Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1950)

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"QUOTES' What the Newspaper Critics Say About New Films STROMBOLI' VERDICT: MUCH ADO ABOUT A "DULL" FILM The much discussed RKO-Rosse"liniBergman production, "Stromboli," suffered a devastating barrage of unfavorable comment from the pens of most of the nation's newspaper critics when the dcors were finally opened to the public in 400 theatres February 15. They agreed, in a nutshell, that the film is unworthy of its star or its director. Bosley Crowther, in the N. Y. Times, lambasts the picture as "incrodibly feeble, inarticulate, uninspiring and painfully banal." "A calculated arty and cold p'clure," writes the N. Y. World Telegram and Sun's Alton Cook, one which ' creeps along In a non-committal review, Rose Pelsw.t-A, uj. aid iv. j.. journal American, ca inly rates it "a quietly interesting picture," but "no 'Open City' or 'PaisanV In the N. Y. Herald Tribune, O is Guernsey less mercifully lists the film as "a waste of talent and a waste of time," pointing out that it "is neither good Bergman, good RosselHni nor good anything." The N. Y. Post's Archer Winsten tries to clear up preconceptions about the film by stating that it "is not sexy, suggestive, sensational, daring, or accurately described :^ 'ts bal'yhoo." "Leaves one cold," is the opinion of Seymour Peck, in the N. Y. Compass, who describes it as "an interesting movie," but lac'-inf? ;n the qualities typical of Rossellini's earlier successes. Elsewhere, the reviewers fo'lowed suit. The Chicago Sun-Times and the Washington Post simultaneously offered a oneword comment: "Dull." The Philac'e'phia Evening Bulletin's Laura Lee found it "mild indeed . . . the least interesting" of the Rossellini films. In that same city, Mildred Martin, of the Inquirer, calls it "astonishingly bad," with an "awkward, disturbingly amateurish quality throughout." 'THE THIRD MAN' SELZNICK "A Carol Reed picture . . . Story itself is both minor and insignificant . . . Can be absorbing to almost any audience." — WINSTEN, N. Y. POST. "Another fascinating (Reed) film . . . Startling melodrama ... A work of great depth and power . . . Sombar and engrossing . . . Taut and arresting." — BARNES, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Piece of top screen artifice . . . Extraordinarily fascinating . . . Essent;a]ly a first-rate contrivance in the way of melodrama — and that's all ... A thriller of superconsequence." — CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES. "Again ... we behold the matcWess artistry and perfection of d'rector Carol Reed . . . yet ... is hardlv as sat:sfying a thriller as one might wish . . . Represents perfection in a vacuum . . . Standard, slight, even mediocre story . . . Not enough novelty, surprise, shock the things that make a thriller unbearably susrenseful ... A superior thriller." — PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. "Every detail caUs for superlative praise . . . Story . . . told before but never with such vivid, overwhelming power . . . Outstanding picture of the whole year of 1950." — CCOK, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN. "Brilliantly made motion picture . . . Excellence ... is less in what it says than in the way it says it . . . A ton-flight thriller." PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. 'PAID IN FULL' PARAMOUNT "Lengthy yarn . . . Plodding work largely lacking in genuine drama or conviction." — A. W., N. Y. TIMES. "An overblown, verbose film . . . Plot larded with phony psychology and sentimental slush . . . Could have done with more action and drastic editing." — PIHODNA, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Its sole novelty is that, for a change, Lizabeth Scott is playing the GOOD sister." — S. P., N. Y. COMPASS. "An incredible story, heavy sentimentalism and dialogue that sounds just like dialogue . . . Direction is ponderous. So is the drama." — CREELMAN, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN. "Dressy drama loaded down with psychiatric subtleties . . . Not a drab movie; not at all." — THIRER, N. Y. POST. "Lugubrious tale . . . Thev pile it on prettv thick." PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. 'DEAR WIFE' PARAMOUNT "Much too contrived and cleverly reminiscent of other comedies ... to be acceptably natural . . . Enough technical mastery of the routine to please a sizable audience." — WINSTEN, N. Y. PCST. "Fairly endurable . . . Will probably go very big in the suburbs." — PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. "A cozy comedy, cheerful in its view of family life . . . Still a sequel, somewhat contrived, seldom spontaneous." — CREELMAN, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN. "Entertaining sequel to 'Dear Ruth' . . . Comedy is amusingly plotted and there's down-to-earth humor in the family b.ckerings and misunderstandings." — PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Ever}' bit as enjoyable and racy as its progenitor . . . Light-hearted, pure-as-thefallen-snow fun ... A very enjoyable movie." — T. M. P., N. Y. TIMES. "Featherweight sequel ... All that is wanting is material to equal the comic aspects of the original . . . Attacks a 'family' comedy with the humorous authority of a high-school farce." — BARSTOW, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. 'MRS. MIKE' UNITED ARTISTS "A thorough depiction of what life beco"i'i';! when c'V'lizat'on is forsaken." COOK, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM AND SUN. "Novel's weaknesses have magnified and concentrated, its strong points minimized . . Imp°"c^b'e, artificial and over-rehearsed .. . Still may be ponul- ■ -'♦'i a"1 uncritical audience." — WINSTEN, N. Y. POST. "For the most part the film is one to induce tears from a sympathetic audience." — PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Novel . . . has become an orgy of discontent ii transition to the screen ... A monotony of conventional frustration . . . A rather trying motion picture." — ■ GUERNSEY, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Not a sufficiently inspired drama to get close to us, to convince us or inspire us . . . Seems rather slow going . . . Firmly rooted in banality . . . Shapes up as modest soap opera fiction." PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. 'KEY TO THE CITY' MGM "A funny farce comedy. Maybe it's not the funniest you've ever seen . . . But the movie is gay and glib and romantic . . , Plenty of accent on slapstick ... All adds up to fun!" — THIRER, N. Y. POST. "Fancying itself a gay, mad, whirlwind comedy . . . might better be described as coy, dreary and embarrassing." — S. P., N. Y. COMPASS. "Preposterous nonsense . . . Flimsiness shows through . . . Crowded with stars noise, gusto — everything except gooc sense." — A. C, N. Y. WORLD TELE GRAM AND SUN. "Everyone . . . works hard, if not toe happily, at being as prankish as all get out." PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Generally hilarious satire . . . Uproai and crazy courting are the chief themes . . . There is little consequence . . . bui there is a lot of laughter in its shenani gans." HOWARD BARNES, N. Y HERALD TRIBUNE. "A flimsy but obstinate affair which might easily tax the patience of everyone if it weren't for Mr. G. . . . A hodge-podge of situations, dialogue-gags and noise . . A bumpy, uneven ride which still has enough motion in it to shake your mid region insides." — CROWTHER, N. Y TIMES. 'PORT OF NEW YORK' EAGLE LION "Cops-and-robbers yarn . . . Lively little number even though it's been done so of ten . . . Brisk of pace." — PELSWICK N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Strictly for members of the movie pub lie who shiver with delight at sight of i bloody nose." — COOK, N. Y. WORLE TELEGRAM AND SUN. "A picture to keep in reserve for ar emergency when time is hanging dowi around your ankles." — WINSTEN, N. Y PCST. "Another chace melodrama in 'docu mentary' dressing . . . Familiar patten . . . Mildly interesting cops and robber; story." — BARSTOW, N. Y. HERALI TRIBUNE. "With all the to-do, there isn't mucl that is exciting about the film ... Jus too obvious to stir up interest." — T.M.P. N. Y. TIMES. "Minor pinprick . . . Trashy little mow . . . '"'heap, penny dreadful story of dopi smuggling and murder . . . Plot . . . wa probao.y scribbled on a pin-head . . . Th' movie itself is murder." — PECK, N. Y COMPASS. 'TATTOOED STRANGER' RKO RADIO "Crisp and swift; unhampered b}' supei fluous footage . . . Very, very enjoyable. ^ HIRER, N. Y. POST. "Modest little melodrama . . . Thrill are few and far between ... A tribute t the rops at work, and as such is interest ing fare." — A. W., N. Y. TIMES. "Exciting melodrama . . . Bui'ds towan realism and suspense with an impact tha comes close to equaling another RKO W budget sleeper, 'The Window.' . . . Modes and unassuming, but an interesting add tion to any cinematic circle." — BAK STOW, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. • 22 FILM BULLET