Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

'IN THE NAVY' ABBOTT AND Rates • • • + generally HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Universal 85 Minutes. Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Dick Powell, Claire Dodd, The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Shemp Howard, The Condos Brothers. Directed by Arthur Lubin. Convinced by the success of "Buck Privates" that Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are hits on the screen, the clever showmen at Universal have given the comedians a far better supporting cast and a much more pretentious production for their second picture. Dick Powell is co-starred with the comics and it's delightful to see him once more in his old field of musical comedy. The Andrews Sisters are back again with well done songs and dances and this time they are photographed to better advantage. Showj' sequences at a Naval Ti-aining Base and on board a U. S. Battleship lend color and interest to the film, but the high spots are Abbott and Costello's gag routines, some of them corny, but all delivered with such freshness that they kept the preview audience howling with laughter. "In The Navy" COSTELLO TOP THEBR FIRST is a better picture than "Buck Privates" and will out-gross that surprise hit everywhere. The thin thread of story is just something on which the comedians can hang their gags. It's about a radio crooner, Dick Powell, who joins the Navy to escape the too ardent attentions of his many feminine fans. At the Naval Base, he encounters Abbott and Cos tello, who have been cooks in the Navy for six years, but never been to sea. After getting into a scrape, the comics are ordered on board a ship bound for Honolulu. A girl reporter trying to photograph the crooner stows away on the vessel and the two bad boys of the Navy hit their merry stride. The laugh riot of the picture comes when Costello, pretending to be the Captain, telephones orders to the bridge that puts the flagship through a series of wild maneuvers. There can be no doubt that Lou Costello is one of the greatest natural comics the screen has ever had and Bud Abbott is the perfect straight man, feeding lines to his partner with flawless timing. Dick Powell is swell in his role and he makes the most of a couple of rather ordinary songs. Claire Dodd is capable and ornamental as the girl reporter and Dick Foran is very good in his role of a petty officer and has one of his rare opportunities to display his excellent singing voice. The Condos Brothers are outstanding in one short dance routine. Director Arthur Lubin keeps the action moving along at a fast pace and doesn't miss a chance to win laughs. CRAWFORD (Hollywood) 'BLOOD AND SAND' VIVID TECHNICOLOR SPECTACLE Rates ♦ ♦ > + generally 20th CenturyFox 125 Minutes. Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, Nazimova, Anthony Quinn, John Carradine, J. Carrol Naish, Lynn Bari, Laird Cregar, Vicente Gomez, Pedro de Cordoba, Fortunio Bonanova, Monty Banks, Victor Kilian, Russell Hicks, Rex Downing, Ann Todd, Cora Sue Collins, Michael Morris, Charles Stevens, John Wallace, Maurice Cass, Cecilia Callejo, Francis MacDonald, Cullen Johnson. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. This new version of the popular Ibanez novel is first and foremost a magnificent Technicolor spectacle, secondly a slow-moving, yet engrossing drama of the bull-ring and a picture which will attract fans of all ages and in almost any type of theatre. Despite several story weaknesses, a makeshift conclusion and a weak performance by Linda Darnell, "Blood and Sand" is one of the season's more exciting films. In almost every respect — lavish settings and costumes, superb color photography, thrilling bull fight sequences and performances — the new "Blood and Sand" is superior to the Valentinoplayed predecessor. Director Rouben Mamoulian develops his story with a lengthy prologue that lays the foundation for the hero's inborn love of bull fighting. From that point the film builds gradually, through tempestuous romantic episodes, to its tragic finale. Here is a top-ranking holdover attraction for first runs and a sure-fire draw in the majority of naborhood and small town spots. Juan Gallardo (Tyrone Power), son of a matador who was killed in the bull ring, runs away from home as a boy to go to Madrid. Years later, when he returns to his unhappy mother (Nazimova) he is already a full-fledged matador. He soon becomes the idol of the Spanish populace, marries his childhood sweetheart (Linda Darnell) and showers his mother and family with luxuries. But when he catches the fancy of the worldly Dona Sol (Rita Hayworth), he neglects his wife and starts slipping in his profession. The fickle Dona Sol then turns away, his wife forgives him and he promises to retire from the arena. During his last performance, Juan is gored by a bull, but the crowd, and the heartless Dona Sol, now cheer a new idol. Power gives one of his better performances, both romantically and dramatically. Rita Hayworth gives a highly seductive and effectively heartless portrayal of Dona Sol. Linda Darnell is appealing, but shallow and immature as an actress, in the important role of the wife. It is the supporting players who really contribute outstanding portraits, among them Nazimova as the pathetically unhappy mother; Anthony Quinn, a perfect type for the jealous rival matador; Laird Cregar, as a foppish and fawning newspaper man; J. Carrol Naish, as a forgotten idol, and Monty Banks, as a pompous sponger. LEYENDECKEK r REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE Page 4 In the Navy Blood and Sand The Bride Wore Crutches Page 5 The Voice in the Nigrht Time Out for Rhythm A Shot in the Dark Page 6 Out of the Foff I'U Wait for You Country Fair Page 8 Tight Shoes Power Dive The Nurse's Secret Page 21 Paper Bullets Desert Bandit Hands Across the Rockies 'THE BRIDE WORE CRUTCHI Rates • as supporting dualler 20th Century-Fox. 55 Minutes. Lynne Roberts, Ted North, Edgar Kennedy, Robert Armstrong, Lionel Stander, Richard Lane, Grant Mitchell, Harry Tyler, Horace MacMahon, Anthony Caruso, Sarah Edwards, Edmund MacDonald, Billy Mitchell. Directed by Shepard Traube. A low-budget programmer, devoid of originality or marquee value, this will furnish feeble support on dual bills. "The Bride Wore Crutches" is a novel title, but the story is a routine newspaper yarn with only ' FEEBLE SUPPORTING FARE a few mild laughs and even those developing from familiar lines and situations. Such seasoned veterans as Edgar Kennedy. Lionel Stander and Richard Lane help out with enthusiastic performances and manage to give the film a passing mark from a professional standpoint. Actually completed a year ago, the picture is being slipped out now on general release but, even as summer fare, it would be better left unplayed. The plot shows how a cub reporter (Ted North) gets a job on a big newspaper, goes through a hazing by his prankish cohorts and then fumbles his first two stories — one a sensational bank hold-up. The irate editor (Richard Lane) fires North, but a pretty sob sister (Lynne Roberts) takes him in hand and gives him enough confidence to follow up the gangsters who robbed the bank. North poses as an escaped criminal, gets the inside on the gang and turns in a "scoop," even though he accidentally shoots Miss Roberts in the leg during the gangsters' capture. Hence the title. Richard Lane and Grant Mitchell are outstanding in the cast. Ted North is a personable, but inexperienced, newcomer who acts the leading role in amateurish fashion. Lynne Roberts is attractive and capable in the sob-sister role. LEYENDBCKER 4 FILM BULLETIN