Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

20th-FOX'S "14 HOURS' WINS CRITICAL PLAUDITS Once again, 20th. Century-Fox has effectively adopted a New Yorker magazine article about an actual incident, and the screen translation has won the plaudits of the New York newspaper critics. They are agreed that "Fourteen Hours' builds tremendous tension, but are also of the opinion that it is not a picture for the squeamish or the faint-hearted. In the World Telegram, Alton Cook calls it "a fascinating picture" whose name is "likely to be hanging over the front of the Astor for many weeks to come." Bosley Crowther, in the Times, says it is a "remarkably compact" picture in which viewers "will find gripping suspense, absorbing drama and stinging social comment." It has, he adds, "accelerating power . . . accumulating drama . . . that makes for the real emotional upsweep and the hard, staggering sh->cks in this . . . superior American film." Disappointed that it did not explore more ciOsely "why he is there" on the ledge, poised to jump, the Compass' Seymour Peck finds it "tense, emotionally harrowing and gripping," conc'udi^g: "you might like to see 'Fourteen Hours,' but hold on to your seats when you do; 16 ffoors is a long way to drop." The Herald Tribune's Otis L. Guernsey, Jr. describes " a film of almost exhausting suspense . . . seems almost too real for comfort." A picture not for "the sensitive seekers after vicarious escapist thrills," he says "it offers, quite simply, a front-row seat at a horror show." In the Post, Archer Winsten is not completely satisfied with "a realistic reproduction of a suicide incident of a few years back." As a characterization of an American "circussing of a potentially tragic spectacle," he admits, "it's a pretty darn good picture." But, as a picture trying to add something to this spectacle, he concludes, "it's not very exciting." 'THE 13TH LETTER" 20th Century-Fox "Melodrama from far off the beaten path . . . Has enough suspense to keep an audience alert."— CREELMAN, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM. "Nothing of the conventional whodunit . . . Basically a melodrama of moods and atmosphere, of hidden motives and psychological quirks . . . Unusual and interesting drama despite its rather gloomy plot." — PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Moderately intriguing mvstery picture . . . Straight who-does-it film."— CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES. "Thriller that doesn't quite thrill . . . Reasonably well made and acted with conviction . . . What is missing is that elusive quality known as mood." — PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. "Suspense is not sustained and interest tends to lag . . . "Sort of soap opera. Tears, misunderstanding and injustices are blended as nicely as any radio fan could wish."— PIHODNA, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. 'UNDER THE GUN' Universal-International "Can't for the life of us figure any reason for such an aimless tale, except to indulge in bleak sadism. The marksmanship is infinitely better than the film." — CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES. "Conventional gangster film . . . Standard crime-chase action . . . Neither an interesting study of an archaic penal sys QUOT6S" What the Newspaper Critics Sag Ahout New Fill tern nor a particularly exciting melodrama." — BARSTON, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Starts by being a fairly obvious gangster story and works its way backwards." WINSTEN, N. Y. POST. "Grim melodrama . . . Well made and acted if something less than cheerful in theme . . . Unrelievedly violent in its action."— PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. ■TOMAHAWK' UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL "Broadway has had an overdose of Westerns lately but this is the liveliest of the lot."— COOK ( N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM. "Large-scale, imp.essively Technicolored outdoor melodrama . . . Concerns itself less with story than with action. Ana once it gets into its stride it s a lively and colorful spectacle."— PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "Nothing exceptional in the cavalryand-Indians line . . . Stnctly two-dimensional . . . Nothing to take away your breath."— CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES. "Part study in sociological morality and part blood-and-thunder melodrama with arrows and bullets whipping through the air . . .. Another Western primer with a few modern touches added." — GUERNSEY, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Breathes there a man with soul so dead he can no longer thrill to the war whoops and smoke signals and tomtoms of Indians on the warpath? If there be such a man, let him stay away." — PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. TH«= STEEL HELMET' LIPPERT "Purports to dramatize the fighting in Korea ... A grim recital." — PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURNAL AMERICAN. "For an obviously low-budget picture . . . has some surprisingly good points . . . Unfortunately, the texture ... is patently artificial . . . Tangible makebelieve."— CROWTHER, N. Y. TIMES. "Often exciting, but its exaggerated mannerisms of personality and bravado rob it of any claim to true distinction." —GUERNSEY, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Considerably better than the quickie you might have been expecting . . . Possesses marks of reality frequently missing in more expensive productions . . . Eventually . . . melodramaticizes itself out of top competition." WINSTEN, N. Y. POST. "Misses out on the real look and the real stature of the war In Korea." — PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. "Glum, tough drama of glum, tougn fighters . . . Depressing rather than inspiring or even entertaining." — CREEL MAN, N. Y. WORLD TELEGRAM. 'ROGUE RIVER' ELC "Story . . . not nearly as impressive or simple (as) choice of locale . . . Something less than meets the eye." — A. W., N. Y. TIMES. "Handsome color photography ... all there is to recommend ... an exasperating collection of incredible characterizations and contrived situations." — J. S. B. N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Westerns are granted free, and easy liberties with credibility and logic . . . Sure does take full advantage of this license."— A. C, N. Y. WORLD TEL ' GRAM. "Rarest of movie demonstrations, tl I fundamentally sound plot that conquel production weaknesses . . . Handicaps j by color that seems washed out, pel formers lacking notable talent, and < | rection worthie of a quickie . . . Yi inter est is sustained at a decent lev j throughout."— WINSTEN, N. Y. POST CALL ME MISTER' 20TH CENTURY-FOX "Exuberance of the original revue I wanting in many of the scenes . . . Sha satirical revue has become a big, boun ing musical comedy . . . Engaging mu; cal of its special sort."— BARNES, N. HERALD TRIBUNE. "Bounce and freshness and youthf snap . . . have gone out of the mov version ... All a bit too blaring, a U too overproduced and over-orchestratec —PECK, N. Y. COMPASS. "Ragtag-and-bobtail show, thrown I gether around Miss Grable and her I now well seasoned allures." — CRO\, THER, N. Y. TIMES. "Mostly a Betty Grable-Dan Dailey m j sical . . . not to be confused with t Broadway musical."— WINSTEN, N. | POST. "Slick entertainment . . . Handsome' done up in Technicolor . . . This one fun."— PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURN/ AMERICAN. 'VENGEANCE VALLEY' M-G-M "Since the men in this picture are turally men who do not hesitate to fig the entertainment quotent is high a handsome."— WINSTEN, N Y. POST. "Western built for adults, and for adu only . . . Deceptively easygoing m drama, acted and directed with a nati alness rare in outdoor films . . . Story not for kiddies, although the kiddies w probably flock to see it . . . Strong aj dramatic tale of adventure set in tit magnificent West. These are cowboys ] which even a grownup can believe.'1 ; CREELMAN, N. Y. WORLD TEL GRAM. "Burt Lancaster . . . gives an exc.1 lent account of himself as a sagebru. stalwart . . . Bang-up outdoor yarn Technicolor."— PELSWICK, N. Y. JOUfNAL AMERICAN. "Well-made but routine Western . No Western fan could ask for more, ■ cept possibly a reasonable story." — I HODNA, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE. 'MAD WEDNESDAY' RKO "Harold (Lloyd) returned to the scru with all his comic zest and artful aning with a gag . . . Harold and PresU (Sturges) have caught one another I too form, glory be for all good oeo, who love laughter."— A.C., N. Y. WORj> TELEGRAM. "Script offers no surprises and hi? freshness or wit . . . Comedy rar/ comes off."— RAYFIELD, N. Y. CO PASS. "Has enough of the old Sturges . U to give your laughing lungs a work* . . . Wears itself a little thin towards p finale . . . This picture you should w.f to see."— WINSTEN, N. Y. POST. "Fast and funny and engagin wacky."— PELSWICK, N. Y. JOURN AMERICAN. 31 FILM bullet;!'