Film Bulletin (1942)

RKO-RADIO ... Reviews of 5 in Sixth Block 'THE FALCON TAKES OVER' PROGRAMMER BLENDS MYSTERY AND LAUGHS Rates • • for action spots and as supporting dualler elsewhere RKO Radio 63 Minutes George Sanders, Lynn Bari, James Gleason, Allen Jenkins, Helen Gilbert, Ward Bond, Edward Gargan, Anne Revere, George Cleveland, Harry Shannon, Turhan Bey, Hans Conreid. Directed by Irving Reis. "The Falcon Takes Over" neatly blends mystery and laughs in a manner to keep the average patron entertained. The Falcon, as suavely portrayed by George Sanders, is one one of the screen's most engaging sleuths and this one in his series of film adventures is a well-developed murder yarn with a surprise ending. Adapted from the novel, ', Farewell, My Lovely," this concerns a six-foot-five killer with a strangling complex and Director Irving' Reis has cleverly built up suspense by his use of eerie camera effects. The Falcon's two comic stooges, the exasperated Inspector O'Hara and the blundering Goldy Locke, furnish many hilarious moments without detracting from the film's exciting interludes. With four familiar cast names this will make a good supporting dualler and it can hold its own as single feature in action spots. The story opens in front of a night club where Goldy (Allen Jenkins), the Falcon's handy man, is forced to act as get-away driver to an escaped convict (Ward Bond), who has just committed a murder. Bond, whose sole purpose is to find his former girl-friend, known as Velma, strangles several others who refuse to divulge information as to her whereabouts. The Falcon, called into the case, learns about Velma and determines to find her before the killer gets to her. A glamorous night club singer 'Helen Gilbert), while pretending to aid the Falcon in his search, leads him into a trap and then admits that she is the real Velma. As the killer, who had disguised himself as her chauffeur, confronts Velma, the Falcon is rescued by an energetic girl reporter who had been trailing him. However, she is unable to halt his growing interest in a new case involving another beautiful woman. George Sanders is the life blood of the series and it is to be regretted that he will appear in only one more of these films. Ward Bond is magnificently menacing as the killer. Anne Revere stands out in a slatternly character role and blonde Helen Gilbert is well-cast as the heartless Vela. Lynn Bari also does well as the interfering newspaper reporter. LEYENDECKER 'MY FAVORITE SPY' KAY KYSER IN GOOD LAUGH-GETTER Rates • • • — generally RKO-Radio 85 Minutes Kay Kyser, Ellen Drew, Jane Wyman, Robert Armstrong, Helen Westley, William Demarest, Una O'Connor, Lionel Royce, Moroni Olsen, George Cleveland, Vaughn Glaser, Hobart Cavanaugh, Chester Clute, Teddy Hart, Kay Kyser's Band featuring Harry Babbitt, Ish Kabibble, Sully Mason, Trudy Irwin, Dorothy Dunn. Directed by Tay Garnett Harold Lloyd's production of a toroad spy comedy, well-rounded with action, music and slapstick farce, "My Favorite Spy" gives Kay Kyser a chance to solo and gain his wings as a first-class comedian. Aided toy Tay Garnett's excellent direction and Desmond Marquette's sharp editing, Kay cavorts through old situations giving them a nice new twist. RKO seems to delight in putting Kyser in incongruous roles (remember Kay as a Shakespearean actor in "Playmates") and the bandleader takes to them like a cat to milk. The action is fast, never retarded toy overlong sequences, the music is pleasant, though not outstanding and the comedy, often hilarious, has subtle directorial touches and should amuse every type of patronage. The marquee strength depends primarily on Kyser's radio following. Wordof-mouth, however, will be the determining factor in putting the picture among the better grossers. The story has Kay Kyser, on his wedding day, being inducted into the army as a Lieutenant. After exhibiting his ineptitude as an officer, he is shifted to the Army Intelligence in secrecy, while the world at large is advised that he has been kicked out of the army toecause of flat feet. In order to trap a spy ring, supposedly operating out of the night club where his band is playing. Kyser must appear bitter at the Army, consort with Jane Wyman. a sister counterespionage agent, and risk divorce with wife Ellen Drew, who can't understand his nightly escapades. When he succeeds in being taken to the Nazi's hideout, under the impression that he is followed by FBI agents, wife Ellen messes things up by jealously incapacitating spy Jane and unwittingly exposing him. In the hilarious climax, Kay succeeds in overcoming the eight Nazis and becomes a public hero. Kyser has able support from Ellen Drew acting very pretty, very angry and very confused very nicely. Jane Wyman is quite convincing as the tough American spy Kayworks with, while Harry Babbitt, Ish Kabibble and the others in Kay's band do the musical chores capably. Teddy Hart merits mention as one of the unfortunate privates under Lieutenant Kyser. BARN 'MEXICAN SPITFIRE SEES A GHOST' HITS A NEW LOW FOR SERIES Rates • as dualler only RKO-Radio 69 Minutes Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, Charles Buddy Rogers, Elisabeth Risdon, Donald MacBride, Minna Gombell, Don Barclay, John Maguire, Lillian Randolph, Mantan Moreland, Harry Tyler, Marten Lamont. Directed by Leslie Goodwins. Having very little to do with ghosts — or any thing else for that matter — RKO's latest entry in the "Mexican Spitfire" series can be classed as a poor comedy, poorly done. Leon Errol, impersonating four people, hogs the screen all the way and Lupe Velez doesn't even have a chance to demonstrate her Spitfirish character, although we doubt that it would have done the picture much good. Errol, as Lord Epping, is placed in a welter of venerable situations and left to struggle out of them in the guise of Uncle Matt, Uncle Matt as Lord Epping, Lord Epping and Hubbell, Donald MacBride's butler. To justify the title, the "ghost" is introduced in the last few minutes of the picture in the form of a dim-wit crook masquerading as a phantom knight-in-armor and creates more noise than a boiler factory. Better tone down the sound if you play this one. Where other "Spitfire" pictures have played to receptive audiences, this may get by. Very little value elsewhere. Lord Epping leaves for a hunting trip, leaving his attorney, Buddy Rogers, to take care of a couple of business prospects Minna Gombell and Donald MacBride at Epping's country mansion. Lupe Velez, Rogers' wife, and Uncle Matt are forced to stay at home while Rogers and Aunt Delia (Elisabeth Risdon) go to Epping's place. However, they RKO-RADIO — Continued on Page 14 turn up as the servants of MacBride and Gombell and when the wealthy couple refuse to stay without Lord Epping, Uncle Matt impersonates him. The real Lord Epping returns suddenly and after a series of confusing complications, involving a trio of crooks who had been using the place as a hideout and laboratory for making high explosives. Uncle Matt manages to get MacBride to sign on the dotted line. MacBride, as a hopeless neurotic, climaxes a group of such portrayals with an exhibition of mugging hardly comparable in the annals of talkies, and as the picture ends he literally blows up. Buddy Rogers manages to get into two or three scenes, with poor results. Elisabeth Risdon and Minna Gombell are also seen rarely and disadvantageously. Leslie Goodwins' direction is as hapless as the alleged story. STINE 8 FILM BULLETIN