Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1950)

'DUCHESS OF IDAHO* LIVELY, ENTERTAINING TECHNICOLOR COMEDY WITH MUSIC Rates • • • — except for action houses 98 minutes Esther Williams, Van Johnson, John I.hihI, Paula Raymond, Clinton Sundberg, Connie Haines, Mel Torme, Amanda Blake, Tommy Farrell, Sig Arno, Dick Simmons, The Jubalaires, and guest stars Lena Horne, Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Light, fluffy, melodious and pleasantly entertaining are the words for this lively, lavish Technicolor romantic comedy with music produced by Joe Pasternak and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Bouncing with titillating tunes, sparkling dialogue, gorgeous backgrounds and costumes, and an armful of laughs, only the action fans will fail to be entertained by "Duchess of Idaho." Add to this the high-powered cast, plus brief but highly effective guest appearances by Lena Horne, Eleanor Powell and Red Skelton, and it is obvious that M-G-M has an| other boxofAce winner. No one will ob! ject to the nonsensical story since it is , merely a convenient framework to carry the film's huge bounty of romance, fun and beauty. And the tunes by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston, particularly "Let's Choo Choo Choo to Idaho," and "You Can't Do Wrong Doin' Right," are definitely Hit Parade fodder. The scenic glories of Sun Valley, the sumptuous indoor sets and water ballet scenes are breathtakingly beautiful. In addition to the eye and ear-interest supplied by Esther Williams (whose face, curves and wardrobe have never radiated more beauty both in and out of the water), Van Johnson (whose previous elephantine attempts at song and dance seem to have been streamlined to surprising proportions), Connie Haines' vivacious, hip-swinging melodies and the guest stars' stints, Director Leonard has piled on the laughs thick and fast. Under his guidance, Clinton Sundberg's muttering butler characterization is a comic delight. John Lund and Paula Raymond are the other half of the rectangular romantic mixups, while Mel Torme, erstwhile bobby soxers' rave, handles a straight, non-singing, comedy role. Jack Donohue's staging and direction of the musical numbers is expert. STORY: Esther Williams, star of a Chicago water show, determined to help her roommate, Paula Raymond, who pines for her playboy-boss John Lund, follows the latter to Sun Valley. Her plan to snare his interest and then make him aware of his lovely secretary is complicated by band leader Van Johnson, who finds Williams a tasty dish and pursues her. She uses Johnson to keep Lund at arms' length, then finds that she is attracted to the band leader. When Lund is called back to Chicago on business, she and Johnson have a wonderful time together and fall in love. Meanwhile, Lund, without any benefit of Williams' plan, realizes he is actually in love with Raymond after he returns to Sun Valley and tells the overjoyed Williams so. Raymond, however, ignorant of Lund's intentions and afraid that Williams' charms will be too much for her boss, goes to Sun Valley to bring her roommate back. The resultant ro.ixup serves to estrange both couples, but Johnson and Lund, finally aware of what has happened, turn up at the girls' apartment and double wedding bells are in sight. BARN. 'THE GREAT JEWEL ROBBER' SPOTTY CROOK YARN Rates • • as dualler generally; slightly more in action houses Warner Bros. 91 minutes David Brian, Marjorie Reynolds, John Archer, Jacqueline De Wit, Alice Talton, Ferdita Chandler, Robert B. Williams, Warren Douglas, John Morgan, Bigelow Sayre and Mayor Stanley Church. Directed by Peter Godfrey A spottily absorbing mixture of fact and fiction based on the fantastic 'Raffles', Gerard Dennis, now serving time in Sing Sing, "The Great Jewel Robber" never quite jells as satisfactory entertainment. With David Brian in the top role, the short but exciting career of the society thief as portrayed on the screen becomes a string of second-story jobs, sordid romances and hairbreadth escapes, with the repetition and the knowledge of the thief s ultimate fate softening the film's impact. Some of the scenes are engrossing and highly suspenseful, others are so ineptly handled that one wonders whether the same director worked on them This unevenness, coupled with the unpleasant character of the film and the lack of marquee names, makes the pic ture little more than ordinary program material Action fans, however, should find most of "The Great Jewel Robber" to their liking and the exciting climax gives it a boost for the blood-and-thunder houses, but it rates the lower slot in other situations. As portrayed by David Brian, the robber is alternately likeably sympathetic and disgustingly brutal. He turns on the charm, his wholesome smile and sad eyes as he makes love to five — count 'em — assorted women and is repeatedly on the verge of his "last job", wins the audionce over, only to repel them a moment later when he exhibits all the vestiges of a first-class heel. As the only girl he marries, and, ultimately, his nemesis, Marjorie Reynolds is appealing in a small role; the others are brought on and brushed off to permit Brian to get on with his next felony. Just why Mayor Stanley Church of New Rochelle, N. Y., was brought to Hollywood to play himself is a mystery. His extremely amateurish posturings detract considerably from the proceedings, and, after all, there can't be that many movie fans in New Rochelle. STORY: Apprehended in Canada when his landlord discovers a fortune in furs in a room closet, David Brian is sent to a prison farm. He escapes and with money taken from a girl in love with him, contacts another woman, Perdita Chandler, who also finances him and goes over the border to Buffalo with him A crooked bartender helps them plan a robbery, then when Brian is almost caught, they run off. He attempts to escape with the loot, but they catch up with him and beat him badly. In the hospital, his nurse, Marjorie Reynolds, falls in love with him and they go to New Rochelle where he is wounded attempting another robbery. She removes the bullet and he agrees to dispose of the stones in New York and drop his life of crime. When she finds him in New York with another girl, she turns his photo over to the police and he flees to Los Angeles. Through wealthy widow Jacqueline De Wit, he gains entrance to several society parties and burglarizes them. He is caught attempting to dispose of the jewels, escapes and in a final chase, nabbed about to board a plane with another blonde. YORK 'CARIBOO TRAIL' AVERAGE WESTERN AIME3 AT SCOTT FANS Rates • • • — in action houses; less elsewhere Fox Randolph Scott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Bill Williams, Karin Booth, Victor Jory, Douglas Kennedy, Jim Davis, Dale Robertson, Mary Stuart. Directed by Edwin L. Marin. "Cariboo Trail" as a western is slightly above par but as an entry in the popular Randolph Scott series, it's a little below the mark. True, it's done up in a neat cinecolor package and combines most of the proved ingredients of the western including stampedes, injuns, gunfights, brawls, a low-down villain, and a tough but gentle hero. Nevertheless, the pace could have been brought closer to the hearts of the dyed-in-the-buckskin western fans if more care had been taken in the cutting room Some meaningless romantic fidtllefaddle slows down the picture in some spots as do some overlong scenery shots. When the action does occupy the screen, Director Edwin L. Marin manages to keep it at a brisk and exciting pace. The photography is a neat job, clear and well-defined. This number should be saleable on the draw of the Scott name and except for some superfluous footage here and there, the picture seems to be just what the action fans ordered. With action, shooting, and villains aplenty, it should gross strongly in action houses and will do above average generally. STORY: Randolph Scott with his pal Bill Williams are traveling from Montana west to prospect for gold. Against the wishes of Williams, Scott brings along 30 head of cattle to start a cattle ranch. At a small bridge owned by Victor Jory, they run the cattle across, refusing to pay the U 11 and breaking the bridgeThat night, they are attacked by Jory's men and the cattle are stampeded. Wil liams' wounds require amputation of an arm and he turns against Scott. In town, Scott is staked by pretty cafe owner, Karin Booth, and Scott, and Gabby Hayes, start out on a gold hunting expedition. They are captured by Indians but escape separately. While hiding out from the Indians, Scott discovers a pocket of gold. When he comes back to town, Jory rouses the townsmen against Scott for keeping his secret. Scott is chased out of town and while wandering he comes across Hayes who is traveling with his sister's cattle outfit. Scott promises to guide them to the grazing paradise he discovered while hunting gold. Jory plans to get the cattle by getting the Indians to raid the parly Williams, at tlu> last minute, has a change of heart and rallies the townsmen to the attack. The Indians are driven off, Jory and Williams are killed, and Scott and Booth leave town to start a cattle ranch together. RAY. JUNE 19, 1950 19