Film Bulletin (1942)

'ISLE OF MISSING MEN' GOOD INDE CAST, BUT PACE IS SLOW Rates • • as dualler Monogram 67 Minutes John Howard, Gilbert Roland, Helen Gilbert, Alan Mowbray, Bradley Page, George Chandler, Geraldine Gray, Egon Brecher, Kitty O'Neill, Dewey Robinson, Charles Williams, Ernie Adam, Kenneth Harlan, Alex Havier. Directed by Richard Oswald Richard Oswald, producer-director from Europe making his American bow for Monogram, rates attention for having turned out a well-mounted production which, only for lack of action, would rate high on the list of recent independent releases. Long passages of dialogue retard the film's pace, this being its chief weakness. However, on the basis of the title and cast, it will serve adequately as secondary dualler for action and naborhood spots. Story has Howard cast as the governor of a prison island. Returning to his duties, he meets and falls for Helen Gilbert, beauteous blonde, who is something of a mystery. He invites her to visit him on the island. It turns out that she is there to arrange the escape of husband Gilbert Roland, who has convinced her of his innocence. Learning the truth about him there is a repudiation and she falls into the arms of Howard. Roland is killed while making his escape. Acting honors go to Alan Mowbray for a deft characterization of a drunken prison doctor — a familiar movie character who becomes quite real in Mowbray's hands. Howard and Miss Gilbert form an adequate if unexciting romantic team. Gilbert Roland and Bradley Page are excellent. HANNA (Hollywood) 'DOWN RIO GRANDE WAY' HARD-HITTING STARS IN LIVELY WESTERN Rates • • in western spots Columbia. 57 Minutes. Charles Starrett, Russell Hayden, Britt Wood, Norman Willis, Rose Anne Stevens, Davison Clark, Edmund Cobb, Budd Buster, Joseph Eggenton, Paul Newlan, Betty Roadman. Directed by William Berke. Those two hard-hitting cowboy stars, Charles Starrett and Russell Hayden, make good use of their fists and turn this into lively fare for western addicts. Starrett enters the action late, but makes up for this by his numerous fights and a plentitude of other characters also take part. In addition, "Down Rio Grande Way" has an historical plot angle which puts it a notch above runof-the-mill outdoor pictures. By keeping up a swift pace throughout, Director William Berke has held the romantic interest to a minimum, but cowboy devotees will make no complaint on this score. As the story opens, the Republic of Texas, under Sam Houston's guidance, has applied for admission into the United States. However, a group of politicians, opposed to another slave state, band together to create unrest in Texas and thus block its entry into the Union. Charles Starrett, a Texas Ranger who poses as a rancher, learns that riding and shooting in which most of the Davison Clark, newspaper publisher, is actually in league with crooked tax agents while pretending to be an honest citizen. Starrett has great difficulty in keeping the hot-headed rancher Russell Hayden from lynching the tax agent, but eventually they discover the reason for the local unrest. In the finale, Houston makes a speech as the Lone Star flag is lowered and Texas is raised to statehood. Russell Hayden gives an exceptionally likeable portrayal of the hot-headed rancher and Norman Willis, Davison Clark and Joseph Eggenton are satisfactory as the villains. Britt Wood supplies some mild comedy relief. YORK 'RIDERS OF THE WEST* JONES AND McCOY CLICK Rates • • • for western houses Monogram 60 Minutes Back Jones, Tim McCoy, Raymond Hatton Sarah Padden, Harry Woods, Christine McIntyre, Charles King, Milt Moranti, Walter McGrail, Dennis Moore, Silver. Director Howard Bretherton This outdistances previous entries in the Buck Jones-Tim McCoy series of Monogram westerns. It has a better screenplay than the usual sagebrush drama and more than the expected production value. There is speedy tempo, plenty of action and considerable suspense in view of the fact that the identity of the heavy is known and it is mostly a matter of trapping him. It will get very good grosses in its category. The Rough Riders show up in response to the plea of Sarah Padden for relief from the rustling that has been going on in her community. Jones, impersonating a Federal agent bent on a similar mission, McCoy as as a ne'er-do-well, and Hatton as a medicine doctor, accomplish their designated task in typical Rough Riders fashion. The three leads deliver their customary fine performances with good support from Sarah Padden and a topflight heavy in Charles King. Howard Bretherton's direction smooths the plot wrinkles and builds the action. HANNA (Hollywood) In Total War It's IMPERATIVE Before the war it was good business to do it. Today, in total war, it's imperative to do it: to save every tiny part that makes the wheels go round in the projection room. Today conservation is your salvation in show busi JVLTEC SERVICE CORPORATION 250 West 57th Street New York, N. Y. ness. The regular visits of the Altec Service man are your surest aid to helping the U. S., and helping your theatre's war effort! The Altec Service man wants to help you— and he's ready to! OUR KNOW-HOW OUR KNOW-WHY • • ARE YOUR FAITHFUL ALLY 24 F I L M BULLETIN