gloria Talbot, his daughter, and her cousin, George Lewis. They pin the mur¬ der and cattle rustling on shifty cattle buyer Murray Alper. X-Ray: This may fit into the lower half. The two disconnected stories have little appeal for any but the least discrim¬ inating moviegoer, and there is insufficient action to compensate for the weak dia¬ logue and plot development. Devine con¬ tributes his particular brand of humor. Bill Raynor is responsible for the screen play. Ad Lines: “Another Great Wild Bill Hickok Adventure”; “Wild Bill And ‘Jingles’ Invade A Crime-Ridden Outlaw Town”; “See Guy Madison’s Blazing Guns Blast A Bandit Ring.” Highway Dragnet Melodrama (5405) 70m. Estimate: Action show is okeh for the duallers. Cast: Richard Conte, Joan Bennett, Wanda Hendrix, Mary Beth Hughes, Reed Hadley, Iris •Adrian. Produced by William F. Broidy; directed by Nathan Juran. Story: Because discharged marine ser¬ geant Richard Conte is seen briefly with Mary Beth Hughes in a bar and because they have an argument, he is picked up by the police uij^der the direction of Lieu¬ tenant Reed Hadley when she is foimd murdered. The case against hhn is strong, though circumstantial, so Conte escapes, after which a police dragnet is set up for him. On the desert road, he comes across photographer Joan Bennett and her model, Wanda Hendrix, enroute to an assignment at a hotel, and aids them when they have trouble with the car. They suspect he is the killer, but they have no chance to get aid. Conte finally admits he is the hunted one. While Hendrix fears him, she be SECT10N TWO Vol. 51, No. 13 lieves his story, and falls in love. Bennett turns out to have known the dead girl and hated her for causing the death of her husband or contributing to it. As the police close in, Bennett makes a play for freedom after admitting she had killed Hughes and had planted evidence involv¬ ing Conte. Hadley offers to do what he can about having other charges against Conte lessened. X-Ray: Although this follows the ac¬ cepted pattern, it contains suspense and action, in addition to the name values, and as such it can stand as a single in the action spots or as a good addition to the duallers. The players are competent, as are the production and direction. The screen play is by Herb Meadow and Jerome Odium, based on a story by U. S. Anderson and Roger Corman. Ad Lines: “They Rode With A Killer”; “A ThriU-Packed Chase”; “Who Was The Killer . . . Find Out For Yourself.” World For Ransom Melodrama (5408) Estimate: Ih-ogrammer has names to help. Cast: Dan 'Duryea, ^ne Lockhart, Patric Knowles, Reginalcf Denny, Nigel Bruce, Marian Carr, Arthur Shields, Douglas DumbriUe, Carmen D’Antonio, Keye Luke, Clarence Limg, Lou Nova. Produced by Robert Aldrich and Bernard Tabakin; directed by Robert Aldrich. Story: Dan Duryea, professional adven¬ turer, at the request of Marian Carr, wife of Patric Knowles, a close friend, tries to find out in what Knowles is involved and to save him from commit¬ ting a crime, if possible. Knowles is in a deal with Gene Lockhart, a man of mys¬ tery, to kidnap nuclear scientist Arthur Shields, en route to Australia, and hold JANUARY 27, 1954 him for ransom, threatening to turn him over to the Reds if it is not paid. Dur¬ yea is forcibly told to keep his nose out of the affair by Lou Nova, Lockhart’s henchman. Duryea stays on though, espe¬ cially when a friend, Clarence Lung, street photographer, is killed when he takes a picture of the kidnapped man. Duryea follows the trail away from Singapore into the interior and is trailed by head of military intelligence, Reginald Denny. They join forces to get Shields out of a stronghold, and Denny is fatally woimded. At the showdown, Knowles kills some of the henchmen, including Nova, and then turns on Duryea, who is forced to kill him. Shields is freed by troops. When he returns, Carr brushes Duryea off and he goes on his way alone. X-Ray: Mystery, intrigue, and action are to be foimd in this program entry that should benefit from the names. It should be noted that the film, format, cast, and location are similar to a series on tele¬ vision starring Duryea as “China Smith” and audiences may remark on the simi¬ larity. The cast is adequate and the di¬ rection and production are average. The screen play was written by Lindsay Hardy. A song, “Too Soon,” is also heard. Ad Lines: “You’ll Be Thrilled”; “Death Lurked Along The Way”; “The Year’s Most Thrilling Melodrama.” ASTOR Cavalleria Rusticana Operatic Drama 60m. (English narration) (Eastman Color) Estimate: Opera film is best suited for art houses. A Very Important Person will read these reviews! who? YOU! YOU are the one who will furnish the final theatre link in the chain of effort that will bring these pictures to the admission-paying public . . . your patrons. YOU are the one whom scores of Producers and Distribu¬ tors will spend thousands of dollars to impress with their boxofFice potentials and patron pleasing qualities. YOU and some 20,000 other Owners and Managers through¬ out the U.S.A. wili be the deciding voice that will make or break these pictures. YOU ... are the PACEMAKERSI And don't let anyone tell you different! To be a real PACEMAKER . . . you need the regular, complete and factually honest REVIEWING SERVICE of EXHIBITOR. 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