Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

TAINTED HILLS' OKAY LAS! Rates • • -j as dualler generally; more MGM 68 minutes •Paul Kelly, Bruce Cowling:, Gary Gray, Art Smith, Ann Doran, Chief Yowlachie, Andrea Virginia Lester, "Brown Jug" [Reynolds and Lassie. Directed by Harold F. Kress. This Technicolor version of Alexander Hu.ls 'Shep of the Painted Hills" is a (pleasant, well-fashioned dualler in the (tried and true Lassie tradition. It contains all those elements of action, revenge and human interest that are typical of previous Lassie tales. Grosses will IE ENTRY in rural areas be strongest, of course, in the rural areas and in urban action hou :es. Llscvhere, it measures up as a good dualler. "Painted Hills" is distinguished by the effective photography by Alfred G.Iks and Harold Lipstein, plus some good performances by a talented cast. Production for Metro by Chester M. Franklin, though not giltedged, is adequate, and director Harold F. Kress successfully avoids most of the cliches inherent in the general run of dog stories, in which sentiment must necessarily play a major part. STORY: Prospector Paul Kelly finally strikes it rich, only to It-am that during his absence in the hills his partner has died. His young widow, Ann Doran, and her son, Gary Gray, introduce Kelly to Bruce Cowling, who had 'been given an interest in the claim by the dead man. Kelly takes Bruce into partnership and they and the boy go out to the mountains and begin work. As their store of gold grows, Cowling becomes greedy, and finally pushes Kelly over a precipice to his death. He reckons without Lassie, Kelly's faithful dog, who discovers his master's body and leads Gary to the grave. Cowling tries to destroy the animal, but Lassie is befriended by Indians and recovers, finally killing Cowling after a grisly struggle in the snow. YORK. CUBAN FIREBALL1 MILDLY DIVERTING FARCE Rates • • as dualler Republic 78 minutes Estelita Rodriguez, Warren Douglas, Mimi Vguglia, Leon Belasco, Donald MacBride, Rosa Turich, John Litel, Tim Ryan. Directed by William Beaudine. | "Cuban Fireball" is an ordinary little farce -that succeeds in measuring up to he usual standard for such movie fare, fn its proper dualler slot, this lightweight Republic comedy should fare best when paired with an action or suspense melodrama. Generally speaking, however, the business prospects for this minor "offering lA'ill be little more than fair. Sidney Picker's production is much better than average, providing a pleasant touch of farcical humor and a few musical sequences which result in a mildly diverting bit of movie entertainment. The role Estelita Rodriguez portrays is admirably suited to her languorous charms, which she alternates with a bubbling vivacity as she sings and gags her way through the picture in fine style. She is ably assisted by Mimi Aguglia and Rosa Turich, and good masculine support is provided by John Litel, Russ Vincent and Warren Douglas. STORY: Estelita Rodriguez, a cigar worker in Havana, inherits twenty million dollars. Afraid that she will be courted only because of her great wealth when she goes to California to claim her inhe itance, Estelita disguises herself as a homely older woman, posing as a poor relation of the heiress when she leaves off her disguise. At the airport irl Los Angeles, Warren Douglas meets' the plane. When he sees Estelita as the heiress, he gets his father, John Litel. to greet her. Later, when Douglas meets the undisguised Estelita, he falls for her. Complications result from her dual act, and before they are straightened out, Estelita is chased by the homicide bureau, ihe immigration department, a; hotel detective and an irate hotel manager. Douglas finally clears her of all the wild charges made against her, leaving a clear field for romance. YORK. ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN* BETTER THAN USUAL ^ates * * -| as dualler, except for class houses Universal-International B2 minutes ■ Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Nancy Guild, WSBKBSBSBK/SSKSi Arthur Franz, Adele Jergens, William Pauley, Sheldon Leonard, Gavin Muir. Directed by Charles Lamont. Theichuckles come easily in this betterhan-average Abbott and Costello funfest. Klthough many of the gags are vintage, 'Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man" has everything needed to draw the Ufughs, including a full inventory of slapstick props and the old, always reliable loubletakes. This Howard Christie production for Universal-International release looms as a special treat for the youngsters and fans of the zany comedy earn. Obviously, not for discriminating ludiences, but the easier-to-p'ease masses :hould find it rewarding enough to make his latest A & C entry a fair-plus atraction in the general run of theatres. The comic duo clown and gag in their isua! hilarious, though corny fashion, [he best laughs in the picture come from rostello's antics with Arthur Franz, as he Invisible Man. Adele Jergens is effective as the lusty lure for the would-be ixers of important boxing matches, with ^ancy Guild adding a contrasting gentle lote of demureness to the scene. STORY' Abbott and Costello, a pair of letective-school graduates, are hired by Arthur Franz, who has escaped from >rison where he was being held on a nurder charge. Franz gets himself an njection of invisibility serum and, re'nd'red unseen, accompanies Bud and Lou >n their hunt for the real killer, Sheldon -eonard, a big fight racketeer. The Invisible Man gives the pair their instruc10ns from time to time, touching off a eries of explosive laughs until Leonard ind his mob are finally rounded up and 'ranz cleared. YORK. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT? WHAT DOES SCIENCE KNOW ABOUT IT? WHAT DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT. from Another World! HOWARD HAWKS' '"tg MOTION PICTURE Ads like this are appearing in 58 National Magazines and 93 Sunday Newspaper Supplements totaling 185,761,000 circulation. •ARCH 2 6, 1 9 5 1 35